Wednesday July 23 2014
THE 20th Commonwealth Games are being held in Glasgow, so it’s understandable that the bulk of the churches involved in helping out are in the city and the surrounding areas, although there is input from churches elsewhere in the country.
The Minister of Arbroath: St Andrew's, the Rev Martin Fair explains: “We’re taking between 10 and 20 people down to Glasgow to help out with a project to raise awareness about people trafficking.
“It’s something we, as a congregation, have been interested in for some time, the injustice in the world.
“During the Games, in the morning our team will be helping out one of my friends, the Rev Catherine Beattie at Giffnock South, run a sports based holiday club for local youngsters, and in the afternoons we’ll be part of a bigger team of people from across Scotland, stationed at high profile points throughout the city with large, human sized ‘Gift Boxes’ for the public to investigate.
“The Gift Boxes will be covered in provocative statements and people will be encouraged to investigate it and go inside. Once in there they’ll be able to discover much more about what the trade in human beings involves and be encouraged to talk to trained volunteers about the situation.
“It’s a great chance to contrast people coming here for a fun event with the people brought here against their will.”
The Rev Elisabeth Spence, minister at Ibrox Parish Church, is also involved in the Games through her church.
“I am a Host City Volunteer Team Leader, which is very exciting. This is a different role from the Clydesiders [official Games volunteers] as we will be in the centre of town helping the many visitors we are expecting in the city to find their way around and to encourage them to explore the many interesting areas of town they might not know about.
“We also need to be ready with the answers to questions like: ‘Where is there a good coffee shop?’ ‘Why is this area called the Merchant City?’ or indeed ‘Why is there a traffic cone on the top of that statue?’! It’s a once in a life time opportunity and I am excited that I have been given the chance to be involved in the Games in this way.”
At least one Church of Scotland minister is a Clydesider. The Rev Fraser Macnaughton, who is a qualified rugby referee and coach, will be based at Ibrox Stadium where the Rugby Sevens tournament is to be held.
He said: “No doubt the Games will be on us before we know it and it is exciting to know they will soon be here after what seems an eternity from when I first thought about getting involved.”
Chaplains will be working at the games, providing spiritual guidance, support and help for the athletes and attendees alike. A multi denominational team will be on hand.
The Rev Stuart McQuarrie and the Rev Neil Urquhart are part of the team who will be on hand to help out.
Stuart, Co-ordinator of the Religion and Belief Centre, says: “The Centre will be a place of worship, a space for reflection, a sacred space where all will be welcome. One distinguishing feature of Glasgow 2014 is that the Village is just 20 minutes away from the principal centres of worship of the main faith communities in Glasgow.
“It means Glasgow and Glaswegians can have a unique role to play in welcome, hospitality and in encouraging the human spirit to achieve the best it can through sport. Thus their spirit, the spirit of Glasgow can play a part in the successes and achievements of Glasgow 2014.”
Neil adds: “At the Delhi 2010 Games I was in the multi-faith Indian team of chaplains serving the Athletes’ Village. I enjoyed similar involvement at London 2012, but the Commonwealth Games are cosier and more intimate than the humungous Olympics.
“In the ‘Religion and Belief Centre’ (Rab C!) people of many faiths and none will find spiritual support and encouragement, helping to provide the necessary stability and inspiration for people to perform at their best.”
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