Letter to the editor: Say ‘thank you’ to your pastor, church family

To the editor,

My Dad was a church Custodian for 35 years.

The church was a plant and started with 10-12 active families and grow to over 1,000.

Growing up, I spent a lot of time helping him and one thing, if I heard once, I heard a 1,000 times … 'If I do a good job - no one notices what I'm doing. I do not want to be noticed.”

Only when there is no toilet paper in the restroom does anyone think of the custodian; or a dirty carpet, a crackling sound system, snow not shoveled, windows dirty, etc. and etc. When everything is perfect, we never think of the custodian!

When is the last time someone 'high-five” the organist for having the perfect song for the service, hit all the notes with passion and brought the music to life? Seldom! Or the one who did the bulletin, took the time to get the prayer requests current, picked a fitting cover, got everything right, spelled right and all the activities right?

Who said 'thanks” to the song leader for starting the song on the right note, flipped the screen at the right time as the verses change, thanked the lady who always sends a birthday or Anniversary card to everyone on the right date, or the lay people who faithfully teach Sunday school each week or care for our little ones in the Nursery?

All the people who make a church function are important but often are taken for granted! Next time you see someone doing something at church - say thank you!

So, too, the Pastor, Rabi or Priest. Yet they are the leader of the church and, yes, we thank them for a good message from time to time - in passing … but we have no idea the time they spend preparing a message, visiting, studying, work at making the church viable; being told the sermon was too long or they could have preached through lunch the message was so good.

I know and have known a lot of Pastors - it is all too often a thankless job! They are told all that is wrong, what to preach, how to preach. We expect them to be there for everything. Preach a captivating message every time. Visit a loved one in the nursing home, have a wife and kids who are perfect - all the time.

We truly mean well, but do we stop and just say 'Thank you Pastor” for all that you do? or 'I'm praying for you Pastor.”

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. We need to than Our Pastor, Rabi or Priests for all they do and show appreciation to them and their family! Send them a card; give them a meaningful 'thank you,” give them a gift card for something you know they would enjoy, have them over or take them out for a meal! Talk to them as a neighbor and friend!

Bill and Mary Fortin

Mt. Pleasant