2012 Olympics in Somerset - is your parish ready?
The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London will provide a once-in-a-life time opportunity for churches to engage with an event of major significance and celebration in the life of our nation. Whether you rejoiced or resented London winning the bid, the Games will take place in the summer of 2012!
Now we need to decide if we will take the huge mission opportunity that this event provides and try to engage creatively with our parish communities in Somerset, or let the opportunity pass us by.
Every community will be touched by the Games, and every church can play their part.
There are lots of resources here which will give you inspiration, and help you in your planning:
More Than Gold is an ecumenical organisation that has been set up as a one-stop-shop to help your church seize the moment. It is packed with resources and ideas for outreach, hospitality and service. From hosting events, to hosting one of the thousands of mission teams coming for the summer from all over the world, there really is something for every parish whatever its size.
The Church of England website has more resources, ideas from other Dioceses and a prayer in preparation for the 2012 Games.
The Olympic Torch Relay will be passing through our Diocese from Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 May, as it makes its way from Exeter to Bristol. There will be an evening of celebration in Taunton on Monday 21 May. A list of places it will pass through is available online. Somerset Churches Together have produced this useful reference sheet for the parishes it will pass through.
The Official London 2012 website is the central point of up-to-date information on the event.
Somerset Churches Together have gathered together various resources and ideas in a dedicated 2012 Olympics newsletter which is worth a read.
The 44 churches in Frome Area Christians Together have been busy planning events for summer 2012. Read a copy of their launch report which gives a flavour, and could inspire you with some ideas!
Issue 97 of Magnet Magazine takes the London Olympics as its theme. It contains ideas on how churches can use the opportunity of the Games to get outside their walls and includes an article from More Than Gold as well as worship, MDG Bible study, and lots of interesting features, including a Talking Justice article on human trafficking and the Games. There's also visually stunning meditation pages. It would be a really useful resource to have in church to encourage people to engage with this major event.
RACE is a great example from Bristol Diocese of a church and local school working together.
All the Bells is a London 2012 Festival commissioned piece, “All the bells in a country rung as quickly and as loudly as possible for three minutes”, by Turner prizewinning artist Martin Creed, planned for the morning of the first day of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Communities are encouraged to come together to celebrate the first day of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games throughout the UK, with this event. The aim is that as many bells as possible throughout the UK are rung for 3 minutes at the same time, a chance for communities across the UK to feel part of a big celebration to welcome the 205 nations to the UK.
And last, but not least, is a call to prayer. Under the heading A Time To Shine every church, group and organisation is invited to explore creative ways to pray for all that will take place in the months leading up to, during and after the Games. As prayer and mission go hand in hand, the aim is that while doing praying locally in our parishes we are linking nationally.
The success of our activities as a Diocese will depend on the sharing of ideas. Do keep in touch with us here in the Communications Team, and let us know what your parish is planning. That way we can offer support, encouragement, and publicity!
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