Attending to Attendance

I remember, for a time, near my father’s church office, there was a large spreadsheet that held the name of all the households in the 1500-member church he served. Each week, he would use this method to mark the attendance of each household. I never looked closely at the notes he wrote, but there was always more at work than checking a box. It inspired me. 

Weekly attendance is an adrenaline-filled part of each Monday morning. As the preacher takes attendance, marking and noting those who arrived, it becomes obvious who, for various reasons, did not. What are the worries, the interests, the projects of these people, whether they are present or absent? As the preacher attends to the arrivals, it’s noted who is new and the energy that they brought. Before the preacher assesses the weekly financial offering, there is a whole other economy receiving attention. 

It’s been said countless times, “The church is more than numbers.” This is certainly true, but simple measures like numbers are gateways to greater understanding. When our minds peruse the list of names and our brains cue us to check a box, the Spirit begins to have her way with our hearts. She fills us with a shepherding attention that seeks to know, in right ways, each individual within the flock. The Spirit fills us with an adrenaline that compels service to the people. 

So, attendance is taken every Sunday at First Presbyterian, both from the sign-in sheets of the sanctuary and from the registration on Zoom. We celebrate our numbers, but also the knowing that comes from this attendance. We begin to know stories, personalities and styles of engagement. Our prayers for one another are informed and enriched as they focus not on the malady that we, ourselves, fear, but for confidence in and courage for each member of the community who is rising to their life’s challenges. 

Attendance is taken that we may attend to the wonderful crew that chooses to arrive to First Presbyterian of Waco each week. It’s ministry on a Monday.