BACK TO CHURCH EASTER BRINGS CHRISTIANS INTO THE FOLD.

Byline: Dominic Berbeo Staff Writer

Ministers across the San Fernando Valley look to today with excitement and anticipation. Not just because it's Easter Sunday, but because it represents one of the best days to bring new members into the fold.

Easter, one of the two busiest days of the year at local churches, inspires throngs of nonpracticing Christians to put on their Sunday best and join the ``regulars.''

``We endearingly call them the C and E Christians because they only go to services on Christmas and Easter,'' said Pastor Michael Anderson of the First Lutheran Church of Northridge. ``For some people, that's enough for their faith, but Easter Mass is a renewal of faith, and we want to show them the positive reasons for coming back regularly.''

A recent Gallup Poll shows less than half of Americans attend a church or synagogue regularly. The 1999 survey showed that seven in 10 Americans describe themselves as members of a particular faith but only 40 percent attend services weekly.

But on Christmas and Easter, church attendance nationwide nearly doubles, according to the pollsters.

For Glendale resident Clarence Lyons, Easter has always been a special holiday, deserving of an appearance at church.

``It just kind of stuck out as a major family holiday,'' said the 30-year-old surgical technologist, who attends church about nine times a year. ``I don't take offense to being called a C and E Christian. I just think it's kind of funny. I mean, if you don't go to church every weekend, how are they going to know?''

Clergy may not know who's in attendance from week to week, but it's hard to miss the exponential growth on those days with particular religious significance such as Easter - when, Christians believe, Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.

The Rev. Ray Morales, of Saint Bridget of Sweden Catholic Church in Van Nuys, said the church's usual congregation of 1,400 families can grow by several hundred during the holidays.

He and his peers try to strike a balance of preaching and selling themselves.

``We want to reach out to people on Easter, but we don't want to make them feel uncomfortable for not coming regularly, either,'' he said. ``We're not going to have recruitment booths out or anything, but we will do our best to make everyone feel welcome so that they'll want to return.''

In Porter Ranch, the Shepherd of the Hills Church has one of the most-attended Easter week celebrations in the Valley.

Pastor Dudley Rutherford said he expects 10,000 worshipers today, up from the 4,300 on a normal weekend, and the church is advertising its special activities.

``This is the biggest celebration of the year,'' he said. ``We'll have live bands, activities for the children, and plenty of information available for newcomers who are looking to find a sense of community.''

He conceded that there are many people who attend church only a few times a year, but the idea of preaching for them to return on a weekly basis is outdated.

``Our philosophy is that they'll enjoy the service so much, they'll want to come back for more,'' he said. ``If there's a message that is relevant to people's lives, then they'll want to come back. We have a big jump in attendance every year after holidays.''

The church also has a weeklong series of Passion Plays, dramatic Biblical re-enactments of the days leading up to Easter.

Tim English, an associate pastor at Southern Baptist Church in Canoga Park, says there's no need to make the hard sell to potential members.

``Coming every Sunday gives you ongoing encouragement, support, and affirmation of your Christian lifestyle,'' he said. ``Trusting relationships are built here that carry out into the community.''

- Staff Writer Jason Kandel contributed to this story.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo: (1 -- 3) Actors portray Christ and other biblical characters, above, in ``The Passion Play'' at Shepherd of the Hills Church, an event that fills the church's pews, at left, each year at Easter time.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer