Christmas Gifts for a Pastor's Family, Spouse and Kids Included
It's the Sunday before Christmas, and the card table at the back of the church is covered in gift bags. Every one has the pastor's name on it. The pastor's wife is helping stack the folding chairs, and nobody has a bag with her name on it. Her son, who is seven, has just asked if any of the bags are for him.
Nobody did anything wrong. A congregation gives to the person at the front, because the person at the front is who they see. The people who sit in the second pew and carry that person's schedule home every night are easy to miss.
Short answer: the best Christmas gifts for a pastor's family are ones that belong to the spouse and the children, not the church, and one of them should be time. Ours start at $25.
This guide is for the board member, the Sunday school teacher or the neighbour who wants to be the one who remembered. I've used "spouse" through most of it, because pastors come in every shape of family, but a few ideas are written with a pastor's wife in mind, since that's what many people search for. Seven ideas follow. Three are gifts you can order from us, with prices in Canadian dollars checked on 24 Oct. Four don't cost much at all.
Three gifts you can order
Family Name Household Verse Print, from $25 for 8x10 in, $29 for 11x14 in and $39 for 16x20 in. It carries the family name, the year established and Joshua 24:15, "as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Some pastors' families live in a house the church owns, and a print with their own name on it, hung in their own front hall, is a small way of saying this is their home. Frame not included. Best for: a family that moves every few years and wants something light to carry. Not for: a household you don't know well enough to spell the name.
Strength and Dignity Mug, $25 for 11 oz and $35 for 15 oz. It carries Proverbs 31:25 to 26, and you choose what she's called, Mom, Grandma or her first name. You can add the children's names along the base. It was designed with Mother's Day in mind, and there's no rule against giving it in December. Best for: a pastor's spouse who's also a mother. Not for: anyone who'd feel pressure from the title of a famously impossible chapter, so use her first name if in doubt.
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Print, from $25 for 8x10 in, $29 for 11x14 in and $35 for 16x20 in. It's Psalm 139:14 with a child's name and a date, designed for a new baby's room. Best for: a pastor's family with a baby or a toddler. Not for: a teenager, who will let you know.
Four gifts that don't need a shop
A night out, and a sitter who isn't the church secretary. Pay for a babysitter and a dinner. Put it in a card and set the date yourself, because a pastor's calendar fills up every time it's left open. Best for: a spouse who hasn't sat in a restaurant in months. Not for: a family in the middle of a funeral week.
A meal on the doorstep on Christmas Eve. Ring the bell and leave. The pastor will have two services, and somebody has to eat between them. Best for: any pastor's household. Not for: a family with a long list of allergies you haven't asked about, so ask first.
Something for the children that has nothing to do with church. A book, a toy, a ticket to a movie. A pastor's child can end up with a lot of Bibles and Sunday school prizes, and one year it's nice to get a skateboard. Best for: children from five to fifteen. Not for: a gift that comes with a lesson.
A handwritten card to the spouse by name. Write two sentences about something you saw them do, like setting out chairs or sitting with a widow. It doesn't have to be long. Best for: anyone. Not for: a card that says "behind every good pastor", which is the one thing to skip.
We were so blessed by the church families we served during the Advent and Christmas season. In addition to the usual gift cards, greeting cards and baked goods, I remember receiving a Spanish-English Bible, as well as many hand-painted items that were very special.
The verse for a pastor's family
The writer of Hebrews was talking to a congregation, and he wanted them to know God was keeping track of work nobody else was.
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. (Hebrews 6:10, KJV)
That's true of a spouse who sets out the cups on Sunday and a child who has learned to shake hands at the door. They're ministering too, whether they asked to or not.
If the whole church wants to give
A board can do this together. Our church page takes orders from 10 to 200 pieces, and a family print or a set of mugs is a thing a congregation can sign in one card. We send a quote and a proof within one business day. The price per piece comes down as the quantity goes up, and the exact figure is in the quote. Check the order-by dates there before you plan, because printed gifts take a few days to make.
How we chose
Every gift we link here is one we sell, so there's no affiliate commission in this guide. The ideas that cost nothing are ones we'd want ourselves. Prices were checked on 24 Oct and are in Canadian dollars. Our shop ships across Canada with no duties. You can read how we choose on our disclosure page.
Questions people ask
- What is a good Christmas gift for a pastor's wife? Something that's hers: a mug with her own name on it, a night out, or a card that thanks her by name.
- Should I give gifts to a pastor's children too? Yes. They're the ones most often left out, and a gift with nothing to do with church is often the best one.
- How much should I spend? Our gifts start at $25. A card and a meal cost less, and they mean as much.
- Can our church order for the pastor's whole family? Yes, from 10 pieces on our church page.
Browse more in our pastor and staff gifts.