There’s some great work being done in Poplar by Jan Evans.
Her womens’ group is learning English together and was able to mark its final session with an Olympic Party, after being recognised as a great local community project.
Funding for the group came from Near Neighbours.
For more see this article from wharf.co.uk
Near Neighbours has been embracing the opportunities presented by the Olympic and Paralympic Games being on our doorstep. One of the projects we have supported has seen young people of different backgrounds coming together to paint a graffiti mural.
Street artist Mohammed Ali is the creative talent behind murals in New York, Melbourne and Chicago. To celebrate the Olympics he wanted to create a special work in east London which was
He was also keen to bring together different groups to achieve his goal. He says, “The world might have come together for the Olympics but this time last year London was a place of riots and factions, this project is a perfect opportunity to transcend class, race, and faith to bring all peoples together through art.”
The project involves young people from youth organisation Adventure Quest, Leyton Scouts and arts organisation Soul City Arts.
Here’s what the wall looked like before they got to work: (click for larger image)
And here’s what it looked like after a few days of hard work, team building and creative direction from Mohammed:
You can go to visit the mural in Leyton on the corner of Huxley Road and Leyton High Road. Find out more about Mohammed’s work here.
You can also watch a short video about the project here:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xHgoc0zpJ8]
Here’s a wonderful example of a project supported by Near Neighbours.
Music Migrations was a series of three concerts featuring music from around the world. The idea was to bring together different parts of the community in a diverse area of east London. Food was shared, and as you’ll see and hear, a great time was had by all, as people of many different backgrounds came together.
This was all made possible by the hard work of Alice and her team, the support of Near Neighbours and the hosting of St Barnabas Church, Bethnal Green.
Here’s just a flavour of the atmosphere:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDxwPQUrtdU&feature=youtu.be]
This Sunday’s Gospel reading is John 6.35,41-51
Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ …
Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’ They were saying, ‘Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, “I have come down from heaven”?’
This week the church has celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration – when the light of God shines through Christ, in the presence of Peter, James and John. In the Transfiguration, Christ is revealed as the first-fruits of God’s new creation. The disciples want to stay on the mountain-top, enjoying this vision, but Jesus bids them come with him back down to level ground.
Sunday’s Gospel reading reinforces this point. God’s glory is not only found in the obviously spectacular, but in things which seem ordinary and unremarkable. The Word became flesh, not in a palace or a temple, but in a humble family. Heaven comes down to earth in ‘the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know’.
The Eucharist, Holy Communion, the Mass – whatever we call it, this central act of Christian worship takes the ordinary things of daily life (bread and wine, which earth has given and human hands have made) and shows us that in these things, we encounter Jesus Christ. The Eucharist is not, then, an act separate from the rest of our lives. Rather, it shows us that daily life is something that can reveal the grace of God, if we have eyes to see it.
Prayer intentions
How can our common life – the way wealth and power is used and shared – reveal the grace and the justice of God? The vision of a society that reveals God’s grace and justice stands at the heart of the Bible. Pray for all Christians who grapple with these issues in their workplace and in their neighbourhoods.
The Olympics have been an occasion of real gathering and celebration together across cultures and communities. Pray that this experience may give people a hunger for a deeper fellowship, and a more just and joyful common life – and give thanks for the role churches have already played in making the Olympics serve the needs of the boroughs of London in which it is set.
Near Neighbours partners in Southwark have welcomed the Olympics Games to the area, by cheering on the flame as it passed through. As anticipation reached fever pitch, the torch relay passed through the Parish of St George the Martyr, and members of the congregation were joined by many others from the area, including those of other faiths.
The goal of Near Neighbours is to bring together people of different faiths and backgrounds – something which of course happens during the Olympics. We were delighted to help facilitate such a fantastic event. Young people enjoyed craft activities and face painting, while everyone present took a pledge which emphasised the importance of hospitality, compassion and generosity.
Among those enjoying the event were The Bishop of Woolwich, Rt Revd Michael Ipgrave and Baroness Hanham, a Minister from the Department of Communities and Local Government, which funds Near Neighbours.
Below are some video interviews with some of those who took part.
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/46611691 w=500&h=291] <p><a
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/46611365 w=500&h=291] <p><a
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/46610731 w=500&h=291] <p><a
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/46610168 w=500&h=283] <p><a
The Contextual Theology Centre is involved in a range of activities related to the London 2012 Olympics. From its foundation, CTC has worked with churches in London Citizens to secure a series of ‘People’s Guarantees’ for the Olympics, on jobs, wages and housing – and the Highway Neighbours project is helping local churches around the Centre to reach out to support their communities.
Our ‘Contending Modernities’ research project with the University of Notre Dame is studying the impact and raison d’etre of Christian, Muslim and secular engagement in community organising – and today, Centre Director Angus Ritchie has blogged for Notre Dame on Faith-inspired community organising and the London Olympics.
Pray also for all communities affected by the Olympics – and for local initiatives such as Highway Neighbours helping people support one another in living with its impact, and enjoying the historic events.
If you’ve got Olympic fever, why not come and celebrate the passing of the Olympic torch through South London?
Near Neighbours is bringing together people from different faiths and backgrounds to witness this unique event in Southwark.
The event takes place this Thursday, the 26th July on Borough High Street (SE1 1JA). St George the Martyr Church is hosting the celebration which will include activities for all the family. Whatever faith or background you’re from, you’ll be more than welcome to join the rest of the community!
