The Chapel, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia

Image Source = Library of Congress

Litany Source = A Book of Worship for Free Churches (1948), the General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches in the United States

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Eternal God, who hast promised us the liberty which follows after truth; grant that, keeping the commandments of Christ, we may have the mind of Christ and be free, as he was free.

For all who guard the truths which were known of old, that, as good stewards of that knowledge, they may confirm us in simple and righteous living;

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

For those who seek the new truth, that, believing more light is yet to break, they may be sustained in their searching by the faith that thou art, and that thou art the rewarder of them that diligently seek thee;

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

For all scientists, looking upon the face of nature, that they may see order in its variety and law in its constancy, and may teach men to live upon earth in confidence and without fear;

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

For all historians, that, telling again the story of the past with sincerity and sympathy, they may bind the generations together in one communion to thy real sons;

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

For all builders, poets, painters, and makers of music, that they may open our blind eyes and unstop our deaf ears to the beauty of thy world;

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

For all who would lead man’s long thoughts beyond the things that are known into the world which is the unknown, that their faith may prepare for us a place in the infinite mystery;

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

For all who unselfishly bring their knowledge to the service of the world, that they may prove their learning by their works; and give that vision without which the people parish;

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

For ourselves in this society of the truth, that accepting with gladness the high offices of thought, that seeing clearly, and feeling deeply we may go forth to be in the world as those who serve, and may this know the mind of Christ which we would make the manner of our thinking; and all these things we ask in his Name, even Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

–Pages 314-315

Above:  Labor Day Parade, 1910

Image Creator = Bain News Service

Image Source = Library of Congress

Reproduction Number = LC-DIG-ggbain-14667

Text by Maria Matilda Penstone (1859-1910)

Hymn Source = The Church School Hymnal for Youth (1928)

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1.  God bless all the workers

Laboring for men’s good,

Who in fields and cities

Seek our daily food.

Those in mines and workshops,

Those who sail the sea,

Lord, in all our labors,

May we think on Thee.

Refrain:

Lord, to all the workers

May Thy grace be given;

While on earth they labor

Lift their hearts to heaven.

2.  Jesus was a Worker,

Toiled by Joseph’s side,

Brother to all workers,

Dwelling far and wide.

Jesus! to the workers

Strength and comfort bring,

Thou dost know our labors;

Be the workers’ King!

Refrain

Pocket Watch

Image Source = Isabelle Grosjean

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MontreGousset001.jpg)

Prayer Source = The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992), of The United Methodist Church

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Eternal God,

you hold the times and seasons,

endings and beginnings, in your hands.

Bless Name, who now enters a new time of life.

We give you thanks for tasks accomplished,

for the joys and pains woven into the fabric of his/her hears.

Give Name the guidance of your Holy Spirit.

May days no longer filled with old obligations

be free for new activities and associations.

May fears and uncertainties about the future

be transformed into quiet confidence.

May each new day be received as a sacred trust and lived to your glory;

through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Amen.

Necktie

Image Source = Pumbaa 80

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tie_dimple.jpg)

Prayer Source = The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992), of The United Methodist Church

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Lord Jesus Christ, carpenter of creation,

you knew the satisfactions and responsibilities of human work

and hallowed it for ever in a carpenter’s shop in Nazareth.

As Name begins a new job,

as a worthy occupation, may it be useful in the human enterprise.

May Name be a blessing to others

by living and working to the honor and glory of your holy name.  Amen.

Job Fair

Image Source = Arvind Grover

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JOb_Fair.jpg)

Prayer Source = The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992), of The United Methodist Church

Prayer by the Reverend David Schnasa Jacobsen, who worked in United Methodist congregations until 1996 and served as Editorial Assistant to The United Methodist Book of Worship Project, but who has taught Homiletics at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada seminaries (mostly Waterloo Theological Seminary, Ontario) since 1996; his CV lists him as attending St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Kitchener, Ontario

His CV:

http://info.wlu.ca/wwwsem/dsj/dsjcv.html

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O God of the vineyard,

you call us all to productive labor,

to employ our gifts and talents for you.

We pray for those who are unemployed.

Strengthen them in this difficult hour,

uplift their spirits,

and grant them a place among your laborers

until all be employed for the common good,

and we share fully in our true work

of praising you with heart and mind and soul forever.  Amen.

Farming

Image Source = U.S. Department of Agriculture via Wikipedia

Hymn Source = The Hymn Book of the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada (1971)

Words by the Reverend Thomas Charles Hunter Clare (born in 1910), a priest of The Church of England (Hunter Clare is his last name.)

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1.  God of the farmlands, hear our prayer,

Lord of the growing seed,

bless thou the fields, for to thy care

we look in all our need.

2.  God of the rivers in their course,

Lord of the swelling sea,

where man must strive with nature’s force,

do thou his guardian be.

3.  God of the dark and sombre mine,

Lord of its hard-won store,

in toil and peril all be thine;

thy help and strength are sure.

4.  God of the city’s throbbing heart,

Lord of its industry,

bid greed and base deceit depart,

give true prosperity.

5.  Source of authority and right,

God of all earthly power,

to those who govern grant thy light,

thy wisdom be their dower.

6.  God of the nations, King of men,

Lord of each humble soul,

we seek thy gracious aid again:

O come and make us whole.

Shift Change from Metropolis (1927)

The above image is a screen capture.

Prayer Source = Jonathan Montaldo, compiler, Lent and Easter Wisdom from Thomas Merton:  Daily Scripture and Prayers Together with Thomas Merton’s Own Words (Liguori, MO:  Liguori, 2007), page 30

Prayer by Jonathan Montaldo

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Save me, O God,

from being a full participant in a society

grown fat and rich on the backs of others.

Take off my blinders so I may see

the injustice and poverty everywhere around me.

Help me understand the need

for a repentance that turns my heart

to a loving and just relationship with everyone.

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2012/05/15/devotion-for-the-eleventh-and-twelfth-days-of-lent-lcms-daily-lectionary/

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/twelfth-day-of-lent/

2010 Workers Memorial Day Poster

Image Source = Wikipedia

Prayer Source = Jonathan Montaldo, compiler, Lent and Easter Wisdom from Thomas Merton:  Daily Scripture and Prayers Together with Thomas Merton’s Own Words (Liguori, MO:  Liguori, 2007), page 27

Prayer by Jonathan Montaldo

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You enjoin me to give up everything to follow you.

You teach me that the price of genuine freedom

is to become poor and hungry for the kingdom of heaven.

Freedom for your disciples is freedom

to do justice and liberate our neighbors,

as we liberate ourselves,

from whatever keeps us fettered in ignorance

of your command to love our neighbors as ourselves.

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2012/05/15/devotion-for-the-eleventh-and-twelfth-days-of-lent-lcms-daily-lectionary/

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/eleventh-day-of-lent/

Above:  Part of the Hymn

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = The Hymnbook (1955), prepared by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, the Reformed Church in America, the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., the United Presbyterian Church of North America, and the Presbyterian Church in the United States

Original words by Claudius Matthias (1740-1815), a German Lutheran poet

English translation by Jane Montgomery Campbell (1817-1878), a member of the Church of England and a teacher of singing

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1.  We plow the fields, and scatter

The good seed on the land,

But it is fed and watered

By God’s almighty hand;

He sends the snow in winter,

The warmth to swell the grain,

The breezes and the sunshine,

And soft refreshing rain.

All good gifts around us

Are sent from heaven above;

Then thank the Lord,

O thank the Lord

For all His love.

2.  He only is the Maker

Of all things near and far;

He paints the wayside flower,

He lights the evening star;

The winds and waves obey Him,

By Him the birds are fed;

Much more to us, His children,

He gives our daily bread.

All good gifts around us

Are sent from heaven above;

Then thank the Lord,

O thank the Lord

For all His love.

3.  We thank thee, then, O Father,

For all things bright and good;

The seed-time and the harvest,

Our life, our health, our food;

Accept the gifts we offer,

For all Thy love imparts,

And what Thou most desirest,

Our humble, thankful hearts.

All good gifts around us

Are sent from heaven above;

Then thank the Lord,

O thank the Lord

For all His love.

Court Gavel

Image Source = Jonathunder

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CourtGavel.JPG)

Prayer Source = Chalice Worship (1997), of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

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God of truth and justice, we ask you to help the men and women who administer and police our laws.

Grant them insight, courage, and compassion;

protect them from corruption and arrogance;

and grant that we, whom they seek to serve,

may give them the support and affection they need.

So may our people be strengthened more and more

in respect and concern for one another.  Amen.