Nicole’s e-Pistle

September 3, 2025

Greetings, Friends!

I hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day weekend! As many of you saw in worship on Sunday, my parents came up for a week-long visit to see the grandkids (who had a four-day weekend). It has been a lot of fun getting to spend time with them this week. I hope each of you had a chance to spend time with your families.

As you may already know, Labor Day originated in the late 1800s because of the Industrial Revolution. Workers labored long hours, sometimes up to 14 or 15 hours a day doing back-breaking factory work under dangerous conditions. This was a time of child labor as well, when children were paid pennies on the dollar. Labor unions rose up to fight for better conditions and pay for the working class. Then, a day was set aside to celebrate the working class by giving them a day off from their toil.

It got me thinking about this congregation, many of whom are retired from full-time work, yet who put in countless hours in volunteer work through the church and other organizations. My own parents exemplify this work ethic as well. Each time they visit, they find projects to do around my house that will make our lives a little easier. For example, they put my own children to “work” yesterday and had them help measure the back porch. Then they went to Lowe’s or Home Depot and picked out a sky gray indoor/outdoor carpet. When I got home yesterday evening, they were rolling it out over the concrete and cutting pieces around the porch columns. (Lovinia helped by running back and forth over the carpet, making sure it was suitable for playing!)

When we think of the words work and labor, we may think of drudgery and toil, like the factory work of the late 1800s. Then again, it depends on one’s perspective. When Sir Christopher Wren was directing the building of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, a journalist interviewed several of the workers, asking “What are you doing here?” The first said, “I’m cutting stone for three shillings a day.” The second replied, “I’m putting in ten hours a day on this job.” The third replied, “I’m helping Sir Christopher Wren build the greatest cathedral in Great Britain for the glory of God.”

There are many ways to celebrate Labor Day. Some did so by staying home with family or visiting friends. Some had to work so that others could enjoy the day. Some got out and protested the treatment of workers and migrants across the country. No matter how you chose to spend the day, I hope that you feel that every work of your hands is for the glory of God. That would be something to celebrate indeed!

Blessings and Peace!