Labor Day is approaching quickly, and Americans all over the country are deciding how they’ll choose to celebrate their extra-long weekend. 

While the 140 year-old federal holiday is not a religious holiday by any stretch of the imagination, church leaders may want to get creative about how they acknowledge Labor Day. They may also want to provide safe, family-friendly ways for their church members to celebrate together. 

In the following article, we’ll take a look at five ways that your church can celebrate Labor Day weekend this September. 

But first, let’s take a look at what Labor Day is, and why it’s significant. 

What Does the Bible Say About Labor Day?

The Bible does not mention Labor Day because it’s a relatively new holiday, and unique to the United States. 

Labor Day began in the late 19th century. In response to poor working conditions and a lack of legislation surrounding labor, laborers organized marches and rallies to fight for better wages and working conditions. The “Labor Day” parade brought together 10,000+ workers in New York City to march for their rights on September 5th, 1882. Two years later, “Labor Day” became an official American holiday to commemorate the labor movement. 

Nearly a century and a half later, we are still celebrating Labor Day, but many Americans may not even know what the holiday represents. 

While it’s not a Christian holiday, Labor Day can be an opportunity to celebrate Biblical values. The Bible emphasizes a good work ethic and also stresses the importance of treating others with fairness. It also talks about the importance of rest–and with the right approach, Labor Day can become a wonderful opportunity for your church members to rest, fellowship, and reflect before starting a new season. 

How to Honor Labor Day at Your Church 

Your church service may be smack-dab in the middle of Labor Day weekend. 

That being said, there are a few different ways to talk about Labor Day as a church leader. 

Whether you want to:

• Make a quick mention of the holiday…
• Turn it into a sermon…
• Or give your church members a chance to spend time together on their Monday off…

There are many ways to honor Labor Day at church. 

Here are five of them. 

1. Make a short mention before your sermon. 

If you’d like to quickly acknowledge Labor Day before your sermon, you can use the opportunity to a) tell your church members what Labor Day is, and b) remind them to rest!

You might say something like, Labor Day is a holiday when we celebrate freedoms and rights fought for by workers in America in the late 19th century. Let’s enjoy an extra day off by resting well and spending time with loved ones. 

You can also create a postcard or handout with details about Labor Day, and verses on work and rest. 

2. Teach a message on work and rest. 

Labor Day reminds us all of the balance between work and rest. Studies show that over half of all workers in the United States are burned out–and that certainly doesn’t exclude those of us working in ministry! In fact, pastors experience burnout at a high rate. 

The Bible is full of wisdom on how to pursue a healthy work-life balance. Scripture on work tell us that working hard is wise and Godly. But the Bible also tells us to rest; in fact, it mandates rest, especially in the form of the Sabbath (see below).  

Here are several passages that can act as starting points for a message on work and rest. 

• The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15)

• Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. . . (Colossians 3:23)

• Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. (Exodus 20:8-10)

Work is a hugely significant part of life for most of your church members, but many of them may not think about their relationship with work and how it does or doesn’t reflect Biblical values. 

Labor Day is an opportunity for your church members to consider their attitudes about work, rest, and busyness, and make changes if needed. 

3. Host a Labor Day picnic (or BBQ, bonfire, or beach day). 

You may have many church members that are new to your community, live far from family, or are looking for a fresh start. In that case, one of the best ways to serve and love your members is to host events–like a Labor Day picnic–where they can make new friends and get connected. 

Depending on where your church is, you might host a Labor Day picnic, beach day, BBQ, bonfire, or carnival. Get creative about how you can bring your church family together–no need to get fancy: hamburgers, cornhole, cold sodas, and picnic blankets are sometimes all that’s required for a great party 🥳.

4. Organize a Back-to-School drive. 

Labor Day typically falls before or during the start of the school year. Take advantage of the additional day off, and organize an event at your church to collect items for schools and students in need–such as a backpack or used electronics drive. 

Or think about creative ways to serve educators in your church community. A special gift or expression of appreciation can go a long way at the beginning of a new school year. 

5. Run a social media campaign. 

If you’re not looking to organize an event or preach a sermon for Labor Day, you may simply want to run a Labor Day social media campaign. 

Don’t have the time to create social media graphics just for Labor Day?

Tithe.ly has you covered, with free Labor Day graphics just for churches and a social media scheduler to help you plan in advance.

Click here to download the graphic below. 

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Enjoy Your Day Off 

Remember, Labor Day is a day off for church leaders, too! Take a much-needed break and enjoy the day with friends and family. 😎 You deserve it!