A prayer for Labor Day

Lord of life, you have given us six days on which to work, and modeled resting in your word on the sabbath. We give thanks for fair labor practices that offer time for rest and leisure as balance to our daily work. We pray for good and productive work in our daily professions and pursuits for the welfare of our neighbors. We pray for just and safe working conditions for all, for living wages, for honor and dignity in our employment. We pray that you work against all forces that steal human dignity or rob communities of the economic support they need from their labors to live sufficiently and well. For all those who defend the dignity of work, and all those who help us discover how to connect our faith to work, we give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.