Work/Occupation Liturgy
Occupation/work is central to our daily lives, and should be recognized more often in our regular worship. This page outlines options for doing so.
Why Have a Liturgy Focused on Work?
As you can read on our Work & Occupation page, there are many ways in which our work is connected to our faith. This is why Pope John Paul II wrote On Human Work and why we have a special liturgy "For the Blessing of Human Labor." Here are some key insights you can pass on to your parishioners through a work liturgy:
- Your Work Matters to God - One's occupation is one of the primary ways we minister in the world. Through work we collaborate in God's creation, we serve people, meet our own needs, use our talents, and earn money that we can share with others. Whatever one's occupation -- traditional worker, student, retired, parent, volunteer, searching for work, etc. -- we all work. Simply recognizing this is an important first step.
- Be Intentional About Bringing Your Faith to Work - Consider how your faith can better inform what at work. Start your commute, work day, or each work session (e.g. every time you sit down at your desk) with a prayer. Be attentive to the needs of your co-workers and don't be to afraid to mention your faith. Consider how you can live out the values of the Gospel through your work actions.
- Work/Life Balance - Work is a good thing, but as with everything we need to be intentional and have healthy (Sabbath) limits. What is "enough" for you? Is work taking over other time that is better spent with your family or yourself?
- Worker Justice - Labor is an area with much injustice. What rights do you believe all workers should have, and how can you work to support those rights?
Scheduling
Typical Sundays for focusing on work and occupation:
- Sunday preceding Labor Day.
- Sunday following Labor Day. Some churches find their attendance is significantly lower on the long Labor Day weekend, so they choose this option.
- Feast of St. Joseph the Worker (May 1). This optional memorial has long been associated with work, and the assigned lectionary readings reflect that. Learn more about this feast here.
Lectionary
The readings for the feast of St. Joseph the Worker correspond with work (Lectionary #559).
The sacramentary and lectionary also include "Masses and Prayers For Various Needs and Occasions," one of which is "For the Blessing of Human Labor" (Lectionary #846-850; Sacramentary: Masses and Prayers for Various Needs #24). The lectionary offers multiple options for each reading and the sacramentary offers prayers focused on labor.
Obviously, when changing readings be sure to inform lectors and music ministers.
The sacramentary and lectionary also include "Masses and Prayers For Various Needs and Occasions," one of which is "For the Blessing of Human Labor" (Lectionary #846-850; Sacramentary: Masses and Prayers for Various Needs #24). The lectionary offers multiple options for each reading and the sacramentary offers prayers focused on labor.
Obviously, when changing readings be sure to inform lectors and music ministers.
Clothing
Invite parishioners to wear the clothing they wear in their occupation: what they wear most in their Monday through Saturday ministry.
In some years we have asked people to come to worship dressed as they dress for work. People can wear their uniforms or work clothes. In our congregation not too much changes because many of our members are business and professional people who dress essentially the same on Sunday as on Monday. In blue collar congregations, however, the work dress is much more interesting. [William E. Diehl, Ministry In Daily Life]
When making the invitation, be sensitive to those not in a traditional profession:
Since the occupation will not be obvious from all clothing, consider providing name tags for everyone, to list their first name and occupation (and optionally place of work).
- Students: Wear your school uniform or any clothing identifying your school.
- Unemployed/seeking work: Wear either what you would wear in the job you are seeking or to an interview.
- Retired/homemaker/full-time parent: Wear whatever you wear in living out these roles. One could also wear clothing associated with a significant part-time role, either as paid work, volunteer work, or a hobby.
Since the occupation will not be obvious from all clothing, consider providing name tags for everyone, to list their first name and occupation (and optionally place of work).
Preparation of the Altar and the Gifts
The instruction for the Preparation of the Altar and the Gifts reads as follows:
It is desirable that the participation of the faithful be expressed by members of the congregation bringing up the bread and wine for the celebration of the eucharist or other gifts for the needs of the Church and the poor.
This is an opportunity to offer the physical tools of our occupations for the mission of the Church.
Roberta Longsworth, our first director of lay ministries, once suggested that we ask people to bring to worship a symbol of their daily work. During the period normally given to an offering, we asked people to come forward and lay their work symbols on a large table in front of the altar. In our congregation, we see a greater variety of work symbols than ways of dressing for work. People will bring laptop computers, pieces of chalk, stethoscopes, cellular phones, date books, carpentry tools, cake pans, and so forth. In the context of an offering during the worship service, the occupational symbols are effective. [William E. Diehl, Ministry In Daily Life]
Depending on logistics and the size of your congregation, representative tools could be offered on behalf of the community, instead of asking everyone to bring their own. But ideally get everyone involved!
The gifts may be offered in a prayer similar to that of the bread and wine, such as:
The gifts may be offered in a prayer similar to that of the bread and wine, such as:
Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation;
through your goodness we have our time and skills to offer.
Fruit of our lives and experience.
They will become tools to be used for your glory.
Blessed be God for ever.
[Marjorie Dobson, Open with God, published by the West Yorkshire Synod of the Methodist Church, District Office, 19 Wentworth Court, Rastrick, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, hd6 3xd ]
Additional Prayers
Additional prayers may be offered, either directly for the assembly in support of their role in the world or for broader intentions. Consider how to address work-related intentions in the Prayers of the Faithful.
- Prayer resources (United Church of Christ)
Message
The first step in making a faith-work connection is to simply acknowledge and affirm that connection, which is primarily what the above suggestions are geared toward. That's an important start. However, what will be more useful to our parishioners is to help them start get into the practical issues of living as a disciple in the workplace. Our services should also incorporate calls for worker justice.
See Work & Occupation for ideas for how to go deeper.
See Work & Occupation for ideas for how to go deeper.
Sharing Our Faith
Some ideas for using this liturgy to share the faith:
- Be sure to take pictures so you can use them to promote the parish (on the website or in articles).
- Since this is an interesting idea that is not commonly used, use it as a way to promote the parish. Get an article in the diocesan or community newspaper.
- Since it is so daily life oriented, it is a good opportunity for parishioners to invite friends to liturgy, especially inactive Catholics. They may be more willing to extend an invitation the following year after seeing how it works.
Taking It Home
Consider sending something home handouts with parishioners to reinforce the work-faith connection, and perhaps give them particular "tools" to support thin the workplace (such as those outlined in the book Spirituality@Work). See Work & Occupation for handouts and ideas.
Other Resources
- Labor Day Sunday - Free resources to celebrate the gift of work. (TheHighCalling.org/Center for Faith and Work)
- Labor Sunday resources (United Church of Christ)
- How to Plan Labor in the Pulpits (Interfaith Worker Justice)
Related To
This liturgy focuses on the daily life topic of Work & Occupation.
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