5 Ways to Bless Your Staff During the Holidays
While the holidays are typically times for your congregation to enjoy special opportunities at the church, they can be draining times for the church staff that creates and manages those opportunities.
The Christmas season may be the worst. Special programs like kids’ musicals, choir cantatas, Eve services – are eagerly anticipated (and fully expected). Yet they require many hours of preparation and maximum effort at presentation.
I can still remember the exhaustion of planning and then pulling off three Christmas Eve services and the challenge to then give myself fully to family gatherings. (The real killer was when Christmas Eve was on a Saturday and there was an expectation for a wonderful Christmas Day service the next morning!)
The Easter season is no different. Good Friday services are usually so different from the Sunday morning services that wholesale changes need to be made in décor, staging, and lighting. And, all too often, those same staffers that helped in the former through platform presence or behind-the-scenes assistance are called on once again in less than 48 hours.
Grappling with how many services to offer and which staff are to be present is another subject for another post. But granting that the holidays are seasons of heavy outpouring, what can you do to recognize the efforts of your team?
The holidays are can be draining times for the church staff that creates and manages the special opportunities that come with the season. What can you do to recognize the efforts of your team?
Here are a few ideas:
1. Offer special recognition before the event.
Bring in bagels and doughnuts for the staff meeting. Better yet, provide a free all-staff lunch (You might well discover that there are congregants who would love to pitch in here).
In this moment, take the opportunity to recognize your team’s upcoming efforts and thank them in advance. The fact that their leader is aware of their stress and grateful for their sacrifice can go a long way in boosting morale.
2. Pray for your staff by name.
As the holidays approach, meet with each team member and ask how you can specifically intercede for them. Make sure you ask about any family dynamics at play as well as the ministry challenges they are facing.
Then fire off an email or two over the next days, reminding each staffer that you prayed for them and asking them how things are going.
3. Give your staff members a special gift to thank them for their extra effort.
Not only does a staff member sacrifice at the holidays, so does his/her family. Small tokens of appreciation such as gift certificates or movie passes can be so encouraging. By the way, put this expense in your church budget, perhaps under the area of “Staff Encouragement and Support” so you don’t have to scramble to find the funds.
4. Create intentional time of rest.
One of the greatest gift you can offer your team is that of time. In fact, I found that my team valued this above any other gift.
Consider closing the office for a few days or only opening it for half a day after a key holiday to give your team members an additional paid day off. As well, don’t be afraid to actually cancel various events and services. Not only will your staff be grateful for a break, so will your volunteers.
5. Write a note of appreciation after the season has passed.
As you do a debrief of the whirlwind of activities, take a moment to think of a specific time when each staff member went the extra mile.
While you could easily offer a verbal “Atta boy,” a thoughtful note that identified a noticed effort will go even further. Even better, look for ways to offer “public praise” by noting various individuals’ contributions before their peers.
Don’t forget to recognize and bless your “volunteer staff” – those faithful, unpaid servants who pour countless hours into making the holidays special in your church.
One more thing: don’t forget your “volunteer staff” – those faithful, unpaid servants who pour countless hours into making the holidays special in your church. What can you do to recognize and bless them for their efforts?
The holidays are truly special times. Yet for church staffs they can be a mixed blessing. While you can’t take away the pressure, with a little thought you can ease the pain.
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