Transformation Thurrock : ONE YEAR TO READY, STEADY, GO!

ONE YEAR TO READY, STEADY, GO!

It's just one year to the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

You may not be excited about the prospect of the Games from a 'natural' perspective, but get excited about the whole thing from a 'spiritual' perspective.

All over the UK, churches are readying themselves for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity this offers to celebrate community, serve the locality and deliver the Good News message of Jesus Christ in creative and barrier-breaking ways.

Transformation Thurrock is already involved in prayer initiatives for the London 2012 at regional and national level...

through the Thames Gateway Prayernet
by being one of a group of East London boroughs partnering with Transform Newham
by being involved with the More Than Gold national prayer strategy group

So what's happening locally, in Thurrock itself?
Transformation Thurrock is looking to...

facilitate a More Than Gold awareness day in November
develop a full-on borough-wide community festival project around the theme of the Games in July 2012, partnering with local change agencies, using a prophetic/motivational name
encourage fellowships to work together at town and village level in social action projects and community evangelistic outreach

Rock Thurrock is 2011's wave. London 2012 is next year's. Swim out, get surfing!

>>> Do NOT use the Olympic rings' symbol or the London 2012 Games logo on your literature, or you could get fined!
>>> However, the More Than Gold logo can be used with all relevant church events.

More Than Gold says...
THERE'S AN ELEPHANT TRAP out there waiting for your church to step right into it - and find yourselves in big trouble.
The trap is to use any of the London 2012 logos or copyright protected names in your own publicity. The Games organising committee are determined that only things they or their sponsors run should bear their names and marks - and have heavyweight lawyers to help them.
So don't use the London 2012 logo, or Olympic rings. Or words like 'Olympic' to describe what you are doing or running. If in doubt the full guidelines can be found by clicking here.
And, of course, that's the value of the More Than Gold banner. It's there for churches to work under with no fear of a knock on the door.

Links

http://www.morethangold.org.uk/
http://www.london2012.com/
http://getset.london2012.com/en/home
http://www.churchofengland.org/clergy-office-holders/themed-services-and-events/2012-olympics.aspx
http://www.methodistconference.org.uk/news/latest-news/lord-mawhinney-fires-up-methodists-for-the-2012-olympics

Tim Harrold, 27/07/2011