On Sunday, March 29, Kimball Avenue Church will participate with other Logan Square Churches in an event called, “We Who Are Many are One: From the Lord’s Table to Every Table.”  We’ll begin our Sunday at 3429 W. Diversey Ave for Worship at 10 am, then proceed with the other churches to the Logan Square Eagle monument at 11:30 am where we will break bread together with fast food workers and then parade to the local McDonald’s for a prayer vigil.  For more information, go to the Facebook Event page.  Be sure to DRESS FOR COLD WEATHER and bring an umbrella in case of showers.

Genesis 2:4-9, 15-20

In this version of the creation story, what roles are given to the human in the garden? How is the human a co-worker with God? Is your job (employment) the same as your work? If we are “co-workers” with God in the world, what does that imply we will do in the world? When do you most feel you are doing God’s work—whether at your workplace or elsewhere?

Exploitation of labor to produce our crops has been happening from the beginning…and it is still happening.  Watch the trailer of the documentary, “Food Chains”.  It is available for rent (limited time 0.99 rental) through iTunes.

Genesis 1:24-2:3;

What work are humans assigned? Would you say that work/labor is “divine punishment” for sin (see Genesis 3:16-19) or “divine calling”? If it is “divine calling”, how does that impact your work and your attitude toward your work? If it is “divine calling”, what attitude should we have toward those who cannot find employment or who work without pay or benefits?

The Northwest Indiana Times reports that Mitch Daniels, former Governor of Indiana and current President of Purdue University, has proposed a new way to fund higher education.  Investors would pay tuition for students who would pay back the investors using post-graduate income.  Opponents say this is nothing more than indentured servitude and would discourage students from entering fields that are traditionally lower paying–like teaching.  Read the entire story HERE.

Matthew 20:1-16

What surprises you about the landowner’s employment practices? Why do you think he would hire people at 5:00 pm—an hour before quitting time? What seems to motivate the actions of the landowner in hiring AND in wages? Do you think the workers’ complaint about unfair treatment is valid?

This is a story about the kingdom of heaven. How is employment and wages in the kingdom different from employment and wages in our world? Who receives the greatest benefits from “kingdom labor practices?” Would you like to work in the kingdom of heaven? Why or why not?

For Pastor Ray’s perspective on this story as it relates to employment and wages, go HERE

We’re not just talking about the nutritional content of fast food.  Injuries are common for Fast Food Workers.  They are so common that last week, McDonald’s workers filed 28 health and safety complaints with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and state agencies against McDonalds in 19 cities.

Brittney Berry, a McDonald’s worker in Chicago slipped on a wet floor, catching her arm on a hot grill.  She was told by her managers to put mustard on it!  But the burn was so bad that she had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital for treatment.  Her experience isn’t uncommon.  According to the National Council of Occupational Safety and Health, 33% of employees who suffer burns are told to place condiments like mustard, mayonnaise, butter and even ketchup on their injury instead of burn cream.  Thanks to inappropriate treatment, many employees wear the scars of work in fast food for life.

Ian Swanson, a Chicago 5th grader, has started a petition asking Ronald McDonald to stop hurting workers.  You can sign it HERE.

John 5:1-18

Bethesda means “house of grace”, but there hasn’t been much grace to be found in this place for this man who has been waiting for 38 years to jump into the magic waters where he will be healed of his disability (and finally employable.) What parallels do you see between his situation and our current “labor pool”? We often see thousands of desperate people lining up to apply for a few jobs. Only the lucky few get the grace. How does Jesus’ action challenge the system?

Once the man is healed, he is stopped by the Sabbath police and ticketed for working! What mindset is at the heart of the actions of the Jewish leaders? Where do you see similar mindsets today?

Jesus says that God is at work all the time. What do you think God’s work is in relationship to employment?

In April, 2014, Pope Francis tweeted, “Inequality is the root of all social evil.”  This tweet came months after publishing his 84 page “Evangelii Gaudium”, in which he called unfettered capitalism “the new tyranny”.  “As long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved by rejecting the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation and by attacking the structural causes of inequality, no solution will be found for the world’s problems or, for that matter, to any problems.”   

Luke 7:1-10

At first, this doesn’t seem like a passage about work. However, it IS about a worker—the servant—and his boss, the Centurion. List all the actions of the Centurion while his servant is sick. Would you say that he is a good boss? Why? How do his actions give dignity to the lowly servant? Why do you think Jesus is so impressed by this boss? On a scale from 1 to 10, how much dignity do you think most low-wage workers receive? How could the “dignity meter” be raised?