I’m not exactly sure what Labor Day is supposed to celebrate, but I did refer to it in yesterday’s pastoral prayer.
Almighty God, our righteous judge who declares us “not guilty” in Christ, we give you our thanks and praise for this beautiful holiday weekend and this opportunity to worship you. You created us from the beginning to be people who work. As we approach Labor Day tomorrow, we thank you especially for the gift of hard but rewarding work: Work that motivates us. Work that challenges us. Work that we can take pride in. Work that is a blessing to the world. We thank you for blessing each one of us with a unique set of talents, gifts, and skills—and the energy with which to apply them to our work. Enable us to be good stewards of these gifts. We pray for those who are unemployed and looking for meaningful work… Amen.
Please note: since our church is in Hampton, Georgia, I also prayed for the safety of NASCAR drivers taking part in Labor Day weekend races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.