Don’t Let the Valentine’s Trumpets Win
“All you need is love.”
Waa, waa, waa, waa, waa.
Never truer words were spoken by The Beatles.
The trumpets have it right too.
A few well-placed waa, waas are definitely needed because sometimes it feels like loving on people can emotionally add another 4-5 hours to your day. Amirite?
Loving people, especially the hard to love ones, takes time and a lot of energy.
Enter Valentine’s Day.
It’s a day to focus that love. Even on those who are hard to love. And it’s time to start thinking about it now.
Because…in case you missed it, Valentine’s Day is on February 14.
Instead of rushing it, how about dedicating two-hours in the next two weeks to loving on your congregation?
Maybe you could get some of your favorite parishioners involved?
Or make it a part of your next staff meeting (what fun!).
Showing love and gratitude always – and I mean always – makes the good times roll.
If you’re a long-time reader of this blog you’ll remember these suggestions:
1. Send hand-written cards to everyone.
2. Pass out cards after worship.
3. Make random calls on Valentine’s Day.
4. Send a Valentine’s message through your email newsletter list.
5. Let someone know you just prayed a prayer of gratitude for their life.
Check out these posts for more ideas:
3 Ways to Make Valentine’s Day Memorable
4 Ways to Love on Your People for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day: Show and Share the Love
Know why many of these ideas are repeated every year?
Because they work. They surprise and delight.
Still not feeling quite inspired? Here are additional ideas:
Claire of Clarification wrote about 10 Ways to Celebrate Nonprofit Donors on Valentine’s Day.
The folks from the Better Fundraising Company turned January into “Thankuary.” If you didn’t do this in January, lucky you! February works well as a “Thankuary” too. Check out their ideas.
Or watch this Horizons Stewardship webinar with Kristine Miller, How to Make Your Donors Feel Appreciated and adapt some of her ideas for the upcoming love holiday.
It’s never too late to start loving on your congregation, especially this Valentine’s Day. When you do? Without a doubt you too will be joyfully singing, “All you need is love.”
And those waa, waa trumpets?
Why, you won’t even hear them. You’ll be basking in the gratitude glow.
Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a Stewardship Consultant for the OR-ID Annual Conference. She is also a Senior Ministry Strategist with Horizons Stewardship. For 25 years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she has helped raise over three million dollars for numerous churches and non-profit organizations. Want to hear some great trumpet playing? She wants you to take a listen to the incomparable Miles Davis.
You can reach Cesie at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com or on Facebook or at CesieScheuermann.com and one more…cesieds@horizons.net.
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