A Church of Ireland clergyman now serving with the Church of England has written the C of E’s official prayer in preparation for the 2012 Games.
The Reverend Christopher Woods is the Church of England’s National Worship Development Officer. Christopher who is from Bangor, is a former curate assistant of St Mark’s, Dundela and former chaplain at Christ College, Cambridge. He studied at St Andrew’s University and completed his preparation for ordination at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in Dublin.
The prayer was published yesterday, June 23, 400 days before the start of the London Olympics. It asks God to be with the athletes, their supporters and families, and the thousands of churches preparing to organise Olympics-themed events in their communities, and it is read on a new podcast by GB Olympic 400m gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu MBE.
The Church of England is a member of the ecumenical organisation More Than Gold, which supports churches of all denominations around the UK with resources and ideas as they prepare to engage with the Games
The Revd Duncan Green, the Church of England’s Executive Olympics Coordinator, said: “More than Gold are resourcing and equipping the Church to respond to the tremendous mission and outreach opportunities afforded by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It has been wonderful to see so many attend the More Than Gold training conferences and leave excited and enthused by what they have heard. This prayer will encourage churches and all those preparing for the 2012 Games.”
A prayer in preparation for the 2012 Games
Eternal God,
Giver of joy and source of all strength,
we pray for those who prepare for the London Olympic and Paralympic games.
For the competitors training for the Games and their loved ones,
For the many thousands who will support them,
And for the Churches and others who are organising special events and who will welcome many people from many nations.
In a world where many are rejected and abused,
we pray for a spirit of tolerance and acceptance, of humility and respect and
for the health and safety of all.
May we at the last be led towards the love of Christ who is more than gold, today and forever. Amen