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…

Community Live Sites

Live Sites are big screens and event spaces in urban centre’s offering live information, video, news and community events.

Get down to your local Live Site for all the latest news, interactive events and live coverage of the London 2012 Games.

There are 22 big screens operating at locations across the UK. Working with the BBC and local authorities, they feature all the latest action and news from London 2012. They also feature a broad range of UK-wide and local content, events and partnerships with community, arts and media organisations.
Celebrations across the capital

London Live 2012 is the UK’s biggest free celebration of the London 2012 Games, taking place at three of London’s most iconic locations: Hyde Park, Victoria Park and Trafalgar Square.
There will be live coverage of all the medal events on state-of-the-art screens, a variety of entertainment including live music and outdoor arts, plus opportunities to try out Olympic and Paralympic sports.

There are also two special Celebration Concerts in Hyde Park which will coincide with the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Ticket prices and headline acts for these will be announced in early 2012.

Find out more and register your interest at the London Live website http://www.londonlive.uk.com
London Live is a partnership with the Mayor of London, The Royal Parks, London Borough of Tower Hamlets and international event promoters Live Nation.

The screens are erected and run in partnership between the London 2012 Organising Committee, the BBC and the various cities, in association with London 2012 partners BT and Lloyds TSB, supported by Cisco and with funding from the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor.

There are currently no registered Community Live Sites in Sussex!

Why not ask if your local authority is interested in establishing a Community Live Site, read our Community Live Sites Celebration Guide. Hover over title for link or go to... http://www.london2012.com/documents/general/community-live-sites-celebration-guide.pdf

The guide takes the form of a toolkit, and has been developed to answer the enquiries from bodies across the UK wishing to find ways to offer Games-focused activities. It provides guidance and advice on what you will need to address if you are planning a Community Live Site, and how to go about setting one up. As a Church/Churches you could offer to help set up and run a Community Live Site.

Get Set

Get Set – a day to get ready
This is the day every church needs so as to be ready for the 2012 Games
You’ll leave with new ideas, strategies, skills and resources. All so your church can make the most of the 2012 Games.
• Each day is a Saturday from 10.30 to 4.30. With the cost is only £10 per person.
• Advance registration is essential to secure your workshop choices.
Who should attend?
Churches are encouraged to bring a team to Get Set. It is for all who play a key role in children, youth, outreach, events and more.
The skills and insights learned will be of benefit long after the 2012 Games dust has settled.
The workshop subjects
Choose 1 of 3 all-day sessions or 4 from the list of 8 electives.
The full day choices:
• How to run a community festival that has an enduring impact
• Using sport to impact children, youth, adults and sportspeople in ways that last
• How to be a Games Pastor and develop your ongoing ministry
Choose up to 4 from:
• New to More Than Gold? – how your church can make the most of the Games
• How to reach and minister to children through the 2012 Games
• How to impact young people through the 2012 Games
• How to use the Torch Relay to impact your community
• How to build a strong prayer foundation for mission in your community
• How to make the most of an international Mission Team during your Games outreach
• How to do mission through the Paralympics
• How to take action over Games-related issues of social justice
When and where is Get Set?
To book at the venue in the Diocese on 4th February 2012 at Crawley Baptist Church, Crabtree Road, Crawley, West Sussex RH11 7HJ Hover over Get Set above for direct link

Community Sports Teams

Few churches have enough sports-minded people to use sport to engage with their community. Yet sport offers such a great way to reach out beyond the walls of the church.

The answer is for churches to work together to create a Community Sports Team to serve them all. Though there is nothing to stop an individual church setting up their own team.

The idea is rather like that of Street Pastors, which takes special people from each church in an area to make up a team. That is how a Community Sports Team works – building the sporty and outreach minded people from different churches into a focused team to stage events and activities on behalf of them all.
How does a Community Sports Team work?

The role of the Community Sports Team is to help each church use sport to develop friendships and to build relationships with those around them.

It does so by –

• Sharing the load so it is not just one or two who carry all the work
• Drawing in a range of skills – from sports specialists to general helpers

It can also open a door to Christian service for some who thought they had nothing to offer. As one person said, ‘I never thought I could serve effectively in my church until I came across sports ministry. Now I can blend my passion for God and love of sport to reach others’.

What kind of activities could be done?
Almost all of the sport ministry ideas put forward in the context of More Than Gold can be developed by a Community Sports Team including –

• Clinics and camps
• Sports quiz
• Holiday clubs
• Sports tournaments
• Sports in school
• Sports academy
• The Games - for schools

What help is available?

The Community Sports Team model has been developed by World Sport Ministries and is already working in several areas of the UK. Hover over the title for direct link.
They can provide a detailed manual on how to start and run a Community Sports Team together with details of existing programmes and training. To request it you can also email info@morethangold.org.uk

Gardening for the Games

Garden for the Games ideas:
• Plant golden flowers to make your street shine for the Olympic Torch Relay
• Grow a bee-friendly wild flower meadow like the one in the Olympic Park
• Grow your greens for your Super Saturday in August
• Plant your team colours

Coming soon... planting guides, save the date cards, hints and tips from experts and fellow Local Leaders.

Sign up as a Local Leader now and we’ll send you updates with promotional material, exclusive merchandise and gardening design ideas. Hover over title for link.

See what some London 2012 Local Leaders are already planning...

Makaela and Aga, Local Leaders at the Edible Bus Stop, Lambeth.
'We are planning to Garden for the Games in our space next to the bus stop on Landor Road, SW9 to grow vegetables in all the colours of the Olympic Rings, from the common green and red vegetables to heirloom varieties of blue bell potato, black radish and golden kale. 'Our neighbours, helpers and friends will plant in April and then the seasonal produce will then be served at a street party next summer. It will be a healthy vegetable centric feast fit for record breaking athletes as well as hungry gardeners. We are also planning London 2012-style races, such as a carrot relay or an onion and spoon race.'

Paul Clarke, Local Leader at Pop up Farm, Burnley
'I’m planning on organising The Orchard Challenge to Garden for the Games with the schools in Burnley. We will see how many apple trees can be planted during 2012 to create long lasting orchards for the children to enjoy for many, many years to come.'

Wendy Davis, Local Leader at the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies
‘At the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies, we are really excited about the London 2012 Games. We will be showing how proud we are of this country by planting in the Olympic colours at home and at our Devonshire Square offices. I am also designing a feature to hang from the windows to show how delighted I am to be part of the excitement of this fantastic event. I will be encouraging all members of NAFAS to plant out their gardens and make designs that inspire the whole country to be a part of the Games, no matter where they live'.