JourneyOnline
Seventy Uniting Church congregations will be delivering almost a quarter of a million invitation cards to households across Queensland as part of the Gifts of Time and Love Christmas campaign.
Warmed by the cute face of the boy in the box, the cards and thousands of accompanying posters will reinforce the message that Christmas is about taking time to be with others and offering love.
Manager of the Synod’s Communications Services Unit Bruce Mullan said this was the biggest single public relations campaign undertaken by the Uniting Church in Queensland in recent decades. Mr Mullan warned congreg-ations to be realistic in their expectations about the results of the campaign.
“It is unlikely that hundreds of new visitors will arrive at your church this Christmas just because of a postcard in their letterbox, but you can be sure that at least they’ll know you’re there. This type of campaign is a long term strategy which will build over future years as people continue to receive warm invitations to worship at their local church at key times of the year.”
According to Mr Mullan, the take up of the campaign has been so successful that it will be offered again at Christmas 2006 and perhaps also at Easter from 2007 onwards.
“Christmas is a great time for people to come to church because the songs, stories and images are familiar and bring a message of hope.”
Moreton Rivers Presbytery Minister Rev Murray Fysh believes the Gifts of Time and Love campaign is a great initiative for the church.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with the local community,” he said. “But putting a postcard in a letterbox or poster in a shop window is just step one. This project doesn’t end at the mail box, it starts with the welcome at the church door.”
