“On Labor and Rest”
Labor Day. For many Americans, it is summer’s last hurrah. There are cookouts and campouts, pool parties and beach retreats, baseball games and backyard corn hole. Labor Day is a chance to bask in the sun and be free from the worries of work for a bit–that is, of course, if you have the day off. But Labor Day didn’t begin as a paid vacation day. In fact, it started because there were no paid vacation days…or…for that matter…vacation days in general.
As the Industrial Revolution exploded across the country, more and more was demanded from the workers who kept the great machine of industry and profit thrumming. Most factory workers were paid a scant wage for their work, which was often grueling and dangerous. Conditions in factories were abysmal–poor lighting, little ventilation, lots of dirt and soot, overcrowded–and most workers put in at least 12 hours each day, seven days a week, with no breaks or time off. By the late 1800s, conditions for workers had become untenable, especially when faced with the fact that corporate bosses were making huge profits and wanting for nothing while the workers themselves barely eked out a living. Things came to a head on September 5, 1882. On that day, about 10,000 workers from across New York City walked off the job and staged a demonstration demanding fewer hours and better pay.
Eleven years later, Congress honored this act by declaring the first Monday in September to be a national holiday–Labor Day. Of course, this was not the end of the fight for workers’ rights. Where there is money to be made, there will always be inequity, and many American laborers still struggle with long hours, low pay, and inadequate benefits.
Like most things in society, our practices of work and the treatment of workers is not really what God had in mind for his people. While hard work is a major tenant of Scripture, both in the New and Old Testaments, so is rest. From the very beginning, God modeled how we are to approach the work-life balance–God created, then celebrated his creation. God created, then celebrated his creation. God created, then celebrated his creation. This happened three more times. And then, he took an entire day (whatever that equaled) to fully rest from the work of creating new things.
As the people of Israel become a nation, God instructed them to follow his example. But his instructions went beyond a Sabbath each week. He also mandated times of rest during major festivals, like in this passage from Leviticus.
The people of Israel were to take off work in order to celebrate and worship. And the beautiful part of this call is that God extended it to everyone living with the Israelites–regardless of where they had come from or what their social status was. Everyone was to rest. Everyone was to celebrate. Everyone was to worship.
As Christians, we need to do a better job of modeling God’s desire for a true balance between work and rest. I can’t tell you what that looks like in your life, but for me, it’s allowing myself time to just be and breathe and practice holy stillness. It’s taking that extra 15 minutes or so in the morning to sit and converse with God before diving into the work of the day. It’s remembering to stop and give thanks as the day winds down for all of the blessings God has extended to me this day. It’s making time to pause from the tasks on the list to be fully present and really interact with the people I love. Work. Rest. Celebrate. Worship. These are the rhythms around which I want to order my days.
What rhythms of work and rest do you need in your life? And how might we advocate so that others can find those rhythms, too?
Blessings and Peace, Sara
Mission
To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Vision
Nelson Memorial UMC seeks to be a place where all God’s broken, hurting, and imperfect children discover wholeness and community while experiencing the warm and welcoming love of Jesus Christ. We seek to connect with one another to grow in our knowledge and love of God, to encourage each person to live out their unique calling to serve God, and to make a difference in the Boonville community and throughout the world.
Priorities
Developing and Nurturing Faith in Children and Youth
Fostering Growth and Community in Worship and Small Groups
Provide Opportunities to Serve God in Boonville and Beyond
Worship This Week
This Sunday our message is titled “Who Am I? Why Am I Here?” We will discuss labor, careers, and purpose. Our Scripture focus will be from Colossians, chapter 1, verses 9 through 12.
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who qualifies you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
Our services will begin with the song Beautiful Life, by Pat Barrett. Our opening song will be For the Beauty of the Earth followed by Spirit of the Living God, and we’ll close the services with Take My Life and Let It Be.
Virtual Worship Information
In addition to in-person worship, our service will be live-streamed. The service can be viewed on our Facebook Page. The service will start at approximately 10:25 am following our Gathering Song. Additionally, we post a recording of our messages to our website by early Sunday afternoon.
Announcements
What is a United Methodist Christian? – Have you ever wondered what it means to be a United Methodist, what makes United Methodists different from those in other denominations? Join Pastor Chris in a 6-week study of the book Being United Methodist Christians. We will be meet on Wednesday evenings, beginning September 11, running through October 23, from 6:30 – 7:30. Please sign up by September 3 so we can order enough books. (Books are $13/each.). Please see Pastor Chris for more information.
Upper Room & Our Daily Bread Devotional Books – The box of our “Upper Room” and “Our Daily Bread” devotional books have arrived, please help yourself to one in the back of the Sanctuary.
Blood Drive – Thank you to everyone who supported our Blood Drive on Monday, August 26th. We had 22 donors, and 23 units of blood. We will be hosting another blood drive at a later date.
Save The Date – The Outreach Team will be hosting our annual Mission Extravaganza on Saturday, November 9! Teams will gather at the church for a morning of missions, including leaf raking and delivering of goodies to our community helpers. The extravaganza will conclude with a luncheon as we break bread together and give God thanks for the work he is doing. Make plans to join us on November 9!!
Matt Maher & Zach Williams LIVE in Independence October 20 – Please sign up or talk to Pastor Chris by September 1 if you’d like tickets to this concert! Matt Maher and Zach Williams are bringing their Revival Nights tour to Missouri on Sunday, October 20! Want to participate in this night of praise and worship? NMUMC will be ordering group tickets for the event. Tickets are $35.00 each. Please use the sign-up sheet in the East Wing to order. Checks can be made out to NMUMC with “concert” in the memo line. You can also use cash or Venmo.
Giving Through Venmo – We can be found on Venmo at @NelsonMemorialUMC. If you don’t know what Venmo is and would like to learn more, information about giving through Venmo can be found on our webpage at https://nelsonmemorialumc.org/give/venmo/
Events This Week
Monday, September 2: Labor Day: Office Closed
Wednesday, September 4: No Women’s Bible Study
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Thursday, September 5: Choir Practice, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary
Friday, September 6: Al-Anon, 7:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Closing Words of Wisdom:
Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”― St. Augustine of Hippo