October is Church Staff and Pastor Appreciation Month. We love a reason to celebrate, especially when we get to celebrate those who pour so much of their lives into ours. We hope you show your appreciation for your church staff and pastor year-round, but we think October is a great time to do something extra.
Here are 7 ways to show your church staff appreciation this month:
- Give the gift of a date night for church staff and their spouses. You may want to go in with another family or maybe even your small group. Provide babysitting and a gift card for dinner and a movie. It’s sometimes difficult for church staff and their spouses to get away (especially if they have children) for an evening alone. They’ll love to have a night out on you!
- Offer to sit at the reception desk so the staff can go to lunch together. It can be difficult for the whole staff to get together during the day when the church office is open. Offer to sit in for an hour or two answering calls and fielding visitors so the staff can enjoy a lunch all together.
- Write notes of appreciation. Everyone loves knowing that you appreciate them. Write each member of your staff a note, telling them why you are thankful for them. This is a great activity for kids, too! They can draw pictures and tell church staff and pastors “Thank you.”
- Bring breakfast to the office. Stop and get bagels or donuts or coffee (or all three!) and drop it by the church office on the way to work.
- Volunteer! This can be year-round or a one-time thing. Volunteer to clean out the food pantry or the children’s ministry supply closet or the decorations storage. Or volunteer to teach preschoolers or teenagers or adults on Sundays. Church staff love volunteers!
- Consider a gift. Lifeway has a list of great gifts for your pastor.
- Pray for them. Above all, year round, pray for your church staff. Pray for their strength, understanding, and hope. Pray for their faith. Pray that they will continue to be bold and ready to be used by God. Pray for their families (and future families). Pray for them as a team.
What ideas do you have for showing church staff appreciation this month? If you are on church staff, what’s a gift you loved in the past?
