By Doug Creamer
October is traditionally Pastor Appreciation month. At our church we tend to run a little late celebrating our pastor. The reason for that can be found by looking in the mirror. I take on the responsibility of organizing and orchestrating our event. Every year October sneaks up on me and then I have to try to figure out how we are going to honor our pastor. I like to create a mixture of fun and laughter followed by some heart-felt thanks and appreciation for all that our pastor and his wife do for us as a church family.
I am lucky because our pastor’s kids, who are all adults, always have great ideas for what we can do to honor their parents. They suggest ways we can incorporate some funny moments into our special presentation. His kids, their spouses, and a handful of others who are willing to participate in some fun have worked together to create some memorable pastor appreciation events.
This year ranks among my favorites. The pastor’s wife read a book to their kids called Flat Stanley. Stanley accidently gets flattened to paper thin and goes on many adventures that continue through a series of books. His kids thought it would be fun if we took a picture of the pastor and then have members of our congregation take him on adventures. It was a great idea which our congregation embraced. Our members took Flat Pastor on many wonderful and memorable adventures. I created a slideshow that had everyone, including the pastor, laughing with delight.
We then had some members share heart-warming tributes for both our pastor and his wife. When you follow that with a delicious covered dish lunch, it made for a wonderful day. I wanted to be sure our pastor and his wife knew how much we love and appreciate them. We shared many laughs, great food, and wonderful fellowship, all while honoring and blessing our pastor and his wife.
I have been lucky in my spiritual life. I have had a number of great pastors who invested in my life and helped me become the man of God that I am today. I have also been fortunate enough to become friends with several pastors and assistant pastors. Those are treasured friendships. It is nice to share a meal with the pastor and just talk about everyday life. It has also been both an honor and a privilege to listen to them when they needed to talk.
Pastors are there for each of us as we go through the ups and downs of life. If I am celebrating some great news, my pastors have always celebrated with me. When I have found myself struggling with making decisions, self-doubt, worry, fear, anxiety, or whatever else was standing in my way, my pastors have always been there to gently guide me through the storms.
Our pastors are called upon to be there for births, weddings, sicknesses, hospital stays, funerals, and whatever challenge or disaster comes our way. They show up for us. They are there for us. They speak words of comfort. They pray for us. They counsel us. They encourage us. They challenge us to live up to our best selves. They know our sins and secrets and still love us. They come after us if we wander away from the church. We are all lucky and blessed to have our pastors in our lives.
I think sometimes we forget that they are people just like us. They have to bury their loved ones. They have to go to hospitals for themselves and their family. They have worries, fears, and doubts. They suffer from rejection when people walk away. They have bad days because they are worried about us. Their kids struggle with life and growing up. Their kids stumble and fall. They are sometimes overloaded with our burdens.
I want to encourage you to take a few minutes to let your pastors know how much you love and appreciate them. Pray for them like you want them to pray for you. Send them a card that includes a gift card for something they will enjoy. See if there is something you can do to help them at church or at home just to bless them. Is there something you can do for their spouse to bless and encourage them? Do it! Surprise them. Bless them. Encourage them. Find something you can do, whether it’s through words, deeds, or financially, to show them how much you love and care for them and their families. Let’s be a blessing and show appreciation to our pastors.
Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com
