To help the church be intentional in showing that appreciation, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has set aside the month of October and other special days throughout the year to highlight different kinds of church workers and their service.
On Oct. 25, we continue our year of church worker appreciation by thanking God for four commissioned (auxiliary) offices that support the work of the Holy Ministry: deaconess, director of family life, director of Christian outreach and director of church ministries.
On Oct. 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses — the “Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences” — to the church door in a small city called Wittenberg, Germany. This ignited the Protestant Reformation, and thus the Lutheran church officially commemorates this important anniversary on Oct. 31.
On March 6, we thank God for our lay workers, who serve tirelessly in a variety of ways in our LCMS schools and congregations.
During the month of April, we thank God for our volunteers, who serve tirelessly in a variety of ways in our LCMS schools and congregations.
On April 26, we continue our year of church worker appreciation observances by thanking God for directors of parish music, one of the seven commissioned (auxiliary) offices that support the work of the Holy Ministry.
During the week of May 4–8, 2025, we will continue our year of church worker appreciation by thanking God for school teachers, one of the seven commissioned (auxiliary) offices that support the work of the Holy Ministry.
The LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces encourages congregations to give thanks to God for our nation’s military veterans, service personnel, chaplains and families.
On June 26, 2026, we continue our year of church worker appreciation observances by thanking God for directors of Christian education (DCEs), one of the seven commissioned (auxiliary) offices that support the work of the Holy Ministry.
On Oct. 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses — the “Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences” — to the church door in a small city called Wittenberg, Germany. This ignited the Protestant Reformation, and thus the Lutheran church officially commemorates this important anniversary on Oct. 31.