Friends in Christ,
October is a celebratory month for Lutheran churches, thanks in large part to our observance of Reformation Day. Every year, we commemorate the nailing of the 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany. Every year, we commemorate the bold faithfulness of Martin Luther, the then-Augustinian monk, who took a daring stand to defend Christ’s bride, the church, and preach an unbridled Gospel.
Over 500 years later, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has thousands of professional church workers who have committed their lives to loving and serving Christ’s church through the preaching, teaching and singing of that same unbridled Gospel. So, in addition to celebrating Reformation Day and the work of our Lord through the great reformer, the church also takes the entire month of October to kick off a yearlong observance of church worker appreciation, during which we celebrate and recognize the ongoing faithful service of each LCMS congregation’s called worker(s).
Whether you’re a congregation of 40 or 400, and whether your church is 10 years old or a century old, you know and have known the blessing of being fed and cared for by a church worker (or a team of church workers). The legacy of these men and women may not have the same ripple effect as Luther’s, but their daily, quiet faithfulness is at the heart of vocation, as Luther himself taught. Their call is to a ministry that subverts the gates of hell itself. Whether it’s writing a sermon, making a midnight hospital visit, teaching a kindergarten class, preparing youth for confirmation, planning Advent chorale music in mid-July, supporting marriages and families, encouraging someone to share his or her faith, or sitting with someone in crisis, our church workers’ service reflects Christ’s love and sacrifice for His people. For that, we owe our greatest thanks and our deepest appreciation.
Ministry is a marathon, not a sprint. For our faithful church workers, the greatest forms of encouragement — and the most heartfelt displays of appreciation — come from the very people God has called them to serve. So, with the help and input of congregations across the country, we have compiled a list of church worker appreciation ideas, varying in degree from simple to elaborate. We hope that these ideas will fuel creativity and reflection and spur each congregation to recognize their own called workers in at least one new way. We truly believe that perseverance in ministry comes from a combination of the work of the Spirit and the encouragement of the saints being served.
Finally, along with highlighting all church workers throughout the month of October, we also encourage you to mark the dates below as they pertain to your context:
In celebration of those who teach and preach the Gospel,
Rev. Jonathan Manor
Director of PALS and Continuing Education
LCMS Office of Pastoral Education
Stephanie Neugebauer
Manager, Mercy Resource Development
Worker Wellness, LCMS Office of National Mission
October is a celebratory month for Lutheran churches, thanks in large part to our observance of Reformation Day. Every year, we commemorate the nailing of the 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany. Every year, we commemorate the bold faithfulness of Martin Luther, the then-Augustinian monk, who took a daring stand to defend Christ’s bride, the church, and preach an unbridled Gospel.
Over 500 years later, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has thousands of professional church workers who have committed their lives to loving and serving Christ’s church through the preaching, teaching and singing of that same unbridled Gospel. So, in addition to celebrating Reformation Day and the work of our Lord through the great reformer, the church also takes the entire month of October to kick off a yearlong observance of church worker appreciation, during which we celebrate and recognize the ongoing faithful service of each LCMS congregation’s called worker(s).
Whether you’re a congregation of 40 or 400, and whether your church is 10 years old or a century old, you know and have known the blessing of being fed and cared for by a church worker (or a team of church workers). The legacy of these men and women may not have the same ripple effect as Luther’s, but their daily, quiet faithfulness is at the heart of vocation, as Luther himself taught. Their call is to a ministry that subverts the gates of hell itself. Whether it’s writing a sermon, making a midnight hospital visit, teaching a kindergarten class, preparing youth for confirmation, planning Advent chorale music in mid-July, supporting marriages and families, encouraging someone to share his or her faith, or sitting with someone in crisis, our church workers’ service reflects Christ’s love and sacrifice for His people. For that, we owe our greatest thanks and our deepest appreciation.
Ministry is a marathon, not a sprint. For our faithful church workers, the greatest forms of encouragement — and the most heartfelt displays of appreciation — come from the very people God has called them to serve. So, with the help and input of congregations across the country, we have compiled a list of church worker appreciation ideas, varying in degree from simple to elaborate. We hope that these ideas will fuel creativity and reflection and spur each congregation to recognize their own called workers in at least one new way. We truly believe that perseverance in ministry comes from a combination of the work of the Spirit and the encouragement of the saints being served.
Finally, along with highlighting all church workers throughout the month of October, we also encourage you to mark the dates below as they pertain to your context:
- 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
In celebration of those who teach and preach the Gospel,
Rev. Jonathan Manor
Director of PALS and Continuing Education
LCMS Office of Pastoral Education
Stephanie Neugebauer
Manager, Mercy Resource Development
Worker Wellness, LCMS Office of National Mission
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