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Olympic Fever Hits Bath

As dynamic plans with a definite 'games' flavour are being made for this year's Love Bath event on Sunday 24 June, by the Love Bath team, churches in the city are under starters orders to join in!.. Organiser, Peter Heywood said: “Since making our initial announcement about this fantastic event for the whole city of Bath, we've decided to ask schools in Bath to help launch this free event with a special Schools Olympic Parade! DOWNLOAD POSTER!

(PICTURES: FUN AT A FUSION FESTIVAL, WSM LOGO)

“Now we're appealling to Bath's churches to let their imaginations embrace the fact the Olympics are coming to Britain, and contact us with their ideas for special events to continue the sense of celebration we will all be feeling in the city.”

The Love Bath Family Festival on Sunday 24 June held in front of the Royal Crescent will mark the once in a lifetime event of the Olympics coming to UK soil, with a true citywide celebration for all of Bath's citizens.

Bath Churches are being invited to contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with information fusion_two on events they plan to hold in their area of the city, whilst the Olympics is in full swing. The Love Bath team are planning to hand out leaflets at the event detailing information on these events and activities, so that following the Love Bath celebration, people can continue the party by attending events held by their local church.

Springboardbath editor, Emma said Messy Church fun was an accessible idea for churches:

“Messy Church is a fun event run already by churches in Bath and nationally, which is all about a non-traditional event including craft, fun, cooking, and even sports, for families, parents and children who might want to go to church, belong to their local church and bring up their children as Christians but prefer not to attend a traditional Sunday morning church service. This is the sort of event which churches could easily run during the Olympics.

“There is a Sports Fun Messy Church book which many churches are using to create Olympic themed events.”

But the Love Bath team have also indicated that Bath's Christians are 'under starters orders' in terms of opening night events. wsmlogo

Peter said: “The opening night on Friday 27 July is sure to be electric! I can only imagine how thrilling it will be when we as a nation are all tuned in to watch the opening ceremony – in our capital!.. So how about holding a party in your home? A street party or a special event to welcome your friends and neighbours on this special night?”

Supported by More than Gold, World Sport Ministries Bath, Love Bath, Churches Together in Bath and Fusion Community Festivals.

For more information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Bath Family Festival To Celebrate The Olympics!! Appeal For Hundreds of Bath's Christians To Help!

As Olympic Fever grows! A group of Bath Christians are planning to celebrate the truly once in a lifetime event of Britain's hosting role, by celebrating with a family fun day of games and fun in front of the Royal Crescent on 24 June. This year's Love Bath Festival, will have a distinctly fun and sporty feel! And that's where you come in!

The family Fun Day of games and fun open to all Bathonians and visitors is supported by More than Gold, World Sport Ministries Bath, Love Bath, Churches Together in Bath and Fusion Community Festivals.

DOWNLOAD YOUR MORE THAN GOLD GET SET PACK!

Hundreds of Christians from across the city are needed to make this dynamic and fun event happen!

Whether you are sporty, serve a lovely cup of tea, are happy to welcome people or any number of opportunities!.. Your involvement is essential in bringing this fabulous event where we can show God's love to all, to life!

Grant Sheppard of World Sport Ministries said: “We are planning a large family games festival this year right in front of the Royal Crescent! With MC's, many games and interactive activities for all ages, everyone will be able to take part and it will be great fun and a real family feel. We will be inviting all of Bath so it's going to be big and we will need hundreds of people to help on the day.”

“We are asking Christians in Bath to work together to create maximum effect on this unique day. We need people from all the churches to work together to make the most of this opportunity to celebrate, have fun and demonstrate the love of God to all in Bath.”

Grant is appealing for anyone wanting to get involved in this once in a lifetime event – the Olympics will only be in Britain once in our lifetimes! - to come and get involved with the following planning events.

There will be two Vision and Planning Events at the Forum, St James Parade, the first on Tuesday 21 February 7.00 to 9.00pm, and the second onThursday 23 February 10.00am to 12 noon.

The events are the Olympic Torch in Bath on Tuesday 22 May, Love Bath Festival on Sunday 24 June and the Olympic Opening Ceremony on Friday 27 July. Love Bath this year will be based in the Royal Victoria Park area in front of the Royal Crescent – Bath Festival's former site.

Then the MORE THAN GOLD national team are running a Get Set Training Day on Saturday 3 March at Ralph Allen School from 10.30am to 4.30pm. This will be the main training day for lots of volunteers.

Grant added “More than Gold is coordinating the Christian response to the Games nationwide, and Bath is one of 17 national venues. We would like as many Christians as possible to come on that day. The cost is £10 per person, and everyone is asked to take a packed lunch. You should register to secure your workshop choice at www.morethangold.org.uk/getset”

For further information about the Vision and Training Days, ring 01225 463 556 ext 213

Last year's Love Bath event on 10 July 2011, attracted hundreds of people to the Parade Gardens, for a Love Bath fair with exhibitors representating many of the Christian projects and charities in the city. This year's Bath Games is a special event to celebrate the 2012 Olympics and will have an emphasis on games and fun for the whole city.

Bath's Key Role In Olympics Announced!..

Bath is one of more than 1,000 villages, towns and cities in the UK to have the Olympic Flame carried through by Torchbearers, during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.

Residents and visitors are being invited by Bath and North East Somerset Council to welcome the Olympic Flame as it comes through the city. Bath has been chosen as one of the ‘Communities on Route’ as the torch travels through the South West on 22nd May 2012.

It sets in motion a series of events taking place throughout Bath and North East Somerset to celebrate the London 2012 Olympics.

Councillor David Dixon (Lib-Dem, Oldfield), Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “This is fantastic news for everyone in Bath and North East Somerset and a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to show Bath at its best to an international media audience. We’re delighted that the city’s breath-taking Royal Crescent is one of the few landmarks to be announced on the route so far.

“Bath and North East Somerset Council is keen to work together with schools, families, community groups, local businesses and visitors to help us celebrate this truly magnificent event. It’s a chance for our communities to share in the Olympic spirit, mark the countdown to the start of the Games and continue the festivities right through 2012.

“We hope that people from all over the district will come to Bath to welcome the Olympic Flame; share in the excitement the Torch Relay will bring and celebrate the achievements of the Torchbearers.”

The Torch visiting Bath and North East Somerset is the highlight of a packed year of celebrations – with the Council planning both sporting and cultural events district-wide to suit every taste, along with challenges to inspire all during 2012.

FIND OUT MORE about BANES PLANS TO MARK THE TORCH'S PROGRESS THROUGH OUR CITY...

Networking Conference!

BANES' Council's Get Active Partnership, created to get more people more active, fit and healthy! is inviting community groups and organisations to a special Olympic and Paralympic Games Networking Conference at the Assembly Rooms on Tuesday 7th February. The keynote speaker for the event will be the three-time Olympic medallist and World, European and Commonwealth Champion – Kriss Akabusi, MBE.

Download Banes' Get Active Partnership PDF

Supported by the Bath and North East Somerset Council, the NHS and B&NES, this event will be asking 'what will you be inspired to do for London 2012?' and seeks to gather input, ideas and inspiration from community group leaders.

The partnership will also be sharing to sharing its legacy plans for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, both sporting and cultural.

Lynda Deane, Operations Manager for Bath and North East Somerset Council said: "We also want to seek your own ideas and suggestions to support our plans. By working together, we can engage and inspire all generations and communities within which we work to challenge and participate in sporting and cultural activities to celebrate London 2012, here in Bath and North East Somerset and to feel part of something special.

"We are also delighted to announce that our Keynote Speaker at the conference will be Kriss. He will be drawing on his own experiences at the Olympics to engage us in the spirit and ethos of the Games, which is an exciting time for Great Britain.

"With the Olympic Torch passing through Bath on 22 May, this is a fantastic opportunity to encourage and support our community to challenge themselves and be the best that they can be."

Do you Love God? Enjoy sport? And are you getting excited about the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games?

WSMBATH is a local ministry with a heart to reach people for Jesus using sport. And what more exciting opportunity has there been for sports outreach in the UK than to engage with the Olympic fever which will sweep our nation and our city in 2012?

Our communities will experience a sports drive like never before next year as the UK prepares to host the greatest sporting event in the world, the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Your church could be at the forefront of enabling, promoting and participating in sport in your neighbourhood – using sport as a vehicle to sharing the gospel and building relationships with your community in fresh and on-going ways.

WSMBATH exists to serve churches; equipping and supporting them to run sport events which point people to Jesus and to use sport within their church body as a Bible teaching tool. How could we come alongside you and your church in 2012?

We already have a number of exciting events planned for next year, which you could get involved in! These include:

Church home-groups: Olympic Opening Ceremony screenings – July 27^th
‘Get Sported’ children’s multi-sport day camps – Easter, Summer & Autumn school holidays
Monthly adult football tournament – Feb-Dec
Monthly netball tournament – Feb-Dec
Monthly teenage football tournament – Feb-Dec
Monthly touch rugby tournament – April-July
Monthly golf tournament – April-October
School Games – July
Olympic school assemblies – July
Weston sports festival – June 9th

WSMBATH is partnering with More Than Gold, the international organisation which enables thousands of churches in each host nation to engage with the Olympic and Paralympic Games. More Than Gold offer you all the resources needed to run your own Olympic themed event and impact your community.

Possibilities include:

Community festivals / street parties
Torch Relay street outreach – 22^nd May in Bath
Olympic Dinner with speakers
Olympic musical and creative arts festival / celebration
Olympic sports quiz – guest event
Hosting athletes families – The Malaysian Olympic team and the GB Paralympic team will both be based at the University of Bath
Love Bath Olympic link

To find out more, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Can you identify a Church Rep Champion within your church who we could work with to make your 2012 ideas happen?

Olympic Dates: 27^th July – 12^th August 2012

Paralympic Dates: 29^th August – 9^th September 2012

WSM Bath

More Than Gold

Olympic Style Curling In The Heart Of Bath? Elim Church Says So!

P.E. teachers Paul and Laura Davis are so inspired by the Olympics coming to Britain that they will be giving the citizens of Bath their own chance to have a go at Olympic sports like curling at their Olympics Family Fun Day on 30 June, at Elim Church. Paul and Laura hope 'to put Bath Elim on the map and for people to know where we are. We feel that the Olympic and Paralympic values can be promoted and encouraged in a Christian environment (friendship, respect, determination, inspiration, equality, courage and excellence).'

(PICTURES: CURLING, COMMUNITY, A WINNING ATHLETE, BREAKFAST )

Paul and Laura, please tell us a little about yourselves?

We have been happily married for 13 years now. We met at university where we both trained as Physical Education teachers. We moved to Bath in 1998 and have loved living here since. We have three gorgeous (biased I know!) boys - Matthew and Jacob are 6 and a half (twins) and Joseph is 18 months old. Laura is a full time mum and Paul is Head of PE at Ralph Allen School.

When did you join Elim Church and why do you love it there?

Laura joined about eight years ago when she was encouraged to complete an alpha course by a friend. Paul about six and a half years ago when he too started an alpha course. Unfortunately he was unable to complete it due to the very early arrival of Matthew and Jacob. We have both been regularly attending Bath Elim for over six years now and love the warm welcome and positive atmosphere that we encounter. The congregation are very open and have always made us feel at home. We are also encouraged to pursue and develop our own ministries.

How would you describe Elim Church and what would you say to anybody thinking of going along?

Bath Elim is a really friendly, all inclusive church. It is a place where children and young people are cherished and nurtured and encouraged to play an active and vocal role in church. It has a real 'family' feel to it. We would encourage anyone to come and 'give us a try'! There is a strong strand of promoting friendship and community.

Do you see yourselves as very integral to the community around you - and community and a sense of community as being very important?

We have a real vision to reach out to the community. The church has launched a £400,000 building project to develop the facilities and renovate the original features of the church building. We hope this will help to attract more people, more community groups and, ultimately, more Christians to the church. We want local people coming in to the church to see what a fantastic building it is and to experience a sense of belonging. As part of this we will be organising our 'Olympic Fun Day'.

What are you planning to do to celebrate the Olympics hitting the UK at Elim?

The 'Olympic Fun Day' will be held at Bath Elim on Saturday 30th June between 10.30am - 3pm. We hope to attract as many people as possible from the community and will be organising different sporting events (table tennis, curling, boccia, pool, etc), will have a big TV screen showing tennis from Wimbledon, a kids craft corner where Olympic torches, flames and flags can be created, a lunchtime cafe, as well as holding an access all areas tour of the church (to include a visit to the upper balcony to see the stained glass rose window). The tour will also highlight areas of the church that are available to hire to community groups.

Will the events be open to anyone to attend?

Yes absolutely and it's free. We would like to encourage families, students, young and old people and local community groups.(worth noting that there are plans in the building project to install a lift but we do not currently have one).

We hope people will get a feeling of the openness and friendliness of the church. We want to use the excitement of the Olympics to raise awareness of what the church offers to people and groups. We want to put Bath Elim on the map and for people to know where we are. We also feel that the Olympic and Paralympic values can be promoted and encouraged in a Christian environment (friendship, respect, determination, inspiration, equality, courage and excellence).

What other events are happening in the next few months?

Although we don't have any specific events to promote we would like to mention the regular activities we have going on at our church. We have regular Men's breakfasts with guest speakers and quarterly women's meetings. We have well attended home groups and retirement fellowship meetings. The" little tinkers" toddler group on a Monday morning where toddlers can sing, play, listen to stories and have fun whilst parents and carers can enjoy a coffee and a chat, this is open to anyone - not just church members.

Oasis is our young people's church and this is run by a really enthusiastic and committed team which make the bible relevant to our young people - they have a great time, singing(loudly) and generally having a really fun time whilst learning about God. Our boys can't wait to rush off to Oasis and they return singing new songs proudly showing us the mornings art creations!

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