About 20 years ago an effort began to make every October “Clergy Appreciation Month”.  The sponsors were, and are, convinced that not enough congregations thank their pastors as deliberately or frequently as they should.  The effort has yet to really catch on in our circles — largely, I imagine, because the people who usually promote new things in our churches are the pastors and those close to them and, well … they might be suspected of having a vested interest in encouraging this one. 

Still, Scripture does tell believers to value and respect those the Lord has placed over them as their shepherds — “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17)  — so “clergy appreciation” is something that congregations would do well to think about and plan for, whether they do it in October or not.  Yet don’t worry that you might not be able to express your appreciation with material things — you can make your pastor’s day, month, or year in a much more important way: by showing him that his labors for you are not in vain, and actually make a difference.

And the number one way to do that is really quite obvious: go to church.  Not just because your pastor works hard to prepare a service and sermon every week, not only because it can be disheartening for him to look out on empty seats, but mainly because he cares about your spiritual health and knows that a regular weekly diet of Word and Sacrament is what’s best for every member of his flock. Just imagine what it would do to revive his spirit if every physically able member on your church’s books actually came to worship every Sunday in the month! How hard would it really be to arrange such a “treat” — Easter Sunday attendance each Sunday? (And why stop with just one month?)

Of course, there are many other meaningful ways to show appreciation for your pastor.  You know all those times you’ve said, “Yeah, I guess I really ought to try attending Bible class”?  So do it — and you might even volunteer to read — or answer a question in such a way that your pastor knows he’s actually getting through.  And speaking of volunteering — how about taking charge of some tasks “the pastor has always done” that one doesn’t exactly need a seminary education for?

Letting him put that education to use is always appreciated, too.  Chances are you don’t need to search the internet or your local Christian bookstore for the answers to the questions you have about what’s in the Bible — just call and say, “Pastor, I have a question.”  He will gladly take it — and would much rather take the time today to give (or find) you the right answer than later have to try to untangle any untruths you picked up from unreliable sources.  You can also give him a thrill by taking a deeper interest in your faith:  talk about how you’ve been reading our Lutheran Confessions.

Now, please don’t get me wrong — I’m not trying to dissuade any congregation (or individual) from expressing their appreciation for their pastor with homemade chocolate chip cookies, free baby-sitting, restaurant meals, cash gifts, convertibles, European vacations, preferred stock, real estate, or similar things.  But the most treasured gifts he will ever receive are the ones that allow him to do what the Lord has called him to do and that show God’s Word bearing fruit in the hearts and lives of his people.