Banking to Blessing: Using Flocknote Signups Leads to a New Church Building

For the past 9 years, Our Lady of the Rosary in Crozet, VA has been a church without a building. Just celebrating Mass together required a constant change of venues, from school cafeterias, park pavilions, the local Baptist Church, and even a brewery! While grateful for the hospitality, they knew they needed a permanent place to call their own.

We recently spoke with their communications volunteer, Betty Groth, who shared the challenges they’ve faced: despite entering into contracts for properties in the past, they faced strong opposition from neighbors protesting against perceived threats of a ‘megachurch.’ This backlash, unwarranted for a congregation of fewer than 200, was disheartening. “It was personally sad to see the bias,” Betty said. “It was tough!”

But amid the church community feeling defeated, their parochial vicar suggested they take a step back, and instead focus on praying and fasting for the land search. During this time of faithful reflection, they discerned to do a spiritual bouquet (a beautiful tradition of offering prayers or acts of charity, mercy, or devotion for someone else) using Flocknote Signups.

This wasn’t their first time using Signups; in fact, they used it successfully for Mass attendance during the pandemic and continued to use it afterward for events, polls, volunteer & meal coordination, and more. “I cannot overemphasize how important Flocknote has been to our mission. It makes the church look good. It makes the church look modern, accessible, and welcoming. They’re seeing a polished communication that helps them in their spiritual life. As a communications volunteer, I wouldn’t be able to function without Flocknote,” she lauded.

And the creative use of the tool for a spiritual bouquet proved to be a big hit! “That got a lot of excellent responses,” she happily shared. Utilizing the powerful reach that Flocknote provides, combined with good old-fashioned elbow grease, she was able to download the Signup responses to a spreadsheet and write them onto physical sticky notes for a tangible representation of the community’s efforts.

“That push in the month after Easter was hugely, hugely helpful!” How helpful? Well, Betty’s excitement was palpable as she revealed a breakthrough: the church had finally acquired a unique new building, formerly operating as a bank! Reflecting on their journey, Betty credits Flocknote Signups as a HUGE factor in finding this new home. Their prayer, fasting, and spiritual bouquet efforts using Flocknote Signups concluded with Pentecost, and the bank went up for auction the very next week!

“It couldn’t be a better spot!” she beamed. “It’s in the heart of downtown. It’s right next to the post office. It’s in the same center that we’d already been working with for service projects…it’s the BEST location!”

The crew at Our Lady of Rosary is just getting started. Since the building has recently been operating as a bank, there are many renovations to be done. Betty mentioned that Flocknote has continued to be key to communicating with their all-volunteer crew for coordinating these cleanings and renovations.