Churches in the Diocese of Saskatchewan are participating in Back to Church Sunday this fall. This is a movement that began a few years ago in Britain. It has since become a regular event. Click here to view the official website.

Here's how it works: Your church or parish should choose a Sunday as Back to Church Sunday. The international date is Sept. 26th, but if another date is better for your church, feel free to move it.

Between now and then, talk it up. Pray it up.

Challenge everyone in your church to pray about who God would have them invite, and then do it! Say, "will you come to church with me?" Maybe God will lead you to invite a lapsed member. Maybe God will lead you to invite someone new.

As Back To Church Sunday approaches, this page will provide resources, information and inspiration.

Resources

Michael Harvey gave a couple seminars in Saskatoon in April.

• DVDs of his talk - have been distributed to all parishes in the diocese. Why not plan a special time for your congregation to view the DVD, talk about it together, and plan for this fall's Back to Church Sunday?

• Slides from his talk (in pdf format) -  click here to download.

• Video of his talk, including why & how to do a Back to Church Sunday (approximately 71 minutes to watch) -  click here to view it. You will need to enter this password: BTCSMH3.

• Video of his "12 steps of kicking the habit of being an uninviting church" for church leaders and congregations (approximately 12 minutes to watch) -  click here to view it. You will need to enter this password: BTCSMH2

• Read lay leaders Lynne & Neil Windjack's thoughts about the seminar.

Information

• Kits are available to help parishes plan for Back to Church Sunday. Click here for more info. 
• 4x6 invitations have been designed by the Rev. Norbert Haukenfrers in Microsoft Publisher. Click here to access them.
• An Apology for pain and grief the Church has caused is available here.
• Posters are available here.
• Invitation-Prayer Cards are available here.
• Media Tips are available here, for your planning assistance.
• Parish Workshop plans are available here from the Australian branch of Back to Church Sunday.

Inspiration

Let's inspire one another with our ideas. Will your church be doing anything special on Back to Church Sunday? How are you preparing? What ideas would you like to share with others?

Click here to tell us all about it!