Welcome Pew Pals!

Don’t be surprised if you find a colorful stuffed animal in your pew beginning on Rally Day! We are launching a Pew Pal program.  Each pew will have a stuffed animal that a person (not only children) can hold during worship. The stuffed animal will have a tag that reads, “I am a Pew Pal. I will keep you company while we worship.  I can stay here, or you may take me home. If you do, please love me the way God loves you!” Your child is welcome to take the pal home.  You may bring it back in the future or keep it.  If your child mouths the pal or it gets soiled so it needs a bath, please place it in the basket in the Narthex.  Each week, the pals will be cleaned and restocked as necessary.  It is our hope that these pals may comfort some of us during worship and provide a welcoming gesture to families with small children.  The Cheshire Congregational Church has successfully run this program at its church. They have graciously donated some Pew Pals to us as we launch our program.  If you have small stuffed animals you would like to donate, please place them in the basket in the Narthex.  We thank Barbara Hobbs for coordinating this effort.

This story first appeared in the September issue of The Springboard.