Engaging around the Commonwealth Games

The 2022 Commonwealth Games will take place at 14 midlands venues (plus one in London) between Thursday 28 July and Monday 8 August inclusive. A team of representatives from West Midlands’ Churches has been meeting on a monthly basis over the last three years to plan engagement in and around the Games. Among the outcomes of the prayer and conversation has been the training of 150 chaplains to offer a listening ear during the Games, plus engagement with the Anti-Human Trafficking ‘It’s a Penalty’ campaign.

Here are six way in which you can be involved in the coming month:

Queen’s Baton Prayer Relay

After touring the world over the last nine months, the Queen’s Baton Relay is now journeying around the UK. Accompany its route in prayer on a daily basis by accessing the ’60 day prayer relay’ resource from the World Prayer Centre HERE.

It’s a Penalty

The ‘It’s a Penalty’ campaign harnesses the power of sport to prevent the abuse, exploitation and trafficking of children globally. Discover more about the campaign and help to stop the scourge of human trafficking by visiting THIS FACEBOOK PAGE.

Blessing the Commonwealth

An afternoon of celebration to bless the nations and territories of the Commonwealth, and to welcome them to Birmingham, will take place at Gas Street Church from 2.30pm on Saturday 16 July. The gathering will include worship led by Tim Hughes and Gas Street music, plus prayers and messages from countries such as India, Africa, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia. Register for a free ticket via THIS LINK.

Healing on the Streets

‘Healing on the Streets’ is one of the numerous Christian outreach agencies who will reach out to visitors to the midlands during the summer. A HOTS training event will take place at St Martin in the Bullring on Saturday 23 July, from 9.00am to 4.00pm. To register to attend, click HERE.

Service of Praise

A Service of Praise and Celebration will take place at St Chads Cathedral at 3.00pm on Sunday 24 July. The service will be attended by senior leaders from Birmingham’s Christian Churches and people from a number of local congregations. Civic guests will include Dr John Crabtree OBE (Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands), David Moorcroft OBE (High Sheriff of the County of the West Midlands) and Councillor Maureen Cornish (Lord Mayor of Birmingham). A varied programme of music will be provided by the Cathedral organist, a worship band, the Birmingham City Council Workplace Choir and the Smile Community Children’s Choir. To book a free ticket, click HERE.

Two weeks of unbroken Worship and Prayer

From 5.00pm on Monday 25 July to 5.00pm on Monday 8 July, 336 hours of unbroken worship and prayer will form a canopy of prayer over the midlands. The prayer will be based at Elim Life Church, Romney Way, Pheasey B43 7TL, which has been kindly loaned. Church leaders, worship leaders, small groups and intercessors are requested to sign up to lead an hour (or more) during the two weeks. People from the ‘Burn 24/7’ and ‘David’s Tent’ national networks will join midlands churches in the prayer relay. For more information – and to sign up to participate – e-mail Sarah at THIS ADDRESS.