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The Tokyo Olympics – Stretching Every Sinew

MUSIC: Chariots of Fire / Race to the End – Laura Wright

The Rt Revd Libby Lane:
Good morning.

In less than three weeks all eyes will be on Japan, for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.  It’s the first peacetime postponement of the global sporting event and in the midst of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic there remain some uncertainties and concerns for the athletes taking part.

I’ve always delighted in watching my favourite teams in action – even more so, since I became lead Bishop for Sport.  An event like the Olympics usually brings us together, with thousands in stadia and venues or gathered with friends and family – to cheer on elite sports people, to marvel at the limits professional athletes can push their bodies to.

It’ll be a very different experience for the athletes this year as they focus on the event, with excitement and trepidation, but with the added complications of the pandemic.  We think today about the athletes, the support teams and organisers as they begin their final preparations, and we reflect on those who missed out on qualifying.

Despite all the changes and uncertainties, new memories will be made, new records broken, new heights reached, as we watch the best of the best.

Our first hymn reminds us that through all of life’s chance and change God will be our guide; All my hope on God is founded.

MUSIC: All my hope on God is founded (Michael) – The Cambridge Singers

The Rt Revd Libby Lane:
Everlasting God, giver of joy and source of abundant life,
We pray for all involved in the Olympic and Paralympic Games:
for their safe-keeping and well-being;
and as we celebrate the skill and resolve of those who compete
we pray that, throughout the Games,
there will be striving for excellence
marked by humility and fair play
and rooted in respect for others.
And that all who wait on you may find their strength renewed
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Olympic Games began over 2,700 years ago and were regarded as a religious festival, held in honour of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods and those athletes who won were regarded as having been touched by the gods.  Today athletes are striving for Olympic gold, silver or bronze medals and in all who compete – those who achieve glory and those pipped at the post - we recognise the image of God: thankfully God favours us all regardless of our successes or disappointments!

Our first reading this morning, taken from the book of Isaiah Chapter 40 starting at verse 28 reminds us that in times of challenge or hardship God renews our strength.

The passage is read for us by Team GB 800 metre athlete Daniel Rowden. 

Isaiah 40: 28 – 31
Read by – Daniel Rowden

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
    and strengthens the powerless.
30 Even youths will faint and be weary,
    and the young will fall exhausted;
31 but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
    they shall walk and not faint.

Stef Reid, Paralympic Long Jumper, five-time world record holder and reigning world champion will find out if she has qualified for Tokyo at the end of July.  800 metre runner Daniel Rowden has already secured his place on Team GB, as has swimmer, Daniel Jervis, who won a bronze at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and a silver at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. 

Daniel Jervis, Daniel Rowden and Stef Reid Testimonies

MUSIC: Lord of My Life - Lucy Grimble
The Rt Revd Libby Lane:
Our second reading is taken from Hebrews 12, starting at verse 1.  It is read by Daniel Jervis.

Hebrews 12: 1-3; 11 – 14
Read by Dan Jervis
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart …
11 Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet ...
14 Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God;

MUSIC: Give Us the Wings of Faith (Composer: Ernest Bullock) - The Choir of York Minister 

SERMON – Dr Krish Kandiah

MUSIC: You Raise Me Up – Aled Jones

The Rt Revd Libby Lane:
The Olympics Games is the pinnacle of sporting success and throughout the event we’ll watch people experience exhilarating highs and devastating lows. For many athletes it will be the most pressure they’ve experienced in their careers.  Jules Wilkinson supports elite athletes as part of Christians in Sport’s Performance Team.

Jules Wilkinson Testimony

MUSIC: Here’s to the Heroes (Composer: Don Black) - Amore

The Rt Revd Libby Lane:
Our prayers this morning are led by Jules Wilkinson sports chaplain, and former Team GB rower Debbie Flood, who has competed in several Olympic Games, winning silver in 2004 and 2008.

PRAYERS
Led by Jules Wilkinson
Loving Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of sport that so many of us enjoy.  Thank you that the Olympics and Para Olympics in Tokyo can go ahead this Summer.  Thank you for the wonderful celebration of sport that they will be and for the enjoyment that so many of us will get from watching them.
We pray for the athletes.  Help them run with perseverance the race marked out for them and to fix their eyes on Jesus the pioneer and perfector of faith.  We pray for your presence and comfort for those who do not perform as well as they had hoped, please enable them to have their security and identity in you and not in their performance.
We pray for the organisers of the Games that you would give them wisdom as they set protocols to keep everyone safe during the pandemic.  Lastly we pray for chaplains supporting the spiritual and mental health of athletes remotely, in a Games like no other before it.
We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen
Debbie Flood:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. 
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. 
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.
Amen.

The Rt Revd Libby Lane:
Our final hymn this morning has long been linked to sport – as the unofficial anthem of Welsh Rugby Union and to represent Wales in Danny Boyle’s spectacular 2012 London Olympic Opening Ceremony – it reminds us that God is our strength and shield, throughout life’s challenges.  Performed by the St. Michael’s Singers – Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer.

MUSIC: Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer (Tune: Cwm Rhondda) – St Michael’s Singers

The Rt Revd Libby Lane:
Blessing
The love of the Lord Jesus
draw you to himself,
the power of the Lord Jesus
strengthen you in his service,
the joy of the Lord Jesus fill your hearts;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be with you and remain with you, now and always.
Amen.