Sunday working

Chester Draws · 18th January 2010, 04:27 PM

Listening to a recorded Q&A session of a Swanwick gathering the speaker advised against taking a job that involved Sunday working. Similar advice was replicated in a recent magazine.

I’d like to think that ecclesias, being people not buildings or fossilised procedures, would be encouraged to be more thoughtful to the needs of one another and arrange other breaking of bread meetings for the Sunday workers? What say ye?

**dkiversen** · 18th January 2010, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chester Draws

I’d like to think that ecclesias, being people not buildings or fossilised procedures, would be encouraged to be more thoughtful to the needs of one another and arrange other breaking of bread meetings for the Sunday workers? What say ye?

I've belonged to several ecclesias that held supplementary breaking of bread meetings at homes for those unable to attend on a Sunday, whether due to work commitments, ill health or difficult domestic circumstances.

Evangelion · 18th January 2010, 06:04 PM

I used to be a shift worker for Australia Post, which required me to work every fourth Sunday morning, starting at 06:00. Nobody had a problem with it. One of my friends used to come and break bread with me later in the day.

Chester Draws · 18th January 2010, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkiversen

Several ecclesias held supplementary breaking of bread meetings at homes for those unable to attend on a Sunday

Great. Someone needs get the CMPA to update their advice!

ruthie · 19th January 2010, 08:10 AM

I used to have a job which could have involved Sunday working, and told my employers I would rather not work on a Sunday.

This gave me an opportunity to explain why, which was a preaching opportunity.

Also, I don't think CMPA should update their advice. What should it be updated to? "It's okay to work on Sundays, because somebody will come and break bread with you?".

Although we don't 'uphold the sabbath' I think it's only right we put God first, not ourselves. If that means not taking a job because it involves regular Sunday work (I don't mean once a month...maybe every other Sunday), then maybe we should think about how important meeting together, remembering Jesus and worshipping is.

Also, by agreeing to work Sundays, you are sending the message to your employers that they are more important than your God...and maybe that's not sensible either.

However - if you do have to work the occasional Sunday, it is very nice to break bread with others when you are able, and we should all bear in mind those who are unable, for any reason, to attend the memorial service, and make arrangements to supplement this with them.

Flappie · 19th January 2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chester Draws

I’d like to think that ecclesias, being people not buildings or fossilised procedures, would be encouraged to be more thoughtful to the needs of one another and arrange other breaking of bread meetings for the Sunday workers? What say ye?

Yes. That is not a reason not to advise people not to work on Sundays though.

**dkiversen** · 19th January 2010, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flappie

Yes. That is not a reason not to advise people not to work on Sundays though.

It is best to choose a career that minimizes conflict with attending the meeting.

Christadelphians tend to be attracted to caring professions that sometimes include Sunday shifts, though even then it's often possible to ask the person scheduling workers to avoid Sundays and those in the world are often only too eager to step in to take advantage of Sunday overtime rates.

Chester Draws · 19th January 2010, 05:53 PM

I agree that it is wise to choose a career path, where possible, that leaves us as free as we can be to meet with our brethren & sisters. But nowadays more employers seek to make all days the same and include the weekend in the normal 35/48 hour week.

For those who end up having to work weekends the ecclesia can either make life difficult or do its best to assist. I am advocating assistance and would like to hear more about what the ecclesia can do to help rather than here's the ecclesia - be there.

Evangelion · 19th January 2010, 09:48 PM

Well said Chester, I agree.

Chester Draws · 20th January 2010, 01:07 PM

I glad we agree.
That's two of us anyway.

CD

**dkiversen** · 20th January 2010, 01:56 PM

I agree too.

It is getting more and more common for employers to include not only the weekend, but twilight hours too; making it difficult to get to Bible Class as well as the Breaking of Bread.

I've also found increasing demand for travel and relocation, particularly with foreign companies buying up businesses. On the plus side, it's given me opportunities to have fellowship with different meetings in the UK and abroad and been a good witness that I'm not just propping up the hotel bar like my colleagues. On the down side, it increases the risk of being in isolation.

I was baptised in Yorkshire where the breaking of bread is commonly held in the afternoon; a hang-over from the mill shift patterns. So there's a long history of adapting to the practicalities of work demands.

Huldah · 11th July 2010, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chester Draws

I glad we agree.
That's two of us anyway.

CD

Me too.

We could take a thought for the doctors and nurses among us who have to do rotating shifts and can't avoid Sundays (imagine if you couldn't get to the hospital on a Sunday because everyone was off (I went into labour on a Sunday!!!))

Ken Gilmore · 11th July 2010, 09:37 PM

Any advice given dissuading Christadelphians from taking jobs that require Sunday work may be well-meant but ultimately is not useful given the 24/7 nature of working life for many people. As a hospital doctor, weekend work is a fact of life (some terms earlier in my career had me working every second weekend), and oftentimes, when I am doing a relieving term, I may only have a few week's notice, which makes the ecclesial rostering difficult at best.

Medicine is one of the few professions where you can directly serve the public, particularly when they are at their worst, and I consider it a privilege to be able to do this. Missing the odd Sunday is more than worth it in order to be able to help others.

18th January 2010, 04:27 PM	#1
Chester Draws Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 42	Sunday working Listening to a recorded Q&A session of a Swanwick gathering the speaker advised against taking a job that involved Sunday working. Similar advice was replicated in a recent magazine. I’d like to think that ecclesias, being people not buildings or fossilised procedures, would be encouraged to be more thoughtful to the needs of one another and arrange other breaking of bread meetings for the Sunday workers? What say ye?

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18th January 2010, 06:04 PM	#3
Evangelion Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Ecclesia: Sutton Coldfield Country: Australia Posts: 64	I used to be a shift worker for Australia Post, which required me to work every fourth Sunday morning, starting at 06:00. Nobody had a problem with it. One of my friends used to come and break bread with me later in the day.

19th January 2010, 08:10 AM	#5
ruthie Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Country: UK Posts: 18	I used to have a job which could have involved Sunday working, and told my employers I would rather not work on a Sunday. This gave me an opportunity to explain why, which was a preaching opportunity. Also, I don't think CMPA should update their advice. What should it be updated to? "It's okay to work on Sundays, because somebody will come and break bread with you?". Although we don't 'uphold the sabbath' I think it's only right we put God first, not ourselves. If that means not taking a job because it involves regular Sunday work (I don't mean once a month...maybe every other Sunday), then maybe we should think about how important meeting together, remembering Jesus and worshipping is. Also, by agreeing to work Sundays, you are sending the message to your employers that they are more important than your God...and maybe that's not sensible either. However - if you do have to work the occasional Sunday, it is very nice to break bread with others when you are able, and we should all bear in mind those who are unable, for any reason, to attend the memorial service, and make arrangements to supplement this with them.

19th January 2010, 05:53 PM	#8
Chester Draws Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 42	I agree that it is wise to choose a career path, where possible, that leaves us as free as we can be to meet with our brethren & sisters. But nowadays more employers seek to make all days the same and include the weekend in the normal 35/48 hour week. For those who end up having to work weekends the ecclesia can either make life difficult or do its best to assist. I am advocating assistance and would like to hear more about what the ecclesia can do to help rather than here's the ecclesia - be there.

19th January 2010, 09:48 PM	#9
Evangelion Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Ecclesia: Sutton Coldfield Country: Australia Posts: 64	Well said Chester, I agree.

20th January 2010, 01:07 PM	#10
Chester Draws Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 42	I glad we agree. That's two of us anyway. CD

20th January 2010, 01:56 PM	#11
dkiversen Extra Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Ecclesia: Kettering Country: UK Posts: 235	I agree too. It is getting more and more common for employers to include not only the weekend, but twilight hours too; making it difficult to get to Bible Class as well as the Breaking of Bread. I've also found increasing demand for travel and relocation, particularly with foreign companies buying up businesses. On the plus side, it's given me opportunities to have fellowship with different meetings in the UK and abroad and been a good witness that I'm not just propping up the hotel bar like my colleagues. On the down side, it increases the risk of being in isolation. I was baptised in Yorkshire where the breaking of bread is commonly held in the afternoon; a hang-over from the mill shift patterns. So there's a long history of adapting to the practicalities of work demands.

11th July 2010, 09:37 PM	#13
Ken Gilmore Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Ecclesia: Kedron Brook Country: Australia Posts: 15	Any advice given dissuading Christadelphians from taking jobs that require Sunday work may be well-meant but ultimately is not useful given the 24/7 nature of working life for many people. As a hospital doctor, weekend work is a fact of life (some terms earlier in my career had me working every second weekend), and oftentimes, when I am doing a relieving term, I may only have a few week's notice, which makes the ecclesial rostering difficult at best. Medicine is one of the few professions where you can directly serve the public, particularly when they are at their worst, and I consider it a privilege to be able to do this. Missing the odd Sunday is more than worth it in order to be able to help others.