View photos from Back to Church Sunday in 2009 around the Diocese in our gallery!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Our Diocese is participating in again an exciting opportunity to invite people back to church.

Last year a decision was made by the Anglican Australian Bishops to participate in the successful campaign launched in the UK. Back to Church Sunday is an opportunity to reconnect with those who have lost touch with the church and invite them back. People lose touch with church for all sorts of reasons but millions would come back with an invitation.

On Sunday, 13 September, 2009 everyone in the Diocese was encouraged to invite a friend to church. The idea is that through a personal invitation to a friend or acquaintance those who have for some reason stopped attending church will return.

In 2010 the campaign will show we are a welcoming church and helps people in the Diocese to pray for the people God is calling us to reach. 

The Archdeacon of Newcastle, Fr Stephen Pullin said, “This is a great opportunity for us to reach out as a diocese and share the good news of Jesus with others who have in the past been a part of the story, but for some reason are not at present a part of a worshiping community."

“I know that we will see God's blessing as we faithfully take up this challenge and privilege,” he said. 

To make contact in our Diocese about Back to Church Sunday please contact Fr Stephen Pullin on 4926 3733 or email ruthcarson@angdon.com. If you would like more information in general visit www.backtochurchsunday.com.au. 

Prayer

Gracious God, thank you for today.
Thank you for making us and loving us.
Thank you for inviting us to know you.
Help us to invite (Your friend's name here) to come to church so they can know you too.
Please bless Back to Church Sunday and bless everyone in our church.
Help us all to know you better.
We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen

Top 10 Tips for Preparation

1- Register your church with the diocese and order your essential pack/s.
2- Appoint a champion in your parish to oversee a team of enthusiasts to plan the day.
3- Set the vision of Back to Church Sunday with parishioners by using segments of the Back to Church Sunday dvd which is downloadable from YouTube.
4- Run a parish workshop and encourage parishioners to take part.  Use the workshop to make necessary improvements ready for guests.
5- Receive pack
6- Pray Mobilise your church to pray.  Be creative.  Make sure the prayer/invitation cards are widely available and encourage people to use them to think and pray for a friend who has not been to church for a while.
7- Publicise throughout July, August, September. Download resources from www.backtochurchsunday.com.au. Fill in the posters with your church details. Tell your local paper what you are doing: contact your Diocesan Director of Communications for help and a few ideas. Some people may turn up on the day because they have heard about it through local media or the parish magazine/pew sheet.
8- Church Registers - go through your baptism and wedding registers; look at funeral registers: are there names of the nearest relatives who could also be invited?  Compile a database of names and addresses going back over the last five years. Appoint a parishioner personally to invite each individual to Back to Church Sunday.
9- Invite from the 16th August start inviting guests.
10- Plan the service/s for the day and train welcomers. Download the service and sermon resources.

Plan_for_children.pdf

Activity_sheet1.pdf

Activity_sheet2.pdf

ZACCHAEUS_Resource.pdf

Children_are_welcome_flyer.pdf