SPRING 2020 SPRING Fit for purpose Game-changing: sports ministry PAGE 6 Worship on the wild side PAGE 17 Holiday clubs: Everyday faith: Learning from Hong Kong building faith parkrun GoodGym dispatches through fun 10 15 21 25 From the Editor Contents THE MAGAZINE | SPRING 2020 can clearly remember walking into explains the vision in the main feature the Olympic Park on the first day of (pg 6) and Matt Beckett talks about the the 2012 games in London with my practicalities of running active holiday 14 COMMENT: Running family. The atmosphere was electric: clubs (pg 10). Jon Norman (pg 4) and Roy the good race bubbling with positivity, excitement, Roberts (pg 15) both share their personal expectation and a wonderful sense of experiences of faith development 15 PAUSE BUTTON: The end game Iwelcome and togetherness. It didn’t through pushing their bodies. really matter what sporting activity we’d Pilgrim journeys of open-air spiritual managed to get tickets for, it was about exploration have been undertaken down “being” there. the centuries and three experiences are Sport and outdoor activity in general have shared in this edition, from Spain (pg 16) an amazing capacity to create special to Sweden (pg 22) and closer to home, moments like that. They can provide the new Walsingham Way, (pg 14). Other focus or a sense of community. You can ways helping young people encounter lose yourself in the crowd or embrace God outdoors are shared on pages 17 being part of it. Or you can venture out – 19 through wild church, sailing and alone and enjoy the physical sensation active RE. of pushing your body to its limits in the Whatever way you choose to explore great outdoors – somehow always more Christianity, in this Olympic year, may we stimulating than an indoor studio or gym. run our race of faith with our focus firmly 6 For me the discovery of open water on Christ. FEATURE: swimming all-year-round has been an Game-changing: Blessings, exciting phenomenon. While I completely sports ministry understand it’s not for everyone (many of my friends and family think I’m mad!), I’ve found it’s enabled me to connect with 19 Further ideas on sports and our Creator God in a whole new, sensory- outdoor spirituality laden way. Barbara Bryant - Editor 13 Review: books on the theme In this issue, you’re invited to consider how sporting and outdoor spirituality activities 14 Cathedral: Walsingham Way can help you explore your Christian faith in different ways and how we can use 16 I would walk 500 miles them to share our faith with others. Using sport or physical activity as a 18 CYF: Encountering God mission tool is a common theme in on the Broads many of the articles in this issue. Ruth Anderson, founder of The Sports Factory, 19 CYF: Active learning 22 Pilgrimage in Lapland The Magazine design: Get in touch Adept Design www.adeptdesign.co.uk 26 FOCUS ON: Barnham Broom 01603 882348 (Editor) Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those and Upper Yare [email protected] of the Diocese and the acceptance of advertising does not indicate editorial endorsement. Diocesan House, 109 Dereham Road, Cover photo: Legacy holiday club at STN, Norwich. 30 Resources Easton, Norwich NR9 5ES www.DofN.org/magazine facebook.com/dioceseofnorwich @DioceseNorwich The next issue (deadline 3 April) focuses on sustainability and climate change. Listen to The Magazine Podcast by searching for ‘Diocese of Norwich’ on the podcast app of your choice. 34 What’s On To advertise in The Magazine please contact Barbara Kirk on listings 01603 882349 or [email protected] 3 Running the good race n April last year Lewis Blois and I professional running coach. He helped deeper on just how important my set out on a mission to run seven me focus on what was important. relationships with God, my family and marathons in seven days to raise friends matter most. It’s not what I have In life, we all need a coach, someone money for our new SOUL Church but who I have. who can keep us on the right path, help facility. It was the hardest and most us make positive choices and focus on gruelling seven days of our lives. We had what’s important. The dream is free, but Itrained for 12 months straight, racking the journey isn’t up nearly 800 miles and wearing out four pairs of trainers in the process, but Prayer keeps us strong The easiest part of 7 in 7 was coming nothing could have prepared us for Before each day we had a routine, up with the idea. The hardest part was what was ahead. we stretched, ate porridge, took actually doing it! I wonder how many dreams never get off the ground? I Our physical, emotional and spiritual supplements but our whole team took realised that most dreams come in strength was put to the ultimate test. time to pray with us. There were times puzzle form and every day we must Each day as I ran, I felt God give me a I wanted to quit but our team came decide to put a piece in the big picture. lesson from the marathon to apply to alongside and prayed. I could literally my daily life. feel supernatural strength in those moments, which kept us going. Quitting isn’t an option Fear is part of our lives I made my mind up before I started, I Pain is a part of wasn’t going to quit, whatever it took I I feared starting, the training, injuries, was going to cross the line. Sometimes illness and even finishing. It was a life’s journey in life we must decide not to quit before continual journey of dealing with fear, As I ran the pain increased each day, we have the option to. I had to re-educate my mind. Fear was mile and step. But I decided to embrace never going to go away, I just had to it, not allow it to kill me. I had to raise deal with it. my threshold for pain - it became my Fear will stop you from experiencing teacher. The battle was won in the mind the life God created you to live, not just the body, I was battered but not sometimes you’ve got to feel it and beaten! just keep running. Life’s about relationships We all need a coach not accomplishments Jon Norman is married to Chantel and has I thought I could do it alone, but soon 7 in 7 could go down as one of my two children, Justice-Murray aged 5 and Miracle-Joy aged 8. Jon is a Canon of Norwich realised I needed help. In walked Neal greatest accomplishments but it made Cathedral, Norwich City first team chaplain Featherby from Sportlink Norwich, a me realise it’s not. As I ran, I reflected and Senior Pastor of SOUL Church UK. 4 The end game e have all heard the The simple act of starting the sessions expression ‘sport is with prayer allows the thinking to begin. like a religion’ and to some people Writing to the Philippians, Paul looks it is. Sports, physical exercise and forward to the ultimate reward for his recreational activities as part of a team faithful service. His prize is to be with orW undertaking activities alone, like a Christ, though there is some uncertainty long-distance runner, all contribute about what he specifically meant. I to our development as both a human believe Paul has a clear goal: being in being and a spiritual being. heaven with the Lord. The apostle St Paul used sporting The Bible compares the Christian life to a metaphors to explain the virtues of race, and while there are different types Christian disciples. In 1 Corinthians he of races, the Christian life is compared wrote “do you not know that in a race to a marathon. This is a daily challenge all the runners run, but only one gets which requires focus and effort and the the prize? Run in such as way as to get perseverance to overcome the obstacles the prize… They do it to get a crown that are in our way. May we all set our that will not last, but we do it to get a focus on the Lord. crown that will last forever”. There is no way I could call myself a There is no way I could call sportsman of any kind. Yet sport brings myself a sportsman of any to young and old alike, the ability to kneeling before a game, head bowed, work together for a common goal. To asking for support through their prayer. kind. Yet sport brings to young befriend and love each member of the It is interesting to note the number and old alike, the ability to team; like the ethos and background to of sports teams within the Diocese work together for a common our Christian faith. who have a chaplain. They can see the strength that a chaplain brings to the goal. To befriend and love each Paul notes that he is not perfect but sport in question. member of the team; like the encourages Christians to mimic his ethos and background to our singular focus on pursuing Jesus Christ. The mission opportunities presented Sportsmen and women have a singular via sport are vast. Many parishes use Christian faith. focus on gaining their goal. sport and other outdoor activities to engage with people of all ages.