Pastor Appreciation Day, celebrated on the second Sunday of October, is the perfect time to show appreciation for your church's priests, pastors, reverends, or ministers. While grand gestures are exciting and fun to plan, there are other, smaller ways to give thanks. Wondering what to do? Check out these helpful tips on how to celebrate Pastor Appreciation Day.
Volunteer at the Church
Volunteering is a surefire way to demonstrate your appreciation not only for the pastor but also for the church itself. By helping in a different ministry, you’ll lessen their workload, make performing the general duties of the church easier, and ease some of your pastor’s stress.
Ask for specific duties you can perform that will be most helpful. Your pastor might need help with an upcoming sermon or event or someone who can clean the church and keep documents or important books well-organized.
Make and Collect Letters of Thanks
Penning a heartfelt letter of appreciation is a simple but touching way to show your appreciation. Ask the other members of your church to put together something similar. You can buy a card or make one yourself, and fill it with children’s drawings, reflections about a past sermon or event, or just a simple thanks.
After you've gathered them all, present them to your pastor. They can read them at their own leisure and store them somewhere special as a reminder of how much their congregation cares for them.
Put Together a Slideshow or Video
A slideshow, collage, or video is a fantastic way to reflect on the previous few months—or several years! Gather pictures from church-held events, and ask other members of your congregation for photos with them and the pastor together.
If you’re planning to make a video, record short snippets of you and the other church members. Have everyone thank your pastor and reflect on something they said or did that had a positive impact on your community.
Stitch all your photographs and videos together, and present the final slideshow, collage, or video on Pastor Appreciation Day.
Throw a Surprise Party
A party can be large, small, or in-between. Set up a table with food and beverages, tie up some balloons, and play your pastor’s favorite music.
You can hold a party somewhere in the church, at a church member’s home, or, if appropriate, at the pastor’s place of residence.
During the pandemic, it’s best to keep a party like this small. No worries, though! With the proper precautions in place, you should still be able to pull off a fun, thoughtful celebration.
Cook or Buy Them Dinner
Bringing a homemade or store-bought meal to your pastor’s home gives them—and their family, if applicable—the opportunity to take the evening off. If you know what your pastor’s favorite food is, consider making or purchasing it!
Dessert, while not necessary, is another thoughtful thing to deliver. Cakes, pies, and brownies are optimal choices.
If you’re not sure where your pastor lives, or if the commute to their house is long, you can offer to buy them food from afar. Gift cards to local restaurants and eateries are versatile and easy to find. Meal delivery services, like Uber Eats, offer plenty of options. Both choices will let your pastor and their family choose from their favorite meals and restaurants.
Buy a Thoughtful Gift
Gifts are a great, traditional way to celebrate Pastor Appreciation Day. If you’re not sure what to get, there are some simple, universal gifts that just about everyone appreciates. A vase of flowers, good-smelling candles, and personalized, engraved plaques are general, easy to obtain presents.
Don’t make gifts too basic or predictable, though. Add a personal touch to your presents, even if it’s slight. Including handwritten letters with your gifts is a fantastic way to make them feel more special.
Involve the Kids
Don’t forget to teach your children the importance of gratitude. Ask them to write their own personalized letters to the pastor or, if they’re the more creative type, draw a picture.
If you can manage to gather all the neighborhood kids together, consider letting them put on a performance—either a simple play or a chorus of songs they’ve learned during sermons and religious classes.
Offer To Do Some Chores
Ask your pastor if you can mow their lawn, tend to their garden, help with anything around the house, or babysit their children. Removing chores from their to-do list will lift a substantial weight from their shoulders and allow them to have a relaxing, responsibility-free day.
Offering an evening of childcare allows them to visit places that are difficult to bring young children, like the movie theatre or an upscale restaurant. If your pastor is married, they’ll be able to take a much-needed date night with their partner.
Write a Message on Social Media
Writing a quick message on social media is effective, convenient, and ideal for people who can’t see their pastor in person. A public post works, but if you’d prefer to send a more personal message, do it over private message.
You can do this over Facebook, Twitter, or your preferred social media site of choice. If your pastor isn't a heavy internet user, a text, email, or physically mailed letter should work just as well.
Pool Together a Leisure Fund
Start a fund, intended as vacation or recreational money, with your fellow church members. Ask individuals to contribute what they can, and once you’ve gathered a decent amount, hand the funds over to your pastor.
They can use the money you gather for a nice vacation, furniture or appliances for their home, a fancy meal, or any other fun, recreational activities like golfing, purchasing a new puzzle, or going to see a movie.
Whatever you choose to do, your pastor is sure to appreciate it. Pick the option that works best for you and allows you to show your appreciation in a unique and meaningful way.
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