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Have you ever wondered why we have the Fellowship Pad in each pew and why we hope that you sign it each week? Not only does it help us to keep track of how many are here each week, but it gives us a chance to meet and get contact information from visitors. It can be a helpful tool to know who you are sitting next to as well.

I know signing the pads is not something everyone likes to do. I recognize that there can be resistance to signing the pads each week, and often wonder if some think we pastors sit with a red pen like a high school teacher taking attendance, marking absences and tardies. Don’t worry, I don’t! You’re not getting a grade, you’re not getting a gold star for perfect attendance, nor are you getting demerits for each service you’re not here. Life is busy. We all hopefully get chances to travel or have a weekend of relaxing.

Attendance by name is a helpful tool for me as your pastor. It helps me to notice trends - if you are a weekly staple in the pews and suddenly are gone for two or three weeks, it lets me know that perhaps a check in is needed. That is my hope with this new style of “attendance”.

There also will be little pieces of paper that will allow for some more confidentiality but also assistance to me. If you have a prayer request that you do not want to share with the whole church, or if you want to discuss a life matter or have a listening ear, you can write your name and check a box that you’d like me to reach out to you. This will also be an opportunity for visitors to fill out some more information such as address, email, and/or phone number.

The goal is a more streamlined process for Tithe.ly, our new church management software. In this software we are able to have a database of our church, to be able to keep track of who was at what service for reasons listed above, and to see overall trends.

So, going forward, we will have a check in attendance sheet on a table along with a highlighter and pen. Please highlight your name. If you are not listed, please write your name on one of the little cards or print your name at the bottom of the sheet. You may also use the computer to enter your name directly into Tithe.ly.

As for the little sheets, feel free to fold it and put it in a bowl/basket on the table.

While we have tried to think this through, we recognize that this new way of tracking attendance will have some growing pains and some needed tweaks. As with any change, thank you for your patience, your feedback, and your willingness to try something new!

  • Pastor Aric