This weekend we celebrate Labor Day. While most people recognize Labor Day as a holiday and celebrate the day with “Last Hurrah of Summer” activities, the Episcopal Church recognizes Labor Day as a Holy Day (which is the origin of the word ‘holiday’). Labor Day has its own “Propers’:
Collect for Labor Day
Almighty God, you have so linked our lives one with another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and to arouse our concern for those who are out of work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Lessons appointed for Labor Day
Ecclesiasticus 38:27-32
Psalm 107:1-9 or 90:1-2,16-17
1 Corinthians 3:10-14
Matthew 6:19-24
As I think about Labor Day and the prayers appointed for the holiday, I think about the word ‘vocation’; a word that has ‘calling’ or ‘call’ as its root. Too often in the Church, words like vocation and calling get assigned to ordained ministry exclusively. A person who reports feeling ‘called’, or to having a ‘calling’, is more often than not wondering about ordination. But everyone has a vocation; we all have a calling. God, and our identity in Jesus, gives us that call and gives us the gifts, talents, interest, and motivation to pursue it. No matter what we do for work, our calling is defined in the Collect for Labor Day: to work not for self alone, but for the common good. All we do is linked in one community, bound together in service to God’s love in the Body of Christ
We are called to work for this community–God’s beloved community inside and outside the wall of our church buildings.
And some are called to work for this beloved community by serving the Church in ordained ministry.
Please join me in celebrating the calling of the Rev. Steve Reed as the Rector of St. Matthew’s, Fairbanks. Steve arrived in the Diocese of Alaska and Fairbanks about 14 years ago. He served as the Chaplain at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. He then served as an interim minister for Christ Lutheran Church in Fairbanks. Following his interim work with Christ Church, and by special arrangement and approval, he served a non-denominational congregation. Throughout his ministry in Fairbanks, he has served as chaplain to the local police and fire department.
Please join me also in on-going prayer for a wonderful group of people who, after discernment with the Church and their local community, have been called to pursue ordination and been admitted as Candidates for Ordination this year. I am hopeful for ordinations in the coming year.
Judy Gau of St. James’, Tanana
Jeanette Dementi of St. Luke’s, Shageluk
Erin Tulip of St. Bartholomew’s, Palmer
Hannah Moderow of St. Mary’s, Anchorage
Ross McKay of St. Mary’s, Anchorage
I am also very grateful for (and proud of) the extraordinary ministry of our Licensed Worship Leaders who are working together in our congregations for the common good of the beloved community.
Happy Labor Day!
