LIPtext_000_0.gifThis Labor Day weekend, 27 local churches will be celebrating workers and labor during their services through the Labor in the Pulpits program. Dozens of local synagogues and temples will also be celebrating workers through the Labor on the Bimah program, organized by Jews United for Justice.rnrnMany participating congregations will raise up worker justice issues during sermons and homilies, while others will offer prayers of blessing for workers or for the unemployed. Some congregations have invited guest speakers or organized special programs after services. rnrnAt McKendree-Simms Brookland UMC in DC, Kimberly Freeman Brown, Executive Director at American Rights at Work, will speak about the movement to expand the organizing rights, while at Woodside UMC in Bethesda, Chris Neif of the United Food and Commercial Workers will speak about efforts to organize Wal-Mart. rnrnAt Foundry United Methodist Church on 16th Street, Rev. Dr. Miguel de la Torre will give a guest sermon on “God, Immigration, and Work.” The special service, which will feature a blessing of day laborers, will be followed by fellowship luncheon with the Union de Trabajadores and, later in the evening, a film showing of the documentary “Igual Que Tu.”rnrnChurch of the Pilgrim Presbyterian will be turning over their pulpit to the Rev. Phil Tom, who formerly served as the Director of Urban Ministry for the Presbyterian Church (USA), and now serves as Director of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships for the Department of Labor. rnrnThe local Labor Day weekend activities are part of the national Labor in the Pulpits/Labor on the Bimah programs. For more info, and to see resources for worship, visit the Interfaith Worker Justice website.rnrnThe full list of participating churches includes: rnAll Soul’s House of PrayerrnAll Souls Unitarian Church rnAsbury United Methodist ChurchrnBrookland Union Baptist ChurchrnChrist Lutheran ChurchrnChurch of the Pilgrims PresbyterianrnCovenant Baptist Church rnCulmore United Methodist ChurchrnDumbarton United Methodist ChurchrnFirst Baptist ChurchrnFirst Trinity Lutheran ChurchrnFoundry United Methodist ChurchrnGRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCHrnLiving Water Inclusive CommunityrnMcKendree-Simms Brookland UMCrnMetropolitan Community Church of Northern VirginiarnNational City Christian ChurchrnNational City Christian Church rnOur Lady, Queen of Peace Catholic Church rnPlymouth Congregational ChurchrnSecond Baptist ChurchrnShrine of the Most Blessed SacramentrnSt. Francis of Assisi rnSt. Matthew’s Cathedral rnSt. Teresa of Avila Catholic ChurchrnWoodside UMCrnWestminster Presbyterianrnrn