"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

The National Colored Convention in session at Washington, D.C. / sketched by Theo. R. Davis.

• Illus. in: Harper's Weekly, 1869 Feb. 6, p. 85.

The first Labor Day celebration was held on September 5, 1882, and was organized by the Knights of Labor. The Knights of Labor founded in Philadelphia in 1869 by UriahStephens was also known as Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor. The Knights of Labor allowed membership by Women and Blacks. In the wake of a strike against the Pullman Company by its employees and the harsh ending of the strike by President Grover Cleveland, the official holiday was created. President Cleveland seized the chance at conciliation offered by Congressional legislation establishing a day to honor labor, especially labor unions, and in 1894 Labor Day was born. The Lectionary provides a Labor Day Service. According to a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement

September 23 is the 267th day of the year 2012. There are 99 days remaining until the end of the year, 44 days until the presidential election and is frequently the convergence of two stellar events: the birth of Saint John Coltrane and the autumnal equinox (Sept 22nd in 2012) the "equinox" spans several days before AND after that date.
The Fall Equinox is also known as: Alban Elfed, Autumn Equinox, Autumnal Equinox, Cornucopia, Feast of Avilon, Festival of Dionysus, Harvest Home, Harvest Tide, Mabon, Night of the Hunter, Second Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, Witch's Thanksgiving, and the first day of autumn. Many religious festivals occur on or near the equinox for example, Rosh Hashanah began in the evening of Sunday, September, 2012, and ended in the evening of Tuesday, September, 2012. Michaelmas (also known as the Feast of Michael and All Angels), on September 29, falls near the September equinox.

As I see it!: St. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage

As I see it!: St. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage

With the exception of Tertullian, Cyprian was the first Latin Christian writer.

During the see of Cyprian plague swept across the ancient world in the third century, Christians were the only ones who cared for the sick, which they did at the risk of contracting the plague themselves. Meanwhile, pagans were throwing infected members of their own families into the streets even before they died, in order to protect themselves from the disease. 

Woe to the worthless shepherd, forsaking the flock, A sword is on his arm, and on his right eye, His arm is utterly dried up, And his right eye is very dim!' Zechariah 11:17 Young's Literal Translation

Rev. Rogelio Panton

Jeremiah 23
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD.

The Rev. Canon Gregory A. Jacobs

REV. 13:11  I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon.
13:12  He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.


13:9  If anyone has an ear, let him hear.