CLERGY APPRECIATION MONTH

October is Clergy Appreciation Month. Clergy work vigorously providing leadership and care often at the expense of their own personal needs. Clergy Appreciation Month is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the efforts these sisters and brothers share so freely and selflessly with us. Following are a few ideas that will help in planning to appreciate our talented and dedicated clergy.

• Organize a card shower.
  
• Have a clergy appreciation party.
  
• Set up a "leafless" tree that can be decorated with a variety of small gifts such as Ziploc bag holding a favorite treat (cookies or candy), hobby items, or small envelopes with notes of encouragement or gift certificates.
  
• Deliver a bag of groceries to their home.
  
• Schedule a special prayer time to pray especially for clergy. Invite them to be there and lay hands on them as you pray.Give gifts certificates to their favorite restaurant and to their favorite movie theater.
  
• Give a love offering.
  
• If a pastor, give them a Sunday off in October, just because.
  
• Etc, etc.

May God bless our clergy as they continue to nurture us with Christ-like love and humble leadership.