RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
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Post By Renee' (Guest Post)
(11/09/2008)
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Hello, I appreciate all of the wonderful ideas. If you can do something special for your pastor, I'd encourage you to do so. I can say that the blessing I received was much more than I gave, in thank you's and laughter. I borrowed one idea from this site for my pastor and his family and came up with a great idea for the assistant Pastor and his wife.
I confess, I made neon colored signs and "Forked" my pastor's yard. They loved it, and are still talking about it. I will never live the forking down...lol For the assistant pastor and his wife, I purchased helium balloons. All star shaped and 1 smiley face balloon. I wrote in cards..."my pastor and his wife are"....and filled the blank with the things I appreciate about them.
Hung a note card from the bottom of every balloon and lined them up the sidewalk of their home. (each balloon had a weight) The assistant Pastor and his wife said they enjoyed coming home to all of the balloons and reading all of the notes. Thanks again for all of the great ideas.
Only By His Grace, Renee'
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RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
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Post By alice (Guest Post)
(10/30/2008)
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I was the chairman of our pastor anniversary last year we decorated the church like an island and sat them at a pub table. It was awesome. We had a candlelight ceremony. One of the youth told them what all this meant. Each candle light was a life that he or his wife had touched.
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RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
I had to come up with something for the kids to give the Pastor. I wanted to do something fun, so we got a basket and then went out and bought a bunch of stuff that would be useful, but had double meaning.
I then had the best reader in the class go up front and explain why each item in the basket was there for. As he mentioned an item, one of the kids would hold it up and place it in the empty basket the Pastor was holding. The church was hysterical laughing and the Pastor loved it.
Some Items included:
A box of tissues for spiritual tears. (Our pastor cries a lot)
Bengay- for the backache you'll get carrying the sheep.
Mint mouth spray- So you'll always be a breath of fresh air
Ginko Biloba- for memory so you won't forget your sermons
Lint tape roller- Cause life can get Hairy!
Dunkin Donuts coffee- To keep you awake Saturday night as you ponder what to preach on Sunday...
A flashlight- to light the way in times of Darkness
Clay- to remind you of who you are in the Potter's hand.
Benefiber- Let's face it, with so much to do, we can all get backed up!
A can of mixed nuts- to remind you of your congregation that loves you! :)
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RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
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Post By CM (Guest Post)
(10/24/2008)
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I am in charge of pastor appreciation and one year I got him gift certificates for restaurants around his work for 5 days of the week so he could have lunch out all week! I packed them in a brown lunch bag for presentation. We also give a monetary gift and something special for his wife.
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RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
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Post By Lucille C (Guest Post)
(10/06/2008)
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One year we wrote the song 12 days of Christmas, all about the Pastor and his wife. We let the children sing it. It was received with a standing ovation. Lucille
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RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
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Post By Carole (Guest Post)
(09/17/2008)
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This year we plan to take a picture of our church and have it enlarged to 16"x20". We will have all the congregation write a brief message or simply sign the matte and present it to our pastor.
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RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
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Post By Rachel (Guest Post)
(09/11/2008)
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I am part of the student ministry team in my youth group. Last year for Pastor Appreciation Month, we bought a small jourmal with Bible verses already printed in it. We asked all of the youth to write a short note explaining why they were thankful for our youth pastor (we also promised it would not be read by anyone except our youth pastor). The notes could be as short as "Thank you for just being yourself", but many took up a page or two. Our youth pastor had no idea that we had planned anything, and just about cried when we presented the journal to him at the end of the month. The next day I received an e-mail from him saying that he was on a high all night, and that day because of all the nice things everyone said to him.
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RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
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Post By (Guest Post)
(09/10/2008)
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We took our pastor and his wife on a scavenger hunt around town. They followed the clues to each place where we had church members dressed in funny costumes holding a clue! The clues led them back to the church for a dinner and a greeting card full of money. As a bonus, we took pictures of them at each place with the clue and made a scrapbook for them!
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RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
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Post By phyllis (Guest Post)
(08/26/2008)
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I am the children's pastor as well as the pastors daughter. One year I had all the kids make signs with words of affirmation for the pastor and his wife. we then attached the signs to forks and loading up all the kids on the bus and went to the pastors house and forked his yard. When he came home and his car lights shined on all the hot pink and lime green signs is was hilarious. Pastor and his wife both got out of the car and was reading the signs and they loved it.
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RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
(sent in by email)
You mentioned that you are over your church for Pastor Appreciation activity. Can you tell me when Pastor Appreciation Day is this year? I know it is some time in October, but can you tell me what day it is? We want to do something special for our Pastor this year. Thanks. Be Blessed.
Lynda
Editor's Note: October is Pastor Appreciation Month & Clergy Appreciation Day is the second Sunday in October
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RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
(sent in by email)
You mentioned that you are over your church for Pastor Appreciation activity. Can you tell me when Pastor Appreciation Day is this year? I know it is some time in October, but can you tell me what day it is? We want to do something special for our Pastor this year. Thanks. Be Blessed.
Lynda
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RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
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Post By Carmen (Guest Post)
(08/21/2008)
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I need to find a song for the children to sing on Pastor's appreciation day.
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RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
(submitted via email)
I'm not sure that this will help you any. But I'm over special events at my church and Pastor Appreciation is one of my events. Last Year we had a church parade inside. It was called Ministries on the move. Every ministry came up with their on themes and had signs that said "we love you" or "thank you", etc. Be Blessed
Rikki
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RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
Especially with our economy the way it is now, even a pastor needs a monetary bonus and/or a recommendation for a raise. Celebrate this offering with a pot luck meal and thankful hugs, too :-)
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Request: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
I need pastor appreciation ideas, such as decorations for a party and entertainment and events.
Mrs. Callahan from San Antonio, Texas
Answers:
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
Have everyone in the congregation write him a note-very personal and appreciated! (03/12/2007)
By Diana
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
Last year we had our children's department make a candy board and present it to the Pastor during a BBQ fellowship we had for him. He loved it. Replace words with candy bars: Kudos to you; Thank you for sharing with us that Jesus is a Lifesaver, etc.
This year I've asked different people in the church to take pictures throughout the year of Pastor serving: preaching, praying for people, pulling weeds on church work day, etc. At Costco you can get small posters for about $2.00. I want to get a bunch of these from the pictures and decorate the church with them. I'm not sure if we'll have another BBQ or maybe go to a local restaurant. (04/07/2007)
By Darlene
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
At my church, we take up a Pastor's Appreciation offering every 2nd Sunday of the month to add to our fund! And then every year on the 1st Sunday in June we have PASTOR APPRECIATION SUNDAY - where we shower our pastor, his wife, and their son with gifts and present them with the total amount that we have taken up over that year.
Our pastor loves home-cooked food, too. So we have a big church-potluck and everyone cooks his favorite food - home cooked.
:) He's always tremendously grateful. We normally give anywhere them $1200-$1500 annually. Which is awesome because he does not take a salary. (05/11/2007)
By Channing Francis
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
This will be my third year organizing the Pastor Appreciation Service. We do it the second Sunday of October. The first year my son & I performed a cute skit about the Pastor and church members gave short speeches telling why they appreciated him. The second year the Youth group put on a play for him and also read poems. We had his 15 year old son give a short Bible reading. This year we are blessed with lady who sews really well. So she is going to make a quilt which we will hang on a dowel, so he can hang it in his office. After she gets it made we are going to have our church members pick a square and write a note using fabric paint. I have not planned the service yet. We also take up offerings and buy them gifts. Last year we bought the Pastor a gift certificate to his favorite golf club, a manicure/pedicure for his wife, and a gift certificate to the local steak house. We presented the restaurant certificate to his son and said something like we realize how much of your father's time that you sacrifice for us and our church and we would like to treat the whole family to dinner to give you some of that time back. I don't know if you will like these ideas, but there they are if you think your Pastor would appreciate any of them. (08/26/2007)
By Terry
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
I've taken a blank October calendar and asked members to volunteer to sign up for a "day" leaving a contact telephone number. I call and remind them the day before that tomorrow is their "day" to make the pastor feel special. The members can do anything they want from gifts and cards to money or acts of kindness or service. The pastor has no idea what is going to happen the next day! He was overwhelmed! (09/29/2007)
By TPK from GA
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
I'm making a book for our pastor. I'm handing out card stock paper to each member that wants to decorate a page. Each one is responsible for doing their own page, even our toddlers can scribble. Then the pages will be laminated and the book will be bound. This will give him a little piece of everyone. (10/03/2007)
By Tracy
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
As a wife of a Pastor I can say that you do not have to spend an abundance of money to show your pastor appreciation. First thing that speaks volumes to your pastor is your support to him. - Faithfully attending every service and participate in what's going on will help give him that inspiration that he needs. Remember that empty pews speaks negatively to your pastor. Secondly....simply say "Thank you" regularly. How would you feel if you reported to your job every day and your boss never expressed that you did a good job? That's how a pastor feels when he gets no feedback on his sermons....he constantly wonders if he's doing a good job. Thirdly cut the criticism.....many people are quick to criticize, but slow to encourage. Realize that there are MANY things that happen within a church community that you don't know about, and because you don't see what he does, your small criticism digs much deeper than what you realize. Remember what mama taught....."If you don't have nothing nice to say...don't say anything at all!" These few things are a great start, but you can host a dinner in his honor with his favorite foods. Honor his family because they live under extreme pressures living with a minister. Make a memory scrap book highlighting different areas of his ministry. Wash his car, mow the grass, make a bulletin board in his honor, put jokes or small articles in the church bulletin each week. It doesn't take much to make your pastor feel appreciated....love him, his family and tell him regularly that you appreciate his work, and that will speak volumes to him. (10/03/2007)
By Amy Revels
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
Our theme was fruit of the spirit we select 9 member out of the church to speak on each fruit how our pastor has touch their life we decorate each table with fruits. This was done in a Banquet setting. (10/03/2007)
By Gertrude Price
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
What about combining all these great ideas on a sign up sheet and have everyone sign up for the way they chose to show appreciation and have them spaced out throughout the month so the Pastors are blessed on a regular basis during the month or through the entire year. Thanks for the ideas on this site! God bless all our Pastors! (10/03/2007)
By Susan
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
I have been a pastors daughter for over 25 years and have seen many wonderful expressions of thanks. Whatever you do don't forget the pastors wife, for she carries the load also. One example my parents really appreciate is a dear lady at our church at different times throughout the year will sneak and leave snacks, cards, gifts, the newspaper, ect.. at their front door. If caught in the act she will giggle and say "It must be pastor appreciation month." Anyone would love to open their front door in the morning and have a pleasant surprise waiting for them. Most of all BE SUPPORTIVE and be a low maintenance saint. (10/16/2007)
By Busy Bee
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
Give flowers to pastors lady as appreciation for taking a big role of help in pastors life, for all of us to be able to receive what is on his heart due to what God is wanting us to receive (10/19/2007)
By elsaa
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
We had a gift card tree last year at our Pastor appreciation and our pastor and family loved it. Don't forget to get cards for the children as well as the Pastor and his wife. (02/29/2008)
By Cathy
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
We had a black carpet event. Everyone wore their best gowns and suits. The pastor was escorted in by a member and his wife. We showed different slides of the pastor as he was on his journey as a pastor. Accomplishment that he had achieved. We had many speakers that limited their gratitude to 3 minutes. It was wonderful, it was a BALL! (04/22/2008)
By Latrice
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
THIS IS YOUR LIFE. For our pastors 25th anniversary we put on a skit that spanned his life (prior to and up to his call to preach). The chairperson over the event had to go to his old neighborhood and previous church members (including his wife) and find out about different events in his life that lead to him accepting the role as pastor of our church.
The skit included church members, acting, directing, creating props, costumes and singing (he liked Gladys Knight). We referenced when he left for the Navy, his meeting and marriage to our first lady, her teaching Sunday school and having 4 children, a family camping trip when a Bear chased him, the day he received his call to preach and the day he accepted the pastors position.
The complete skit took about an hour and it was very entertaining. Our pastor laughed during the skit but cried tears of joy as he wondered how did they know about all of that! It was a great success for him and the church...one we will never forget. (04/23/2008)
By Janice
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
I planned our PAD last year and it was awesome. First we added the element of surprise! We were somehow able to keep the date from our Pastor without anyone giving our secret away. Next, we got a special speaker whom she never would have guessed to come in and do the sermon. Our children sang a special song, our drama team mimed three songs including Thank You, her son and daughter-in-law came from out of town to lead praise and worship, we had a candlelight ceremony, and hosted a banquet after service, where we gave her a new laptop, bible library, printer, and all the fixins! We also gave her husband several gifts (he loves to fish). The children made things for them as well. Also, before service, we passed out special bulletins with PAD offering envelopes in case someone wanted to do a monetary gift. Then to wrap it up, we had everyone sign up for a day for the next 30 days to let her and her family know how much they were appreciated. It was BEAUTIFUL!! And all that for a church of about 50!! Anyone can have an awesome Pastor's Appreciation Day if they really pray and put their mind to it. I love doing things like this, and I enjoy sharing ideas. (04/25/2008)
By Melissa from SC
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
An air of excitement comes over the congregation each year for the Pastor's Anniversary. We did a trip around the world, where we provided gift certificates to different restaurants. "We're sending you on a trip around the world, first class in your own car, a gas card has been provided. your first stop will be the International House of Pancakes, where you can dine on Belgium Waffles. Your next stop you'll be having lunch in...now cruise over to.....for dinner. You get the idea.
One year we did everything monogram and gave our first lady a beautiful locket with her favorite scripture engraved (just the book, chapter and verse).
Last year our theme was serving like the Savior and each auxiliary president presented him with a gift (money) on a silver chargers. Each person had on a white chef apron with white napkin draped across their arm, then each approached him, bowed and said something about service and he removed the gift from the tray. Really, really cute. Remember it is not so much about the gift, but the presentation of the gift. (05/18/2008)
By M and M
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
I have been doing pa day for years at our church. My favorite was a man and wife team. He is a chalk artist and she a ventriloquist. He draws while we listen to music and a sermon and roasted the paster after our pot luck dinner. It was great fun. the chalk art will hang in his office. (06/30/2008)
By barb
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Request: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas on what our church could do for Pastor appreciation. We always just do a little get together in our fellowship hall with sandwiches,chips and then cake. But this year I wanted do something different. I thought you all might have some good ideas to share with me. Thanks a lot, I appreciate any ideas you share with me.
Teresa from VA
Answers:
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
Ask him what kind of tree he likes. Go buy him one
and on that day all go plant it on the church grounds.
Every one will always remember this. (09/02/2006)
By Autumn
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
We had a "Pounding Party" for our Pastor. Everyone brought "a pound" of some food and stocked his pantry with all kinds of goodies he probably would not have been able to buy for himself. (09/05/2006)
By Ginger
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
Like any employee, and the Pastor is your employee, don't forget, they can always appreciate money the most. A check will do, but so will a donation to his discretionary fund. (09/05/2006)
By the Oracle
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
I am a pastor's wife and our people have been very generous. Here in this church, they put out 3 baskets with the names of the 3 pastors and the people give us cards with very generous monetary gifts in them.
In a previous church, on our 25th anniversary, they gave us a cruise to the Bahamas and Disney World.
Be creative in what you do for Pastor Appreciation Day. Your pastor will be blessed with your generous creativity. Be as generous as you can.
(09/05/2006)
By quickcooker
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
We gave our pastor a money tree last year. (09/05/2006)
By Dawn
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
Why not give him a book (well, a nicely decorated scrap book or theme book) and have his parishioners fill in one or two lines of 'You are a Blessing because...' or something like that. Keep it short, light, and sweet. Let him know that he is special in your lives and he is appreciated. (09/05/2006)
By KLS8800
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
I think cards and letters are the nicest way to feel appreciated. Imagine how your pastor would feel if EVERY family wrote a note
(09/06/2006)
By Diana
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
Our church gives our pastor a gift card to a local favorite place to eat and to a Christian bookstore. They take up a special offering to collect the money for these gifts. I'm sure it doesn't amount to much, but it's the thought that counts! (09/06/2006)
By mobo
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
The gifts are all good ideas. However, one thing we do every other year or so is that we plan a service around the pastor, i.e., we let him sit and enjoy a service of singing, prayer. a small lesson from someone else in the church, and some little sayings from the children about "our Pastor". Our church is very small, so that might not work as well at your church.
(09/06/2006)
By Donna, NC
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
One year our church put on a Pastor Appreciation dinner. We decoarted everything, everyone was dressed up and we served Pastor and his family. Then each family got up and said what Pastor has and does mean to them.
This year we are making meals for Pastor and family and also purchasing a stainless steel BBQ wih tools for them (his old one is falling apart). (09/07/2006)
By Ruth Wiebe
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
My husband and I are putting together our Pastor's appreciation this year and are planning to have Bar-B-Que and all the fixins along with a "Hee Haw" type program using the names of some of our members in corney one liner jokes. We go to a very small neighborhood church but I think this would work for any size congregation. Lots of fun for everyone. (09/09/2006)
By Brenda
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
A Couple of years ago We had each family buy a cross and sing the back of it and decorated his office walls It really went over GREAT. Another year we had every Family embrodery ther Name on a square and made them a Quilt. (09/11/2006)
By LaCora
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
As the leader of the Youth Ministry, I got the teens together and spent the month doing various acts of kindness (i.e. showed up at his home to wash his cars, house windows, babysit one night, etc.). We also had a Sunday evening dinner for all the pastors in our small community. Also, we took the letters of his name and formed an acronym using affirmative words for each letter of his name - then made a poster of it and left it in his office! Another time we gave a "gift shower" for the whole month and I left a different card on his desk each day of the month (the cards were made by different families in the church). All these ideas seemed very successful for all! (09/17/2006)
By Louise Jagessar
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
Our youth group is going to take 2 mason jars and decorate them. One for our pastor and one for his wife (who is always overlooked!) Then the children are going to write a daily encouragement, prayer, or verse on a small piece of paper. The paper will be folded up and placed in the jar. We will write enough to last them a month or two. Then each and every day they will be reminded just how much our youth appreciates them! I thought this would be a daily reminder of our appreciation for the two of them. (10/04/2006)
By cjboot
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
As the youth minister we try to do something every year for our senior pastor and his wife in the spirit of fun and servanthood. The first year we sent them on a trip around the world (not literally) but we made fake passports and buckled them into the plane (two desk chairs) and flew them around the world (careful, tip easy, but lots of fun) with pictures out their window of all the wonderful scenes. They like italian food so we landed in italy, had a chef make chicken parmasan, the teens were their waiters and entertainers....silly, fun with a great meal and lots of laughter. the second year we sent them on their own amazing race...and left them clues all over town to their final destination...a bed and breakfast about 60 miles away....we paid for their room and their dinner...we had as much fun putting this together as they had doing it! (10/11/2006)
By Danette
RE: Pastor Appreciation Ideas
Have the pastor sit in the middle of the room or in the front with a lite candle. Everyone who has been touched by his service can go and lite their candle. They can tell him how much they appreciate him personally. It is so symbolic on so many levels. It works better when all the lights in the room are off and eventually the whole room is light by candles because of one candle. (10/14/2006)
By Friend
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