Prayer baton changes hands as torch relay travels the UK

Church leaders in Nottinghamshire are supporting the Olympic Torch relay with a special prayer baton which is shadowing the journey of the torch as it travels across the UK.
 
Lincolnshire church leaders handed over the baton on Thursday (28 June) when the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham and city church leaders met them before the torch arrived in Nottingham city centre.
 
Sport Ambassador for the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham, Tim Friend, who has helped coordinate the Nottingham link for the baton, said: “The prayer baton is being accompanied by a chain or prayer, as it goes ahead of the torch through communities and cities across the UK. This is an opportunity for the churches to say we want to bless the games, we want to share the light and we want to leave a legacy. We want to see positive transformation in people’s lives and in the communities which our churches serve.”
 
The prayer baton is a transparent tube which contains prayers people have written for Nottingham. The baton was opened and prayers read, before being filled with prayers for the city of Derby and Derbyshire, written by people in Nottingham, ready to be handed over before the torch arrives in the Derby.
 
Each of the 307 churches in the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham has been given a small battery candle with the words, ‘Bless the Games, Share the light and Leave a Legacy’ printed on them. And prayers for each church to use in services are available on line at www.morethangold.org.uk

Churches also supported the festivities in the grounds of Nottingham Castle, when the diocesan display trailer offered information, giveaways and a prayer hub for people to call into.
 
PHOTO: The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler, is pictured (right), receiving the baton from Brian Keel, Pastor at Lincoln New Life Church, representing Lincoln’s church leaders, and sport ambassadors for the Diocese, Tim Friend and Rachel King are pictured on the Robin Hood statue behind.