A new season of the Church Year? We are familiar with the Easter Season (seven weeks), the Lenten Season (forty days), and the Advent Season (four Sundays). Epiphany and Pentecost are like Easter in that they both have a specific day and also a season associated with them, but the length of these two is variable based on … variables.
Are we seeing the birth of a new season of the Church Year? In 1992 Hallmark Cards, in an effort to boost its business (of course), introduced a Clergy Appreciation National Day of Honor. Two years later, Focus on the Family jumped on the bandwagon designating October as Pastor or Clergy Appreciation Month. Then in 2021, at least in the LCMS, all church workers were included in what has become Church Worker Appreciation Month.
And thus a new season in the Church Year?
Of course, one way or another, this is all a good idea, even if we do not assign a liturgical color. We should recognize and appreciate the ministries of our pastors, teachers, other called workers, and the entire staffs of our congregations and schools. Our workers are gifts from God for service to the saints and mission to the world. They work hard and face many challenges and temptations. There are joys indeed but heartache too. Their Gospel ministry blesses many.
This month, take some time and show your appreciation to the church workers in your life. Pray for them. Write a note of thanks. Give a gift card or some other sort of gift. In one congregation I served, they organized a schedule where someone gave my family and me something each day of the month of October. Some nights a meal. Other nights a note. Maybe a bottle of wine. Here and there a gift card. A little excessive? Trust me, the whole household felt appreciated and encouraged.
This is a way to bring encouragement to those who labor in our midst.
But there is “that way” as well. Church workers can be encouraged to spend October showing appreciation to all the volunteers, leaders, and others who serve faithfully with them in the congregation. The amount of time that people spend serving alongside professional church workers adds up to an incredible number.
Church Worker Appreciation Month could be bigger than ever if it was going both this way (members showing appreciation for and giving encouragement to all paid workers in our churches and schools) and that way (all paid workers showing appreciation for and giving encouragement to members who volunteer). Can you imagine the spirit that would grow out of this accent? Can you imagine the Spirit’s work within such an accent?
We remember what Jesus said in Matthew 25. He taught that whatever we do to the least of others we are really doing to Him.
How might such a dynamic of mutual consolation of the saints impact the lives of young people who might consider church work? How might such a dynamic impact the communities where we serve together? How might this follow Paul’s constant words of thanks to congregations in the New Testament? How might this all redound to the glory of God?
Who knows? Maybe we are seeing a new season of the Church year develop right before our eyes?
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