The following content was originally posted by the LCMS website.
October is Church Worker Appreciation month. Our LCMS church workers—pastors; deaconesses; teachers; missionaries; and directors of Christian education, outreach, parish music and family life ministry—work tirelessly on behalf of the Church in service to all of us. Let’s be sure to show our gratitude. No gesture is too small!
Below are 10 ways to show appreciation for those who serve your church or school community.
1. Pray regularly for your church worker and family. Tell them you are doing so, ask them for specific prayer requests, and follow up on requests as appropriate.
2. Write a thank you, send a card or draw a picture to express appreciation for specific ways your church worker impacts the congregation and you personally. These colorable notecards and postcards are available to download and print.
3. Take your church worker out for coffee or a meal. Ask about his or her family and life.
4. Remember the birthdays of your church worker and his/her spouse and children. Recognize them with a small gift on that day.
5. Offer free babysitting for your church worker’s family and/or give a restaurant gift card for a nice night out.
6. Take up a collection of Christmas gifts for your church worker and family (consider cash or gift cards).
7. Provide meals for your church worker’s family once a month, during busy church seasons such as Advent and Lent, or at other times when life is particularly demanding (such as the birth of a new baby, the beginning of the school year, or during an illness).
8. Host a reception on your church worker’s ordination, installation, or service anniversary, recognizing not only the worker but his or her family for their support and sacrifice.
9. Put together a slideshow or video collage of different members and groups sharing what they love and appreciate about your church worker.
10. Offer up a vacation property (a member’s timeshare, cottage, beach condo) for a week at no expense to your church worker.
LCMS Worship has resources available:
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