Just days left to sign up to Back to Church Sunday!

WITH JUST DAYS LEFT to sign up to Back to Church Sunday, seize the opportunity to invite the new friends you made during summer events back to church.

An unprecedented number of people used the Church of England’s online guides for the Diamond Jubilee and London 2012, and in doing so made new friends in their area, says the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, who has penned sermon resources for churches taking part on Sunday 30 September.

“Now we’re at the end of a summer of invitation, why let it stop here?”

Since 2004, Back to Church Sunday has inspired over 230,000 people to come back to church through the invitation of a friend, but don't forget churches wanting to take part this year must register on the website by 31 August to participate.

Strengthening your church community

Locally, Rev. Ruth Gostelow, vicar at All Saints Church, New Haw, knows how big an impact hosting a Back to Church event can have, with the two families who attended last year's service still worshipping at the Church today, and also having become more involved in church life since receiving an invite to church from a friend.

"Both young people were confirmed a couple of months ago, and the two mums come to church most Sundays with their youth. We are due to do a Children's summer holiday club next week, and again both mums are being helpers and both young people are in the oldest age group activities," Ruth added.

Rev. Richard Cook, vicar of St Andrew's Church, Goldsworth Park, is also excited about hosting a Back to Church service following a few years' break from the annual nationwide event, after the success of an 'Everybody Welcome' course earlier in the year, following which the 100 church members who attended were inspired with a new-found confidence to promote St Andrew's to their friends.

The next step

Signing up is easy and invitation packs this year are just £10 +p&p for 50 invitation/prayer cards. Furthermore, there are also special resources available on the website to spark interesting service ideas for both adults and children.

Click here and follow the simple three-step system to sign up.