news.zionbuffalo.org

Why Do We Fill Out Communion Cards?

There are three reasons:

• Zion’s constitution defines a voting member as a confirmed member who has ‘communed and made a contribution of record during the current or preceding year,’ so we need a list of those that have communed to be able to determine voting members.
• Each year, we need to report to the Synod how many of our members communed during the year.
• It helps our pastors keep a handle on the spiritual health of our congregation.

Who Should Fill Out A Communion Card?

Anyone who receives communion at Zion should complete a communion card. It is very helpful to the office staff and volunteers if you complete one card per household rather than a card for each individual. Having less total cards makes the task of alphabetizing and entering them into the computer much easier.

What Do I Write On The Card?

The only piece of information that we use from the communion cards is the name or names. Please include the first names of all family members that are communing as well as the last name.

Common problems with names on communion cards are:

• “LASTNAME Family” . . . Zion is a large church, and there may be another family with the same last name as you, even if it is uncommon. If we cannot tell which family is indicated, your communion will not be recorded.
• “LASTNAME (4)” . . . If you have 5 people in your family, we are not going to guess which 4 of those 5 took communion. If we cannot tell which family members are indicated, your communion will not be recorded.
• And, of course, illegible names . . . Please print clearly.

Can I Put My New Address On A Communion Card?

If you have a new address, phone number, email, prayer request, or other concern, please use the yellow pew cards. Communion cards are often not processed for several weeks or longer and we do not look at the back.