Worship and Work Must Be One

We don't sing this Fred Kaan hymn much anymore, maybe because of the older, patriarchal version in Voice United. It does invite us to a balance of "ora et labora" the Benedictine balance of work and prayer/worship which is essential for health and wholeness. On this Labour Day we can thank God for meaningful work and joyful play and the gift of serving others.

Worship the Lord!
Praise the Creator, the Spirit, the Son,
raising our hands
in devotion to God who is one!

Raising our hands as a sign of rejoicing,
and with our lips our togetherness voicing,
giving ourselves to a life of creativeness,
worship and work must be one.

Worship the Lord…

Praying and training that we be a blessing,
and by our handiwork daily confessing:
we are committed to serving humanity,
worship and work must be one.

Worship the Lord…

Called to be partners with God in creation,
looking to Christ for each day’s inspiration,
we must be ready for risk and for sacrifice,
worship and work must be one.

Worship the Lord…

Bringing the bread and the wine to the table,
asking that we may be led and enabled,
truly united to build new communities,
worship and work must be one.

Worship the Lord…

Now in response to the life you are giving,
help us, Creator, to offer our living,
seeking a just and a healing society,
worship and work must be one.