It’s Summertime! 3 Kinda Easy Ways to Thank
That old earworm “In the summertime when the weather is high…” popped into my head this morning. Mungo Jerry (the band’s name, I kid you not) may have had questionable lyrics – it was the 70s – but I still love the old “dee dee dee dee dee, da da da da da…” So profound, so moving.
Happy summer! It’s finally arrived. A good summer schedule means fewer meetings, more time to read, an extra scoop of ice cream, and time to take a big breath and a nap. Thank you, Jesus, for summer.
With all that extra free time, maybe, just maybe, you can add one thing to your to-do list:
Thank your people.
If you remember, a few weeks ago I wrote about my experience in a hot yoga class. Last week, I received an email from said studio director. She thanked me for coming to the class and hoped I’d come again. It was a lovely surprise, and it made me feel seen.
How about you surprise people in your congregation with an unexpected thank you?
Here are three kinda easy ways to do so:
Write a thank you in your newsletter. Take a moment to let your congregation know what you like about them. You may observe things that they don’t see in themselves. What a boost it would be to know their pastor appreciates them for who they are.
Send a thank you note to each member of your Leadership Team. You can handwrite a note or send an email. But it should be personal. Many of your leaders put in hours of work for the church and sometimes never hear a “thank you.” You are in a position to help them feel appreciated.
Thank your top givers. Send your Top Ten a note saying, “I want to thank you for all the ways you give to the church. In particular, thank you for your financial investment. You are making exciting mission and ministry happen here. I am thankful for you.”
Adding yet another thing to your summer to-do list might not sound very appealing. It’ll take a little thought and time. However, the effort you put into saying “thank you” this summer will reap big dividends. Believe me, it’s worth the effort.
And while you’re sharing all that gratitude, make it fun by cranking up the summer tunes. Even I can groove to these “clean” and no doubt church-approved summer songs of 2026.
Happy thanking.
P.S. A shout out – Rev. Dr. Ken Sloane, Director of Stewardship & Generosity at Discipleship Ministries for the UMC, is retiring! Ken has been such a supportive and helpful mentor to me over the years. I am grateful for him and the many ways he has inspired me and many others. Enjoy retirement, Ken! Here we are at our recent OR-ID Annual Conference.
Top photo credit: ChatGPT
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 – helping with capital campaigns and encouraging more generosity. For 25 years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she has helped raise millions of dollars for numerous churches and non-profit organizations. Another great summer earworm? Hot Fun in the Summertime by Sly and the Family Stone. She dares you to wear Sly’s outfit.
You can reach Cesie at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com, at CesieScheuermann.com, or at cesieds@horizons.net. Want to schedule a meeting? She’s got you covered!
Schedule a meeting now.
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