If you go to church...

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Replies

  • macpatti
    macpatti Posts: 4,280 Member
    Been Catholic my whole life, attend mass every Sunday even when out of town. NEVER had to sign in at any church, even to receive communion.
  • MrsCon40
    MrsCon40 Posts: 2,351 Member
    Why would you need to sign that you took communion? Is some of the sacrificial wine missing?

    I don't really get this... but I believe it is for church's that practice closed communion (meaning you aren't supposed to take communion if you aren't a member of the church you're visiting).

    My sister and BIL just visited a new church last week. Nobody was allowed to take communion unless you had a little blue card that you gave to the usher when exiting the pew. I'd never heard of this until she told me about it.

    NEVER heard of that!

    That's funny because it was a Missouri Synod.

    Ugh. Missouri Synod. There's a reason why I went ELCA.
  • spottedlee
    spottedlee Posts: 372
    I go to a very advanced Catholic Church. Every time we dip our fingers into the holy water, it registers our genetic code, and sends a notification to the Vatican on our attendance. That goes on our permanent record.


    OK, I made it up.
    LOL,, thank you for making me laugh
  • CoryIda
    CoryIda Posts: 7,870 Member
    We take down information, and give information about our church to visitors, but I've never heard of a "sign-in sheet."
    ^That^
  • spottedlee
    spottedlee Posts: 372
    Been Catholic my whole life, attend mass every Sunday even when out of town. NEVER had to sign in at any church, even to receive communion.
    Same here,, NEVER sign anything, and I grew up as Episcopalian and I still am.

    The sheet of paper in front of me in pew is for if you want priest to follow up with you,, that it. Not for head count -- that's greeter's job!

    Just to clarify,, the head count is given to priest on a small peice of paper and placed on top of offering plate so she have a good idea as to how many are here as she prepares for communion,, don't want to run out do we???
  • walkwithme1
    walkwithme1 Posts: 492 Member
    Why would you need to sign that you took communion? Is some of the sacrificial wine missing?

    I don't really get this... but I believe it is for church's that practice closed communion (meaning you aren't supposed to take communion if you aren't a member of the church you're visiting).


    At our church it doesn't matter if you are a memner or just a visitor whether you take communion. Taking it is between you and God. (accepting Christ as Savior is a prerequisite) And we don't have a sign in sheet. If you're a visitor you get a church information packet and it's up to you to decide if you fill it out.
    (I go to a baptist church)
  • danascot
    danascot Posts: 100 Member
    Ushers do a head count and we sign the pew booklet - but that's mostly used to follow up with guests/new people. I attend a Presbyterian church.
  • 99clmsntgr
    99clmsntgr Posts: 777 Member
    At my church there is no formal sign-in, although the full-fledged members have donation envelopes printed for them which includes your name and member number, so I guess they get their attendance (and handle tax receipts) that way.

    The only church local to me that I know has a sign-in sheet is a pretty big, contemporary church. The sign-in sheet is actually just for their umpteen softball teams - church league rules state that players must attend at least 2 weeks a month. There's enough guys in that big church that *want* to play but can't because the teams are full that they take attendance. Yes, I know of at least one person who was kicked off the team due to lack of attendance.
  • k8blujay2
    k8blujay2 Posts: 4,941 Member
    Now I'm even more intrigued by a card that goes in with the offering!

    I am familiar with Missouri Synod and Wisconsin Synod Lutheran Church's having a little tablet in each pew that you sign when you're there. It's not like everyone does, it's not "mandatory or your burn... but you're supposed to and then the secretary records that attendance in a database.

    Let's say you haven't been to church in 3 months, Pastor may send a note saying "We miss you! You're a horrible person! Get to Church!" or whatever... *LOL*

    I thought that was what the Sunday School records were for... *lol*
  • MsTanya77
    MsTanya77 Posts: 357 Member
    My church does not do that but I did visit a church that had the attendance sheet up front. LOL!!!!
  • dubw
    dubw Posts: 429
    We have a little book in every pew. It gets passed down the row, and everybody signs. The ushers pick them up after the offering and sort out the pages to identify visitors. Visitors are then sent a thank you card with an invitation to visit again. Members can also request minister visits or prayers on the sheet, and those sheets are sent to the pastor's office. I have been a member of that congregation since 1979 and the practice was on going when we arrived and continues today. Centenary UMC - New Bern, NC.
  • Buddhasmiracle
    Buddhasmiracle Posts: 925 Member
    Ummmm....no. I don't know of any denomination that has a "sign in sheet" per se. However, some churches have cards that visitors can fill out if they would like the Pastor, a deacon, or a church member to come visit them, but it's completely voluntary and has nothing to do with keeping tabs on individual attendance. Also, tithing envelopes so the treasurer can keep track (for your benefit) of what you have given throughout the year for tax purposes. But, again, completely voluntary. I usually just put my money in the plate without putting my name on it.

    When I attend a Protestant church with friends it's this.
    My Buddhist sangha is so small we know who the newcomers and visitors are.
  • jassyjan1
    jassyjan1 Posts: 308 Member
    No my church doesn't do that either. We do ask visitor to fill our a card so the church can say thank you for worshiping with us and to see if you need anything.
  • antonio823
    antonio823 Posts: 298 Member
    I believe our church has a book that guests can sign if they choose to do so. The church uses it to send thank you cards...
  • Florawanda
    Florawanda Posts: 283 Member
    We have a large Sunday congregation, and our team of 'Welcomers' greet everyone at the door, not to count, but exactly that to make everyone, old and new, feel welcome. The 'sidesteams' who hand out hymn books and church notice sheets do a rough head count during the first hymns/songs, which we have to record in the church ledgers for every service - a more careful count is kept at every service during October (people attending more than one service in any week are asked to tell someone to avoid double-counting) so that our contribution to the diocese and wider church can be calculated.

    Regular members of the congregation are encouraged to look out for people they know are missing (in case they are ill or need help so the pastoral team can be alerted) or visitors over coffee after the service, and if visitors wish a copy of our Welcome booklet with details of all our activities and a sheet to complete if they would like a member of the clergy to visit them.

    I would be horrified if only those who had completed a form could join in communion - our church is open to all who wish to receive, and if they do not wish to receive it, are welcome to come up and receive a blessing.
  • stellcorb
    stellcorb Posts: 294 Member
    We have that, but just name and member/ visitor... not if you take communion.
  • Kenzietea2
    Kenzietea2 Posts: 1,132 Member
    Yes, but I never fill them out.
  • bzmommy34
    bzmommy34 Posts: 229 Member
    My church has the slips but rarely does anyone fill them out. And they do not have anything in regards to communion on them.
  • lor007
    lor007 Posts: 884 Member
    No one signs in and anyone can take communion at my church. Usually, guests names will be recorded and mentioned in the next week's bulletin along with the attendance head count. My church is small (about 30 regulars) so anyone new is always noticed and welcome.
  • HeidiRene
    HeidiRene Posts: 335 Member
    I avoid church like the plague; however, when dragged to church as a child some churches had cards you filled out as a visitor and some had you self-identify during the sermon (the preacher would ask who was a visitor and you would stand).
  • djkamin60
    djkamin60 Posts: 88
    Never had a sign in sheet but ushers do head counts every so often. We do have a guest book at the back of church for visitors to sign and leave comments.
  • carrieo888
    carrieo888 Posts: 233 Member
    I used to go to a large Lutheran church (not a mega-church, just a decent sized one) and they did have a sign in sheet at the pews. I'm guessing to make sure their head-counts were correct. On the paper you checked whether you took communion, whether you would like a visit/call from the pastor, whether you had prayer requests, etc. I think it was all statistical data (hey, all good Germans like data!)

    I now go to a much smaller (but mightier!) Lutheran church and it's head-count only. If you no-show for a couple Sunday's you can bet someone will call wondering if you are OK :-)
  • Mamakatspokane
    Mamakatspokane Posts: 3,098 Member
    We have a "guest book" when you walk in . I attend a Catholic church
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    Head counts, signing-in... it's all nuts. Your religion and prayer time is between you and God.
  • macpatti
    macpatti Posts: 4,280 Member
    Head counts, signing-in... it's all nuts. Your religion and prayer time is between you and God.
    I think there have been valid explanations here on why some churches have members sign in or why they do head counts. Doing a head count to ensure everyone can receive communion doesn't sound "nuts" to me. We don't do it in our church, but I don't know that calling it "nuts" is appropriate.
  • KimmieBrie
    KimmieBrie Posts: 825 Member
    There's no sign in at ours. If someone is taking a headcount it's so discreet I've never seen it.
  • spottedlee
    spottedlee Posts: 372
    There's no sign in at ours. If someone is taking a headcount it's so discreet I've never seen it.
    It probably is,,, i know at my church, you never seen the greeter/usher pointing fingers to count, yet they provide a number on a little piece of paper and put it on top of offering plate at time of blessing so preist have an idea how many to feed for communion.
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