Would you like to come to church with me?

“Would you like to come to church with me?” This invitation is being extended to friends and neighbours by churchgoers throughout Gwent and Monmouthshire.

Sunday 27th September is designated ‘Back to Church Sunday’ and all the six dioceses in Wales are taking part in the UK-wide initiative this year. Parishes will focus on extending an even warmer welcome than usual to encourage people to come back to church—or to try it for the first time.

This year’s theme is ‘Come as you are’, emphasising that we don’t have to ‘glam up for God’ – He knows us intimately and loves us as we are. Many churches will retell the story of Zacchaeus, a vertically-challenged man who climbed a tree so that he could get a glimpse of Jesus over the heads of the crowd. To his amazement, Jesus invited himself to dinner and Zacchaeus’s life was changed for ever.

The Bishop of Monmouth, Rt Revd Dominic Walker OGS, extends his own invitation. “If you haven’t been invited by one of my parishioners, then please accept this invitation from me to come to church on Sunday 27th September. Religion is so often seen as a private affair but Christians know that it is good to share faith and worship together. God welcomes everyone and everyone is welcome in our churches.”

Details of special local services on Back to Church Sunday will be on the diocesan website: www.monmouthdiocese.org.uk