Three-Day Weekend
Open with Prayer: God, we thank you for this time together, for the technology that makes it possible, and the hearts that connect us. Be with us as we travel, join us in this journey, and help us see and hear you always. Amen.
Ask: Do you know why you don’t have school on Monday?
It’s a holiday called Labor Day. Do you know what Labor Day is about?
The first official Labor Day was celebrated September of 1882 in New York City. It was organized by all the Labor Unions that had worked hard to keep workers safe. They fought for safe working spaces, a five-day workweek (instead of six or seven), wages families could live on, and they even made it illegal to hire children to work in dangerous places like mines and clothing factories.
In our Prayer Book we have a prayer thanking God for all the people who do hard work so our lives can be better:
“O God, your unfailing providence sustains the world we live in and the life we live: Watch over those, both night and day, who work while others sleep, and grant that we may never forget that our common life depends upon each other's toil; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Ask: What kind of jobs can you think of that work while you sleep?
There used to be a show called Dirty Jobs, where the host spent a day with people whose “dirty jobs make modern life possible.”
Ask: What kind of jobs can you think of that may be called Dirty Jobs?
This weekend, try and thank as many people as you can who are doing work so that you can relax. Thank the person who brings you your food at dinner (maybe ask if you can go thank the cooks), thank the person who makes your coffee, thank the person who sells you a movie ticket. There are lots of people we can thank!
Ask: Who else should we make sure to thank?
Finish with Prayer:
God, Thank you for this weekend we get to spend with our families. Be with those who have to work during this time.
God today we thank you for: (something or someone you’re grateful for)
God today we need your help with: (something hard or difficult you need to do)
God today please be with: (someone who may be sick, sad, or hurt)
We ask all this in Jesus’ name.
Amen