Labor Day weekend - Rector's Rambling for September 2, 2018

This year Labor Day falls  early as on the calendar as, the first Monday of September being the 3rd this year.  And Summer held on to the very end as the hot weather lingered for one last week as well to make it all a festive last hurrah of outside activity.

After taking time to pray and give thanks on Labor Day for Labor and Industry in our country, we move forward on Tuesday into the start of autumn, at least mentally.  The children return to school and here at St. John’s we look forward to the return of our wonderful full choir next Sunday.  Our Sunday School and Adult Education programming resume on Sunday next as well, and we are also busy preparing for the Bishop’s visit to us on Sunday, September 23rd!

Although I write this column on Monday or Tuesday, I anticipate that many will be away today, getting in that last holiday vacation. I got away for a few days midweek and I have the extra joy and privilege of getting to do a wedding tonight! 

But I also hope that next week will bring a renewed emphasis on being regular about Sunday worship attendance.  I know that people travel during the summer, and that for a few with health issues the heat prevents them from being with us during the summer.

We have to make the commitment to make attending worship the #1 priority on your Sunday morning schedule.  The world is pressing on and scheduling alternative activities on Sunday morning, a time-slot that even secular society respected as sacrosanct even a few years ago.

Stand up!  Be counted for Christ!  Come to Church on Sunday!

——————————————————

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who declarest thy glory and showest forth thy handiwork in the heavens and in the earth; Deliver us, we beseech thee, in our several callings, from the service of mammon, that we may do the work which thou givest us to do, in truth, in beauty, and in righteousness, with singleness of heart as thy servants, and to the benefit of our fellow men; for the sake of him who came among us as one that serveth, thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~ 1928 Book of Common Prayer, p. 44