I’m sitting waiting on a baked potato for my lunch in a local eatery, and so passing a few minutes as people wander by. Like many people I’m quite fussy about where I eat. There are many restaurants that I’ve eaten in once, and never returned having visited the loos. The loos for me are the key indicator of the hygiene of a place.

However I think that we sometimes forget that we are as much a part of the hygiene of a place, as the place itself. I appreciate those hostelries that remind their patrons that they are to play their part in keeping the place clean and tidy.

It’s probably much the same with churches. They are probably only as clean as those who form the worshipping community and visitors. By the time regular worshippers have gathered on a Sunday, they will have touched several door handles, wiped their noses, shaken hands, stretched their hands across the pew and hymn book. If you were a germ freak the building could seem like a place of harm rather than a place of welcome.

My 12 year old reminded me recently, “we’re only saving up harm for the future with our continuing need to be overly clean.” Thank you first year science!

I will however continue my weekly Sunday morning bathing regime, as I like to be overly clean for worship. It also allows for the necessary thinking moment – although I haven’t shouted eureka yet.