I shared with the church that Labor Day began as a celebration of the organized Labor Movement.  As that movement has waned in recent years, we here at Alta Woods have taken the opportunity and the occasion to celebrate all working people.  Now, here at  our church, we have another dimension to add.  It is based on the reality that a great many of our people are retired.  A generation ago, to retire meant that you went home, did yard work, played golf, fished, hunted, and traveled.  Not bad.  But things have changed.

People in the Baby Boom generation are retiring earlier than those in their parents' generation.  Then they are resting up, retooling, going back to school, and starting new careers.  These new careers may last a year, ten years, or longer.  Then some will retire again, retool once more, and seek out yet another career.  With retirement income providing a base of support, people can do that comfortably. 

We are finding something else,  too.  A considerable number of people are going to work as volunteers, in schools, hospitals, businesses, churches (our church has loads of volunteers who work here), and in other places.  The contributions of volunteers are incalculable.  Without them, we as a nation would be in serious trouble.  We could not afford to pay others to do what volunteers do presently.

So today and this week, we celebrate those who are still working full time and part time.  We celebrate those who are preparing to go back to work doing something new and different.  And we celebrate a large number of volunteers who still go to work and make a contribution.  The Bible is quite clear that work is a gift from God.  Each of us should be grateful to have work, and we should do the best that we can at whatever we do.