Pastor Appreciation Gifts in Canada for Your Church
Picture a church board meeting that has run past nine o'clock. The last item on the agenda is the pastor, and nobody is sure what to buy or how much to spend.
Short answer: a church can thank its pastor with one gift from everyone, a card signed by the congregation, and a price the board agrees on before anyone shops.
It's an awkward item. Nobody wants to spend the church's money carelessly, and nobody wants the gift to look small. So the conversation drifts, and the pastor gets whatever somebody found on the way home.
A better way is to settle three things before the meeting ends. Who is giving: the board, the whole congregation or the staff. How much: a number everyone has agreed to. And what it says: a card that names something the pastor did this year. After that, the gift itself is easy.
Here are six gifts at different prices. Every price was checked on 23 Oct, and a price in US dollars is marked.
Six pastor appreciation gifts
Pastor Appreciation Mug, from our shop, $25 (our price on 23 Oct). A mug from a congregation, with the pastor's name, the church's name and Paul's words of thanks. It suits Pastor Appreciation Month, an anniversary of ministry or a farewell. A church can order many at once, from 10 to 200 pieces, through our church page. Best for: a gift from a whole congregation. Not for: a pastor who's received a lot of mugs.
Kenojuak Ashevak Boxed Notecards, from the National Gallery of Canada Boutique, CA$18.95 (checked 23 Oct). Twelve blank notecards with envelopes, made in Canada according to the listing. Pastors write more notes than most people, and good paper helps. Best for: a pastor who writes by hand. Not for: anyone wanting printed Scripture on the card. Ships within Canada.
Jackie Traverse 2027 Wall Calendar, from the National Gallery of Canada Boutique, CA$19.95 (checked 23 Oct). Twelve artworks by the Anishinaabe artist Jackie Traverse, printed in Canada, bilingual, 9 by 12 inches. A staff gift for an office wall. Best for: a staff team. Not for: anyone wanting religious art. Ships within Canada.
Trust Desktop Cross with Bronze Title Bar, from Lighthouse Christian Products through Christianbook, US$17.98 (checked 23 Oct). A standing resin cross with a bronze-coloured bar reading Trust. Christianbook's shipping chart lists Canada. Best for: a pastor, elder or administrator. Not for: anyone wanting something personalized.
Celtic Daily Prayer: Prayers and Readings from the Northumbria Community, from HarperOne through Christianbook, US$25.51 (checked 23 Oct). A rhythm of morning, midday and evening prayer from a tradition that doesn't sit neatly in any one denomination. Best for: a pastor wanting a daily rhythm of prayer. Not for: anyone who wants a short book.
Celtic cross embossed leather prayer journal, from MhareCA, CA$55 (checked 23 Oct). A leather journal, 7 by 5 inches, embossed with a Celtic cross. The shop is listed in Toronto, and it's new, with 3 sales shown. Best for: a pastor who keeps a prayer journal. Not for: anyone who wants a long track record from the seller.
How a group gift works
Pick a person to collect, and set a suggested amount with no minimum, so nobody feels priced out. Put the total toward one gift and put every name on a card. If a gift is more than the pool, the board can match it. If it's less, the rest can go to something the pastor would choose.
For staff or leaders, a bulk order works too. On our church page you choose the gifts and quantities, we send a quote and a proof within one business day, and nothing is charged until you approve. For the latest day to order, see the order-by dates on the churches page.
How we chose
We looked for gifts at a range of prices, from sellers who tell us enough about the item to describe it honestly. Our own mug comes first because a church can order it in bulk with a proof. We say when a seller is new and when a price is in US dollars. Some links earn us a small commission at no cost to you. How we pick, and what we earn, is on our disclosure page.
Why a congregation does this at all
Paul wrote to a young church about the people who led it, and about how they ought to be treated.
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. (1 Timothy 5:17, KJV)
Many readers take "double honour" to include fair pay. A gift is a thank-you, and it isn't a salary, so make sure the second is in order before you worry about the first.
Questions people ask
- What is a good pastor appreciation gift? Something small, useful and personal, from the whole congregation, with a card that names something the pastor did.
- How much should a church spend? There's no official figure. The board should agree on a number before anyone shops. The picks here run from CA$18.95 to CA$55, apart from two priced in US dollars.
- When is Pastor Appreciation Month? Many churches mark October. Our mug's description mentions it, but your church can pick any time that suits it.
- Can the whole congregation give one gift? Yes. Collect any amount from each household, choose one gift, and sign one card.
- Can we order the same gift for our whole staff? Yes, in quantities from 10 to 200 on our church page. We send a quote and a proof within one business day.
Browse more in our pastor and staff gifts.