Pastor Appreciation

Pastor Appreciation Month Ideas. Please note these are just ideas to get your creative juices flowing!

Flood your pastor's mailbox with cards. Choose a week and get the word out quietly...this pastor appreciation idea works best if it's a surprise. You could choose a week that you know will be especially difficult for your pastor. Or, flood his mailbox while he is away on vacation or at a conference so that he is welcomed home by an avalanche of greetings.

Plan a special appreciation service on the second weekend of October. October is the official pastor appreciation month. And most churches try to focus their celebrations on the second Sunday of the month. Work with your worship leader to brainstorm pastor appreciation ideas in order to create a memorable service. Sing pastor appreciation songs, read appropriate Scripture passages, select a few individuals to share a tribute to the pastor. Toward the conclusion of the service, allow your pastor some time to respond. Before planning, make sure this is something your pastor will appreciate. Some pastors prefer not to be recognized, but enjoy working behind the scenes.

Have a plaque made with an inscription such as, In Deepest Appreciation of [Pastor's Name] and [His] Family for Sacrificial Service to the Body of Jesus Christ at [Church Name] October [Year]

Collect a special love offering for your pastor. Send a pastor appreciation letter to the people in your church explaining what Clergy Appreciation Month is all about. Include an offering envelope for a special appreciation offering.

Pastors feel appreciated when their families are cared for. Take the pastor's kids to a water park. Or pick them up and go out for bowling and pizza. Bless your pastor and his spouse with some alone time while their children are being entertained!

Make repairs to or paint the pastor's house. Some pastors are skilled at home projects. Some are skilled and enjoy home projects. Some just enjoy home projects. Then there are pastors who are neither skilled at nor do they enjoy home projects. Depending on which category your pastor falls into he might be very grateful for help around his house or yard.

Give your pastor and his family an extra weekend off to visit friends or family. This is one of those very special pastor appreciation ideas. If you think about it, pastors generally don't have the flexibility to travel for a weekend get-away to see family and friends. Most families take short weekend trips several times a year, especially over holidays. However, because pastors generally work six days a week and, of course, work weekends, short trips are not possible. When they do have a day or two off, it is usually during the week...when their friends and family members are working. Because of this, Pastors normally have to take vacation time to visit people out of town. So when it comes to spending time on vacation, a pastor's family has to choose between seeing people they haven't visited for a year, or going on a "real" family vacation. By giving your pastor an extra weekend or two off a year, you allow him to enjoy spending time with friends he rarely sees. That benefits his family. But it will also benefit you and your church.

Give your pastor tickets for sporting events, concerts, movies or plays. Pastors are people too! As humans, they enjoy going out for a relaxing evening to a favorite event. But income limitations often prevent this. That's what makes this a perfect pastor appreciation idea. Concerts, sporting events, or other similar outings are extra special things that a pastor's family can look forward to and remember for a long time. Be sure to think about the composition of your pastor's family. Does he have young children? Does he have teenagers? Or is his nest empty? If he has young children, it is helpful if you can give them the gift of two events: one for the entire family and one for the pastor and spouse. Don't forget to provide for babysitting if that will be necessary.

Cook for your Pastor. Pick a week in October and provide a meal each evening for the pastor and his family. Have members of the Church family pick a day to cook and deliver the meals.

Send your Pastor and his wife on a date. Purchase a generous gift card from a nice restaurant. Make sure it is enough to cover a dinner with the works plus tip. Send it to your pastor with a note stating you want to send the pastor out on a date with his wife and you will be happy to baby-sit (if appropriate) on the night of his choosing.

Make a scrap book. Have every family contribute with a photo and a letter stating what the pastor means to them and how God has used him to influence their lives.

Bless your pastor’s wife with a gift certificate to a cleaning service. By blessing your pastor’s wife you will bless your pastor!

Make a coupon book for your pastor. Give the gift of service to your pastor. Include coupons for babysitting, a car wash, lawn care, meals and other creative ideas to show you appreciate the way he cares for his flock all year round.

A Life-Affirming Ministry serving South Georgia and North Florida

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