Recommended Resources
Featured Resource - Summer 2010
Back to Church Sunday 2010:
26th September
Dorothy Robinson from the Newcastle Evangelism Task Group writes:
"Back to Church Sunday has developed around what is probably the simplest step in evangelism: one person inviting someone that they know to something they love – inviting their friend to their church." Invitation and Welcome is an important aspect within Mission and Evangelism. Amongst resources available are:
Everybody Welcome - Bob Jackson
(review by Alastair Macnaughton, Director of Discipleship Development, Lindisfarne RTP)
But IS THERE a good welcome in our church?
Rev Bob Jackson writes in the forward to a new course, 'almost invariably, if church leaders have told me in the vestry what a friendly church this is, then my wife will have assuredly been ignored at the door...'
EVERYBODY WELCOME covers six sessions, including:
- making the church more visible
- making the premises more inviting
- a welcoming God and his welcoming people
- belonging to the church community
- training a Welcome team
New in 2009 from Church House Publishing, this looks very practical; I expect it to get under the skin and behind the façade! Statistics show that 10% of people who tryout churches actually join them! If we want to improve on that statistic, maybe this course is what we have been waiting for...
'Everybody Welcome: Complete Pack' by Bob Jackson
Can be borrowed from the Resources Centre or it can be purchased until 31st October 2010 at the special price £29.99 (+ £2.50 p+p) only direct from:
Norwich Books and Music
St Mary's Works
St Mary's Plain
Norwich
NR3 3BH
tel: (01603) 612 914
Make sure you quote the code: 'BTCS 2010'
Creating a Culture of Welcome in the Local Church (Grove Booklet) - Alison Gilchrist
(review by Captain Steve Dixon, Church Army)
Once new people have stepped over our church threshold, what kind of welcome do they receive, if any?
In her insightful and challenging, yet easily read booklet to encourage a welcoming church culture, Alison Gilchrist draws on her own experiences of welcome as a stranger in different churches and explores the experiences of others for whom church is an alien world. Her light hearted approach soon draws the reader into sympathy with the new visitor before she begins to challenge the prevailing culture of our churches. Gilchrist reveals the scriptural basis for welcome and discuses the psychology of congregations. Her conclusion is that churches tend towards introversion, security and, ultimately, exclusion. However, Gilchrist offers hope through the encouragement of the shadow side of a church’s personality, where extraversion and risk taking can lead to a warm and inviting welcome.
The appendix offers practical assistance to churches including a Welcome Audit and exercises to help empathise with the newcomer. This booklet provides an excellent resource to prepare your church for Back to Church Sunday.
Creating a Culture of Worship
This PDF contains details of (and an application form for) a free preparation morning, on Saturday 10th July based on Alison's Grove Booklet which is aimed to be helpful to parishes whether or not they are signed up to Back to Church Sunday.
Other information about Back to Church Sunday can be found on the website: www.backtochurch.co.uk.
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