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Inspiring a Generation

23 April 2012 By

With 100 days to go, London 2012 Games motto, ‘Inspiring a Generation’ was announced. I’d love to highlight some ways we’re making it easy for our next generation to get involved with mission during the Olympics, from youth volunteering to phone apps.

A generation of leaders

Today I spoke to St Mellitus college about opportunities for mission – it’s exciting to be getting the next generation of clergy, youth workers and lay-leaders ready for the summer. With projects to coordinate around venues and stations, and team leaders needed for volunteers, it’s great to have them involved.

Tomorrow’s ‘London Calling’ event at St Paul’s Cathedral will bring over two thousand young Christians together, to be encouraged and released for mission and service. Many of these young people are already coordinating events in their own parishes during the summer, and others will be encouraged to volunteer at projects across the diocese – staffing youth cafes, helping at community festivals, or keeping churches open to offer hospitality. I’m particularly looking forward to meeting Anne Wafula Strike, a Kenyan Paralympian with an encouraging testimony to share.

If you haven’t signed up yet, or know someone you could invite, visit www.the2012.org.uk for more details. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured articles, Olympics, Olympics local outreach, the2012

Drop-in clinics

16 April 2012 By

As summer approaches, I’ve been thinking about how to make sure everyone’s as ready as possible for all they’re planning. This new forum for sharing ideas and training may help make advice and resources more accessible.

We’re starting a few drop in clinics, so clergy (particularly new incumbents/curates) and other church staff with a range of small questions can come and ask the various advisors at LDH, without having to book meetings or have a query big enough for a meeting. It’s a new idea for us, but hopefully one that will make it easier for parishes to get everything they need in one place, a bit like a supermarket. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured articles, Olympics, Olympics advice, Training

Church bells to ring as Olympic cyclists race past

10 April 2012 By


This week’s post comes from Peter Steadman, a parishioner in Guildford Diocese. He’s encouraging churches along the cycle route to ring their bells during races on 28 and 29 July. To check if you’re on the route, visit the London 2012 website. Peter writes:

When the cycle race came through Surrey last August one group of spectators felt there was something missing. The crowd on Leatherhead’s Dorking Road included clergy and congregation from several churches who had come out after their service at the Parish Church.

There was a lovely atmosphere. We had a mix of people who wouldn’t normally all come to the same service. Because of the road closures, some of our regulars couldn’t get to our church that morning, and there were others who came here because they couldn’t reach their usual churches either. After the service we joined the crowd on the street, all of us anticipating the excitement to come.

You often hear that a cycle race is over in a moment. That may be an exaggeration, but the action is certainly fast and intense.

The riders were doing 40mph, in a tight pack. Their heads were down reading the road markings. I wondered whether it made much difference to them whether they were riding through France or Belgium rather than the lovely Surrey landscape. I wasn’t sure they’d notice London’s great landmarks as they passed them either.

So I came up with the idea of adding that very English sound of church bells ringing as the cyclists passed through each town and village. Something that would stay in the minds of the riders long after the day. A sound that would remind spectators on the race days that churches can be a focus of activity too.

I wrote to the Bishops of Guildford, Southwark, and London – through whose dioceses the Olympic cycle route runs – to seek their support for the idea. All three Bishops are encouraging the project. They hope bell-ringers will take on the challenge, even though the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympic opening day have already added to ringers’ duties in 2012. Despite their heavy 2012 workload, bell-ringers across the three dioceses have been keen to adopt the project.

The Bishop of Guildford, the Right Revd Christopher Hill commented:

“I am very happy to commend to churches along the Olympic cycling route the idea of ringing during the events themselves. No doubt the ringers concerned will consult their incumbents as is proper but I am sure we all have goodwill towards this joyful celebration of a major international event.”

So when you hear the bells ringing during the Olympic cycling events on July 28th and 29th, remember it all grew out of an idea a group of parishioners had one sunny Sunday morning last August.

If you’re on the cycle route and would like to find out more about how to make the most of this opportunity, contact me (Email: elizabeth.harrison [at] london.anglican.org) to join the working group.

Filed Under: DCG, Featured articles, Featured events, Kensington, Olympics, Welcoming visitors

Working together in Holy Week

4 April 2012 By

This morning, I was greeted at the station by a friendly ‘Happy Easter’, and given a hot cross bun, and a leaflet about local church services during Holy Week. As I’d uncharacteristically skipped breakfast in favour of a longer lie-in, this was very welcome, and I just had time to take a quick photo before boarding my train.

For some churches, Christmas and Holy Week are the only times of year when they work with others, whether that’s in an informal local or deanery grouping, or in a Churches Together group.

We can learn quite a lot from how these groups work, to help inform our outreach plans during the Olympics and Paralympics. For example, breaking down the tasks to be done so that each church knows its responsibilities can make it easier to cooperate.

On Good Friday, dividing tasks during an ecumenical walk, so that one church ensures road safety, another provides refreshments, and another hosts a service or leads singing, can make it easier to run than if each church contributes one volunteer to each team. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured articles, Olympics, Olympics advice

Don’t get caught out…

26 March 2012 By

As parishes work out the detail of their summer activities, I’ve tried to identify some obvious pitfalls, and find practical ways to help avoid them. Much of this is common sense, and not in any way intended to scare you off making plans, but to help you make them with confidence that the practicalities are in hand.    [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured articles, Olympics, Olympics advice

Torch Relay route announced in detail

19 March 2012 By

Today, the Olympic torch relay route has been announced in street-by-street detail. The torch is in London from Sat 21 July until the Opening Ceremony on Fri 27 July – for details, visit the London 2012 website.

Ways to Celebrate

Everyone in London is within a few miles of the route, so here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Make sure everyone knows that the torch is coming – these ‘Save the Date’ cards could go out with parish Easter cards, so everyone in your community is ready to come and line the streets. If you know a torchbearer, see if they would be happy to bring their torch for a photoshoot at community events you’re running.
  • If your building is on the route, decorate with bunting etc to show you’re celebrating too. ‘Garden for the Games’ ideas include planting flame-coloured flowers, such as marigolds, or designs in the shape of the Olympic Rings. Make sure your churchyard is presentable, safe and inviting and consider how to use it well.
  • Consider whether elderly or vulnerable people might struggle to get out to watch the torch go past. Are you able to offer lifts, provide somewhere to sit to watch, or refreshments afterwards? This could be an opportunity to build links with a care home in your parish.
  • Local Councils are working together with LOCOG so that events at the overnight stops celebrate local culture, and link well to the community. Get in touch (Email: elizabeth.harrison [at] london.anglican.org) if you’re near the overnight stops in Walpole Park, Ealing, Westminster, or Alexandra Palace. Churches can work together at these events to serve the community, whether that’s by stewarding or face painting. If you’re interested, get in touch.

Working together

The torch relay provides a brilliant opportunity to begin to get people excited about the Games, to have some joyful, positive engagement with your local community, and to pray for the Olympics. It can provide a chance to meet our neighbours, both individuals and community groups.

  • More than Gold Borough Champions are volunteers working to coordinate the Christian response to the Games in their borough. If you haven’t met yours yet, get in touch to find out their contact details. Just as local churches might join together for a Walk of Witness, the torch route gives us a chance to join together in our area. Perhaps you could prayer walk along the route, in advance of the Games, to pray for the people who’ll come to watch.
  • Pray as the flame travels – across the country, churches will be praying as the flame arrives in their village, town or city. A prayer baton is being passed from church to church, and the hope is that by the time it reaches London, Christians across the whole nation will be in prayer. For details, see the More than Gold ‘Shine as the Flame travels’ guide.
  • Be aware of your branding – using any of the Local Leaders resources is the best way not to have to worry about contravening LOCOG’s branding regulations. Posters and invitations are ready-made to make this easy.

Free Resources

  • Traidcraft have produced a handy Event Pack with ideas and resources to help celebrate the Torch Relay. To order your copy, visit their website.
  • LOCOG’s Local Leaders site has hints and tips, the ‘Line the Streets’ section in particular. Sign up to receive regular updates and register your events.

If you’re getting ready to welcome the torch, and would be happy to work with others locally, get in touch (Email: elizabeth.harrison [at] london.anglican.org) to let me know what you’re planning, or find out what’s going on near you.

Filed Under: Featured articles, Olympics, Olympics local outreach

The Cultural Olympiad

7 March 2012 By

In talent shows and flower festivals, services and concerts, churches are already encouraging people to release their artistic skills. The momentum of the Cultural Olympiad could encourage further creativity to flourish. But why encourage artistic creativity? Is it missional? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured articles, Olympics, Olympics advice, Olympics local outreach

Children’s holiday clubs and training

5 March 2012 By

Holiday clubs are familiar to many of us, as a useful tool in our outreach to children and young families.  Whether you have a regular rhythm of children’s holiday clubs in your church calendar, or this is the first year you’ve considered one, there are a wealth of resources to support your preparation.

Children’s holiday clubs are usually run over a week, culminating in a Sunday celebration. Some are just a morning or afternoon, others a full day, and you can choose whether they’re at a wide or narrow age range. Establishing the aims of your club early on is essential to making the week a success – you may want to get to know children from your existing clubs or church groups really well, or you may want to attract families who’ve had no contact with you at all. The club will have elements of presenting the gospel to children, but this may be by introducing Christian values, or by explicit bible teaching. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Children's Ministry, Featured articles, Olympics, Olympics local outreach

Prayer, the Olympics and Social Justice

20 February 2012 By

As more prayer meetings and movements get underway for the Olympics and Paralympics, I’d love to draw your attention to some of the highlights. There’s a great diversity of resources, so hopefully something for everyone. And as Lent begins, a social justice resource from the Catholic Diocese of Clifton makes perfect material for a Lent course, or Holy Week reflection.

Stations of the Cross

Jesus said “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters you do to me” In these stations of the cross, five characters are followed on their final journey. Their road to their Calvary is marked in the same way that Christ’s is. They are condemned even though they are innocent. They fall. They meet people who try and help but cannot stop the train of actions which is already in place. They die because of the sins of others.

It is hoped that these stations will make us think about how our actions affect others – although we might think that no one is going to get hurt, sometimes what we do can have far reaching effects. Echoing the five main social justice concerns of the Olympics, the five characters are a trafficked woman from Eastern Europe, a small scale farmer from South America, a young homeless boy in a British City, a woman in East Africa and a young man in a British town.

Feel free to download the thought-provoking Stations of the Cross resource. If you use it, the author would appreciate feedback, so do contact me (Email: elizabeth.harrison [at] london.anglican.org) with your opinions. If these prompt further prayer or action, there are additional resources available on each theme.

Kingdom Come UK – 29 March

Kingdom Come 2012 is a year of prayer for the churches and for anyone in the UK and Ireland this year who wants to pray more. 24-7 Prayer and Alpha are in partnership, jointly inviting the Church to fill an entire year with continuous, night and day prayer, through 24-7 weeks, prayer walks and prayer meetings. Their website contains a toolbox of downloadable resources to get you and your church praying.

Or come along to the next KC:UK prayer meeting on Thurs 29 March from 7.30-9.30pm at HTB Brompton Road to pray and to get some ideas. Any church holding a prayer meeting can register it with Kingdom Come, to attract other Christians in their area – I’d strongly encourage you to do this as it’s an easy way to invite people who might not visit your own church website.

More than Gold Prayer Guide

Working across all denominations, the More than Gold prayer team has produced a guide to help churches to build prayer for the Olympics into their prayer life. With ideas for prayer points, how to set up a walk, and some biblical reflections, it’s a useful point from which to develop your ideas. It can be downloaded from halfway down their webpage, here.

Prayer Walks in Hackney and Tower Hamlets – 3 March

Taking place on the first Saturday of alternate months, this series of prayer walks is quickly establishing itself as a great way of drawing together Christians of all denominations. The group will walk around the Olympic Park to pray for the places where the Games will be happening. In an effort to cover as much of the area in prayer as possible, the next walk will be beginning from two locations – choose whichever option suits you best. On Saturday 3rd March, either meet Geoff Thorington Hassel at 10am at Victoria Park Baptist Church, or Nigel Anstey at 10.30am at the View Tube.

London’s Burning – 26 May

On Pentecost Saturday (26 May) this year, thousands will be gathering to pray at Leighton Orient Stadium. To find out more about this whole day event, visit the London’s Burning website.

I hope some of these ideas have inspired you to pray for the Olympics and Paralympics at some point. If you write any resources or prayers, particularly intercessions or prayer meeting outlines, I’d be happy to share them with others, so do get in touch (Email: elizabeth.harrison [at] london.anglican.org).

Filed Under: Featured articles, Olympics, Olympics prayer and liturgy, Olympics social justice

God and Sport

13 February 2012 By

Sport! You may love it or hate it but you can’t really escape it. And with Olympics on the horizon, it’s going to demand even more of our attention! But how are Christians to engage with sport? Do we treat it with suspicion or celebrate it with joy? And what on earth has it got to do with God? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Information, Olympics, Training

Beyond political correctness: letting God reshape our attitudes to disability

29 January 2012 By

With seven months until the Paralympics, this week’s article comes from Fiona Maccabe, trustee of ‘Through the Roof’.

Beyond Political Correctness – letting God reshape our attitudes to disability

‘He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not.’
Isaiah 53:2,3

Our attitudes…

When you encounter a visibly disabled person, how often is your response:  ‘That’s sad, how terrible, what an awful position to be in, you poor person’?  As an able-bodied person that’s certainly been one of mine.  Disabled people had little ‘beauty or majesty’ to attract me – I felt sorry for them and ‘esteemed them not’.

Perceiving disabled people this way can lead to other reactions too  –  the harbouring of unrealistic ideas about how ‘brave’ they are, guilt at feeling more advantaged, an unnamed discomfort, even irritation, creating a desire to withdraw or escape. The disability may intrude, introducing a note of awkwardness that feels difficult to avoid.

Now put yourself into the shoes of that disabled person.  Imagine what it’s like to provoke that reaction everywhere you go – to see the pity in people’s eyes, feel it in their discomfiture, hear it in the well-meaning but patronising comments.  In all these there’s a distancing of ourselves from disabled people, a need to see them as somehow different to ourselves. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured articles, Olympics, Paralympics

2012: a year to prepare for

16 January 2012 By

This is a big year for London, so it’s important to schedule our events well, and pace ourselves through the year. Putting key dates in the church diary now will allow the keenest volunteers to time their holidays to fit in with what the church is doing, and make a sustained programme of community engagement more manageable.

Every parish is different, and amongst these dates from the secular and church calendars will be patronal festivals, parish anniversaries, annual fetes and other events which may have a considerable bearing on your planning too. I hope the summary is helpful.

10 Mar – Get Set training event
8 Apr – Easter
24 Apr – London Calling – commissioning event for the2012

18 May - Olympic Flame arrives in UK. LOCOG have a free sports quiz to download; find out more here.
27 May – Pentecost - Pentecost Festival will be running arts and cultural events across the capital

2-5 June – Diamond Jubilee weekend. Sunday 3 June is the Sunday for the Big Lunch.
8 June – 1 July – Euro 2012 football
21 June – London 2012 festival begins

21 July – Torch relay arrives in the Diocese of London
27 July – Olympic Opening ceremony – why not put up a big screen and invite the whole community to watch events together?
4 Aug – Super Saturday – a great day to have a barbecue and invite friends to watch the Games

29 Aug – Paralympic Opening Night
9 Sept – Last day of the Games

If you’re beginning to plan for the year, don’t hesitate to get in touch (Email: elizabeth.harrison [at] london.anglican.org), I’d love to support you in preparing for your Olympic-related activities.

Filed Under: Featured articles, Olympics

Sign up now for ‘Get Set’ training: 10 March

9 January 2012 By

As 2012 begins, More than Gold, the agency set up to help churches engage with the 2012 Games, have launched their nationwide training programme. The day conferences aim to help you prepare by providing the training, resources, ideas and skills your church needs, and bring together expert speakers from across the world. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured articles, Olympics

Olympics: Winter Update

19 December 2011 By

With now only 31 weeks to go until the Olympics, and five months until the Torch Relay begins, the excitement of 2012 is fast approaching. Many parishes have advanced their plans since autumn began, and others too have begun considering their response. If you’re waiting to start planning until the Christmas rush is over, read on for my top tips on where to begin. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured articles, Olympics

Olympics case studies

13 December 2011 By

During November I’ve been doing a lot of parish visits – going out to meet vicars, youth workers, sometimes PCCs, and helping them to develop their plans for mission during the Olympics. Over the coming months, I’ll give examples from very different parishes, and draw out some of their ways of thinking which will make their events a success.

The first is a medium sized, Anglo-Catholic church, close to one of the Olympic Live Sites. Their parish is full of hotels, which, shortly after London was announced as the host city for the Games, became fully booked for the duration. The incumbent has become friends with one of the hotel owners, who’s currently planning a carol service in the church for his staff and guests. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured articles, Olympics, Olympics case study