Clergy from left, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired; Pastor Nicolé Ferry, Associate Rector Lynn Finnegan and Pastor Deb Church. Courtesy photo
By The Rev. Nicolé Raddu Ferry
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Los Alamos
“May you know yourself to be a miraculous co-creator with God of the wonders and beauty of creation. And may your work, if only a tiny fraction of it, be a source of joy, pride, and dignity. For in that moment, you will discover what it means to share in the divine life of God.” –Brother James Koester
As I read this quote while the sun was rising above the Sangre de Cristos, (yes, I just had to share this picture and be thankful for the creation around us) I remembered that Pastor Deb invited us two weeks ago to consider that although there is “no magic in church, … it is a place to start.” We as writers of this article have tried to be honest that church, as an institution, has its challenges. We lament that many of you reading this have been hurt by the church, been betrayed by folks who said, “Trust me”, and have been harmed by words that do not sound like anything related to the life of Jesus.
Sunrise above the Sangre de Cristos. Photo by Rev. Nicolé Raddu Ferry
This is not how it was supposed to be.
As we began our worship service on Sunday, Sept. 3, I mentioned to my congregation that it was the Labor Day weekend and for many of us it is the time of having “one last long weekend hoorah” of the summer, having a Monday off, or a big retail sales window. And perhaps we have missed the meaning of this holiday in the US.
Many of you do know that Labor Day began showing up in the late 1800’s and had hope that folks would be aware of the unsafe and exploitative working environment for many workers. Labors were dying on their jobs (and not just of boredom). Laborers were working very long hours for very little pay with hazardous machinery beyond what is reasonable for humans to work. This also means that families were in a perpetual cycle of poverty with no hope of creating a new life-giving reality.
This is not how it was supposed to be.
Labor Day gives us the opportunity to pause and remember all who labor so hard. We reflect on how others create spaces for us to have food and medical care. Those who build the homes we live in, and those who repair our cars and trucks (I am especially grateful for car mechanics knowing I cannot do anything past changing my car’s oil or changing a tire). Laborers create so much for our lives that we miss, that we take for granted and often, friends, if we are honest, we dump much of our frustrations on those who are co-creating for our world in the service industry.
Perhaps this is how it can be:
Let’s all be co-creators with God in our world. Let’s remember that churches have indeed created shelters, food distribution sites, and medical facilities. They have welcomed refugees, provided education, gathered with voices to change unhelpful policies, and seen those who are often ignored by the world.
Oh, and the invitation? See what is happening in the church near you and when you are blessed by labors, thank them for creating ways that are so life-giving.
Editor’s note: ‘All Shall Be Well’ is a semi-monthly column written by local women clergy (pastors and deacons) including, ELCA Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, M.Div., retired (czoebidd@gmail.com); Nicolé Ferry, Pastor, Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church (pastornicole@bethluth.com); Lynn Finnegan, Associate Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith, Santa Fe (rev.lynn@holyfaithchurchsf.org) and Deb Church, Pastor, White Rock Presbyterian Church (pastor@wrpchurch.com).
