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Upton-by-Chester United Reformed Church |
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God's Love is for all. Our mission is to show it, share it, live it. |
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Minister’s Murmurings |
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It began in Manchester, it hit the North West news, it involved the giving out of a goody bag which had a bar of fair-traded Divine chocolate inside. Over time it has grown to a national event, a set date and it is completely Ecumenical. What is it?
It is Back To Church Sunday and this year it takes place on September 27th, its theme is come as you are and our church is taking part. The pack has been bought, the invitation cards are ready, the posters have been over -written with our information; the worship preparations are in hand, all we need now are the people to come back to church.
And this is where you all come in. We have, in the vestry 100 invitation cards … and those us of responsible for making this event happen would like you all to think whom YOU would like to invite to join us for worship on Sunday September 27th. It may be someone who used to come to church but who has not been for a while, it may be a friend or neighbour who has never been and whom you have thought of inviting but the time has never been right, it may be that you have never considered inviting anyone to church but now that the idea is before you it is sparking off some thoughts, maybe a name is coming to mind as you are reading this.
Our timetable is set. On Sunday August 30th we will be giving out the invitation cards in church; these are in two parts, one you give to the invitee, the other we ask back by Sunday 6th or 13th in order that we may name and pray from those who we have invited. We will continue to pray for these names on the 20th when worship that day will be focused on Back To Church Sunday and then, on the 27th we will hopefully welcome some news faces to church. If you are fortunate to have a positive response we ask you to either bring or meet those you have invited; to sit with them during worship and to encourage them to come again. We are told time and again that we are a friendly church; and that is wonderful, it would be even more wonderful to see that transformed with some new friends to join our church family. The theme Come As You Are indicates, reinforces our knowledge that God welcomes each and everyone who seeks Him; the emphasis for the service is the story of Zaccheus, not a popular figure but one identified by Jesus, called and cared about and transformed in the process. Who he was, what he was, where he was found was unimportant, it was what happened from the point on that mattered, that point of transformation as it were.
Back To Church Sunday will be a success if we make it so, if we think about who to invite, if we make the invitation irresistible and if we, as His people convey the love of God by our welcome and our worship. We have a chance to make a difference, but we need to work together to make it happen, join me please to make this happen in our church, and in the meantime pray that God will bless our efforts and bless the lives of those whom, we hope will come through our doors.
I am your friend and Minister
Sarah |
