GroshLink

What is World Vision ACT:S? A network of students committed to

• Exploring what our faith says about poverty and injustice
• Using creative activism to bring issues to life and change hearts on campuses
• Using our voices to advocate with our government leaders to help end poverty, injustice, and human suffering.

If you haven't already done such, check it out and join in a Day of Prayer as the U.S. Government enters a new fiscal year. 

P.S.  Theresa and I enjoyed our many opportunities to serve at the Pittsburgh Gifts-in-Kind Distribution Center, a number of which were with students from Carnegie Mellon U.  Wonder where those pictures are?  Maybe Theresa will find some as she tries to organize our digital pictures.  On second thought, I bet most of them are before we aquired a digital camera :-0

I've been thinking about Mike's question and I'm not sure if I have a best.  So many variables, follow this link to read nominations.  As for me, these are the first which come to mind:  “The Visitor,” “Good Will Hunting,” “A Beautiful Mind,” “Animal House,” “The Big Chill,” “Dekalog 8: Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness” ... "Paper Chase" is also good.  Even though "Wonder Boys" was shot at CMU, I'm still not so excited about it.  AND I guess I have some films to add to the to review list.  Anyone have other ones to add to the mix?

What a day with a number of friends and family from across Lancaster County at the Reader's Jamboree, Dutch Wonderland! Before bed we opened the books again ;-)

 

Back to the Reflection Question, our family discussed it in the car en route to Dutch Wonderland. I highlighted hitting the wall, i.e., realizing the world didn't revolve around me and that I couldn't do it all (or anything for that matter, but particularly that which is holy) on my own. That happened my first year at Grove City College with chicken pox in Zerbe Health Center, but in some ways happens afresh day after day as I cast off more & more of the old self.  Note:  To read my spiritual autobiography visit here.

Then we discussed how we know what's righteous and what's sinful ... resting in the hands of the Father, study of the Word, & filling/direction of the Spirit which transform us into greater and greater Christ likeness as individuals and members of the Body of Christ.

We wrapped up by encouraging one-another to follow Christ during our time at Dutch Wonderland, to treat one-another as Christ would have us. As the kids chatted about other things, I silently prayed to the Father for us to evidence the fruit of the Spirit as the children of God in the park. The Spirit was evident & amazingly continued to be, even with the girls being wound up through dinner/evening. Praise God!

More coming. ...

What has been one of the major truths or experiences you have had in your life that has significantly empowered you to follow Jesus and overcome sin and your life? -- HT to Fred. 

Some of my story coming later, gotta run to the park with the girls.

Have I mentioned how much I love to blog for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Emerging Scholars Network? Probably not.  If I have, it has not been often enough or with proper zeal! It's such a blast to think, ramble, and write about following Christ in higher education with my friend Mike. What a mission to be about regularly exploring a number of topics with our readers, but giving special attention to Academic vocation and calling, The role of faith and theology in specific academic disciplines, and Spiritual formation in the academy.  And then to hit campuses and conferences with all these articles, ideas and books at my finger tips ;-)

In case you haven't been keeping track, here's a few posts which I've written or contributed to in September.  Take a quick link over and enjoy a piece or two ...

• Week in Review: Revolutions -- just posted this morning! Tags include: digital revolution, postmodern stalinism, reading, seven deadly sins, study abroad, workspaces, writing.

• The Rural Brain Drain:  Below's is a quote from The Rural Brain Drain (Patrick J. Carr and Maria J. Kefalas, Chronicle of Higher Education, 9/19/2009).

Ultimately, with a plan and a vision the undoing of Middle America is not preordained. The rural crisis has been ignored for far too long, but, we believe, it isn’t too late to start paying attention. The residents of rural America must embrace the fact that to survive, the world they knew and cherished must change. And, on a national level, rural development must be more closely linked to national economic growth priorities, and policies must be created to help these communities prepare for a future that is already here.

• Week in Review: Ethics Tags include: ethics, faculty, ghost writing, humility, maimonides, norman borlaug, teaching, writing.


• Humility as essential to faculty success


• Keys of Thriving (Not Just Surviving!)


• An Obituary for the “Warfare” View of Science and Religion

PS.  I'm looking forward to October when ESN will host our 2nd Book Club, the first one was John Stott's Your Mind Matters. The book under consideration will be another modern day classic for followers of Christ in Higher Education, George Marsden’s The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship. Interested? Then please join us beginning October 7.  For more visit ESN Book Club: The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship.

Because God loves us with a Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always & Forever Love - Heaven is breaking through! He is sending us a Light from Heaven to shine on us like the sun to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace. -- John the Baptist's song in The Jesus Storybook Bible (Sally Lloyd Jones, illustrated by Jago, Zondervan, 2007, p. 200). 

From this fall's family devotions.   At Monday dinner, I read The Light of the whole world and The King of all kings, but Eden couldn't wait for Tuesday dinner to read about John the Baptist.  So we opened up The Jesus Storybook Bible to read Heaven breaks through over Tuesday breakfast.  FYI:  We didn't stop there, we added Let's go! 

What a joy not to just read these words for the education or spiritual formation of a child, but to be dwelling in the Presence of God through the Word with Eden.  I was reminded of the Great Story of which I am a part, receiving encouragement and direction in how I was to be part of the rescue mission as an ambassador of Christ on Tuesday, September 19. ... How are you part of the work of God today on Thursday, September 21?  May God the Father send you forth with his Word and Spirit in power to His life and Word as you become more and more like His Son Jesus throughout this day. 

To learn more about family's approach to devotions and the resources which we enjoy visit:

• It's amazing, so amazing, it's amazing how one man gets around
• Passing on the faith

Note:  Please let us know how your family practices devotions (or did when you were growing up or had kids in the house).  We're always eager to receive insights from other households of faith.

According to the survey, parents are by far the most influential people in the admissions process — with no one even a close second. (Friends were a distant second, edging out high-school guidance counselors and far ahead of teachers or coaches.) The survey also found that the sticker price of a college was a significant factor for half of all families, with 21 percent saying cost was the determining factor about whether to apply. An institution's brand name or "prestige factor" was important to about 45 percent of the parents and 35 percent of the students. -- What Colleges Don't Know About Admissions, By Steve Cohen, Chronicle of Higher Education, accessed 09/21/2009.

So it's a big surprise to college admissions offices?  Hard for me to believe, but maybe a generation who desired to leave home for a better place fill our campus admissions offices.  I wonder how much more competitive/consumeristic higher education can become, but more parent focused including various admissions incentives and secret shoppers (to evaluate the quality/content of campus tour guides) steps it up a level.

A friend commented on the article, "What role do churches play in helping their young people think through their futures?"  Anyone interested in a Next Steps: Transition from High School to College Seminar, maybe I should start writing/speaking about parenting and children's ministry.  Who would have ever guessed that? 

Father, have mercy upon us.  Grant our local congregations the vision and grace to journey with whole families as salt, leaven, and leaven in today's complex culture.  May we truly be the Body of Christ, learning what it means to live together in accountable community directed by the Word and Spirit from an early age.  In the name of your Son Jesus, Amen.

In summary, the two things necessary to thrive in school and after graduation:  read/query the Word of God AND have fellowship with the people of God no matter the work load.  If you can’t do the two above, then quit school.  Don’t become narrow and seek accolades.  Before moving for your job, make sure there is a good match with a local congregation.  Don’t focus on making money, limit your hours to be involved with community, church, family.  Take time to interact with your patients -- From Tom's notes on Keys of Thriving (Not Just Surviving!), http://blog.emergingscholars.org/2009/09/keys-of-thriving-not-just-surviving/, a PSU-Hershey’s Christian Medical Society lunch outreach lecture by Dr. Joe Kearns, MD, Emergency Medicine.

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We rejoice in your continued intercession! The LORD has sustained our family through a full August followed by the launch of the new academic year for our kids & those with whom I minister on campus. In addition to weekly visits to PSU-Hershey Medical Center (Tuesday lunch outreach, evening leadership team meeting, men's Bible study; Thursday noon time prayer) and Millersville (Wednesday faculty/staff lunch discussion of The Truth Project), I have the following on my plate:

 (More)

At Carnegie Mellon U., a Gleaming Computer-Science Complex Worthy of M.C. Escher (Lawrence Biemiller, Chronicle of Higher Education, 9/21/2009). A must visit the next time I'm in 'da Burgh.  Anyone with stories/pictures to share? BTW, Bill Gates, major donor, will be speaking tomorrow at the opening.

     

This morning I received an e-copy of Youthworker Journal. For those with interest in youth ministry, lots of good material. I particularly appreciated the articles by two guys who have recently partnered with our ministry.

1. Tom Sine on Be a New Conspirator: Young People and Lay Leaders Are Creating the Future. Note:  we hosted an informal graduate student conversation with Sine in Pittsburgh last fall.
2. Andy Crouch on Making the Most of Mission Trips. I think this article and his new material on this topic is significant. I hope that it receives attention at Urbana Student Missions Convention at year end. Note:  we hosted Crouch for the kick-off of the Central PA Christian Scholars Network.  

If you'd like to be part of conversations with guys such Tom Sine and Andy Crouch, drop me a note and I'll get you connected!  In case you haven't heard, the 2nd gathering of the Central PA Christian Scholars Network is right around the corner on Sunday, October 11. We'll feature Stephen Nichols, professor of theology and church history at Lancaster Bible College on Jesus for the Academy: Freeing Christ from our Agendas. Please RSVP by Monday, September 28.  Note:   Nichols will preach at Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ on To Whom Shall We Go? (John 6:66-69) and present on Jesus Made in America: Honest Looks, Honorable Responses during the adult elective time between the services (10 - 10:45 am).

Teaser:  it's not too soon to mark your calendar for the 3rd gathering of the Central PA Christian Scholars Network on 2/28.  We'll feature Don Kraybill on The Sociology of Faith: An Autobiographical Story. Note: Kraybill will preach at Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ on Jesus' Upside Down Kingdom and lead an adult elective on Amish Grace and Christian Forgiveness.

I'm thinking of writing an Emerging Scholars Network post on The Rural Brain Drain for Wednesday. Anyone have responses/thoughts to this article which I should be "sure to include?"  Note:  The title should be "The Rural and Small Town Brain Drain."

While I was weeding and finding many earthworms, Eden asked me, "Mom, is the worm your friend?"

"No, I don't think a worm can be your friend." (Theresa)

"But it's my best friend." (Eden)

Then Eden proceeded to sit on the chair and sing and talk to her new best friend for a good 10 minutes. Then she tried to feed her not-so-best-anymore-friend to the rooster who wasn't so interested in a now-lifeless-not-so-best-anymore-friend. -- Based upon a status update from Facebook. 

The second one, is a I Corinthians 13:4-8a bookmark, probably received through a women's ministry.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. 

Why have we found I Corinthians 13:4-8a such an encouraging text during times of stress? 

1. God is love.  We rest in His love.   I John 4 provides more insight regarding who God is and our call to express God's love toward one-another.  Note:  What a gift to receive the patient, kind, protecting, hopeful, persevering love of God through the people of God during times of distress.  To God be the glory!
2. Despite the challenges we face, the Spirit continually fills us with the fruit of the Spirit, directed by the Word and the intentions of the Father, transforming us more and more into His children who are part of His complete Body.  What an amazing gift to find oneself becoming a little Christ expressing the love of God even when one's frustrated and even toward those who frustrate/anger us.  Christ has come.  The Kingdom of God has come and will one day reach it's completeness when Christ comes again in full power.

No, this isn't about VeggieTales. 

Hayley and I came across the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra which watching YouTube videos on how to play various instruments. Has anyone else come across the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra or spent time making vegetable instruments (such as those strewn across YouTube)?  How about this sampling of the Q&A which emerges with those who are pushing the cultural envelope. ...

are you all vegetarians or vegans?

no we are not. don't ask again. we've heard this question 3 million times.

are you serious about your music?

yes we are. this is not a just-for-fun project.

isn't it an ethical problem to play on vegetable instruments while elsewhere people die of starvation?

we have heard this question very often. if you are really concerned about the distribution of wealth then do something about it! read books about the real cause of hunger. change your own life and try to change politics. buy and support the right things. it is not people using vegetables differently than usual that make the world a bad place. it's all of us wanting too much. our own car, a new cellphone, a bigger house with air condition, more money...

actually our instruments cause less problems than traditional instruments, laptops, etc... their production needs much less energy and ressources and they are bio-degradable.

Over the weekend, while cleaning through a nightstand I came across a stack of cards, letters, and notes which we received as encouragement during trying times.  As time permits for editing, I'll share pieces of them as a testimony to the work of God and as a blessing to those calling out for the Lord's strength/provision.

The first one, is The Silversmith.  You've probably already come across this in some form via email or web.  We received a copy during the uncertainty of Eden's first year.  The friend who passed along the story shared with Theresa:

The Silversmith story reminded me of you.  Although I already see His [God's] image in you, I'm glad He knows what fire you need and for how long.  I know that He will carry you through all this with Eden exactly according to His plans.  Keep giving Him glory -- as you do so well.  My thoughts and prayers are always with you. 

How true these words and prayers have been as God shaped Theresa, Eden, and our whole family during those difficult days.  Days which are still with us, but in different form.  And His hands remain in the midst of our family, molding us and shaping us by His Word, Spirit, and Body into the image of His Son Christ Jesus.

The Silversmith
author unknown

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.  One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get
back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.  As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."  She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.  The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the
fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.  The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"  He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it"

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

If you have a moment, listen/read Beneath the Surface posted by Kim Clijsters's husband Brian on the family page of her website. The song

pertains to people's outlook on other people in the spot light. It seems that most people think that just because you are a professional athlete or because you are in the public eye that everything is perfect but that certainly is not the case. Everybody, and I mean everybody has their everyday struggles that they face, their own cross to bear. In this particular song, it really hits home for me because it was written by a friend of mine, Kevin Reed that I played with in Bree who talks about the struggles he faces playing pro basketball in another country, yet everyone that he knows back at home thinks he is living this perfect life and everything comes easy. Thats not what real life is. He talks about proving people wrong who thought you wouldn't be able to make it. He talks about your everyday struggles but having the will to get through them. His positive words are to let you know that you can achieve greatness, but the road to it is not so easy. He breaks it down nice lyrically and I hope that it can touch and inspire you like it did for me.

After posting the above story/song on Facebook, a friend shared with me how this material would be helpful for their "professional" family to discuss.  As you might guess, this son of a dentist came out with a different perspective on the road to greatness and whether it should be traveled at all.  Some of my thoughts posted at Confessions of a Dentist's Son.  This post contains a link to Growing Up in a Dental Office, the outline of a presentation I gave to the Duquesne University faculty group on Building a Community You Can Count On: A Case Study of Growing Up in the Dental Chair (January 2005).  As I described the story to a friend this morning, I thought to myself that I should write a book on the topic (some day).  For visual learners, pictures of the office can be found here.  Newer ones of our kids are on the camera.  They'll be posted in the near future. ... Open Wide.  Smile ;-)  Click. 

 

Worth a title in itself?  Maybe not, but just had to post it.  In my estimation, Federer is the most complete men's player of the Open era.  What do you think?  del Potro's powerful forehand had something to say about Federer's resume ;-)  Wow, what swings of dominance in the five set Championship match!  What will this 20 year old Argentinian show us in future years?  Better than Nadal and Federer. ... we'll see next year.

My Facebook friends know that my recent sickness granted me time to watch more sports over the weekend than I have in quite awhile.  I particularly enjoyed a fair amount of the U.S. Open, despite the rain delays.  For those of you who missed last night's Women's Finals. ...

News Update:  Kim Clijsters, a 26-year-old Belgian, became the first mother to take a Grand Slam title since Evonne Goolagong Cawley won Wimbledon 1980. Go mom!  I called it before the game, but not when she was a wild card.

"The fairy tale goes on - some how, I'm in the US Open final on Sunday beating both Venus and Serena along the way... am i dreaming???" -- the often "quoted" quote from Clijsters' Twitter page

Here's the touching video of her daughter Jada during the post-match interview and her 'run to the title' ;-)  May God continue to grant the grace for Kim's work (even as succesful, "celebrity" athlete) and family to truly mix. I don't know much about their family's personal life or faith, but I think their witness of placing a high priority on family is a strong statement to our culture.

 

Since a friend on Facebook already expressed interest in the 8 page book review/personal reflection on Dennis F. Kinlaw's The Mind Of Christ, written for Luke L. Keefer Jr.'s "Brethren in Christ Theology of Salvation" class,* I posted it here.  Feel free to make comments and share your testimonies regarding the "mind of Christ."  Disclaimer: I hope my cold didn't affect my writing too much. Please forgive me for typos, I really could use a formal editor ;-)

As a teaser, here's my introduction ...

Dennis Kinlaw’s The Mind of Christ leapt off the shelf at Roxbury Holiness Camp’s bookstore.   From an early age, I desired to know, understand, and even shape the complex milieu of reality through my mind. But as the case with all fallen human beings, I chose to use my mind to pursue self-interest rather than the intentions of our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. God’s relentless transformation of my whole person compels me to dwell in Him more richly, declare His glory without reservation, and invite others to receive the “mind of Christ”. With this background, I found particular value in these five aspects of The Mind of Christ:

1. the humility of Kinlaw’s writing
2. “the mind of Christ” serving as an internal guidance system
3. the reality of sin
4. the call of God
5. the impact that Jesus has upon a person’s understanding

*A Brethren in Christ Core Course credited through Ashland Theological Seminary and taken as part of my growing relationship with Brethren in Christ World Missions.

Last week on the Emerging Scholars Blog, I highlighted a few points from PSU-Hershey's Christian Medical Society lunch lecture by Dr. Joe Kearns on Keys of Thriving (Not Just Surviving!).  As we start a new week on Groshlink, here are a few gems from Dr. Joel Yeager's, MD, Family Medicine, PSU-Hershey's Christian Medical Society lunch lecture on What does it mean to be a Christian physician?

1. Do you at this stage in life, happen to a Christian who happens to be a health care professional [Note from Tom: if you are not a health care professional, I would encourage you to fill in your own discipline/profession] or are you health care professional [Note from Tom: if you are not a health care professional, I would encourage you to fill in your own discipline/profession] who happens to be a Christian?  Does your profession define your faith or vice versa?  What is your focus?
2. How does one maintain focus?
   1. It's important for us to be rational/thinking believers.  This is what sustains us during difficult times/situations.  What are your core convictions, that which you're willing to defend, even die for?  Have you developed a Biblical lens/worldview for life which can address secularization/materialism, pluralism, and privatization?
   2. We're called to be countercultural. We are not to bury our heads in the sand or be beligerant, but instead be be truthful according to the Word of God and extend Life toward the God-shaped vacuum in each and every person.  To highlight his point, Yeager highlighted Luke 6:26, There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular. (Eugene Peterson's The Message.  Note:  NIV translation, Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.)
   3. Lastly we're to be redemptively engaged in the lives of others by sharing the stories of lives through relationships in community, being aware/open, letting the Spirit move through us.  Get into the muck of life and get our hands dirty.  Yeager noted that the medical degree provides an automatic ticket to relevant conversation in the muck of life/health. 

Tom processing the final point regarding redemptive engagement in the lives of others:  How true that is for a number of health care professions.  Giving it further thought ... whenever we serve another in practical way and give space/time to listening to their concerns, opportunities emerge.  None-the-less, it is true that people many times go to physicians with more on their heart and mind than their particular malady.  In addition, there still is a pervading sense that a doctor knows what he's talking about and can be trusted even beyond their speciality.  Agree, disagree?

Pray for Arlene and myself as we prepare to kick-off an adult elective which walks through N.T. Wright's Simply Christian:  Why Christianity Makes Sense.  Below's a description of the study, which will span two quarters.

Based on N.T. Wright's book of the same name, this class addresses questions such as, "Why do we expect justice? Why do we crave spirituality? Why are we attracted to beauty? Why are relationships often so painful? How will the world be made right?" According to Wright these are the very echoes of a voice we dimly perceive but deeply long to hear. Such questions even take us to the heart of who God is and what he wants from us. Wright makes the case for Christian faith from the ground up, assuming the reader has no knowledge of (or even some aversion to) religion in general and Christianity in particular. Simply Christian walks us through the Christian faith step by step and question by question. Wright challenges skeptics by offering explanations for the toughest doubt-filled dilemmas, leaving believers with a reason for renewed faith. He takes us beyond the controversies that can obscure what the Christian faith really stands for. Class will consist of viewing a short video and discussing questions it raises. Participants will benefit most by reading the suggested sections of the very readable book prior to class.

As you may have guessed, I'll keep you posted regarding personal reflections and topics which the class finds of interest.  Feel free to pick up a copy of the book to read along with us (or if you've already read it) and share your own reflections. 

PS:  If you're part of Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ and haven't signed up for an adult elective, you can see a description of all the options here.

Do any of my Carnegie Mellon University friends have resource suggestions to add or comments to make regarding ESN's Week in Review: Numbers Edition ;-)

Looking for more resources as you dive into your fall labors?  Then, I'd encourage you to check out Hearts and Minds Books' excellent Labor Day post and their annotated vocations bibliography.

And if you haven't already, take some time to explore the Complete Book of Everyday Christianity.  What a treasure!  Be sure to read their article on Calling/Vocation.

An A-Z guide to following Christ in every aspect of Life. Here in one book, is the complete guide you need for every part of your life—family, money, relationships, job, church, entertainment and more. The editors, Robert Banks and R. Paul Stevens, combine decades of ministry, scholarship, church leadership, parenting, and other sorts of practical wisdom.

PS.  Earlier post related to Labor Day, Do They Know It’s Labor Sunday?

 

Join us in prayer for the fall mission by visiting our September Prayer Calendar.

Today (9/1/2009):

I'm attending the Lunch Lecture sponsored by PSU-Hershey's Christian Medical Society. Pray for solid new student connections to be formed as fall term rolls along. In addition pray for a clear and challenging talk by Dr. Joe Kearns, MD, Emergency Medicine.  Note:  Joe will present on Keys of Thriving (Not Just Surviving!) in Medical School and Beyond.

In addition, pray for the C. S. Lewis Seminar, a faculty/staff group at PSU-Harrisburg. They're beginning a series of conversations based upon the debate Is God A Human Invention? -- sponsored by the Free Thought Society at Tufts University.  The debate was between Dinesh D'Souza, author of What's So Great About Christianity, and Daniel Dennett, Tufts philosophy professor and author. The debate can be found on Youtube in 15 episodes of about 10 minutes each. I'll get you started, let me know what you think of the debate....

Unless you are part of the United Church of Christ, you likely do not know that Labor Sunday is coming up September 6, 2009. I’ve never encountered this observance in a lifetime of attending assorted denominational and non-denominational churches. The UCC website suggests ways to bring the concerns of workers before the congregation, but Web searches on “Labor Sunday” plus the names of other denominations bring up only very old documents like a 1907 Assembly Herald (Presbyterian) and a 1911 Herald of Gospel Liberty (General Convention of the Christian Church). The latter declared, “This day stands for the united action of the churches in the field of industrial life, a fact of supreme importance in the history of religion. … And yet how many preachers, and how many church members are familiar with the ‘Social Creed of the Churches,’ and its requirements[?]” -- Do They Know It’s Labor Sunday? The century-old observance is scarcely observed, but its concerns remain current. By Elesha Coffman, August 19, 2009.

Interesting.  What do you think about the idea of Labor Sunday?  Does your local congregation celebrate Labor Sunday (or some form of it)?  Along similar lines, yesterday morning I was thinking about the commissioning of students/teachers for the new academic year.  Does your local congregation have such a practice and/or some form of recognition of transition for those leaving high school?