onwards and upwards...

Building a lasting legacy was a key phrase in the 2012 Games and is one which can be picked up by the Church.

During this summer of sport, alongside the Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations, individual Christians and many Churches have been sharing faith through words and actions in a myriad ways. 

Elizabeth Harrison, Olympic Mobiliser for the Diocese of London, said that she hoped one of the legacies arising out of this engagement would be a greater desire for more of the same. That there would be a continuing desire to share faith through words and actions.

One of the ways we can all do that is through Hope. You may recall the Hope 08 initiative and Hope builds on that legacy.

Hope are already providing a wide range of resources for a raft of activities that will build up to a major mission initiative in 2014.

Gearing up for big things…

HOPE is building momentum towards a year of mission in 2014. Nationally denominations and Christian organisations are working together, using the HOPE brand so that in 2014 every denomination, church and individual Christian will be equipped to do more, in mission, together, in words and action. Already churches are working together and planning missions in 2013 and 2014 in Leicester, Manchester, Cornwall, Norwich and elsewhere. In Leicestershire, for example, four forums will be held this month around the county to mobilise as many networks, churches, towns and villages as possible.

Contact the HOPE office… www.hopetogether.org.uk if you want support planning HOPE in your area.

I plan to switch this 2012 Games blog to focus on the Hope initiative and therefore would love to hear of any stories and any plans you might have about engaging with Hope and building on the legacy of engagement with our communities in sharing faith through words and actions.

Barmy British Bulldogs!

Truly inspirational!

Well the Olympics are over and we now look forward to the Paralympics in the hope they will not be the forgotten ‘after-show.’

The Olympics spectacle we have just witnessed I think has caught a lot of people by surprise. Many it seemed just didn’t think we could deliver, and yet we have not only delivered we have delivered and some!

Sandwiched between the feast of sporting tragedy and triumph we had the spectacles of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies that demonstrated British eccentricity at its very best and certainly put a huge smile on my face and make me want to say, yes, I am British.  

For the sporting achievements we showed that bulldog spirit that just would not give up but battle through, tears, tragedy and triumph aplenty.

It was also very much Team GB with recognition not only of those on the actual field but those family, friends, coaches and companions who had believed in the athletes and gave them every support along the way.

Building a lasting legacy has been a watchword of the Games from the beginning.  There are many ways this has already begun to be demonstrated and I am sure there will be many others ways it will manifest itself in the years ahead.

For example check out this article from the Online College for Ten Inspirational Career Lessons we can all learn.

   

“10 Career Lessons We Can Learn from the Olympics "

(http://www.onlinecollege.org/2012/08/12/10-career-lessons-we-can-learn-olympics-2/).

Olympian themed ideas/resources for youth & children

YES – Games Special

Ali Campbell 

Adviser for work with children and young people

OK, I know we are right in the middle of the Games . . . but, if you are doing youth work over the summer, or been let loose in the pulpit because the vicar is away (sorry, if you are the vicar and want to give someone a helping hand) . . . then read, on – just a few bits and pieces with an Olympian feel to them – and don’t forget the “games” goes on until September as – after a short break – we are right back in the midst of it with the Paralympics.

So, here you go:

1.  Opening Ceremony.  Did you catch the opening ceremony?  There was a priceless bit (amongst the amazing spectacle) when Sir Steve Redgrave handed over the torch to the next generation for them to light the flame . . . read what he said about that here:   http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/29/london-2012-steve-redgrave-flame?newsfeed=true

• Do we sometimes let our “ego” get in the way of releasing the next generation in our churches?
• Do we think as a leader that the responsibility for carrying the “light of Christ” rests solely with us?
• How are we at passing on what we have received to others?
• What space do we create in our churches and communities for young people to “run with it”, without us as adults needing to be in control – what might we learn from the next generation if we let them loose?

2.  PowerPoint Game.  YES!  I love these things, great for a social or to have in your back pocket in September if you are thinking back to the games or doing a themed evening around the games.  This is a freebie, so just follow the link and download it. http://www.youthministry.com/freebies/olympic-powerpointtrivia-game

3.  Tell a 12 Year Old to Dream.  This from twitter, “Chad le Clos was 12 when he saw his hero, Michael Phelps (aged 19) in Athens. 8 years later, Chad beat Phelps. Tell a 12-year-old to dream.”

• Phelps has won more gold medals than anyone else.  This young man beat him having idolised him.
• Lets pray the next generation will do more than we have done, that they might achieve their dreams.

4.  Voldersport!  OK, this is also from Twitter . . . basically, you cannot mention certain words, use certain phrases unless you are an “official sponsor” of the games.  Someone cleverly came up with “Voldersport” as a way of talking about the games, . . . Voldersport being a play on words - based on the villain “Voldermort” from the Harry Potter books (people were so scared of him, that they dare not mention his name) . . . so we have “Voldersport!”

• I don’t know how you might use this in your children’s and youth work – I just thought it was funny.

5.  Olympian puts their sport in its place.  Debbie Flood is a rower in Team GB, and also a Christian, you can read what she says about her sport and her faith here:  http://www.cru.org/ministries-and-locations/ministries/athletes-in-action/olympics-debbie-flood.htm

6.  Team Talk.  Presented by Dan Walker (BBC Football Focus presenter) these video downloads feature International Christian athletes grappling with issues of sport and faith. Perfect to use with your youth group, school clubs, school assemblies, home groups and in many other settings, these videos are a great way to make a link with major sports events in 2012.  Check them out on the Scripture Union website:  http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/Shop/Sportsrelatedbooksandresources/Athleteinterviewdownloads/163724.id

7.  Mexico 1968 – the other man on the podium.  One for the history buffs, but also a great story . . . lots to draw from and make reference to.  Check out the story about the “Black Power Salute” here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute - if you google “black power statue” you will find a picture of the statue at San Jose State University, which commemorates the stand that these men took.  You will also notice that Pete Norman, the Australian silver medallist is not on the statue, the podium has an empty space . . . for all who visit to identify with the struggle for human rights.  Norman was never allowed to race for his country again and despite making the qualifying time 13 times, was not allowed to represent his country at the Munich games in 1972.

• What do we take a stand for?
• Are there some “unsung heroes”, who took a stand that have been forgotten?
• What is most important to us – that we are “seen” and praised by others, or that others might be able to follow us, stand where we have stood (in Norman’s space) and be inspired . . . we might not be “known” like Carlos and Smith – the two athletes on the statue – but will we stand up for what is right anyway?

8.  The Rings.  The following is quoted directly from the IOC: "The five rings represent the five continents. They are interlaced to show the universality of Olympism and the meeting of the athletes of the whole world during the Olympic Games. On the Olympic flag, the rings appear on a white background. This flag translates the idea of the universality of the Olympic Movement. At least one of the colours of the rings, including the white background, can be found on the flag of every nation in the world." The way in which the rings are interlaced has changed since the symbol was first introduced. They used to be depicted side-by-side, along a shallow arc. They are now drawn in the familiar offset pattern, with three above and two below. They are coloured, from left to right: blue (top), yellow (bottom), black (top), green (bottom), and red (top).

• A picture of a united world, around sport.  Maybe the only other thing the world could similarly be united on would be music. 
• London is (and during the Games even more so) a place of many races and cultures.  What does the community your own young people are in look like?  Many colours or one?  Unity with diversity – or is everyone pretty much the same? 
• The rings overlap – giving a picture of sharing and coming together.  Hoe do we overlap with others?  Do we keep to ourselves or live our lives in shared community?  What about in the Church – are we together?  Or do we split everyone up – children, young people, families, old people, clergy – how do we come together as the people of God, what unites us?

Well, there you go!  Just some thoughts – make use of them however you like.  If this is my last e-news before the autumn term kicks in, then have an awesome summer and (at some point I hope) a well deserved rest.

Best wishes,

Ali Campbell

Adviser for work with children and young people

ali.campbell@diochi.org.uk    | 01273 425694 (office)

www.yesonthenet.org.uk     | 07818 574693

www.twitter.com/alicampbellyes

Lighting the Way for the Paralympic Games

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You can help light the way for the Paralympic Games over the August Bank Holiday 24 – 29 August.

Next week the London 2012 Olympic Games begin, which marks just over one month to go until the Paralympic Games

How you can get involved in ‘lighting the way’

Over the August bank holiday, Flames from our four nations’ capitals will travel to Stoke Mandeville, where the Paralympic Games were born. On 28 August, they’ll join to create the Paralympic Flame. This Flame will then travel through the night from Stoke Mandeville to the Paralympic Opening Ceremony in London.

London 2012 are encouraging communities and sports clubs (& Churches) to show their support for some of the most amazing athletes on earth by making their own lanterns and attending Flame events. 15,000 people are signed up so far, and they are planning Light a Lantern-themed celebrations across the country. For more information on Light a Lantern you can visit the London 2012 Local Leaders website, Here you can download posters to promote your event, get lantern-making ideas and other activities to bring people together.

If you want to join in with the ‘Light a Lantern’ celebrations, get started by:

1.      Signing up to receive the London 2012 Local Leader newsletter

2.      Visit www.london2012.com/lightalantern to get involved now

3.      Start planning your event with the Light a Lantern posters and other tools

4.      TellTom@London2012.com you plans so he can feature you in our website and photo galleries.

5.      Add your Light a Lantern event to the London 2012 What’s On event listings.

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London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd

One Churchill Place

Canary Wharf

London E14 5LN

www.london2012.com/localleader

Brighton & Hove Welcomes the Torch

The Churches in Brighton and Hove are preparing not only to welcome the Torch but also the Prayer Baton and the Praise Bus – and you can get involved...

Monday 16^th July

11. 30 am – 2.30pm The More Than Gold Prayer Baton will be received from Portsmouth at the Connaught Fresh Start Community Centre 131 Lewes Road Brighton BN2 3LG.  Preparations will be made to send prayers and blessings onto Hastings. For more information contact Jerome Joseph: jerome.joseph@ntlworld.com

Churches are being encouraged to join in a ‘cascade of prayer and praise’ during the 70 days of the Olympic Torch relay that started from Lands End on the 19th May with Church leaders, including the Bishop of Truro. A baton full of prayers was taken to Plymouth, the second stop on the Olympic Torch route. From there the exchange has continued from location to location and will continue throughout the whole of the UK and beyond.

More Than Gold: http://www.morethangold.org.uk/

3.00pm – 3.30pm (approx time) The Praise Bus arrives. This has been travelling the Torch route bringing praise and blessings to communities. It will stay overnight in Brighton before journeying on to Hastings. The Bus has a small team and they are inviting local churches to provide live music onboard on the 16^th & 17^th as the Bus travels the Torch route. For more information contact: Gordon Banks gordon.banks@diochi.org.uk

For more information on the Praise Bus check out their Facebook page

www.facebook.com/#!/ThePraiseBus

5.55pm The Olympic Torch Relay will enter the city at Hove. The flame will arrive in the official convoy vehicles and be transferred to the first of the city’s torchbearers You can find more details about the exact route, timings, etc. on the Brighton and Hove City web site at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk putting ‘Torch Relay’ into the search box. 

Other useful links…

London Olympics & Paralympics 2012: http://www.london2012.com/

Diocese of Chichester

www.diochi.org.uk linking into to the Diocesan 2012 Games blogspot

Hastings welcomes the Torch!

HASTINGS OLYMPIC TORCH EVENT TUESDAY 17th JULY

     (afternoon & evening)

The Church of Hastings is involved in the Olympic Torch celebrations on July 17th by volunteering to be street marshals, praising the Lord in two locations, staging both a Messy Church for 9½ hours and facilitating a Mencap Special Bowls event amidst a park festival and opening 4 churches (of various denominations) to provide hospitality for spectators. Tony Calton is the Chairman and Reverend Chris Key is the sponsoring minister and Bishop Wallace Benn is coming to assist with activities. Reverend Chris Key is also hosting an Evening Praise event the day before.

The Torch will be carried by a relay of local runners (preceded by a cavalcade of sponsors, including Coca-Cola) along the Hastings seafront, passing Warrior Square & several churches, before stopping in front of Hastings Old Town for the main ceremony. Activities in the Town area and Warrior Square will culminate in a Fire Work Display, from the castle grounds. at 9:30 pm. The next morning the torch & cavalcade will be taken out of the town on its way to Dover, passing Schools and roads lined with school children.

Many Church Volunteers will marshal the rolling road closure along the seafront. Their role is not to manage the crowd but to assist the public and report inappropriate behaviour and medical issues to the authorities via mobiles/radios. A few will also marshal Warrior square and very energetic volunteers can marshal the following morning when school children line the route as the Torch cavalcade leaves Hastings.

As an act of hospitality churches located in amongst the celebrations and on the Torch Route (these include St Leonards Parish Church, Greek Orthodox “St Mary Magdalene”, Holy Trinity Church, Wellington Square Baptist Church & the Salvation Army van) will act as “Hubs” and open their doors and provide free refreshments, toilet facilities, respite and in some instances recreational activities with the help of volunteers from across the Hastings Church community.

Hastings College is hosting various activities in front of their college next to Hastings Railway Station from 4pm to 6pm. Good Christian singers have volunteered to praise the Lord for an hour, accompanied by an electric keyboard and guitar, and a PA provided by a Christian sound engineer.

The secular St Leonards Festival is being staged on Warrior Square and the Hastings Church is undertaking 3 activities with help from churches of all denominations, including the Bruderhof (Darvell) community.

Firstly, Messy Church marques covering an area of 40ft by 10ft will be erected next to St Leonards Festival’s children’s marquee from 12am to 9:30pm. The Church community will be undertaking arts and crafts activities for children and youths with Christian themes and music interludes, as well as face painting, short puppet shows, Christian DVD shows, badge making, tenpin bowling and much more. Activities will be split into time slots to cater for different age groups; mothers & toddlers, school children with parents/guardians and finally older teenagers with food breaks for the helpers and of course a break to witness the Torch cavalcade pass bye. A compulsory quiet diesel generator has already been hired.

Secondly, Mencap Special Olympic Soft bowls will demonstrate bowls and Curling (the curling is on castors). A space has been allocated next to the Messy Church Marquees for church volunteers to erect a 20 foot long wooden runway on the sloping grass. Material has been purchased and a trial erection completed. Volunteers will also accompany and help the Mencap participants watch the Torch cavalcade pass bye.

Thirdly, the Ark of Hope Nigerian gospel choir will praise the Lord for about half an hour on the festival’s stage alongside famous professional bands (Blair and Soul Express) as well good local performers.

Keith Hayden is heading the prayer support and prayer walks and the Reverend Chris Key is hosting an Evening of Praise the day before in the centre of Hastings.

The Journey Praise Bus Week 5

We are now over half way through The Journey. A big thank you and we really appreciate the support we have received so far.

Urgent requests for musicians in: Grimsby to Lincoln, 27^th June, Norwich to Ipswich,  5^th July, Bournemouth to Southampton,14^th July, Hastings to Dover, 18th July, Deal to Maidstone, 19^th July and a couple of spaces London, 21^st - 25^th July.

Our facebook page is www.facebook.com/

ThePraiseBus .

If you have any queries please contact escallsbus@btinternet.com
For up date www.morethangold. org.uk



This week the bus is going along the routes between Salford, Leeds, Sheffield, Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Lincoln, Nottingham, Derby and Birmingham.

The Journey Praise Bus

The Praise Bus is travelling through Scotland this week, stopping at Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, St Andrews, Edinburgh and on to Alnwick.

Terry, The Journey’s Worship leader says “A unique experience where I need to keep close to the Lord and examine my heart. Many musicians singing God's praises throughout the land. Some songs are repeated which reflects our mission. 'We just call to say God loves you, over and over again”.

Last night we heard this encouraging story from a couple in our church. They were not able to be on the bus as they had a hospital appointment in Manchester (she is being treated for cancer). “After morning prayers, we finished by praying for The Journey. At the end, we looked up and saw the bus going past the window and heard the sound of the shofar being blown. It really made our day as the timing was perfect”. We wonder how many people, we have never heard about, have caught a glimpse of the bus from their houses and been blessed.

Urgent requests for musicians anywhere along the routes: Newcastle, Gateshead, Middlesbrough, York, Kendal, Grimsby, Peterborough, Norwich, Portland Bill, Bournmouth, Portsmouth, Hastings, Deal and London.

Our facebook page is www.facebook.com/ThePraiseBus .

If you have any queries please contact escallsbus@btinternet.com

For further update http://www.morethangold.org.uk/.org.uk

Prayer requests for musicians...  A Solo performer needed from 2nd to 20th July.

Musicians from Stockport.

 

Bibles available for 2012 Games athletes’

Olympic athletes will be able to read their own copy of the Bible when the Games are held in London in July. The Olympic organizing committee, LOCOG, has allowed Bible Society to make Bibles available to athletes in the Olympic Village’s religious services centre.

Some 1,000 Bibles and 1,500 Gospels of Luke will be provided for sports chaplains to give to Olympians if appropriate. ‘I’m really excited about this,’ said Matthew van Duyvenbode, Bible Society’s Head of Advocacy. ‘It’s really important that we make a statement that the Bible is important in every sphere of public life, sports included.

‘When some of the athletes will be going through some of the most turbulent experiences of their lives we can demonstrate to them that the message of God’s comfort and understanding and reassurance are for them in the Scriptures.’

Some £10,000 is now needed to provide Olympic athletes
with Bibles.

If you’d like to help towards this, then call 01793 418100 or visit biblesociety.org.uk/olympics/

“Send your Holy Spirit to light up our lives”

ia Centre

Torch Relay prayers released

18 May 2012

Two new prayers, released today at www.olympics.churchofengland.org, are to 'accompany' the Torch Relay on its tour of England. They will be used by many of the CofE's 16,000 churches publicly as the Torch makes its 70-day tour of the nation, travelling within an hour of 95 per cent of people in the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey.

Composed by the Liturgical Commission, the new Church of England prayers read:
 Torch Relay Prayers

Loving God,
as this torch travels our nation,
preparing us to celebrate the skill and determination of
those competing in the Olympic and Paralympic Games,
strengthen us to love you and serve our neighbour
with all the skill and determination you give us,
through Christ, the light of the world. Amen.

As this light travels our nation,
may your light, O God, shine in the hearts of all
who gather to celebrate the energy, skill and dedication of others.
Send your Holy Spirit
to light up our lives
and set our hearts on fire with love for you;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

They are available alongside a free pdf download of liturgical resources for use during the 2012 Games, containing suggested Bible readings, prayers, collects and litanies.

The Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Tim Thornton, and Cornwall Methodist District chairman, Revd Steve Wild, will be the first to use one of the new prayers at a special event marking the arrival of the Torch at Land's End on the evening of Friday, May 18. Bishop Tim and Revd Wild will be kindling a second Prayer Relay torch from a beacon being lit close to Land's End, at Chapel Carn Brea, to symbolise the Gospel coming into Cornwall via the first Celtic missionaries. Twelve lamps will be lit from the Torch (one for each deanery), and churches from all denominations will then be invited to use the lamps to light an Olympic prayer flame for their own church. Bishop Tim and Revd Wild will conduct a ceremony of blessing for the Prayer Relay's baton, which is to be handed over from community to community over the following 70 days. Among those involved with these exchanges are the Bishops of Durham, Newcastle and Whitby.

The Prayer Relay is an initiative of More Than Gold, an ecumenical initiative set up by all the main Christian denominations. More Than Gold has released a free guide, Praying During the 70-Day Prayer Relay, to inspire Christians and churches to contribute to a 'cascade' of prayer and praise as the Flame travels around the nation; it is available at www.morethangold.org.uk/prayerrelay.

Many churches are planning Torch Relay and Prayer Relay-related events and services. For example, churches across Cornwall will be serving a record number of free cream teas in their local communities; and St Johns Church, Greenhill, Weymouth, will be open for coffee/tea and bacon sandwiches to on-lookers on the morning of 13 July.

Bishop Tim Thornton said: "It is a great privilege to be first in the chain of events and to be able offer a Christian perspective on the passage of the Olympic torch across Cornwall. We are trying to help even the most rural of communities feel part of the action. 

"These specially composed prayers are the ideal way to celebrate the Torch relay as we prepare as a nation for the 2012 Games. I encourage people to pray them over the next 70 days."

The Modern Olympics

 The Modern Olympics

An illustrated talk

Friday, May 18, 7.30 p.m.

St. John the Baptist Palmeira Square Hove

Former BBC correspondent Paul Legg, who writes about sport for The Times, takes us on an action-packed journey from Athens 1896 to London 2012 with special emphasis on the early 20th century.

The presentation includes archive footage of the early Games, including London 1908, extracts from “Chariots of Fire”, Leni Riefenstahl’s controversial film of the Berlin Olympics and revisits the “Austerity Games” in London 1948.

Get ready for London 2012 by recalling the sporting dramas which paved the way.

Admission free Donations welcome





The running track at Athens in 2004

(a re-creation of the 1896 track)





Atheletes prepare to run the 100 metres at the first Modern Olympics in Athens in 1896



So - how are you getting ready for the Games?

In Eastbourne…

Ten different Eastbourne churches are partnering together to offer holiday clubs for 5-11s. Each church will offer a programme of between 3 and 6 days which will teach through Luke's Gospel, involve sports and craft activities and plenty of fun and games. On the final day - Saturday 28th July - we converge on the local running track. There, 300+ children will compete in child-friendly track and field events and we will bring our gospel teaching to a climax. The parents will be invited for a medals ceremony and then the town is invited to a BBQ, bouncy castle and other fun events.

In Wivelsfield…

Their Village Day was reinstated a few years ago and the Parish Church has always played a prominent role in both the organising and on the Day itself. St Peter and St John the Baptist always carry the festivities over to the next Day with a Sunday Morning Café Church Service in the Village Hall. This year they have picked up the Games 2012 and are getting ready for their 'Olympic themed' Village Day to be held on Saturday 14th July 2012 from 10am. As part of the lead up to this exciting event they are preparing to begin the Village Day Torch Relay in May. The Village Day Torch will begin its journey at the church and then from there pass from family to family and will also visit the local school, playgroup and many businesses within the village. Along with the torch will be a Blessings Book in which the current torch bearer/holder can send their blessing, kind thoughts and/or prayers for the receiving bearer/holder.

On your bike…

Revd Richard Jackson Diocesan Missioner is to travel the Torch Route on his Harley through the diocese a month ahead paving the way with a Pilgrimage of Prayer.

In Patcham…

All Saints are once again making preparations for their Community Fete and this year it will be having a ‘Going for Gold’ theme – including scarecrows!

Diocesan Youth Camp (normally in May) 1st – 4th June 2012 Plumpton Racecourse .
Has the title ‘Run the Race’ and will feature amongst other things ‘Wacky Races’ download all the information you need to book in your youth group here: http://www.yesonthenet.org.uk/events/runtherace/

And at both ends of the diocese at Petworth and Hastings plans are being put in place to engage with the Torch Relay as it passes through

Ahead of all of this a special Boat, part of the Cultural Olympiad will be Blessed by Bishop Mark at a special Celebratory Service at Brighton Marina on the 27th May

SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

More Than Gold Social Justice Programme

Think Olympics and Paralympics and probably you will soon be thinking ‘sports.’

It is then an easy step to thinking that because I/my church are not ‘sporty’ then there is not a role for us and a relevant way for us to engage with the London 2012 Games.

However there is a whole raft of social justice issues that More Than Gold is encouraging churches and individuals to engage with. (Hover over title for direct link to the MTG social justice site.

The issues that MTG focus on are:

1) Peace When students in secondary education in London were asked what lasting legacy they would like to see arising out of the Games they said ‘peace’ Historically the original Games were marked by an Olympic Truce, 50 days before the Games and then 50 days afterwards so that people could travel in safety. The idea of a Peace legacy extends well beyond the Metropolis and there is a whole range of resources to help you in your area work for peace and link up with other networks of peace initiatives across the globe.

2) Homelessness Concern has been expressed that London will be ‘swept clean’ of rough sleepers leading up to and during the Games. However homelessness is an ongoing issue that affects larger communities and often smaller ones where it is often hidden, ‘sofa surfers’ for example. There is an opportunity to monitor the response to the idea of London being ‘swept clean’ – if there is incontrovertible evidence that this is happening then this could be challenged, if not and if it is mainly anecdotal then we can seek to speak for truth. It may also be that people will be cleared out by unscrupulous landlords wanting to gain a quick financial return when rented property will be in demand with an increase in visitor numbers. Again the MTG social justice programme offers a good number of links and agencies seeking to address the issue of rough sleepers and homelessness.

3) Fair Trade Imagine the 500 meters when half the competitors had to wear one large and very heavy boot. That you would rightly say is manifestly unfair – which is exactly the driving force behind Fair Trade. Getting behind Fair Trade during the Games could be anything from as simple as ensuring your coffee/tea it fairly traded to getting deeply involved in the issues whilst the world gathers to engage in sport on a ‘level playing field.’ If your Local Authority has an event planned you could campaign and ensure they use Fair Traded goods.

4) Environment The Games have been pursuing a ‘green’ agenda and the main site has been radically transformed from a former industrial wasteland with poisoned soil and polluted river. MTG are encouraging churches to run their own ‘greening’ maybe set themselves a target of achieving Eco-congregation awards.

5) Anti-Human Trafficking/Prostitution It is a sad fact that whenever large crowds of people gather for an event like the Games the sex trade increases in its activities. There is evidence to show that this can include men, woman and children being exploited and trafficked and then enslaved in the sex trade or as a source of cheap labour. Away from London individuals and churches can raise the issues, campaign, pray and raise funds to help the numerous agencies engaged in helping those caught up in this modern form of slavery.

Shine out in your community!

Shine as the Flame travels
An Invitation to join a 70-day Cascade of Prayer

The Olympic Torch is to be run throughout the UK for the 70 days leading up to the opening of the 2012 Games.
The route takes it through more than 1,000 communities and within ten miles of almost the whole of the UK’s population.
More Than Gold long to see –
• The Olympic Torch Relay used as a catalyst by hundreds of churches to mobilise united and creative prayer for their communities and the Nations
• This cascade of prayer preparing the way for all the service, mission and hospitality taking place in thousands of communities during 2012 and beyond

Prayer Relay -
• When the Torch starts its journey, from Lands End on Saturday 19th May, Christian leaders will launch the cascade of prayer. They will then travel to the next main Torch stopping place (Plymouth). Here they will bring prayers of blessing and hand on a symbolic prayer baton to Christian leaders there.
• That simple process will continue day by day. That means, the next day, Plymouth leaders will travel to Exeter – and so on through the 70 days.
• This means each community receives and releases prayers of blessing.
It will up to the churches in each place that receives the Torch to decide when and how the prayer chain of blessing is moved on. We ask for the focus to be on praying for the release of God’s blessing and light among our communities and the Nations.

Plus - as the Torch Relay passes through communities they are encouraged to mark the event with prayer. This can be by –
• Individuals and small groups - praying outside homes, offices, along streets, in parks and in workplaces
• Churches or groups of churches - holding short prayer times in public spaces along or near the route and praying during the 70 days

With the needs of our communities and the Nations in mind, there is good reason to pray even when the Olympic Torch is not in the locality and this could involve –

• Prayer walking on every street
• Holding prayer vigils, evenings, days or weeks of prayer – some churches are organising weeks of prayer ahead of the Torch Relay in their deaneries.
• Be creative - one denomination has set up a ‘design a prayer baton competition’

In addition, there is a free 48 page publication to help churches engage with the Torch Relay and the period of the Games. It has –
• Ideas for large screen festivals, barbecues, street parties, picnics, breakfasts, children’s games, sports quizzes and competitions.
• Resources for church activities, including an all-age sermon outline sketches, prayers and outlines for small groups. To help churches publicise their activities there is a sample press release and a church magazine article.
Details of this and other free resources from More Than Gold can be found at www.morethangold.org.uk/free-resources

Hover over the title for direct link and more details…