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'.

Advent Reflections

Advent reflections on the birth of Jesus

Running the race


More Than Gold UK
For a daily reflection during Advent - with a More Than Gold touch – check out the Evangelical Alliance’s Running the Race http://asso.in/url/5m5
(Hover over title for direct link)

The Christian life is like a race, and we are called to run it. The race will throw up various challenges; we will encounter hurdles along the way, but the Jesus whose birth we prepare for during Advent, is with us throughout the course. The coming few months will see the nation prepare to host the Olympic Games and Paralympics Games, and as a Church we must also prepare to take up the opportunity this presents to show God’s love in every situation we encounter.

The prayer guide has been written by the team at More Than Gold – the umbrella organization working to encourage and equip churches to make the most of the opportunity presented by the Olympic and Paralympics Games 2012.
For more information, please see www.morethangold.org.uk


Here is an example…
Tues 29
Matthew 5:14 – 16

Reflect: Each of us has a sphere of influence whether at work, college or with our neighbours. We have the potential to change the spiritual climate through what we say or do. You are today the light of the world, for Christ is in you, the hope of glory.

Pray & Act: Who can you encourage today? A smile can make all the difference. Pray for all with whom you will have contact.

Movers and Shakers!

Good at getting stuff done? Excited about the Games and want to celebrate? Then we want you to be a London 2012 Local Leader. www.london2012.com/localleaders
The summer of 2012 will be extraordinary. Across the whole of the UK, millions of people will be part of the celebrations. And at the heart of every celebration will be the person who makes it happen. If that’s you, we want you to sign up and become a London 2012 Local Leader.

Being a Local Leader is pretty simple: you just need to have an idea of how you want to celebrate the Games and then get organizing. You can create your own events or get involved with the some of the ideas communities across the UK have suggested to us: check them out below. We've also got some handy tips on how to plan your event. Get ready to celebrate in 2012 and help make the Games local!

Sign up now to be a London 2012 Local Leader and receive exclusive offers, ideas and planning packs as we get ever closer to the Games.

Watch a video about the Local Leaders programme

Hover over the title for a direct link