2026 September Pastor Message
Dear Church Family,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As we step into the month of September, my prayer is that God’s profound peace and abundant blessings surround you and your families.
On September 7, we celebrate Labor Day. For many, it unofficially marks the end of summer—a time to gather with loved ones, enjoy our favorite grilled foods, or splash away the final days of pool season. But Labor Day is much more than that. It is a time to honor the dignity of human labor and recognize the resilience and dedication of workers everywhere.
Whenever Labor Day approaches, it reminds me of my father. He was incredibly diligent and fiercely dedicated to our family, but I also remember that he rarely took a break. During the IMF financial crisis in Korea, he lost his job and had to start his own farming business to survive. The work was physically demanding. I remember trying to help him by cutting trees and grass, loading heavy materials, and feeding the animals. Through that hard, sweaty work, I discovered the genuine joy of labor. I still deeply respect my father’s sincerity, honesty, and tireless dedication. However, he didn't know how to rest. He just kept working and working.
Work itself is a gift from God. It allows us to take part in His purposes on earth. Even before the first man and woman disobeyed God, they were given a job to do—tending the garden. But after the fall, work often became toil and a burden. Today, no matter how much we enjoy our jobs, we inevitably find ourselves tired and burnt out at times.
Yet, God has given us grace for our fatigue. In creation, God established the Sabbath for us—a day set apart for rest. While that ultimate time of renewal and rest is now found in Jesus rather than limited to a particular day of the week, we must still intentionally carve out time in our busy schedules to step away from our labor.
For Christians, Labor Day is an invitation to step back and evaluate our heart’s posture toward work:
Have we made work an idol, striving ceaselessly for our own success?
Do we trust our jobs to provide for us more than we trust the One who provides all things?
Is our heart toward work filled with resentment? Do we see it solely as something that restricts our freedom, doing only the bare minimum to get by?
These questions point us back to our ultimate example: Jesus. Labor Day is an opportunity to remember Christ, whose finished work brings us into God’s eternal rest.
Our work is worship when we seek to do all things for God’s glory. When we put work in its rightful place—seeing it as a gift and a means to provide for our families—we are compelled to praise God for the grace He has given us in it.
Our rest is worship when we look to Christ, who has done everything necessary for our salvation. We can cease our striving and know that He is God. On the cross, Jesus cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30), and He now rests at the right hand of God.
As you spend time with family, friends, or co-workers this Labor Day, praise God for your work. Whether you work from home or in an office, whether your primary job is raising children or leading a corporation, all work belongs to the Lord and is done as an act of worship to Him.
Take time this weekend to pray for those you interact with every day—the barista at your local coffee shop, the cashier at your favorite boutique, the teller at the bank. Pray that they would find joy in their work and true rest in Jesus. And I pray these things for you as well, as you consider the rhythms of work and rest in your own life.
In His Grace,
Peter Lee
September Calendar: Upcoming Gatherings & Sermons
As we gather for worship throughout this month, please note the following dates:
Sept 5 (Sat): Women in Faith Meeting at 9:30 AM
Sept 6 (Sun): Sermon: Words of Rest for Labor Day (Psalm 23:6) & Communion
Sept 12 (Sat): Men’s Group Gathering at 8:00 AM
Sept 13 (Sun): Guest Speaker: Rev. Ray Bailey
Sept 20 (Sun): Sermon: Jonah 1:1-16
Sept 27 (Sun): Sermon: Jonah 2 & Praise and Worship
September Encouraging Bible Verses
May these scriptures strengthen your heart and guide your steps this month:
Colossians 3:23-24
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters... It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
Matthew 11:28
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."