He’s their pastor, too! As your church demonstrates love on Pastor Appreciation Day, parents and teachers can provide opportunities for children to honor him, too. Kids could make a banner. Sign a T-shirt. Sing a thank-you song. Draw a card. Or try one of these meaningful, fresh ideas:
DavisRap the pastor. Download a rap app, write some pastor appreciation words or poetry, and it creates an instant rap. Perform it for him.
Photo gift. Print a large photo of the children or teens posed on playground equipment holding “Love my pastor” signs.
Surprise office d?cor. Use Post-it notes to write dozens of things you appreciate about the Pastor. With permission, “decorate” his office walls with the notes. Leave a signed card on his desk..
Lawn art. Teens make giant signs with words of appreciation for their pastor. Artfully stake the signs on the church or pastor’s lawn, add colorful helium balloons, and put a signed thank you card at the door. Send a quality photo of the display to the local paper.
Bookmarks. Cut card stock bookmark-size. Kids make colorful thank-you bookmarks and sign the back. Laminate them. Children parade past the pastor to present their gift.
Poetry book. All teens or children write a “pastor appreciation” poem – a limerick, ballad, acrostic, free verse, haiku, or “roses are red” type poem. It can be long or short, serious or funny. Use a binder to create a poetry book.
Facebook explosion. Teens who use Facebook can all post appreciation notes on the Pastor’s site.
Art wall. Cover a wall in the church foyer with signed works of “pastor appreciation art” by youth and kids. Preschoolers color a pastor appreciation color page (many available online.) Use a binder to make it into a book afterward.
Herds of nerds. Each child brings one piece of the pastor’s favorite candy, such as a box of Nerds or a jawbreaker. Supply extras for those who forget. At an appropriate time during worship, kids can bring their gift for the pastor to a basket at the front.
Video thanks. Teens create a one-minute video-clip to play during worship. Invite all children and youth to surround the pastor as an older teen leads a thanksgiving prayer.
Rap it. Say it. Draw it. Sing it. Act it. Post it. Just do it! Help your kids express sincere appreciation to their pastor this month.
– Davis is a columnist, speaker, and author of “Deacon Wives” and “Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministry” (B&H Publishing). Read more at www.keeponshining.com.