Memories of Pastor Appreciation Day  -  October 21, 2001

See the Pictures

 I have no sermon summary today. This past Sunday was Pastor Appreciation Day at our Church and I wanted to share with you some of what was done for me.

 I had been informed that October 21 was to be Pastor Appreciation day. Pastor Joel Tassiello, my associate, let me know that he would be handling all of the service for that day and I would not need to be there early like normal. He said they did not want me at church early and he would probably call me around 9 a.m. to let me know it was OK to head for church.

 We were waiting for Pastor Joel's call at 9 a.m. when a chauffeur rang our doorbell. Outside was a stretch limousine. My son Brent was there videoing us as we came outside and entered the limo where we found our daughter-in-law, Suzanne there to be our host. Pastor Joel had driven his vehicle and went ahead of the limousine with Brent riding shotgun. They stopped a time or two and Brent videoed us going by.

 The limousine had cokes iced down in hidden compartments, A video and TV. A CD player. Regenia’s favorite candy is M & M’s. There was a bowl of them there. I love pistachio nuts. There was a large challis filled with nuts.

 We made two stops on the way to church to pick up Sister Myrtle Lasiter and Brother Robbie Robinson. They are two of our older people that Regenia and I pick up for church on Sundays. They were as shocked as we were to have a limousine take them to church. Robbie said, “Boy won’t there be a lot of talk about my ride today.” He lives at a four story senior center.

 At church, the people were all outside to greet us and usher us inside. After Sunday School, they played a video of several interviews that had been done with some of our friends in the ministry. (Pastor Appreciation Video)

 A couple of the interviews were from pastors where we had recently taken our congregation to visit on a Sunday night. These visits are solely done to express our love and support of the pastor and the church. We do not take songs or messages except we do take a gift for the Pastor and his wife, usually a gift certificate to a nice restaurant.

 After the video, we had a wonderful worship service and then Brother Edd Higgins, came forward. He honored our other pastors with a card and gift certificate to a nice restaurant. Then He and his wife Sherry shared personal remarks of their love for Regenia and me. One by one the other pastors who assist us shared personal remarks with us. Sister Zenger shared and then read remarks sent by Pastor Zenger who was away in a revival. Brent and Suzanne, our Youth Pastors shared. Then Pastor Joel and his wife Rachel shared.

After the sharing, they brought gifts. Regenia was given permission to buy new draperies for our living room at the parsonage. I was given a computer desk to go in my office. We were also presented with our own parking signs that will go up on spaces located close to the church entrance. The people then individually came forward expressing their love for us, giving us cards and gifts.

 There was a catered meal waiting for us downstairs. Several of our friends and relatives had been invited and were seated with us for the meal. It was a wonderful BBQ.

 After the meal we were chauffeured in the limousine taking Brother Robbie and Sister Myrtle and us back home. Sister Myrtle was stepping out of the limousine when she said, “I want to step out right so the neighbors won’t know this was my first time to ride in a limousine.”

 At 4:15 p.m. the limousine picked us back up. We went by the church and then led a procession to Kingfisher where we did a joint Night of Praise service with the Lighthouse Praise and Worship Center, pastured by Bob Shafer. We enjoyed the company of some of our church people riding with us in the limo both going and coming back home.

 What a day!  We have had many pastor appreciation days but this one really stands out above the rest. At our past appreciation days we often knew some of our congregation did not fully support our ministry and some really wished they had a different pastor. This year we felt the unity God has established and felt deeply the appreciation of all our people.

 My prayer is that God will help all my Pastor friends experience the joy of having a congregation that totally supports and loves them and shows it.

 I want to share this with you. Pastor Joel Tassiello has been largely responsible for the change in our church people’s attitude and love toward Regenia and myself. God has taught Him how to honor us and why the church must honor and follow it’s pastor. He has taught these things to our church not only in word but also in deed.

 Pastor Joel has shared this message in other churches and is willing to bring the message where the Lord may open doors. Below is Pastor Joel’s printed words of appreciation he shared with the congregation, Sunday. In the next day or two video of the day will be posted on our web site at hojc.org.

 I pray that all of you pastor’s I am sharing this with today can experience the joy that has filled my heart this past week. I believe I understand what David said in Psalm 23 when he said, “My cup runneth over.”

 Sincerely,

Darryl Manning

 

Pastor Joel Tassiello’s remarks, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2001- Pastor Appreciation Day

 

Pastor & Regenia,

Regenia, our First Lady, let me start with you.  I have heard many people on different occasions describe you as sweet and kind and always positive.  In fact, most times these are wonderful accolades that are given by  well-meaning people to someone for doing  something nice sometime, but rarely true on the whole.  Not so with you.  Regenia, I believe that you are an exception to the rule.  You are truly a woman of grace and style and an example of how a Lady in ministry should be.  I know that you are admired by many, not just in our church, but by others in ministry.

 Thank you for having integrity, grace, a positive and uplifting word, and sensitivity to the needs of others.  I am so very proud of you.  There is a presence around you that is simply inviting and makes people feel good.  You’re a blessing to be around and I couldn’t be happier that you are our First Lady here at HOJC.

 Pastor, I’m not sure what you saw in me that caused you to ask me to be your youth pastor over 8 years ago.  I know at that time, I was definitely not looking for such a position, but felt the affirmation of the Holy Spirit that let me know that it was the right move for me to make. 

 I remember many difficult times at first.  No need to explain those, we’re both aware of how rough that it was while most everyone else didn’t.  I remember very plainly asking the Lord on many occasions to let you fire me because I couldn’t handle the struggle any longer and the Lord wouldn’t release me to quit.  I never in my wildest dreams envisioned that things would be as they are today.

 Pastor Bob Shafer told me years ago that I should really honor you.  I remember asking him how.  I really had no understanding of how to honor someone.  I knew how to honor someone by how I thought of them, but that’s as far as it went.  Since then, the Lord has really revealed to me not only how to honor you, but that His will for my life could not and would not be fulfilled without it.  That has been such a powerful lesson for me.  God’s way is perfect and though I could not see it back then, it is so obvious today that you were truly the right man for me to be under.

 I have learned a lot from listening to you as you would give me instruction.  Sometimes in a casual way and sometimes in a corrective way.  I have learned from both your successes and hardships.  I have learned that it is necessary to have  mercy, grace and correction, but that there has to be a balance.  This balance many times is not fulfilled in one person, but in multiples of people with different giftings or in teams.  This is how it has been with you and I. 

 I’m grateful to you for listening to the Lord.  I’m grateful that you didn’t throw your hands up in the air and say I quit when I frustrated you.  I agree with Pastor Bob, in that the Lord could have used many other people, but He didn’t, because you were willing and obedient.  Because of that, I have been given an opportunity to follow the Lord in my calling without limits.  You have not put restrictions on my personal style of doing things because it did not match your own nor on my giftings. You have not only allowed me to be me in ministry without criticism, but have encouraged it.  You have seen giftings in me that I did not realize I had and encouraged me to use them. 

 Thank you for your confidence, encouragement, trust and blessing.  I am truly blessed to have you both as my pastors.  I pray the Lord’s most abundant and richest blessings on your lives for your faithfulness to His call despite man’s opinion and lack of approval.  Thank you for following God, not man.  Thank you for acting out your conviction instead of voicing your opinion.  Thank you for standing your ground when inside you wanted to run.  Thank you for showing grace and resilience under fire.  Thank you for standing up for the truth instead of going with the flow.  Thank you for being bold in pioneering a wonderful new ministry.  Thank you for allowing Rachel and I to serve this church with you as we endeavor to further the kingdom of God!