Can I work on Sunday?

[Matthias]

Hi there.

At the moment I have a full-day job in a department store working all day each Sunday. If I am able to attend Divine Liturgy on Saturday, am I in the right? I am aware some Orthodox and Catholic have the view that Sunday must be the day of no-work, and is strictly a day to praise God.

Should I change my day of work from Sunday to a different day? I am going to be speaking to my priest about this, but wanted some different people's opinions. Thank you all, for your help!

 

[Daedalus]

If you can, you really should.

 

[xenia]

Our family was always very involved in our church. We attended every Sunday. When our three older children took jobs and moved away from home, we noticed something: the two who worked on Sundays fell away from the faith. To this day they don't attend church regularly and have made some regrettable life choices. Most of their friends aren't Christians. The third child determined in his heart not to work on Sundays and continued regular church attendance. He has a strong walk with the Lord and most of his friends are Christians. He has not made as many poor choices as the other two have made.

So I would advise that unless it is an emergency, don't work on Sundays. Put the worship of God first and other things will work out- you'll see. Don't let people tell you this is legalistic, either. That's the current Christian buzzword to justify doing whatever one wants to do.

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.

God bless you,
Xenia

 

[Eusebios]

I work retail and work most Sunday afternoons. I have simply told my superiors that I cannot work until 2pm which gives me plenty of time to attend Divine Liturgy, relax at coffee hour and go to work.
Our priest has always encouraged us to avoid work on Saturdays, since it is in fact still the Sabbath (Sunday being the Lord's Day or Ressurection Day). UnfortunATELY THAT IS ALSO DIFFICULT FOR BOTH MY WIFE AND MYSELF AS WE ARE BOTH RETAIL EMPLOYEES. (darn caps lock!)
Anyway, I hope you can work something out, follow your priests advice, he will look out for you.
His unworthy servant,
Eusebios.

 

[Moros]

Even when I was athiest I refused to work Sundays.

 

[Matthias]

Thanks for your inputs!

 

[Daedalus]

If you can, you really should.

Actually I ment shouldn't work.
If you can, you really should change that working day.

 

[Matthias]

Again, thank you!

 

[Matrona]

Hi there.

At the moment I have a full-day job in a department store working all day each Sunday. If I am able to attend Divine Liturgy on Saturday, am I in the right? I am aware some Orthodox and Catholic have the view that Sunday must be the day of no-work, and is strictly a day to praise God.

Should I change my day of work from Sunday to a different day? I am going to be speaking to my priest about this, but wanted some different people's opinions. Thank you all, for your help!

I used to work retail and I had a boss who kept constantly pushing me to work on Sundays, and when I refused to work any earlier than a certain time because of having to attend church, he made stupid jokes about the Eucharist and gave me a hard time. A few times, he even made me work after getting back from church, even though the store closed only an hour or two after I was done with church, and since he clearly didn't need me, it was more a show of sadism than anything.

If this experience has taught me anything, it's that one should always state on all applications that you are not willing to put in any time on Sundays so they will note it right away.

Since you said there is exactly one full time parish in all of New Zealand, I highly doubt any of them are going to have a Saturday night liturgy, unless you happen to know of one specifically. A canonical Orthodox priest is only permitted to celebrate one liturgy per liturgical day, and an altar can have only one liturgy celebrated on it during that time. To have more than one liturgy during that time, I think the church also has to have two altars and be able to move both of them--celebrating the first liturgy on one, and then the second on the other.

 

[Matthias]

How about if I change my day of work to Saturday?

 

[Matthias]

No, wait, I shouldn't HAVE to. I'm taking everyone's advice; either they let me work a day during the week instead, or they can find someone else.

 

[MariaRegina]

No, wait, I shouldn't HAVE to. I'm taking everyone's advice; either they let me work a day during the week instead, or they can find someone else.

That is standing up for one's faith. It takes a man to witness to his faith.

Witness in Greek is where we get the word "martyr."