Thurrock’s Champions’ Lunch goes down well

• hosting, Ashley Lovett (Gold Champion, pastor at Socketts Heath Baptists)
• Colin Baker (Gold Champion, pastor at Grays Baptists)
• Rev John Guest (St Margaret’s, Stanford)
• Rev Rosemary Pritchard (Grays, Linford & Horndon Methodists)
• Roy Hassock (Thurrock Youth Offending Service)
• John Ironmonger (Gold Champion, West Thurrock Chapel)
• Ben Odeje (Gold Champion, Fruitful Land, Tilbury)
• Tim Harrold (Borough Champion, Transformation Thurrock)

First up was lunch, a choice between chicken casserole or lasagne, all superbly cooked by Beryl with help from James and Charlotte. Their hospitality was truly more than gold! Thank you.

On the agenda was to for Tim to give a rundown of up-and-coming More Than Gold events and related local prayer initiatives. He began by emphasising the lessons learned from the Vancouver Winter Olympics of two years ago – that the churches who got involved became part of a national awakening and celebration of its identity through serving the other visiting nations; and that the churches that didn’t get involved until it was too late, regret missing the opportunity to serve and show Christ’s love in their communities. The hope of that small group around the table is that this will not be said of Thurrock.

Ashley talked about the More Than Gold Holiday Club initiative, which is gaining some momentum in the planning, with two venues now confirmed (Thames Rugby Club in Aveley and St Clere’s School in Stanford). The club will take place over five days in the lead up to the Olympics’ opening ceremony, all Christians across the borough are invited to help out on those days. Other local sports-related entities and schemes will be also invited to take part.

A lot of lively discussion was had about all of these things, with new ideas emerging and different bits of advice coming through. Some of the things decided to develop are:

• creating a Press Release to highlight church’s activities during the Games’ period
• promote church’s involvement in the Council’s bunting project (for the Torch Relay)
• include Big Picnic into MTG Holiday Club week somehow
• pull churches in who are on or in the vicinity of what maybe the Torch Relay route
• run the More Than Gold Sports Quiz in venues across the borough (maybe raising funds for Foodbank at the same time)
• look into availability of Diamond Jubilee quiz
• promote The Big Lunch
• develop a corporate image (on tee shirts? TT?) for the day of the Torch Relay
• continue to promote
  • the availability of Mission Teams
  • the Athletes’ Families’ Homestay Scheme (hospitality for visitors from poorer nations)
  • the urgent need for more Games Pastors

Information about the last three items are available elsewhere on this website (see links to left of this page).

More Than Gold Thurrock dates update…

March

• 3rd Going for Gold (Youth & Children’s Training) @ Romford Baptists
• 31st Get Set (MTG Training Day) @ St Angela’s School, West Ham (free transport going from Thurrock)

April

• 16th 7.30pm How To Put On A Street Party @ Grays Adult Education Centre (with Rob Groves)

May

• 26th 2-8pm London’s Burning @ Leyton Orient

June

• 2nd-5th Diamond Jubilee
• 3rd The Big Lunch
• 8th start of Euro 2012

July

• 1st Stanford Festival feat. More Than Gold Thurrock
• 1st Euro 2012 Final
• 6th Olympic Torch Relay through Grays
• 23rd More Than Gold Holiday Club @ venue 1
• 24th More Than Gold Holiday Club @ venue 2
• 25th More Than Gold Holiday Club @ venue 3
• 26th More Than Gold Holiday Club @ venue 4
• 27th More Than Gold Holiday Club Finals Day @ venue 5
• 27th 8am Bell-ringing from churches
• 27th London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony

August

• 12th Olympic Games Closing Ceremony
• 29th Paralympics Opening Ceremony

September

• 9th Paralympics Closing Ceremony
• 29th National Prayer Event @ Wembley Stadium (Grays Baptists arranging coach)

This does not include prayer events nor GSUS LIVE in the autumn. Please see ‘Prayer Strategy’ link to the left of this screen.