If this were a typical Presbyterian congregation, this morning's worship would be different. To begin with, we wouldn't be having a Church Family Retreat at Dogwood Acres. As you can see, that cuts down on attendance, and a typical congregation would want to pack 'em in today, of all days. We'd probably make lots of announcements on Sundays leading up to today, run a series of reminders in the newsletter, and, just to make sure, have both children's choirs sing in worship this Sunday.
Nobody fills the pews as well as children.
If this were a typical Presbyterian congregation, you see, today would be Stewardship Dedication Sunday. Pledge cards would be in every pew. Those little golf pencils would have been sharpened, and the ballpoint pens would have been checked to make sure they write. As soon as the benediction was pronounced, a team from the Stewardship Council would swoop down on the basket, whisk it off to Esther Harrison's office, and start tallying the pledges. Members who, for good reasons or bad, failed to turn in their cards, would receive friendly phone calls this afternoon, with offers for folks to come by their houses and pick up their cards.