The light of the world!

I had the privilege during a recent holiday to visit the Olympic site and did run a couple of lengths in the stadium, fully clothed I might add! The original games and site were all dedicated to the cult of Zeus and held one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, a 60 foot statue of Zeus made of ivory and gold.

This picture is taken at the very spot outside the temple of Hera, the wife (and sister) of Zeus, where according to custom 11 woman (Vestal Virgins) light the flame from a bowl catching the rays of the midday sun.

Lighting the Olympic flame was part of the ancient Games and reinstated in the modern Games in the 1928 Summer Games held at Amsterdam.

There is no ancient precedent for the transporting of the Olympic Flame and the carrying of the flame by torch, i.e. the modern Torch Relay bringing the Olympic Flame from Greece to the host nation. This was introduced by Carl Diem for the controversial 1936 Berlin Games.

We might then as Christians ask questions about participation in the Torch Relay, or indeed the Games with their pagan origins.

However surely that would be to deny the power of God to transform and redeem. To take the best however warped and twisted it may appear, and see it used to bring God glory. Could anything be more evil at any level than crucifixion?

For us in Sussex the Torch Relay will pass through Hastings and Brighton. Plans are already in hand through the two Local Authorities and thankfully this includes Church participation.

Most of the Olympic site was destroyed by a new rising ‘Christian’ empire; it was seen as pagan and of no value apart from bricks for building or gold and other precious artefacts to fund the building of God’s kingdom!

Thankfully we are more enlightened (at least I hope so!) and will work with the prevailing culture and not against it. Seeking to be both salt, bringing flavour, and light, being distinctive. In practical terms that means we will search out the people of peace in the Local Authorities and work with them on initiatives that brings the best out of people and enhance our communities.

Do let me know your own plans.

(Click the title above'The light of the world!' and it will take you direct to the Torch Relay Olympic site)

The Boat!

It may seem to you a bit of a daft idea when God asked Noah to build an ark - not so much a boat as a huge floating crate.

It also comes across as a rather strange idea to invite people to bring anything wooden they have that has some significance and then try and build all of that into a boat.

But this is exacty what is happening at Thornham Marina near Chichester.

It is all part of the Cultural Olympiad that runs alongside The 2012 Games.

The boat will have its maiden two-week voyage in 2012.

A part of that will include a visit to Brighton Marina from the 20th - 27th May.

The Brighton Marina is in the parish of St George's Kemp Town and they have held Sea Sunday Services there in 2009 and 2011. Plans are now being drawn up for a Sea Sunday Service to coincide with the boats departure on the 27th May. Bishop Mark has been invited to offer God's blessings as the boat sets sail.

Gordon Banks has been asked to draw up a sub-committee of the St George's Mission Committee to help oversee this initiative. He would like to hear from anyone who would like to join this sub-committee. gordon.banks@diochi.org.uk

Even if you are unable to commit to joining the sub-committee we would still welcome any ideas you have as the boat spends this week at Brighton Marina.

For more see www.theboatproject.com or click on the blog title The Boat!

The opportuntity of a life time!

I have a confession to make - I am not a great sports fan. Apart from watching some international games of football or rugby when England are playing I very rarely will watch any sport at all. And over the years several well meaning people have tried to explain to me the rules and how to play cricket, but it still eludes me! And if you want to see a grown man reduced to a quivering wreck just put the words school and sport together. I loathed sports at school although I did enjoy gymnastics.

So, why you might ask am I keen to promote the 2012 Games?

Well I do appreciate and applaud the amazing effort athletes put into their sport, I can see that it is one way of bringing reconciliation to communities and nations and sport can offer a different and a more healthy focus.

However, my main reason I am engaged in promoting the Games is because I want to Make Jesus Famous - www.makejesusfamous.org.uk.

Someone once said 'that the opportunity of a lifetime only lasts as long as the lifetime of the opportunity.'

We are into the 'year of the Games' and within 18 months the actual action will be over but hopefully the legacy will be continuing. And the Church, your church, can be part of that legacy. You can determine now that you are going to get engaged, to do whatever you can to join in the 'conversation' that will be happening all around us. This is a real opportunity to engage with your community, to build bridges, to build sports facilities, to have some fun and a whole host of other things as well. More Than Gold have plenty of ideas and resources www.morethangold.org.uk.

So, don't just sit back and wait or think we don't have anyone who is a sporty type - you don't need a sporty type you just need someone with a passion for Jesus and a real desire to see God impact our communities and a fuller realization of God's kingdom come upon earth, a lived out Lord's Prayer.

And the time to act is NOW - already many local authorities are putting plans together, so find out what those plans are and be prepared to join in as well as doing some very specific Church activities and events.

The 2012 Games really are a Golden Opportunity - let's not miss it!

No doubt like me you sat almost slacked jawed whilst watching the news of the riots unfolding first in London then across the country.

As the country prepares to host the 2012 Games and invite millions of visitors from across the world this violence and wanton destruction does not put us in a good light.

We know that the chain reaction and the news was spread through the social media, a phenomena that we are still trying to learn to live with in all its various ramifications. Much in the same way that the telephone and then the radio changed the world for ever.

Social media itself is neutral and it can be used or abused. I was delighted to hear this morning on the news that there was a 'clean up our communties' that was being promoted through the social media network. My hope and prayer is that the Church is at the forefront and getting involved in this enterprise, just as I hope and pray that Churches are at forefront of community engagment with the London Games. Some of that engagment may include sporting facilities to help dissafected people and give them a different focus, goal, aim purpose and hope.

The Church of England communication department offers this prayer for our use at this time.

A prayer for peace in our communities

Gracious God,

We pray for peace in our communities this day.

We commit to you all who work for peace and an end to tensions.

And those who work to uphold law and justice.

We pray for an end to fear,

For comfort and support to those who suffer.

For calm in our streets and cities,

That people may go about their lives in safety and peace.

In your mercy, hear our prayers,

now and always. Amen

And as we look towards the 2012 Games a special commissioned prayer

Eternal God,

Giver of joy and source of strength,

we pray for those

who prepare for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

For the competitors training for the Games and their loved ones,

For the many thousands who will support them,

And for the Churches and others who are organising

special events and who will welcome

many people from many nations.

In a world where many are rejected and abused,

we pray for a spirit of tolerance and acceptance,

of humility and respect and for the health and safety of all.

May we at the last be led towads the love of Christ

who is more than gold, today and forever. Amen