Church Worker Appreciation - Pastor

LCMS.org • October 14, 2024

Church Worker Appreciation - Pastor

October historically has been the Synod’s designated month for showing appreciation to our church workers, who serve us in a multitude of ways as they preach, teach and care for God’s people in body and soul.


In 2024–2025, we have planned a year’s worth of observances to highlight the many different kinds of workers who serve the church and to give thanks for all of them and the indispensable and sacrificial work that they do:


Oct. 13 — Pastor Appreciation

Oct. 25 — Deaconess, Director of Family Life Ministry, Director of Christian Outreach, and Director of Church Ministries Appreciation

April 28 — Director of Parish Music Appreciation

May 5–9 — Teacher Appreciation

June 26 — Director of Christian Education Appreciation


On Oct. 13, we will begin our year of church worker appreciation by thanking God for our pastors, who stand in the stead of Christ as they bring us His gifts of Word and Sacrament.


There are many creative ways to show your gratitude, encouragement, and support for our pastors as they minister to our over 1500 members, non-members, visitors, students, staff, and their own families. First and foremost is prayer and let them know you're praying for them. Knowing their gifts of love, time, and energy is appreciated, even if it is often unseen publicly, can fill their cup and give them a little boost to continue serving with gladness. 

News & Notes

By Barb Christian July 28, 2025
As we begin our new preschool year, we will need some supplies. It takes a lot of glue, markers and paint to keep preschoolers busy. Please consider taking a letter or two from our “Giving Tree”. Each letter is labeled with a needed supply item to be donated. Once you have shopped, you can return the item(s) to the tree. Thank you for your generosity as you bless our preschool. You are truly appreciated!
July 21, 2025
Hey's St. Peter's! How's your summer going? We want to know!
By HSYG July 21, 2025
St. Peter’s Youth head to “The Big Easy”
By Tim Degen July 21, 2025
Tim Degen, Director of Music & Organist
By Pastor Nate Widener July 21, 2025
"Martha, Martha, Martha" by Pastor Nate Widener
By Board of Directors July 14, 2025
Voter's Meeting Results
By Pastor Adam McDowell July 14, 2025
Summer Monday Worship Services Will Conclude for the Season August 25th
By Michelle Leahy July 14, 2025
Most of us are familiar with Jesus’ parable of the Samaritan which was the text for Pastor McDowell’s sermon this past weekend. In the training for our Friends of Faith program, we use a slightly modernized version of the story. This version comes from the The Companionship Movement℗ training materials.  A person is beaten, bloody, and unconscious on the side of the road. A pastor comes along, sees the person, and hurries by on the other side of the road. Likewise, a law professor walks along and sees the unconscious man. She stops for a moment, shakes her head, and then rushes by. Soon after, an undocumented woman sees the man and rushes over to see if he is breathing. He is. She picks up her phone to call the police but pauses, considering what might happen to her if she does. The woman calls 911 for an aid car, despite the risk. Riding with the man to the emergency room, she gets him admitted to the hospital and assures him that she will visit him tomorrow. In our training, we certainly talk about how the woman who is providing care is truly loving her neighbor, helping others even if it means risk to her. Then we take a deeper look at the two who did not stop. What is your initial reaction to the pastor and law professor? What if you learned that the pastor was running late to conduct a seminar at his church on domestic violence? How might your opinion change if you knew the law professor is on her way to testify to city council regarding the uptick of homelessness in the city. The goal of this exercise is that we are not to judge the care that others are able to provide but to consider the care that we ourselves can provide. You might not be able to lead a seminar, testify at city council, provide counseling, or heal a wound. However, you may be able to walk alongside someone who is struggling, not fixing the problem but simply showing love and compassion. Notice in our story that the woman does not attempt to provide medical care for the person. She instead guides him to the resources he needs. Companionship, compassion, and love are the focus of our Friends of Faith program. Individuals within our St. Peter’s family have been trained to walk alongside someone in need. They simply listen when someone needs a friend. If you would like to be a part of the Friends of Faith program, please reach out to Pastor Nate or Michelle Leahy (mleahy@stpetersfw.org or 749-5816). One final point about our Samaritan story, our woman who was able to provide help could only do so because she was paying attention. Had she been rushing through her day, thinking only of herself and her task list, she might never have seen the unconscious man. If you really pay attention to the people around you, you will likely find many who need care. The St. Peter’s Community of Care has a wide variety of resources we can offer to help when others are in need. You can be a Good Samaritan, connecting someone in need with resources that can help. For assistance with this, please contact the church office, either pastor, or Michelle Leahy.
By Mike Bultemeier July 14, 2025
By Pastor Adam McDowell July 14, 2025
Sermon by Pastor Adam McDowell