Living Church December 15, 2025 Issue

Noisy neighbors? How a church found peace.

Shamiso Mazungaire

Working and praying for church and its activities brings blessings, as I discovered when I accepted the post of First Reader at my branch Church of Christ, Scientist, in Zimbabwe.

During my term as Reader, construction began on a new business next door to our church. All that separated us from them was one meter (a little over three feet) and a fence. The heavy construction continued on Sunday mornings, and the resulting noise was disruptive to our services.

Even after construction was completed, the noise continued. The new business, a car wash and wheel alignment center, was open seven days a week. Music blared from big speakers in the customer waiting area. It was so loud that it sounded as if it were actually playing inside our church hall.

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