2012 Games
last updated on: 31st Jan 2012
"We missed it. We didn't think it would be this big", church leaders from Vancouver, after the 2010 Winter Olympics
Whether we watch or play lots of sport or none at all, the Olympic and Paralympic games represent a significant opportunity for the Church – for we are at our best missionally when we go to where people are at and engage with what is in their hearts and on their minds. The 2012 games will be firmly in hearts and minds!
An ecumenical team in Leicestershire is working with More than Gold (a national body comprising of the nine main Christian denominations plus a host of partner organisations). Our hope is that every church in Leicestershire and Leicester appoint at least one More than Gold ‘Gold Champion’ who will receive details by e-mail around once a month (and hopefully pass on to the relevant people within their church). There is no charge to being a Gold Champion. Who is the More than Gold Champion for your church? If no one, could it be you?! Register as a Gold Champion here.
Ideas and Grants: We have also produced a simple guide with 15 practical ideas of things churches can do to help realise the potential of the Olympic and Paralympic games. It can be downloaded free from here. Linked with this are a range of special grants to help support mission work. Download more details on the grants and application form here. For those planning big screen showings, details of the BBC’s coverage is here and the official competition schedule is here.
An introduction: If you are new to the possibilities around the games, why not watch a 6 min video introducing More than Gold and the possibilities for your church at the bottom of this page or read the introductory e-mail to the 2012 games sent by the Archdeacon of Loughborough earlier this year here. There is also a wide range of resources and ideas on the More than Gold website here.
Taskgroups: Some areas of work impact more than one church or town. To help co-ordinate these opportunities we have
formed five taskgroups. We need more help, so if you, or someone from your church would like to get involved, please contact the leader of each taskgroup whose details are below:
Schools Taskgroup, including work across groups of schools – led by Mary Lawson, Director of Education for the Church of England in the area. To get involved contact mary.lawson@leccofe.org
Young Peoples Taskgroup - led by Matt Brown, Director of Reality Youth Project. To get involved contact matt@realityyouthproject.co.uk
Livesite Taskgroup – exploring and leading on possibilities around the BBC Livesite in Humberstone Gate – led by Baptist Minister, Paul Richards. To get involved contact paulrichardsch@yahoo.co.uk or amanda.youngman@btopenworld.com
Torch Relay and Prayer Taskgroup – linking both the opportunities of the torch relay and prayer across churches. Led by David Pepworth - davidpepworth@hotmail.co.uk The Olympic torch is coming to Leicester on Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd July (Market Harborough to Lubenham. Lubenham to Foxton. On to Kibworth. Continuing through Oadby. An evening celebration in Leicester. Next day on to Quorn, Loughborough, Hoton, Wymeswold. Then to Asfordby, Melton and onwards)
Homestay Taskgroup – exploring possibilities of offering Christian hospitality to athletes families - led by David Newman, Archdeacon of Loughborough. To get involved contact david.newman@leccofe.org
Why not sign up as Gold Champion today?! http://www.morethangold.org.uk/your-church/what-your-church-can-do/church-representatives.html
Another resource, is the excellent Citizen's Eye website, which allows people to post stories about what is going on, what they are up to, etc. It has a special focus on all things 2012 and with the aim to make Phoenix Square in Leicester the largest independent media centre outside London during the Games, it's another way of letting people know what's going on. Go to: www.citizenseye.org
For any related 2012 Games questions please contact any member of the ecumenical Leicestershire group. A
few new members are shortly to join so that even more denominations are represented, but at the time of
writing the group consisted of:
- Barry Hill (Chair)
- Paul Richards (Baptist)
- Tim Woolley (Methodist)
- David Newman (Church of England)
- Vic Allsop (County Ecumenical Development Officer)
- Lynn Fowkes (URC)
- Matt Brown (Reality Youth Project)
- Mary Lawson (Director of Education, Diocese of Leicester)
- David Pepworth (Torch Relay)
- Rudi Bruinewoud (Salvation Army)
- Richard Gamble (Elder at Living Rock and LCFC chaplain)
The group can be contacted via Barry Hill.
