August 31, 2023
Dear Central Church,
I come from a blue collar family. My maternal grandfather ran coal up and down the Ohio River and was one of the smartest people I ever knew. My paternal grandfather owned his own HVAC business and in his career retrofitted more than 4,000 homes in the Kanawha Valley of West Virginia with central heating and cooling. My Mom was the first person in her family to graduate from college, an accomplishment made possible through the hard work of so many in her family.
I think about these blue collar roots as we approach Labor Day. This holiday that celebrates the commitment and resolve of the American worker is often overlooked, especially by the Church. We don’t always think about the holiness of “work,” but a robust theology of vocation is all throughout the scriptures. In fact the story of God begins with the man and the woman commissioned to “work and take care of the Garden.” (Gen. 2:15) Humanity’s vocation is given by God before they sin. Work, therefore, is good. It’s very good.
Remember this the next time you want to say, “Take this job and shove it!” Perhaps you needed to be reminded of that today.
In Colossians 3:17 we are called to do everything “as if we were doing it for the Lord Jesus.”
This includes what we do Mon-Fri. These jobs we have are not simply a means to an end. They play an important role in society, and they are one of the greatest platforms we have for engaging in the mission of God. We can be “fully alive” at work! Join us Sunday as we sanctify Labor Day as a moment to reimagine how God wants to use our vocation in his mission.
Please keep our new Pastor to Children and Families in your prayers. Pastor Bethany Tibbs will be moving to Kansas this week. We are excited to welcome Bethany, Travis, and Charlie to the Central Church Family. Their first Sunday will be September 17. We’ll have a reception for them in between services. Plan now to bring them a welcome card and let’s shower them with gift cards as they begin their new life here.
Until He’s Finished,
Pastor Mark
