Except for...

Except for…

The church building is a quiet place.  You can get away from the world.  You can enjoy the peace and solitude of a building used only a few hours each week.  Well, except…

Except when the people come on Wednesday nights.

Except when the people come on Sunday mornings.

Except when someone comes needing help with a bill. 

Except when the ladies are cooking a meal for someone.

Except when half a dozen people are making lunches for kids.

Except when someone is decorating for Vacation Bible School.

Except during Vacation Bible School.

Except when someone is facing eviction.

Except when someone traveling is out of gas and sees someone at the church building.

Except when the alcoholics anonymous group needs a safe place to meet.

Except when the Scouts come in force.

Except for a baby shower.

Except when people come to decorate the building for Christmas.

Except when someone needs help with school supplies.

Except for a planning meeting.

Except when it’s time to change to the banners.

Except when someone needs prayer right now.

Except when someone is cleaning.

Except when someone just doesn’t know where to turn.

Except for an elders’ retreat.

Except when kids come looking for candy in October and receive candy plus love.

Except when a family just needs a large place to gather for a meal.

Except when it’s time to receive a dozen cases of plates and cups.

Except when someone is looking for something they left on Sunday.

Except when it’s time for a workday.

Except when it’s time to rearrange the tables.

Except when someone needs to do community service.

Except when the school needs to borrow some tables.

Except when people brings shoeboxes full of goodies and love to send overseas.

Except when someone comes looking for the dish they left at the fellowship meal 4 years ago.

Except when someone just needs to talk.

Except for a wedding service.

Except when a teacher comes to get ready for Sunday.

Except when someone needs to borrow a book on Spiritual Gifts.

Except when someone has a flier to drop off.

Except when it’s time to bring Angel Gifts.

Except for a funeral service.

Except when someone is stuffing eggs with Jesus loves you prizes.

Except when someone needs a prayer blanket to take to a friend.

Except when someone needs a Bible and the bar is fresh out.

Except when people come to sort the coins in the loaves and fishes offerings.

Except when someone needs to make a copy.

Except for a special communion service.

Except when someone needs to practice a special song.

Except when someone is sorting school supplies.

Except for when someone just needs to be told that God loves them.

Except when someone is picking up school supplies.

Except when the schools donate to the food pantry.

Except when it’s time to sort out the dated and dented cans of food.

Except when people share a lunch meal after walking the town with good news.

Except when the football team and cheerleaders come to eat before the game.

Except when someone needs to make a call because they have no phone.

Except when someone needs to use the bathroom right now.

Except when someone has given up on their marriage.

Except when youth football does sign-ups here.

Except for the women’s exercise class.

Except when the UPS driver delivers copier paper and toner.

Except when someone needs to fill a water jug.

Except when the kids gather to head to camp.

Except for when someone just thought they should drop in because.

Except when someone is thinking about checking out of this world.

Except when someone comes to pray at the altar at zero dark thirty.

Except when couples come for counseling prior to marriage.

Except when the ministerial alliance meets in the pastor’s study.

Except when there is a gathering for youth after the football game.

Except when the flowers need to be changed.

Except when someone brings a donation of food or school supplies.

Except when people gather for a one pot meal and filling Christmas sacks.

Except when someone needs to just sit and gaze into the cross and embrace the love that we know in this simple symbol.

Except when the blood drive is held in the fellowship hall.

Except when someone just needs a cup of coffee.

Except when it’s time to clean and reorganize the kitchen.

Except when the Facebook post just isn’t good enough.

Except when someone wants to know that verse from the sermon preached a year ago.

Except when someone has something big they need to share right now.

Except when the people come on Wednesday nights.

Except when the people come on Sunday mornings.

Yes, the church building is a quiet place where you can get away from it all and enjoy the peace and solitude of a building used only a few hours each week.

Thanks be to God for such a place where the church meets and is the light of the world in so many ways!

Thanks be to God that there is a place where people know they can connect with God and others.

Thanks be to God!