Pastor's Desk

Labor Day, How do We Celebrate as Christians?

            The last Monday of May is Memorial Day.  People get excited for a three-day weekend.  It marks the unofficial start of the summer.  There are many festivities.  The first Monday of September is another three-day weekend.  It marks the unofficial end of summer.  Its day is called “Labor Day”.

            Yet, there are no festivities.  There are no celebrations.  So, what do we do with this day?  Especially as Christians, how do we celebrate this day?

            Answer:  Thank people for the work they do.  You may have to carry this over into Tuesday.  But thank people for the work that God has called them to do.  Thank the person behind the register at Cenex or Casey’s.  Thank them for being there so you can grab doughnuts, a cup of coffee, a slice of pizza, or whatever pick me up you needed that day.

            Thank people work at the hospitals and the clinics.  Thank people who work construction, so we can live in houses, worship in churches, drive on roads.  Thank those who work in the assembly lines, so we can have cars, tractors, computers, and so much more.  Thank farmers who in the sweltering Iowa summer days, and in the blistering cold work so that we may have food upon our tables.

            Thank a teacher or school administrator or anyone that works in the schools in any capacity.  From the custodial staff to the secretary to cafeteria workers to bus drivers and everyone else.  Say thank you.  Thank firefighters, thank law enforcement, thank EMS.  Thank plumbers and electricians and those who work in sanitation.  Thank management and bosses and even CEOs.  Thank everyone.

            And pray for them.  Pray for every vocation.  Give thanks to God for every vocation.  There are so many that I have not listed.  But pray for everyone.  Finally, give glory to God in the vocation that you yourself serve.  Give thanks that you have a job.  Give thanks that you are able to have income.  Pray that God would lead you can guide you to serve your best, even if you don’t much care for the job.  If you long for something else, pray that God leads you to something new.  But pray also that he leads you to endure put your best foot forward in all that you do.

            Labor Day as Christian is a day to give thanks for everyone in all vocations.  It forces us to pause and not devalue people as having no importance or too much importance.  It forces us to see the way that God works through every single human being to provide us with many gifts.  It forces us to be mindful of the works that he has given us to do to serve his creation.

            So, may we ever give God glory in all that we do.

In Jesus’ Name,

~Pastor Neil Wehmas

Last Updated: 8/29/2025