Pastor Appreciation Ideas

Pastor Appreciation is typically observed the second Sunday in October, but the pastor can certainly be appreciated any time throughout the year! There are multiple websites dedicated to Pastor Appreciation activities. Some are articles about why pastoral appreciation is important for churches and how showing appreciation for pastors can be a contributing factor to decrease the incidence of clergy burnout. There are also many sites with great ideas about ways to show appreciation to pastors, not just during the month of October, but throughout the year. Below are some of the ideas  to get your creative thinking going. These are ideas are good for any congregation, no matter the size.

• Card Shower – Encourage church members to shower your pastor with cards of thanks and appreciation for the leadership that he or she provides to your congregation throughout the year. Perhaps church members could each take a day in the month or a particular week to send the cards or perhaps a church member would be willing to collect all the cards and put them into a scrapbook.
• Artwork – Have the children of the church to make a work of art, like a handprint cross or a thumbprint mat for a picture of the church building or the congregation.
• Matted Photo – Frame a photo of the church or a photo of the pastor and family with a wide mat that has been signed with words of gratitude and blessing by the church family.
• Books or Commentaries – Purchase a set of books or complete a set commentaries that the pastor has been collecting. You could ask individuals or Sunday School classes to purchase them and to add personal notes in the front or back of the books.
• Video – Make a video or PowerPoint presentation in honor of your pastor which can be played in the worship service as a part of Pastor Appreciation Sunday.
• Office Makeover – Offer to give the pastor’s study a makeover/facelift so that the pastor will have a renewed sense of energy because of having a redesigned office space.
• Favorite Things Basket – Encourage church members to bring small items that are your pastor’s favorite things to make a gift basket. Suggest items to bring: favorite candy, gift card to favorite restaurant, fishing supplies, golf balls, DVDs, books, other things which are favorites for your pastor.
• Babysitting Coupons – If your pastor has younger children, offer coupons for free babysitting to be redeemed at a mutually agreed upon time.
• Continuing Education – Offer to pay for a continuing education opportunity for your pastor. There are many to choose from like: the CP Ministers Conference hosted by PDMT; The Festival of Homiletics; The National Storytelling Festival or the Tejas Storytelling Festival, which encourages the crafting of great stories and can be helpful to preachers who want to improve the incorporation of stories into sermon writing. There are also many other continuing education opportunities around the country.
• Endowment Donation – make a donation in their honor to any of the endowments sponsored by the PDMT and ensure that there is ongoing support and education for clergy in the CP church.
• Legacy of Ministry Recognition – surprise your pastor with a Legacy of Ministry recognition. They will receive a certificate suitable for framing and a beautiful metal pastoral cross. Click here for an application.