How to Show Appreciation to a Pastor

A pastor's job doesn't end when the closing hymn dies away. After the last hand is grasped and the last empty cup thrown away, a pastor's job often is just beginning. There are shut-ins to visit, hospital patients to comfort and Bible studies to prepare. It's an emotionally and physically draining calling that deserves appreciation. You can lead your fellow congregants in appreciating your pastor any day of the year.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Organize a card shower. Get members of your church to commit to sending your pastor a card. Spreading this event out over a month's time should be easy when you have a lot of participants. This way, your pastor can get a surprise in his mailbox almost every day of the week for a month.

2. Plan a surprise Sunday service. During regular worship hours, relieve the pastor of her normal preaching duties. Allow her to sit in the pews and enjoy a service filled with music, tribute and testimonials by congregants honoring your pastor.

3. Decorate your sanctuary in honor of your pastor. Order more flowers for the altar than usual, and have the youth of your church make appreciation banners to hang throughout the sanctuary. Make use of ambient lighting with candles.

4. Inflate your pastor's Monday morning mood with balloons. Get into his office before he arrives for the day and fill it with helium balloons. Attach special messages of encouragement to the strings. This will give him something to keep after the balloons have deflated.

5. Arrange for a prominently placed bulletin board to be done in her honor. You can adorn the bulletin board with photos, quotes and memories that chronicle the pastor's history at your church. Make it a "hall of fame."

6. Treat your pastor to a night on the town. Surprise him with a gift certificate for two to a fun local restaurant. If the pastor and his wife have children, offer to babysit for free.

7. Give the gift of life. Choose a spot in front of the church or in a special garden on the grounds to plant a tree or perennial in honor of your pastor. This is something she can see every day and remember how much she is appreciated.

Tips & Warnings

• Get the youth involved in your planning, by asking the church school superintendent to organize something special from the teachers and the classes.
• For any special events you may organize for your pastor, be sure to invite his family members so that he can share his day with loved ones.