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DA Weaver
17th December 2007, 11:18 AM (11:18)
Ok, I probably should have asked this BEFORE yesterday. I'm curious, what do you as pastors like to get for birthday gifts from your church / congregation?

Our pastor's b-day was yesterday. As secy of the church board, it was my responsibility and honor to find a b-day present for him. Several suggestions had come in for gift cards for either restaurants or book stores, etc... However, I had a little piece of information that not many other folks knew about. The pastor's first week at the church was the week I had surgery. After seeing me into the operating room, and departing with my husband they went to an electronics store to look at HDTV's. I had asked his wife at one point if he was able to find his television, and she replied he hadn't. So, as I was wondering what to get him for his b-day, I remembered the HDTV he had gone to look at. I pretty much knew the church's budget wouldn't foot his TV, but I suggested to the finance committee that we make a monetary gift toward the purchase of his HDTV. Our finance committee liked the idea, I purchased a card and wrote a little note about perhaps his applying it toward the purchase of the television he had been wanting. We decided that writing a check was better than purchasing a gift card, that way he could use the finances at any store he wished instead of being locked into some place like Best Buy or Circuit City.

Anyway, we as a finance committee thought it was a great idea. Upon asking his wife what she thought, she thought it was a great idea too.

So, here's the question, as a pastor what kinds of gifts do you enjoy getting from your congregation?

I could tell by the look on the pastor's face that he was looking forward to his birthday pie that someone had baked him as well.

Mike Schutz
17th December 2007, 09:54 PM (21:54)
So, here's the question, as a pastor what kinds of gifts do you enjoy getting from your congregation?

I am truly grateful if anyone ever gives me anything. But, if someone gives me something like a gift card to a favorite restaurant, or to a bookstore, then I know that they really thought about it. And if they give tickets to a ball game or a concert, that is very special.

Bob Evans
17th December 2007, 11:30 PM (23:30)
Books, sports tickets, resturant cards, were all good.

I had to pray about my attitude about some of the silly ones. Let me just say it this way. Da Your pastor is fortunate to have someone like you who pays attention. Not all pastors are that fortunate.

Mike Schutz
18th December 2007, 12:23 AM (00:23)
I had to pray about my attitude about some of the silly ones.

I would prefer a simple greeting to silly gifts. Due to the possibility of lurkers, I will not go into more detail. I know people mean well, but I've never understood why some folks think embarrassing or silly gifts are appropriate.
I guess they don't bother everyone. My staff have been better sports about silly gifts than I have.

Kevin Rector
18th December 2007, 12:33 AM (00:33)
Really I like any gift from anyone at any time. If it's not something I can use I can always quietly get rid of it (and maybe give it to someone that can use it) when the giver isn't around anymore. Generally though a gift card to a restaurant I like or a bookstore is always especially great. For Christmas this year our church gave us tickets to the indoor water park which is awesome because our kids adore it and it's a fabulous family activity on a cold Wisconsin evening.