The Citizen, 2015-09-10, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2015. PAGE 13.
By Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
Blyth Christian Reformed
Church
If it weren’t for Canadians, we
would probably not celebrate
Labour Day in North America.
In 1872, workers in the printing
industry in Toronto held a parade to
promote a 58-hour work week. At
that time labour unions were illegal,
and strikes were considered to be an
illegal activity in Canada. As a
result, several of the parade
organizers were arrested and
imprisoned.
In the years that followed, workers
continued to hold rallies in the
spring to better labour conditions. In
1882 an American, Peter McGuire,
was asked to speak, and when he
returned to the United States, he
organized a parade similar to the one
he had witnessed in Toronto. That
parade happened in September of
1882, and not long after, and not
without significant conflict, Labour
Day became a national holiday in
the United States and Canada
eventually followed.
Much has changed over the last
century, and few of us are aware of
the roots of Labour Day. (I had to do
some research as well.) Today
workers enjoy much shorter work
weeks, a minimum wage, and much
safer work conditions. We are
blessed to be living in 2015.
Writing this reflection for The
Citizen has given me an opportunity
to reflect on the whole idea of labour
and work. As a Christian pastor, I
seek to put my understanding of life
within the framework of scripture,
and I would like to share some of my
reflections.
First, every human being is
significant. The Biblical creation
narrative teaches us that God
intentionally created the world, and
the crown of creation was humanity.
God intentionally gave us life, and it
is hard to imagine that after he
breathed life into humanity that he
would lose interest in his creation.
The creation narrative teaches us the
value of the human being. Any time
an individual or group of people is
seen as less than significant, we are
contravening the very nature of this
world. We would certainly argue that
slavery diminishes the value of a
human being, but low wages do as
well. Employers who treat their
workers unfairly (low wages, poor
working conditions, etc.) and who
do so solely to make their business
profitable take a posture that goes
against the natural order of creation,
the order the God placed in it.
We must be especially alert in our
time as we hear our media evaluate
businesses solely on the basis of
their profit margin. Far too often the
investments by shareholders force
those who manage businesses to
make decisions that do not value the
lives of those who work for them. It
is not hard to imagine that our
current economic climate could
create a bleak future for labourers.
Second, scripture is quite clear
that we are called to care for each
other. Early in the Bible, again in the
book of Genesis, Cain kills his
brother, Abel, and when confronted
by God about his murder asks this
question, “Am I my brother’s
keeper?” At that point God never
answers that question, but the rest of
scripture gives a resounding, “Yes,”
to that question.
Jesus, when asked what are the
most important laws by which
humans should govern their actions,
replied by saying that we ought to
love God and love our neighbour as
ourselves. That second
commandment, again, is very clear
about our responsibility for each
other.
I have a friend who owned and
operated a small plumbing business.
He had several employees, and he
was run off his feet. He was a good
plumber, and his services were in
high demand. Although he had done
well for himself, he never once
refused a job. To me, it appeared that
he should have slowed down. When
I asked him about his decision to
never refuse work, he told me, “I am
fine financially, but I need to take
care of my employees.”
Not only did he pay them well, but
he also wanted to make sure that he
gave them enough hours so that they
could enjoy a good quality of life.
My friend has a keen understanding
as to the answer to the question,
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” We are
called to care for each other.
My third point is a balance for my
first two. Employers are to
remember the importance of their
labourers and they are to see it as
their responsibility to care for them.
Labourers, on the other hand, are
well served should they seek to
understand what scripture says to
them about their work.
We live in a time when work is
often seen as a necessary evil. The
name of one restaurant, TGIF
(Thank God It’s Friday), seems to
say to us that work is necessary so
that we can enjoy our times of
relaxation. Certainly we do need
times of rest and God has made it
possible to rest by providing us a day
when we can pause from our work
and enjoy his provision, but at the
same time, rest should not be seen as
the opposite of work. We can see our
work as a way of caring for each
other. Whether we are cleaning the
hog barn, changing the brakes on a
car, caring for children at a daycare,
or balancing the books, we are
providing for the wellbeing of
others.
In other words, our work becomes
an opportunity to care for others
because they are significant. Not all
the work we do is necessarily
fulfilling. Sometimes we are
engaged in tasks which are difficult
or just plain boring. If we look at just
the work that we are doing, we may
easily feel that work has no
meaning. But if we look beyond our
THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS.
OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Brussels:
St. Ambrose
Saturday
6:00 p.m.
17 Flora Street
Wingham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph’s
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.
CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS
MINISTER
Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div.
All Welcome
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224
Sunday, September 13
When BBQ Isn’t Enough
Sunday, September 20
Sunday School Kick Off ~ All Welcome
Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m.
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.
Children
Welcome
getlivingwater.org
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Sept. 13: Col 1:25ff
Evangelical Missionary Church
“Christ in You, the Hope of Glory”
*Communion*
Dropy by our Threshers’ Booth for
Baking and Free Water!
HURON CHAPEL
huronchapel.com
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
Nursery care available
519-887-9017
Worship & Sunday School - 10 am
Coffee & Snacks - 11 am
We invite you to join our church family in:
Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ~ Soup & More 2
- a free community meal held in Melville’s basement, and
made possible by the Brussels churches working together.
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, Sept. 13
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and
preschoolers during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service.
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
BRUSSELS
WORSHIP SERVICE
AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 11:00 am
All Welcome
United Church
Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div.
Bulletin notices: 519-523-4224
blythunited@tcc.on.ca
Church bookings: 519-887-6377
Other concerns: 226-963-1175
From the Minister’s Study
Labour can provide for wellbeing of others
Continued on page 18