United Church of Christ Daily Devotional 13th June 2025, Friday Message
This Is the Day
By Donna Schaper
This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)
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“Thank God it is Monday!” Not “Thank God it is Friday” or “Thank God it’s the weekend.” How about finding joy and relief in a Monday—not just at the end of a work week? How about taking a little vacation every day—not just in summer? Hmm. “People say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”
The Haymarket Riot was a union victory for the 8-hour workday. “Eight hours for work, eight hours for sleep, and eight hours for what we will.”
We could also understand the work of the people – liturgy, from the Greek word for “public service” – as more than reading in church on Sunday or serving on the worship committee. Imagine going to church as fuel for the work. Reading scripture at work as fuel for the spirit. Stealing work back from work, too, to lace and pace it with a bit more choice. You may have to sneak around your boss or co-workers (who also thank God it’s Friday), so busy are we and they following unholy orders.
Imagine a crock pot lunch on Tuesdays in the staff room. Spanish lessons and conversations on the train to work. Carpools. Prioritizing good relationships at work and at home, not just home. Imagine.
A Japanese spiritual practice might help. It asks four questions for rating and reflection, with 10 as optimal and 0 as dismal for each question: Do you have time to do the things you love? What are you good at? What does the world need? Are you paid enough to do it?
My score shows my confusion about the days the Lord has made. I don’t blame myself; the system(s) stink. I could carve out a plan to prohibit that unholy prayer, “TGIF.” After all, I didn’t make these days. Neither did my boss or co-workers. God did. God wants a 40.
Prayer
Let us rejoice and be glad.
About the AuthorDonna Schaper is an interim Pastor at the United Church of Gainesville, Florida, and author, most recently of Remove the Pews—first from your theology, then from your building.
