Buildings and Grounds – August, 2017

I learned something this week. A new member Rob March, who came out to Building and Grounds in May and again in July, shared a quote from Robert Ingersoll, “The hands that help are better than the hands that pray.” I never realized how much that applies to those of us who serve this church as volunteers. A few members of the church are drawn to service as a way of becoming part of the group and getting to know others. There are others who volunteer as part of their spiritual practice. They are giving back to the church community in a special way that can bring them the satisfaction of adding to the beauty and function of the church.
I look at the succulent gardens at the entrance of the parking and I remember Mario Martin and Denny Thomas and all the work they did to get them going. It’s a legacy they gave the church. There are many other people who work behind the scenes. You may not know them but many are involved in B&G. Some people do things during the week like keep the sprinkler systems working, paint the handicap parking spots and curbs, climb on the roof looking for why the gutters are leaking, and pick up trash as they walk by it on the church grounds.
I enjoy getting to know people while I am doing something with them. It is even better when I can learn from them. Doug Tate showed me a quick and easy way to remove weeds growing in cracks. Kitty Merrill told me how to kill the roots of the plants that were just beheaded. After Rob March swept the front parking lot and entry, he and I got to know each other while we cleared weeds out of one planting bed.
The Dynamic Trio, Mike Sixbey, Mike Duffy, and Bill Peltola do great projects together. They moved a kitchen cabinet down the wall 9 inches so a new refrigerator would fit into the existing space. Carol Simmons emptied the cupboards, and Shelah Wilgus and I put things back.
Cindy Camilucci kept us going and cleaned up vases from the sanctuary. We didn’t manage to find time to kick back, relax, socialize, and eat snacks; all our snacking was done on the run. But in the end the crew of eight got a lot done!
by Linda Pietrzak