Summer has been hot and full of activities with some good rest sprinkled in here and there. Just before the fall air turns brisk and the pumpkin lattes are everywhere you look, on this upcoming Labor Day – Monday, September 5th – let’s acknowledge the fact that our perseverance as a church has contributed to the betterment in communities around us in many ways- both seen and unseen. And let’s celebrate those victories with 5 church Labor Day ideas for your consideration:
Sermon
- Focus on John 10:27-29 for one of many Labor Day sermon ideas, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”
→ It takes work and dedication to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd over all the other voices promising abundance. Practical tips and creating small community accountability will encourage and support this most important task.
Picnic
- Family picnic day is one of the easiest and most successful church labor day ideas, especially when every family brings a dish to share, and either the church provides hotdogs and hamburgers or families can bring their own sandwiches for their family members.
→ Create an event, and if your church has an app to keep things more organized and communal, even better! Divide the shared dishes by desserts, appetizers, sides, condiments, etc., and assign them by last name (A-G, H-L, M-R, S-Z, for example). Sometimes basic instructions are just what we need when we are already juggling back-to-school lists and moving our young people to college- just tell us where to be and what to bring is best!
Events
- Labor day church events could also include a progressive dinner- remember those? Many people are excited about hosting parties in their homes and/or backyards. Bring it to life with a theme for the evening. Ex. farewell to the summer of 2022 with all the favorite pre-planned summer menu items. Don’t forget the watermelon seed spitting contest. Because it’s just fun and nostalgic! Starting with appetizers to the main course to desserts. OR a hello to fall 2022 with a spread of all the fall favorites at each house. Did someone say apple crisp?
→ The progressive dinner can also be held on the church grounds and funded by small groups or families if there’s a desire to not travel from house to house. Maybe the appetizers are in the narthex to welcome everyone. The main course is held outdoors. And the dessert can be catered by an ice cream truck in the church parking lot. This makes it easy and quick to clean up.
Prayer
- Morning prayer breakfast might be one of my favorite labor day church ideas. Reflecting on the joys of summer. Closing it out in prayer is a beautiful way to launch into a new season, wouldn’t you agree?
→ Decide on your menu. Handheld biscuits and juice bottles would keep it straightforward and easy! Ask your congregants to bring a prayer request to exchange and share with someone at the prayer breakfast. Sing a hymn of praise such as “All Things Bright and Beautiful.” Then close out the morning reciting Psalm 65.
Day of Service
- An organized day of service may be another idea to implement this Labor Day. Are there some elderly folks who would value a children’s choir visiting the assisted living center for an hour that day? What about a food drive at the church to stock the pantry for the community?
→ People get much satisfaction from helping others. While rest is an important factor, refueling our personal vessels is also achieved when we can pour into others. What a gift of time, labor, and love to serve others.
Paul writes in Colossians 3, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
And don’t forget to follow up after your Labor day events! This is a great way to engage all the attendees. For more ideas, please visit the Church Growth blogs on the ACS Technologies site.
Donna is
