ORGANIZING SIGN-UP SUNDAY/WEEKEND
Why a sign-up Sunday/Weekend?
Sign-up Sunday/Weekend has proven to be a very effective strategy for getting the greatest number of parishioners to join small Christian communities. The liturgical environment, the music, and the hospitality are all ways to communicate that something special is happening on this weekend. During all the Masses, an invitation is extended to parishioners to sign up for RENEW Africa OR WHY CATHOLIC?.
Selecting the right speaker
Selecting the right speaker is key to the success of Sign-up Sunday. RENEW recommends the selection of two speakers—a man and a woman who are respected in the parish, who can motivate others, and who have a passion about the process. It is also appropriate that the speakers represent the demographic makeup of your parish. The speakers must understand the importance of their role in the sign-up process; they are the medium for the message, the ones who will convey a personal invitation to the people in the pews. The speakers will also guide parishioners through the sign-up process. The speakers need a good working knowledge of the points for the talk, and they must speak clearly with conviction and enthusiasm.
The invitation to sign up
The talk in which parishioners are invited to sign up for RENEW Africa OR WHY CATHOLIC?.is given at each Mass on Sign-Up Sunday or Weekend. In addition to its role in attracting people to sign up, this talk is the primary means of educating people about RENEW Africa OR WHY CATHOLIC?..
The talk is motivational and must include the following:
• An overview of the process and its benefits. Many of our spiritual and human needs are met in small Christian communities. Participants attest to growing in their faith, experiencing meaningful relationships, and discovering connections between faith and their daily lives. Small Christian communities motivate us to find time and space to sort out the demands of our complicated, busy lives and give time to God and community.
• The timeframe for the process. Ninety minutes once a week for seven weeks.
• A description of small communities. Small communities consist of eight to twelve people who gather in someone’s home or at the parish to share faith on a day and at a time of their choosing.
• An emphasis on a relaxed atmosphere. The atmosphere in a small Christian community is informal. Each person is respected, and no one is forced to talk. A trained leader helps facilitate the prayer and sharing.
• A visual presentation of the faith-sharing book. The speaker shows the faithsharing book during the presentation and makes it available afterward. Faithsharing includes prayer, Scripture readings, reflections, responses to faith-based questions, and an invitation to connect faith with the activities of everyday life.
• Instructions on how to sign up. Sign-up cards and pencils are located in the pews. The speaker explains that after the congregation has had an opportunity to fill them out, the cards will be collected by the hospitality ministers. Your parish may choose to prepare a special basket in which to place the cards—to emphasize the special nature of this opportunity—and play a reflection song such as “I Say Yes, My Lord” (Donna Peña, GIA, Inc.) or “Here I Am, Lord,” (Daniel L. Schutte, OCP Publications) while the cards are being collected. After all cards have been gathered, they might be placed in a prominent place near the altar. A small prayer table with a faith-sharing book and a candle may be prepared ahead of time. Liturgical environment makes a difference. Parishioners will gauge the importance of the process not just from what the speakers say but also from the whole environment of Sign-up Sunday. You need not make elaborate plans, but provide some type of simple focus on the importance of the event. You may choose to involve those responsible for planning the Sunday Liturgy so that everyone collaborates to present a coherent theme.
Details: Some finer points of preparation
• In addition to the major tasks of Sign-up Sunday/Weekend, minor tasks behind the scenes contribute to the success of the process:
• Prepare announcements to be used for at least one week prior to the event and on the day of the event itself.
• Create and print sign-up cards.
• Place cards and pencils in the pews.
• Create general information posters and flyers.
• Collaborate with the celebrant and/or homilist before each Mass.
• Prepare arrangement for hospitality.
• Devise a system to collect the cards. Further, ministers of hospitality must have a working knowledge of the process so that they can answer parishioners’ questions. Identify places for extra sign-up cards to be kept after the sign-up event—the parish office or near the doors of the church might be good locations. Provide a basket at each location for the completed cards along with the organizers’ contact information. In this way, late deciders and those who may have been away for the weekend will have the opportunity to sign up for the process or call an organizer if they have questions.
Sample Invitation talk to be given on Sign-Up Sunday
(This talk will be most effective if it is publicized in advance. Bulletin announcements and announcements at the end of Mass are especially helpful.)
Usually the celebrant introduces you by saying something like this: “As you are probably aware, something very exciting and new is happening here at St______. We are taking part in a program called At Prayer with Mary from RENEW International. I thank ______, who will tell us about RENEW Africa OR WHY CATHOLIC?.and why you will want to join with other members of the parish in becoming closer to the mother of our Lord.”
Speakers:
Look enthusiastic as you step up to the lectern.
Speak with a tone of sincerity.
Start with a story – perhaps about someone in your family who has a special devotion to Mary, or about someone named Mary who has meant something special to you. Your first line has to grab the congregation’s attention. Some things to remember:
1. The more personal the talk, the better: make it your own. Don’t be afraid to use humor. Share why you are part of RENEW Africa OR WHY CATHOLIC?.and/or your experience in a small Christian community in the past.
2. If you are not familiar with the microphone, practice with it ahead of time. Speak slowly and clearly. Ask someone to listen from the back of the church to make sure you are audible. Look up at the people frequently.
3. Include directions about your sign-up process. For example, where are the signup cards – in the pews, in back of the church? How are the cards to be returned?
4. When you introduce yourself, tell the assembly more than your name. Make a personal connection. There are two examples in the sample talk below. Good Afternoon/morning/evening, my name is ______. I have been a parishioner at ______for most of my life, but many of you may recognize me as a member of the Parish Finance Council who speaks at Mass during the annual capital campaign. Or… I usually attend the 10:30 a.m. Mass and sit right over there with my husband and my three boys. Today, I am here to say a few words about a wonderful opportunity that is coming to our parish. RENEW Africa OR WHY CATHOLIC?.is a faith-sharing process for small groups to help us deepen our devotion to Jesus Christ.
Groups of eight to ten people will meet for about 90 minutes once a week for seven weeks. Each time the group meets, there will be prayer and Scripture, faith-sharing, and an invitation to put our faith into action in our lives. Each person in the group will have a book with the contents of the sessions so we can prepare for each meeting. Now why would you want to be a part of this process?
• Maybe you want to meet new people; that’s a good reason
• Maybe you want to learn more about your faith and your God; that’s good too
• Maybe you want to try to revise how you look at the world.
Whatever your reason, we want you to be part of this. God will not be outdone in generosity, and you will be glad you said yes. In your pews there are Sign-Up cards. Most people find it easiest to sign up for the date and time that is most convenient for them. Remember this is for only six weeks. We will organize the groups according to when you can meet. Just fill out the cards, and put them in the basket when the hospitality ministers come around to collect them. We’ll get back to you. How easy is that?
Just to summarize: I am inviting you to accept this invitation to be either: • A participant of a small community gathering or • A leader or co-leader of a small community gathering We promise to offer training and to teach you how to lead the group or maybe you would like to offer your home to host a small community gathering On behalf of the parish staff and the other members of our parish team, I invite you to join us on this exciting journey to renew our faith, our parish community and our church. Thank you for your attention and I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed if you sign up RENEW Africa OR WHY CATHOLIC?.