Everyone loves to be appreciated. That sure includes your pastor. Depending on when your pastors’ appreciation Sunday comes up, I believe that it is a great idea for you as a church to take some day or month of the year to do something special in appreciation of their 
pastors for their constant attention, concern, invaluable effort, time and love. Most churches feel clueless when they contemplate ways to show how appreciation to their cherished female pastors. There is no perfect gift or single choice that covers all other choices. In fact, there are different ways of ministering when it comes to picking out gifts for female pastors.
Some heart-warming of gifts for female pastors are listed below. Take your time and choose one best suited to your pastor’s needs, as you are led.
Examples of Gifts for Female Pastors
Paying attention to their needs
Going out of your way to meet those needs is one of the best appreciation gifts you can ever give to your female pastor. There has to be something that she must have talked about wanting to do or purchase all year but hasn’t done yet. Be observant and attentive. It could be a vacation or a project she started and abandoned halfway due to her schedule. If it is a vacation, paying for her trip and accommodation as well is a great idea of saying thank you. Whatever it may be, subtly try to find out what she desires and take a moment to be a blessing to her.
Prayers and Love:
It is not easy to be a leader especially being the pastor of a local church. Your prayer and love are the greatest gifts you can give your pastor. She needs them more than any material gift you can give her. Treat her well, as you would any other leader. Be supportive and respect the anointing upon her. Try to help out in ways you can. If you can, give her cards expressing how much of a blessing she has been in your life. You could also add short prayers. Your pastor is not a mind reader, try to be open about your feelings whenever you feel hurt. Remember that she may not always perfect but she will always be the pastor. Treat her the way you’d want to be treated if the tables are turned.
Paid Tickets to Women’s Conference or Retreat:
Amongst the options of gifts for female pastors, this is a very thoughtful one. Attending a women’s conference or spiritual retreat may be out of her budget or the church’s. You can take up the expenses on her behalf. This will give her the opportunity have her mind renewed and be blessed.
Video Testimonials:
You can have members of the church take turns in talking about how much of a blessing she has been. You could also create a presentation of photos and video of your pastor in action during the past year. Set it to music and play it as a preservice video. The videos should be recorded and taken weeks in advance so that it can be compiled and tested before the day of giving.
Do a surprise Office Makeover.
You can consider fresh paint, updated décor, new furniture and even a computer or technology upgrade. In addition, frame a picture of her and the church members as a love token. There’s an option of hiring an artist to draw a portrait of her so you can hang in her office during the surprise decoration.
Bible studies or Books by Christian Women Authors.
Yes! She needs it. It will help in her study life, growing to be a better pastor. You can find out from her secretary, family or friends, who her favorite authors are. Putting together a book basket filled with the latest books from her favorite authors and helpful Bible commentaries is sure to bless her. You could go the extra mile and buy her a Kindle with an Amazon gift card to choose her own.
Worship CD/DVD.
Try to find out her favorite songs, artist or genre of music and make a collection of them either in the CD/DVD format. You can get the latest from iTunes on an iPod. She would definitely appreciate the gesture. Adding some nice ear buds and/or a wireless speaker is very welcome.
Love Gifts:
Your love gift should be a sincere expression of love, not a cheap token. Remember, that your pastor and her family has sacrificed a lot of time and effort on the church’s behalf. Purchasing clothes, shoes, bags or whatever you think she needs is a great idea! Getting the church to contribute towards purchasing her a car or giving her old car a new look, is very thoughtful too. You could find out what household appliances she may need and purchase one for her.
Contact your local newspaper.
They may be interested in running an article on your pastor in the religious section if she has served in the community for a long time. This would be a special way of honoring her dedication and faithfulness. A few members should also talk about who the pastor is to them and how much she has impacted in your lives.
Memory photo books of the church history and church events.
Use someone in your church to scan and organize old church photos into folders on the church computer. Download them onto a website that makes photo books. Written testimonials of her achievements as a pastor can be included as well. If you make a copy for your church’s archive, get a copy for the pastor.
Whatever way you choose to appreciate your pastor, whatever gift for female pastors you choose to go with, be sure to do the best and give your best. Honoring your pastor is biblical. Do not just make it a one-day thing. Appreciate her every other day of the year as well. The little things count.
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