The administrator at church got in the habit of clearing my calendar and marking me out during the second week of January. The first time it happened I asked her about it. She was smart enough to observe that I put so much into and ran so fast during the Advent season, that once the adrenaline stopped flowing my body would shut down. I was always sick during the second week of January.

As we continue the season of Advent that leads to Christmas, clergy know how important this season is in our spiritual lives. Leading up to Christmas, your pastors will be fully immersed in the life of the church and all that happens during the season. While your pastors are doing much for you, here are five things you can do for your pastors.

Be Kind, Don’t Criticize

When the tree lights don’t go on at the appropriate moment at your Hanging of the Green, or the Advent candles don’t have sufficient enough wick to light, your pastors are the first to notice. Trust me, anything you notice that seems out-of-place or didn’t go as expected, your pastor notices long before you did and it bothers them twice as much as it bothers you.  Clergy spend months planning a meaningful season that will make for a powerful journey to the manger for the congregation. When something doesn’t go as planned, its tough to take. After all, something is going to go wrong and when it does, your pastor needs words of encouragement and gratitude.

Write an Encouraging Note

I cannot stress enough how much a note of encouragement means to your pastor. Whether it’s a hand-written note or an email, take a moment and let your pastor know that you are having a meaningful experience during the season and you appreciate their effort and hard work. Bonus point if you include a gift card for coffee or tea. Trust me, a good cup of coffee produces a better sermon on Sunday.

Remember That Your Pastor Has a Family

Family celebrations, stresses, and logistics are part of this time of year. Pastors are no different from anyone else. She is working on being a full participant in family gatherings and activities on top of the ministries of the church. They desire to be a fully present spouse during the season. He wants to spend time with kids or aging parents just as you do. When the final Christmas Eve service is finished, pastors are going home to help their spouse face the three most feared words in the English language: Some Assembly Required. Trust me, putting together a play kitchen at 1 a.m. isn’t all that its cracked up to be. Give your pastor space to take part in their family’s celebration. Know that they might be dealing with some of the same baggage around family issues that you are. Find ways to honor their commitment to family.

Give an Extra Financial Gift to your Pastor

An extra financial gift collected among the congregation makes a big difference for your pastor. Many congregations are generous when it comes to additional gifts. As we learn more about the slippery financial slope upon which many pastors sit, a gift like this becomes even more important. To make it “the gift that keeps on giving,” consider using the gift to add to their retirement account or college savings account. In a season in which we lift up great causes, remember that your pastor is a great cause.

Remember Your Giving to the Church

Your gifts make the mission and ministry of the church happen. Trust me when I tell you that your pastor is looking closely at the weekly giving numbers in December as the church seeks to finish out the year on the right side of the balance sheet. Make sure that you are fulfilling your financial commitments to the church. Know that those gifts matter greatly in your community and to your pastor’s well-being.