As summer winds down and we head into Labor Day weekend, it’s a good moment to pause and remember the people who fought for the rights many of us now take for granted–safer workplaces, fair hours, and the dignity of a living wage. A visiting minister at church this morning reminded us how costly that progress was, especially for children who once worked long, dangerous hours that cut their lives short.

Those protections didn’t arrive by accident, and they aren’t guaranteed forever. Our community–and the wider world–does better when we insist on safe conditions and stand against any return to exploitative practices, here or anywhere.

We closed the service with the hymn “This Is My Song,” a quiet prayer for peace and justice across all nations. Its message felt right for the weekend: gratitude for what we’ve built, and resolve to keep building it–fairly.

Wishing everyone a thoughtful, restful Labor Day.