Advance notification - Issued 10.9.09

Bishop to go on the streets to invite people ‘Back to Church’

The Bishop of Knaresborough will join with members of St Peter’s Church in the centre of Harrogate on Tuesday morning, September 22nd giving out invitations to members of the public to come ‘Back to church’. The Rt Revd James Bell has called on churches throughout the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds to invite neighbours and friends to church on national Back to Church Sunday, September 27th, and will be putting his words into actions as he goes onto the streets of Harrogate with invitation cards.

Photo call- Editors, photographers; You are cordially invited to meet, photograph or film the Bishop of Knaresborough with St Peter’s members outside the town centre church in Cambridge Street from 10.45 – 11.15am on Tuesday September 22nd. With him will be Vicar of St Peter’s, Canon Tony Shepherd and members of the St Peter’s congregation. All will be available for interview.

Nearly all of the 43 CofE dioceses from Truro to Newcastle will be taking part in this year’s Back to Church Sunday on September 27th, along with Churches Together in Scotland, the Church in Wales, Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed churches nationwide, Elim Pentecostal churches and Anglican churches in New Zealand and Canada. It makes the event one of the largest co-ordinated evangelism events shared across the Church in recent history.

Bishop James Bell has challenged congregations in the Ripon and Leeds diocese to develop what he described as a “a culture of invitation and welcome.” Writing in the September edition of Together, the Diocesan monthly magazine, he says: “With the publicity that Back to Church Sunday is going to get, your neighbours and friends might wonder why, if they don’t get invited to church on 27th September! Whether or not you are using the concept and the materials of Back to Church Sunday this year, we all need to wake up to the challenge to give urgent attention to developing a culture of invitation, welcome and hospitality.”

The theme of Back to Church Sunday this year is ‘Come as you are’. Many churches in the area will be using special invitation cards, posters and materials to get the message across that the church is open to everyone. St Peter’s in Harrogate have printed and placed invitation cards in every parish magazine, and will be inviting members of the public to give the church a try, not just on a Sunday but at services throughout the week.

ENDS

Photocall: St Peter’s entrance, Cambridge Street Harrogate, 10.45am Tuesday September 22nd. With the Bishop of Knaresborough and Canon Tony Shepherd

Issued by John Carter (Rev)
Press and Communications Officer, Diocese of Ripon and Leeds

jhgcarter@aol.com
01423 530369 or mobile 07798 652707