Love Your Church – St. Nick’s News May 9, 2025

Full St. Nick’s News for May 9, 2025

Dear Friends,

One of my favorite churches, and one that inspires me greatly is St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Auckland, New Zealand. They are beautifully creative and have empowered and sustained lay persons to serve in life-changing ministries. You may remember some of the videos I have shared like Star of Wonder and The Christmas Story. Here is another one teaching about God’s love and the coming of Jesus. You can find it here.

One of the other creative ideas from St. Paul’s Anglican Church is their “Love Your Church Day” events. These days are open to their entire community and provide opportunity for members to come together and care for their space. These events are our version of church workdays. So not entirely new or creative, except for the name “Love your Church Day.” I love that name – don’t you???

When you think about it, it is a theologically rich name and invitation.

At St. Nick’s, we gather once a month to care for our sacred spaces—cleaning, fixing, gardening, organizing, and preparing our church to serve the next person who walks through the door seeking God’s love. We’ve often called this monthly gathering a Church Work Day, but lately, I’ve been wondering if St. Paul’s has it right and we should be calling it “Love Your Church Day.”

Because workdays are about more than just ticking chores off a list. It’s about loving the space where we gather to pray, worship, laugh, cry, and grow in faith together. It’s about tending to the Body of Christ— the space and the people – not just in spirit, but in the very real, tangible ways we care for our shared home. And the very real friendships we are forming by talking and laughing together as we sweep, paint, and dust side by side.

“Love Your Church Day” reminds us that our work is relational, not just functional. It reflects the truth that God created us for community (Genesis 2:18), calls us to live as one body with many parts (1 Corinthians 12), and models through the early church a life of shared responsibility and joy (Acts 2:42-47).

When we show up—side by side, month after month—we aren’t just cleaning windows, weeding yards, cultivating the Good News Garden, or building offices. We’re building friendships. We’re strengthening our community. We’re preparing sacred ground for worship, fellowship, and mission. Every task, no matter how small, becomes an act of love and service to God and one another.

And let’s be honest: “Love Your Church Day” just sounds better than “workday,” doesn’t it? It feels like what it truly is—a celebration of our shared life, a practice of stewardship, and a reminder that church isn’t something we consume, but something we create together.

So whether you have a green thumb, a gift for organizing, or simply a willing spirit, join us. Bring a friend, bring your family, bring your heart for this beautiful church we share.

Let’s love our church—not just on Sundays, but in every faithful act of care and service.

Oh and yeah – we are having a “Love Your Church Day” tomorrow from 8am to 11am. Come for all of it, or for ten minutes. We would love to see you and celebrate our love of God and one another.

God’s Peace, Love, and Blessings,
Beth+