There have been many predictions throughout history about how fast technology would develop, thus changing our work week. In 1882, the first Labor Day celebration was observed in New York City. It was to honor workers who made contributions to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. As time went on, economists predicted technological advancements would soon lead to a 15-hour work week by the 1930s. Then, by the 1960s, congressional leaders predicted a two-day work week by the year 2000. Yet, here we are almost 20 years past the prediction, and we see people overworked and underpaid, unemployment, and battles for safe and fair work environments. Working more hours simply hasn’t translated to greater production or higher levels of satisfaction. And, unlike how the predictions of our past had hoped, less work and more rest just aren’t realities for today’s laborers. In my personal experience, we ignore our mental, emotional, and spiritual need for rest. The phrase “let your soul catch up” has spoken to me lately. We can often work so dutifully and fast that our poor soul can’t catch up. And then, we are surprised when we are exhausted, irritable, and have developed unhealthy habits. This weekend, I invite you to meditate on the idea of letting your soul catch up. What does that mean to you and your family? What does “catching up” look like? I also invite you to remember why we have Labor Day: to acknowledge the social and economic successes of American workers. And, a part of that is acknowledging that not everyone gets Labor Day as a day off, and the fight for fair monetary compensation is still being fought. Let your soul catch up and be re-energized for labor. Your labor, in whatever form it exists, is important.   Happy Labor Day,   Pastor Sami

Rev. Lydia Sohn, a pastor at St. Mark’s UMC in San Diego, CA interviewed the ninety-year-old people in her congregation. She wrote about it in her blog titled “What It’s like to Be 90-Something: Aging Well, Living Happier.” It is an interesting article about what she expected and was surprised by in these conversations. The paragraph that stood out to me is this:

This radical relational orientation of all my subjects caught me by surprise. As someone who is entering the height of my career, I expend much more energy on my work than my relationships. And when I imagine my future, I envision what I will have accomplished rather than what my relationships will be like. These 90-something-year-olds emphasize the opposite when they look back on their lives. Their joys and regrets have nothing to do with their careers, but with their parents, children, spouses and friends. Put simply, when I asked one person, “Do you wish you accomplished more?” He responded, “No, I wished I loved more.” (www.revlydia.com/blog/2018/7/12/what-its-like-to-be-90-something, accessed August 14, 2018)

That is a significant statement, “I don’t wish I accomplished more, I wish I loved more.” No matter what season you are in, these are instructional words. As I sit at the bedside of people close to death, the conversations typically center on the people and shared experiences in their lives. They take comfort in the impact they have had in this world. And that impact is measured by relationships, not accomplishments.

Jesus taught that the 2 most important commandments, i.e. the heart of living as a faithful disciple of Jesus, is to love God with our whole selves, and to love others as we love ourselves. It’s all about relationships. Relationships with God, with others, and with our selves.

What will your relationships look like when you are 90 years old? What does that say to you about how you are living your live today?

Walking on the path of grace,

Pastor Patti

Who doesn’t love a new pair of socks? Well, you will have an opportunity to share that love with someone this winter! Bombas is a sock company that began in 2013 with the mission and goal to make wearing a clean pair of socks more accessible for everyone, especially those in homeless shelters.

The socks are engineered with an antimicrobial treatment for less-frequent washing, reinforced seams and dark colors, giving them greater durability with less visible wear.

So…how do they do it?

The first way Bombas works to meet their goal and mission is through “one for one”, similar to TOMS Shoes. For every pair purchased, there is a pair donated. If you love to give socks as gifts, order from Bombas!

The second way is through their giving program. And, we are all going to have the opportunity to participate in this because HUMM recently became a partner in Bombas’ Giving Partner program! This month, we will be the recipients of 250 pairs of Bombas socks! They are ours to give to others as we serve.

Thus, Matt and I have come up with the Sock It to ‘Em Video Contest!

Your goal:

1.) to think of groups in need of socks in our community here in Helena. Think outside the box. There are many people in need at places one might not have thought about. 2.) Then, make a short video about why they need the socks. The staff will judge the videos, and they will be awarded as such:

1^st place-150 medium pairs of socks

2^nd place-75 medium pairs of socks

3^rd place-25 medium pairs of socks

The top 3 videos will be shared in worship an on social media. The videos are due by November 1. If you need assistance with making your video, please email Pastor Sami at spack-toner@stpaulshelena.org. Good luck and good skill!