October is Pastor Appreciation Month. There are many ways to show appreciation, and the most impactful are the personal, the heartfelt, and the meaningful! If you don’t know your pastor, get to know them! Here are a few great options for your pastor this month:
- Favorite Sports Team item: You can never have enough reminders of your hometown team or the team that is closest to your heart! IF you don’t know your pastor’s favorite team, check out their Facebook as I’m sure at some point they will have a photo somewhere of their team or logo.
- Favorite Snacks and Sweet Treats: October is a great month to find plenty of candy and snack options. With Halloween at the end of the month, there are lots of options for trick or treaters, which lends itself to an abundance of snack packs! IF you don’t know your pastor’s favorite sweets and snacks, strike up a conversation like, “Wow, I can’t wait for Halloween. I always look for X or Y to eat! What do you usually like to eat or sneak from your kids?”
- New Pens or Desk Supplies: Pastors are always writing notes, sticking post-it notes in places, and using up paper clips like their life depends on it!? A great set of pens (colored ink is a nice touch), post-it notes, or other nice desk supplies are appreciated (as you can be assured they will get used). IF you don’t know what to get or if the items might not be necessary, go with the basics and you can’t go wrong.
- Hand care items: Pastors shake a lot of hands and sanitize frequently. A deeply moisturizing cream or O’Keefe’s Working Hands is a nice option for the visitations to dry hospitals and homes as hot as a greenhouse for the shut-ins. IF you aren’t sure about getting your male pastor some hand cream, get some hand sanitizer and hand soap that is moisturizing!
- Beverages: Sitting down after a long day with a refreshing drink in hand might be the first moment your pastor has to relax! This beverage could be hot or cold, carbonated or still, spirited or otherwise. IF you aren’t sure what they might enjoy, ask them, or grab a set of coasters incorporating their interests!
- Gift Cards: Pastors often meet and network, plan funerals and run around where there isn’t always a time to sit and eat but lunch is on the go. A quick muffin at your local coffee shop, a bowl of Mac and cheese at Panera, or a salty fry and Coke from McDonalds might be the perfect pick me up for your pastor. Grab a gift card where lunch is on you!
You cannot go wrong with handmade, homemade, or heartfelt! Using this as a filter, here are a few things you might want to avoid this Pastor Appreciation Month:
- Crosses. I can assure you that they have received plenty of them over the years.
- Bibles. Pastors can be particular when it comes to bibles and translations. Best to give a gift card to a bookstore.
- Books. Pastors have so many, and often have a list of books they’d like to get. While books can be hit or miss, a gift card or Venmo is always right on!
- Coffee mugs. Everyone has a favorite mug and specifics they like their mugs to meet. Pastors are no different and already have too many mugs. Make their day with something to put in the cup or fresh baked goods to eat instead.
Pastors need the love and support of those around them to continue doing the difficult work God calls them to. Heartfelt, handmade, or homemade gifts are a gift and encouragement to pastors. Continue to pray for your pastor and support them in habits of healthy leaders.
Rachel Haseley, Communications Coordinator
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