The Mission Grant Proposals video will be available to view May 5.
Free Resources
RSS FeedCards of Encouragement
Pastors, deaconesses, directors of Christian education, teachers, and other church workers spend so much of their time caring for us. A simple card of encouragement can be a great way to show them how much we appreciate them!
Cards are printed two to a page. For the best results, print on cardstock and cut with a paper cutter. Struggling with what to write? Scroll down for list of suggestions to get your thank you started.
Download the printable PDFs of these Cards of Encouragement
Plan ahead
No need to wait for a holiday to share how much we appreciate our church workers, but marking your calendars to remember to share a kind word of thanks on these special days is a good idea.
May — Teacher Appreciation Week
June — Directors of Christian Education Appreciation Day
October — Church Worker Appreciation Month
Ideas for what to write inside:
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Thank you — for the countless times you have stretched out your hands in service to others in times of need.
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Thank you — for the early Sunday mornings and many hours in preparations for your great sermons.
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Thank you — for the thousands of prayers you have prayed for your congregation and others.
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Thank you — for the time spent out of church to help those who needed help or needed a friend.
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Thank you — for not judging people and embracing everyone with open arms.
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Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (KJV).
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What I pray for you: Guidance for the paths your feet will daily follow. Wisdom for the counsel you are asked to give. Compassion for those you are called upon to help.
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What I wish for you: Strength to stand for what is true and right even when there is opposition. Courage to press on, even when things seem routine. Perseverance to follow the desires God has placed in your heart, even when you doubt.
- What I give to you: Support for your leadership, appreciation for your calling and gifts, thanks for the person you are in Christ. God Bless you!
Download the printable version of these instructions
Cards of Encouragement Instructions
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Scripture Doodles
Scripture Doodles are designed to assist anyone, of any age, to focus on the message and walk away with details of the worship service that can be further studied throughout the week. Each page has a variety of focus points; choose the format that works best for your needs. This resource is designed to be an aid to the worship experience and assist users in connecting God's Word to their daily lives.
Download this set of free printable PDFs
Scripture Doodles (Assortment of 9 designs, with 2 of each design per page)
Scripture Doodles can be used by:
- Confirmation classes,
- Sunday school or adult Bible classes,
- Shut Ins,
- Individuals,
- and as bulletin inserts.
Scripture Doodles are available above as free printables for personal and ministry use.
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“We Care” Packages
A printable PDF can be found at the end of this article.
Pastors, deaconesses, directors of Christian education, teachers and other church workers spend so much of their time caring for us. A simple and meaningful way to demonstrate your gratitude is by putting together a thoughtful “WE CARE” package filled with items and treats that they enjoy. Let’s show them the love and care they deserve!
Here are a few ideas to help you get started:
- Pray for your Church Worker.
- Personal note of thanks and prayer for them (downloadable cards available on the LWML website at lwml.org/church-workers-in-mission).
- Devotional for teachers, “Splashes of Grace” from Concordia Publishing House.
- “Coupons” for babysitting so church worker and spouse can have a date night (optional: offer to pay their trusted babysitter).
- Restaurant gift cards for date nights.
- Remember their birthday and anniversary.
- Hand sanitizer.
- Pocket tissues.
- Band-Aids.
- Small sized pain reliever (e.g., Tylenol or Advil).
- Powdered energy drink mix with caffeine.
- Energy bars / granola bars.
- Trail mix packets.
- Hard candy/ mints.
- Cough drops.
- Lip balm.
- Hand cream.
- Scented candle.
- Refreshing lotion for feet.
- An eye mask or neck wrap.
- Gift card to a local coffee shop.
- Gift card to a local store where school or church supplies may be purchased.
- A mug or small desk plaque with an encouraging Bible verse such as Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).
- Membership at a gym or health club.
- Healthy snacks.
- Tickets to sporting events that they enjoy.
- Tickets to concerts or theatrical productions that they would enjoy.
- Books, CDs, or DVDs on topics that interest him/her.
- Supplies (or gift cards from suppliers) for crafts or hobbies they enjoy.
Things to Do for Your Church Worker:
- Share baked goods, homemade foods, and/or homegrown fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Organize a group of volunteers to help with home repairs.
- Recognize your pastor/church workers on their ministry anniversary.
- Invite your pastor/church worker to your home for a meal, family gathering, or special event.
- Sponsor an Appreciation Day for your church worker (pastor, DCE, teacher, deaconess).
- If you have a problem with them, talk to them directly.
- Be involved in the church. Attend worship regularly, join a Bible study, volunteer.
- Speak well of your church worker.
Cards of Encouragement:
- For Pastor Appreciation (October), or Teacher Appreciation Week (May), DCE Appreciation (June), or Church Worker Appreciation (October). You may use one of these texts or write your own:
- Thank you — for the countless times you have stretched out your hands in service to others in times of need.
- Thank you — for the early Sunday mornings and many hours in preparations for your great sermons.
- Thank you — for the thousands of prayers you have prayed for your congregation and others.
- Thank you — for the time spent out of church to help those who needed help or needed a friend.
- Thank you — for not judging people and embracing everyone with open arms.
- Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (KJV).
- What I pray for you: Guidance for the paths your feet will daily follow. Wisdom for the counsel you are asked to give. Compassion for those you are called upon to help.
- What I wish for you: Strength to stand for what is true and right even when there is opposition. Courage to press on, even when things seem routine. Perseverance to follow the desires God has placed in your heart, even when you doubt.
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What I give to you: Support for your leadership, appreciation for your calling and gifts, thanks for the person you are in Christ. God Bless you!
- Remember cards for special holidays like Valentine’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and especially their birthday and anniversary!
- A card or note for any time of year could include:
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’ (Matthew 25:21).
A (Pastor/DCE/Deaconess/Teacher) devoted to giving so much,
God only knows all the souls that you touch.
Committed to serve when you answered God’s call,
you prove it by being a servant to all.
You’re such a wonderful (Pastor/DCE/Deaconess/Teacher), filled with compassionate love. Your faith inspires one and all to honor the Lord up above!
Download the printable PDF of this resource
Related Resources
View more resources on the Church Workers in Mission webpage
Prayer Prompts
Free downloadable Prayer Prompts
These free printables can be used in various ways to encourage prayer individually or at your group, zone, or district event. They were originally called “mug rugs” and were used at the “Cup with President Kay Kreklau — It’s about Prayer” exhibit at the Pittsburgh Convention and revised in 2024. Each Prayer Prompt was laminated and placed on the floor of the exhibit. Participants stepped from one to another and offered a prayer for the subject provided on the sheet. Each person could pray as long as they wished and could begin or end anywhere in the process.
Below are other ideas to use Prayer Prompts:
- Give a Prayer Prompt to various people in your audience and ask them to pray aloud for their subject as you join in corporate prayer.
- Bind the Prayer Prompts together in a binder or put them in a folder for use in your daily prayers.
- Place the Prayer Prompts along a trail or path you are using as a prayer walk.
- Place one or two Prayer Prompts on each table during a luncheon or pot-luck and urge those at that table to pray for that subject. You may wish to encourage people to move from table to table and pray for additional subjects.
- Give an individual Prayer Prompt to each member of your group or Bible study and ask them to pray for that subject each day, then report back the next time you gather.
- Spread Prayer Prompts across a table and ask participants to walk around the table praying for each subject.
Download the printable prayer prompts
Prayer Prompts in color, 4 to a page, 8.5" x 11"
Prayer Prompts in color, 8.5" x 11"
Prayer Prompts in color, 11" x 17"
Download the printable prayer prompts to color
Prayer Prompts coloring page, 8.5" x 11"
Prayer Prompts coloring page, 11" x 17"
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2023 Convention Keynote Address
Rev. Dr. Greg Seltz, Executive Director of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty, was the keynote speaker for the 2023 LWML Convention in Milwaukee, WI. Watch the keynote address below!
Download the 2023 Convention Keynote Address video
- Instructions to download: Click the above link and the download page will open in a new window. From there, click the “Download” button/icon.
