Giving Thanks to Those Who Give

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While the number of days set aside to celebrate some particular group may have proliferated a bit out of control in recent years — leading to such holidays as National Grouch Day, for example — some appreciation days make a lot of sense.

Next Sunday, October 12, is National Clergy Appreciation Day: a holiday begun primarily for Christian pastors and priests, but also an appropriate time to thank rabbis, imams, preachers, and religious personnel of all creeds and persuasions. Devoted to their congregations, and generally heavily involved in community service, the clergy frequently don’t get enough credit for their good works — and next Sunday is the perfect opportunity to extend gratitude.

One local organization that’s instrumental in community works is the Santa Barbara Clergy Association, which meets once a month to discuss community issues. From organizing celebrations of Martin Luther King to sponsoring the Interfaith Thanksgiving service each year, the Clergy Association is active in local life, and their activities take tremendous amounts of work, time, and energy — above and beyond each member’s responsibilities within his or her own congregation.

Most congregations also independently support a variety of good works. The Christ Lutheran Church of Goleta funds a different charity each month: the Goleta Boys and Girls Club, Domestic Violence Solutions, and Casa Esperanza were all recent recipients. Donations made by congregation members are matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a bank and financial organization. Russ Gordon, the pastor of Christ Lutheran, organizes this massive outlay of community assistance.

The Santa Barbara Community Church is another local congregation that devotes time and financial support to a huge variety of causes. The Santa Barbara Community Development Center, Habitat for Humanity, Transition House, and the Goleta Homework Club are among the groups benefiting from the work put in by the pastors of the Santa Barbara Community Church.

These are only two examples of religious groups in Santa Barbara that give and assist under the direction of their clergy -– but almost every spiritual organization supports some form of charitable giving. In most cases, the clergy lead the efforts.

Of course, anyone who regularly attends a religious service appreciates not only the efforts expended by the typical clergy member in pursuit of the general welfare, but also the time and care it takes to prepare a sermon, get to know each member of the congregation, and oversee the group’s administrative business. But next Sunday is an opportunity to express that appreciation –- the religious and nonreligious alike should take a moment to get involved, say thanks, and think about the ways our clergy work for Santa Barbara.

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