Annie's Clergy Appreciation Day Page

"Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle,
and a
teacher of the Gentiles."
~2 Timothy 1:11~

October is Pastor Appreciation Month &
Clergy Appreciation Day is the second Sunday in October
October 11th for 2009

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,"
~Philippians 1:3~


CLERGY APPRECIATION DAY HISTORY - "In 1992, layperson Jerry Frear, Jr., was brainstorming with church colleagues about how they might be of help to their minister when he glanced at a calendar and noticed that it was almost Groundhog Day. 'I though, If they have a day for groundhogs, there ought to be a day for the 375,000 clergy people in America,' Frear says." So...for the last seven years the second Sunday in October has been set aside to show appreciation for our clergy. Are you planning something at your church? Let us know so we can share it with all of Springboard. "The reaction from pastors has been the greatest thing." Frear says, "They are overwhelmed that their congregations actually do care about them."
~Source: The Saturday Evening Post, Sept/Oct. '96~


There are 4 verses with the word "PREACHER" in them:

"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"
~Romans 10:14~

"Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity."
~1 Timothy 2:7~

"Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles."
~2 Timothy 1:11~

"And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;"
~2 Peter 2:5~


"Pastors who give their congregations only what they want are seldom able to lead
them to new heights.  If Moses had listened to the congregation and appeased
them, the people of Israel would have returned to Egypt and bondage.
  A visionary pastor is one who is able to shake and rattle
people for the cause of Christ."
~James A. Scott~

The word "TEACHER" is found in 6 verses in the Bible


"Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity."
~1 Timothy 2:7~

Dictionary.com defines CLERGY this way:


Clergy \Cler"gy\, n. [OE. clergie, clergi, clerge, OF. clergie, F. clergie (fr. clerc clerc, fr. L. clericus priest) confused with OF. clergi['e], F. clerg['e], fr. LL. clericatus office of priest, monastic life, fr. L. clericus priest, LL. scholar, clerc. Both the Old French words meant clergy, in sense 1, the former having also sense 2. Clerk.] 1. The body of men set apart, by due ordination, to the service of God, in the Christian church, in distinction from the laity; in England, usually restricted to the ministers of the Established Church.

Clergy are not just leaders from one denomination but are different leaders from all the different churches. Pastor, Minister, and Reverend are just a few names that Church Leaders or CLERGY are called. There are many different Denominations. But there is still only one true God. Check the Online Church Directory for all the different types of Churches that are available for people to Worship the Lord in.

What is a "Minister"?

Minister, in religion, is one who serves. Especially in Protestantism, a minister is an ordained member of the clergy who usually acts as pastor of a congregation. In addition to conducting worship services, an ordained minister usually administers the sacraments, preaches, and assumes responsibility for the pastoral care of the congregation. Lay ministers, who are not ordained, may assist at worship services. For example, they often read parts of the liturgy and lessons and help distribute Communion. In Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches, priests fill the role of ordained ministers.
~Above Information from The World Book Encyclopedia~

Living Sermons by Florence Belle Anderson

There isn't a word that a preacher can say,
No matter how lovely or true,
Nor is there a prayer that his eager lips pray
That can preach such a sermon as you.

You vowed to serve Christ, and men know that you did.
They're watching the things that you do;
There isn't an action of yours that is hid,
Men are watching and studying you.

You say you're "no preacher"; yes, but you preach
A wonderful sermon each day;
The acts of your life are the things that you teach,
It isn't the things that you say.

Oh, Christians, remember, you bear His dear Name,
Your lives are for others to view,
You are living examples; men praise you or blame,
And measure all Christians by you.

What is a Church?

Church, in Christianity, has two basic meanings. Church is the term for a community of Christians who share a specific set of beliefs. It also means the building that Christians use for worship and other religious activities. The word church comes from the Greek kuriakon, which means of the Lord.

In the early centuries of Christianity, church meant the community of all Christians. But in 1054, a split occurred between Christians in western Europe and those in eastern Europe and western Asia. The communities in eastern Europe and western Asia became known as the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

In the 1500's, a religious movement called the Reformation divided western Christianity into the Roman Catholic Church and Protestantism. The Protestants established a number of new churches--often called denominations--including the Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches.

The early Christians had no church buildings. Because they feared persecution from the Roman rulers, they met secretly in private homes or in underground passages and rooms called catacombs. Christians began building churches in the 300's, when the Roman emperor Constantine the Great ended persecution of the Christians. Since then, most churches have reflected the architecture of their time and region.

During the 300's, the basilica became the most common form of church design. The basilica was originally a large hall built by the Romans for administrative and judicial purposes. Between 1000 and 1500, Christians built numerous majestic and richly decorated cathedrals. Many churches built today combine traditional and modern architectural styles.
~Above Information from The World Book Encyclopedia~

Let Me SEE Your Sermon - A Poem from Heart Blessings

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day,
I'd rather one should walk with me than merely show the way.
The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear;
Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear;
And the best of the preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see the good in action is what everybody needs.
I can soon learn how to do it if you'll let me see it done,
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lectures you deliver may be very wise and true;
But I'd rather get by lesson by observing what you do.
For I may misunderstand you and the high advice you give.
But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

Links for you to Enjoy:

Links for Pastors:
Here is a
Church Locator
LINKS FOR PASTORS AND CHURCH LEADERS from Zondervan
YouthPastor.Com
Spiritual Life at Crosswalk.com
Annie's Devotional Page
Annie's Christian Magazines Page
Annie's "News in a Nutshell" Page
Focus on the Family
The Parsonage - A Home Page for Ministers & Their Families from Focus on the Family
For even more links visit:
Peggie's Christian Pick O the Week
&
Grant's Graceland Links Page
"What does the Bible say?" sites tells us about
"Pastor"
Pastors.Com - Lots to explore. Forum, special Pastor's portal, Daily News & more.
Preachers Page - "Thousands of FREE Sermons"
Site Hopes to Help Pastors in a Sunday Sermon Crunch


Creative Pages by Pastors:
The Stalled VW Page
The Grace Place
Kir Shalom - Stronghold of Peace
Grant's Graceland


Even Pastor's Need to Smile:
Annie's Lighter Side Page
Annie's April Fool's Day Page
Enter Noah's Ark
Peggie's Place - "The most FUN Christian home on the Web"
Bag o Laughs & Heavenly Top Ten from Grant's Graceland
Reverend Fun--Daily Christian Cartoon
Randy Glasbergen Christian Cartoons


Bible Study Resources:
Annie's Christian Search Page
Annie's Bible Study Page
Christian Answer Net
Bible Study Tools Home Page
Bible Gateway


So you want to make your own Church Webpage?
Annie's Simple Guide to Home Page Design Page
Annie's Tips on Outlook and Front Page Express Page
Annie's "Bee" an Internet Missionary Page


Related Page:
Annie's Father's Day Page


Clergy Appreciation Day Links:
Clergy Appreciation Month
"Clergy Appreciation Planning Guide" is a PDF file
"Celebrate the Shepherd," from Focus on the Family
"Be a Barnabas to Your Pastor." - ideas to support your Pastor
Awesome Appreciation Day from Peggie's Place

~I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,"
~Philemon 1:4~


We can't forget the Pastor's Wife:
The Pastor's Wives Home Page

What is a Priest?

Priest, in many religions, is the title of certain members of the clergy. A priest primarily performs religious ceremonies and gives religious advice.

Religions that have a priesthood include Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, and Taoism. In Christianity, the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Mormon, Roman Catholic, and Scandinavian Lutheran denominations use the term priest. Many of these priests serve as pastors of local churches. In ancient times, Judaism had a class of priests, led by a high priest. Today, however, Judaism has no priesthood.
~Above Information from The World Book Encyclopedia~

Let's look at some Greek & Hebrew:

The New Testament Greek Lexicon
Found 2 entries matching: preacher

Strong's Number  English Translation  Original Word/ Transliterated Word Where Found/Verse Count
2783 preacher - a herald or messenger vested with public authority, who conveyed the official messages of kings, magistrates, princes, military commanders, or who gave a public summons or demand, and performed various other duties. In the NT God's ambassador, and the herald or proclaimer of the divine word. kerux/kerux 1 Timothy

2 Timothy

2 Peter

Total Verses 3

2784 preacher -
to be a herald, to officiate as a herald
  1. to proclaim after the manner of a herald
  2. always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed
kerusso/kerusso Total Verses 60

The Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon
Found 1 entry matching:
preacher

Strong's Number  English Translation  Original Word/  Transliterated Word Where Found/Verse Count
06953 preacher - collector (of sentences), preacher, public speaker, speaker in an assembly, Qoheleth tlhq/qoheleth Ecclesiastes

Total Verses 7

How are the major religions organized?

The organization of the world's major religions ranges from simple to complex. Many religions have spiritual leaders, often called the clergy. These leaders have the authority and responsibility to conduct religious services, to advise or command believers, and to govern the religious organization at various levels. In some religions, the laity--that is, the believers who are not members of the clergy--also have important organizational roles.

Where do Clergy go to school?

Seminary, (pronounced SEHM uh nehr ee), is a school for training future clergy and lay leaders for churches or other religious organizations. It may also be called a theological school or a divinity school and is commonly a graduate-level institution. In North America, many religions have seminaries.

Seminary students generally study doctrine, history, philosophy, and sacred writings of their religion. Many also study practical subjects, such as pastoral psychology, religious education, worship, and preaching. Most North American seminaries offer master's and doctor's degrees. Some religious groups award diplomas, licenses, or certificates instead of degrees.

In the United States and Canada, more than 60,000 students attend seminaries. The Association of Theological Schools, which is the major accrediting body for seminaries, has over 200 member institutions.
~Above Information from The World Book Encyclopedia~

Here are some ideas to show your appreciation for your Pastor:

  • Everyone has a favorite homemade dessert. Do you know your Pastor's favorite?
  • If your Pastor has children offer to baby-sit. You can give them a FREE voucher to redeem within 24 hours notice.
  • Wash the Pastor's car. And if he has a wife then wash her car too. Don't forget to fill the car with gas while you have it.
  • Purchase a Gift Certificate for you favorite five star restaurant and leave it in the Pastor's Church Mailbox. It is nice to "take" the Pastor and his wife with you for dinner too but sometimes I think they might like a private romantic dinner. They may not otherwise be able to afford such an extravagant evening. Of course they would appreciate even a McDonald's gift certificate.
  • How about taking the Pastor to the clothing store where you get your suits and have him fitted for a brand new suit. Don't forget the shirt, tie, shoes and socks. If you can't afford that then maybe just a new tie might be nice. You might consider giving it as a gift from your Sunday School or Bible Study group.
  • You can make a gift basket with a "theme". Maybe Gardening or Bookworm themes. Just put all different and yet related items to the theme in a nice basket.
  • Symphony, Theater or Movie tickets would be a nice treat too. Don't forget Sports tickets.
  • A home cooked dinner delivered with candles and a nice CD for background music.
  • A gift certificate for a professional massage or even a manicure would be nice.
  • Gifts don't have to be extravagant or expensive to be special. Handmade items have their own special charm. Just make sure that your gift is from the heart and they will love it no matter what it is.

  • Be an Angel this month!!! Do an unexpected act of kindness.
    Human Relations from Heart Blessings

    1. Speak to people. There is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting.
    2. Smile at people. It takes 72 muscles to frown, and only 14 to smile.
    3. Call people by name. The sweetest music to anyone's ears is the sound of his own name.
    4. Be friendly and helpful. If you would have friends, be friendly.
    5. Be cordial. Speak and act as if everything you do is a genuine pleasure.
    6. Be genuinely interested in people. You can like almost everybody if you try.
    7. Be generous with praise -- be cautious with criticism.
    8. Be considerate with the feelings of others. There are usually three sides to a controversy: yours, the other fellow's and the right one.
    9. Be alert to give service. What counts most in life is what we do for others.
    10. Add to this a good sense of humor, a big dose of patience, and a dash of humility, and you will be rewarded many-fold.


    "FOCUS ON THE FAMILY" OFFERS RESOURCES FOR CLERGY APPRECIATION MONTH -
    Focus on the Family (FOTF) invites church congregations to honor their
    pastors during the month of October. FOTF suggests personal ways to honor a
    pastor: a pastor appreciation card; a lunch invitation; or a promise to
    pray, baby-sit, wash a car or even mow a lawn. A church can plan a special
    affirmation service, a potluck event or perhaps plant a tree in a pastor's
    honor. FOTF provides a planning guide with complete instructions and
    suggestions; a $2 donation is requested. A Spanish planning guide is also
    available.
    FOTF Clergy Appreciation Planning Guide (pdf format)

    Some Church Statistics from Hearts Blessings

    5% of church folks never existed
    10% cannot be found
    20% never pray
    25% never attend church services
    30% never read the Bible
    40% never give
    50% never go to church on Sunday night
    60% never give to missions
    75% never accept any responsibility
    85% never go to prayer meeting
    90% never have any prayer in the home
    95% never witness for Christ to the lost


    Send an Email Greeting Card to your Pastor!
    Click here to visit Annie's Card Shop!
    Clergy Appreciation Day Cards for October 11th, 2009
    Send a
    Have A Good Day !; Christianity or Spirituality card! From Annie's Card Shop
    Here are some related Cards from my 123 Greeting Cards listed as:
    Clergy Appreciation Weekend but they will work for other events too!

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