Have you ever been cared for by a church worker?
Perhaps you were sick, and your pastor or deaconess visited you. Maybe your child was struggling to read, and his or her Lutheran school teacher offered loving after-hours tutoring. Or maybe, during a difficult time, you found comfort in a hymn carefully prepared and led by your parish musician.
Our church workers dedicate themselves, day in and day out, to serving their church and school communities. That means it’s always the right time to show them our appreciation. To help the church be intentional in showing that appreciation, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has set aside special days throughout the year to highlight different kinds of church workers and their service. You are encouraged to join with your brothers and sisters in Christ across the LCMS in observing these days.
A Year of Church Worker Appreciation
- Oct. 1–31 – Church Worker Appreciation Month
- Oct. 12 — Pastor Appreciation
- Oct. 25 — Deaconess, Director of Family Life Ministry, Director of Christian Outreach, and Director of Church Ministries Appreciation
- April 26 — Director of Parish Music Appreciation
- May 4–8 — Teacher Appreciation
- June 26 — Director of Christian Education Appreciation
The above dates have been chosen for reasons of past practice and history, and not all of them fall on a Sunday, but we encourage you to observe them by including the text below in your bulletin for several weeks as each appreciation day approaches. The wording can be adjusted for the specific date and church worker.
Our LCMS church workers serve all of us in the Body of Christ with faithfulness and dedication. To acknowledge their service, the Synod is encouraging churches and schools to show appreciation to workers on designated dates throughout the year. [Insert date] is [pastor/deaconess/director of family life ministry/director of Christian outreach/director of church ministries/director of parish music/teachers/director of Christian education] appreciation. Let’s be sure to show our gratitude to [worker’s name]. No gesture is too small! Please join your brothers and sisters in Christ around the LCMS in letting our [pastor/deaconess/director of family life ministry/director of Christian outreach/director of church ministries/director of parish music/teachers/director of Christian education] know how much we appreciate [him/her/them].
To learn more about Church Worker Wellness, visit lcms.org/worker-wellness.
Here are 10 ways to show appreciation for those who serve your church or school community. Feel free to reproduce and share.
- 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 for 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:
Observing these special dates as a church body gives us a chance, as the Body of Christ, to give thanks for God’s gift of church workers and to recognize those who serve us through their faithfulness, dedication and skill. These dear workers bless us in a multitude of ways as they preach, teach and care for God’s people in body and soul.
For real-time church worker appreciation posts that you can share and re-share, follow us on Facebook and Instagram. You can also find social media graphics here.
Want to learn more about church work?
The LCMS has eight professional church work vocations. Each of these sacred and joyful vocations serve Christ and His church.
To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, the LCMS church work recruitment initiative, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve.