Thursday 1st March 2007
"I haven’t seen . . . in Church for ages." Surely we all know people who used to be church members, but seem to have fallen away.
Then there are all the baptism and confirmation families, and many others, who have shown interest in the Church, but somehow never came regularly.
Back to Church Sunday is an ideal time to invite someone to come along once more.
Churches will hold their normal services, but with an especially warm welcome. perhaps using well-known hymns, a direct and meaningful sermon, and afterwards proper, freshly brewed coffee and home made cakes as people mix together.
Everyone can be involved, thinking and praying about people they could invite Back to Church. All they have to do is each fill in three invitations for neighbours, friends, or anyone else they think might enjoy the opportunity.
Invitations can also be sent to parents through Church schools, baptism lists, previous electoral rolls etc. People who have never been to church are welcome too!
To make the most of the event churches should produce a welcome pack of information about activities, and also plan a nurture course, such as Emmaus or Alpha for January. Many may well be doing this already!
Manchester diocese has successfully held a Back to Church Sunday for several years and it has proved to increase congregation sizes - initially extremely well, but even many months later by 10%. Many of the denominations in the Berkshire Area are participating in this, and the Regenerate campaign in Reading has taken up the idea and has promised to fund some advertising. So, the more Churches that participate in this the better, as more publicity will be generated when people talk together about going Back to Church.
Bishop Stephen says:“Take an average length street in an average sized town and there will be some Christians living there who attend church regularly, one or two people belonging to other faith communities, one or two committed followers of Richard Dawkins, quite a few people who go to church occasionally, several people who used to go to church but have got out of the habit, and then a large group of people who might go if they received an invitation and if coming to church was made a bit easier.
“This is what Back to Church Sunday is about; inviting people who used to go, or who are open to going, to give church a try. Here in Berkshire, where we took part in the campaign last year, we have found it hugely effective. Not only did we find people coming to church, but our churches had to think through how they could make themselves more welcoming and how we go about nurturing people into the Christian faith.”