Community Connection ~ March 23, 2025: Spring Cleaning!

It’s officially spring, and the smell of disinfectant is in the air…that’s right, it’s time for spring cleaning! And wouldn’t you know, spring cleaning fits perfectly into the season of Lent.

Spring cleaning actually has historical connections to many different cultures (Spring cleaning - Wikipedia). Nowruz, the Persian new year, includes the tradition of “shaking the house” by cleaning everything in it. Observant Jews thoroughly clean their home in order to remove any traces of chametz (leavened foods) in anticipation of Passover. And in the Greek Orthodox church, a deep house cleaning is part of the lead-up to Lent.

The connection to the Easter season is especially strong given that spring cleaning often includes decluttering, which if done with purpose can be a lovely combination of fasting and almsgiving: “giving up” your clutter, then blessing others with the things you no longer need.

Consider fasting from clutter this year! You might choose one item per day to set aside for donation or, if you have an abundance of excess stuff, set a more ambitious goal. If you aren’t sure where to bring your donations, you can consult our Missions team. Ongoing collections include clothing, picture books, and pet items; there is a more specific list on the Missions cart that gets placed on the patio every Sunday. If you have something that isn’t being collected at Desert Mission, this article includes some other local donation spots - just be sure to confirm that your chosen recipient is still in existence, as the article was published in 2021.

It can be difficult to part with things, even if we know in our heart we no longer need them. It might help to invoke the third pillar of Lent: prayer. Say a prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of having more than you need and for the role these items played in your life. Bless them…and let them go.

Keep us updated on how your spring cleaning is going! Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram.