As we face various “homecoming” events this fall (usually those of a school and/or football-related nature), here are some questions posed in a recent Christianity Today survey:
1) Do you ever invite people to attend your parish’s Sunday service or other events? Why or why not?
2) If and when you extend such an invitation, how do you generally express it? Do you tell them how good the preaching is? The music? How nice the people are? Do you tell them you think it would be “good for them” in some spiritual or emotional way?
3) How many people have accepted such an invitation from you in the past year and actually attended your parish or the first time as a direct result of your personal invitation?
We know for a face that that all evengelism ultimately is personal, and that most people join a church as a result of personal invitation. But, as Michael Harvey, a concerned churchman in the U.K has noted
“But we don’t ask our friends because we’re afraid they’ll say no to us. So the highlight for me is if we can get to grips with what is stopping us growing and it seems to be the same right across the Western church. Once we overcome this then we can see thousands of people added to the church.”
With this thought in mind, on October 31st, Christ the King Sunday, at the 11:00 a.m. Eucharist, all in the St. Alban’s family are encouraged to bring a friend and/or give a shout to someone you know hasn’t been at church for some time. If there are “transportation issues” posing a problem, please contact the church office and we will arrange for those who wish to “come home”
As a part of our parish homegoming, members of the St. Alban’s Choir will be formally recognized at the 11:00 service.
The Cathedral Close 
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