Church Resources
On this page you can find resources for use in your church or community. We have also added Partner Resources at the bottom of this page.
Click on a category below to view all relevant resources.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for please drop Adam May an email on adam.may@sportschaplaincy.org.uk.
Our thanks to our friends at CPO for creating a new logo for National Sports Sunday.
- On National Sports Sunday 2019, in the evening, CEO of Sports Chaplaincy UK, Warren Evans spoke at St Andrew’s Church in Leyland (Diocese of Blackburn).
Provided by Rev John K Boyers, former Chaplain of Manchester United.
- Everyday Faith notes by Simon Burton-Ones, Bishop of Tonbridg
John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Many preachers have started their sermons asking the question, do you find it easy to love?
However, today on National Sports Sunday, I also want to pose that question as we think about the community of sport.
Some years ago, in a casual conversation, I sadly heard a church leader say that they couldn’t love sport. Why? Because it took people away from their church. I think some of us can relate to that, even if we are not a Church Leader.
This scripture is very familiar to many of us, we read it regularly in our church services as a reminder of the challenge Jesus posed to his disciples on the night before he was betrayed. This call to love seems simple, but it also suggests there will be fruit because of our love.
Jesus dying for us, which we celebrate at Easter is the ultimate act of love demonstrated by God sending His one and only Son to pay the price for our sin. We know here is a challenge for us to be fully sacrificial. Sacrifice shows love; we can be sacrificial in the large and in the small; the key is intentionality and obedience.
Working with Sports Chaplaincy UK over the last 5 years, and before that, locally and nationally with the Street Angels family, I often have needed to explain what Chaplaincy is. Both of these contexts were different, but the principle was the same: loving the person in front of you with true compassion.
That can be large, it can be small.
The vision of National Sports Sunday is to help the church see the community of sport as exactly that, a community. For too long, we have seen sport as an activity, not a community.
If you consider yourself for a moment, you are probably part of that sporting community. Did you know 9.8 million people attended a gym before the pandemic?
How might we use our next visit to the gym as an opportunity to show God’s love and compassion?
Are you a parent? How could you offer to be an expression of God’s love on the touchline or with other parents?
They know us by our love, says Jesus.
We need to stop seeing sport as competition to the church but as one of the largest untapped mission fields and a place for us to show compassion.
Both as an individual believer and as a wider fellowship, might God be calling you to say sorry for the way you have viewed sport.
I believe Jesus means it when He says, by our love, we will be known.
Let me encourage you today to do something small to let someone in the community of sport know that you love and care for them.
Maybe, it starts with a prayer, but I hope that’s the start of a journey…
Adam May
National Sports Sunday Lead
adam.may@sportschaplaincy.org.uk
Prayer for the Church
For our eyes to be opened to see the community of sport as God sees it.
For us as a church or individual christian to see how we can be salt and light to the community of sport in our words and deeds.
That our eyes might be opened to see what sports community exist in our own area and to just start to pray for that community.
That we would have compassion not just to pray during this crisis but beyond that.
Prayers provided by Tony Moodie, Discipleship Development Coordinator, Evangelism and Growth Team, Methodist Church GB
Prayers for Sports Chaplains
Sporting clubs will keep their chaplains in the loop when it comes to pastoral needs and crises
Chaplains will continue to find ways to stay engaged with their clubs though they can’t be physically present
Chaplains will have the sensitivity of the Spirit to know who to proactively contact and when
Chaplains will continue to have the support of their churches do engage with sport during this time
Prayers provided by Aileen Fleming, Scottish Prayer Leader
Pray for families engaged in sport
For the love of God to be seen in the small things we do to support those who are struggling at this time.
For all who grieve at present, with the unexpected loss of loved ones through the coronavirus.
For God’s power and love to strengthen all our chaplains as they work tirelessly to bring love, compassion,hope and a continued presence with the family of our sports clubs.
For an awareness of the poverty,hardship,stress,family breakdowns,addictions and a sense of loss and hopelessness that might be going on behind the scenes.
Prayer points contributed by Karen Lorimer; Chaplain to Swansea City Bravehearts
Pray for ourselves
For ourselves that we would be open to be challenged by God to our own prejudices towards the community of sport; that where we see it as an activity, see it as a community
Thanksgiving for the gift that prayer is for us to pray for the community of sport; that God would challenge us to be aware of what is going on in our own communities in terms of sports clubs.
Help us to have an awareness of the headline challenges affecting the community of sport and that we would have a heart to pray regularly for the community of sport during this pandemic.
As we look to the future, that the church would not seek to be competition with each other to serve but that we might be one Body of Christ, working together.
Prayers provided by James Lusted, Sports Chaplaincy UK Ambassador and broadcaster
Pray for wellbeing
Look after their mental and emotional wellbeing as well as retain their physical fitness levels
Reflect that they can only control the controllable and allow things to take their course
See light at the end of the tunnel, and see various achievable stage that they can go through to get back to playing as normal
Reflect that there are more important things in life than sport – and open up the spiritual, eternal realities so that they call their chaplains to ask spiritual questions.
Prayers provided by Mark Fleming, Sports Chaplaincy UK Scottish Director
Pray for the management of Sports Clubs
Pray for the OWNERS , CEO’S . CFO’S , CHAIRMEN and TEAM MANAGERS and COACHES of sporting clubs and communities – who are tasked with providing direction and support to the needs of the Players , staff , volunteers , supporters and themselves as administrators . May they seek God’s guidance in everything they do .
Pray for ATHLETES who give so much of themselves each week physically , mentally and emotionally . May they know the joy of holding their talent in conjunction with a bigger picture for their life
Pray for all the people that make up SPORTS CLUBS , ORGANIZATIONS and COMMUNITIES that they will continue to enjoy the benefits of sport , the camaraderie it invokes as well as the delight in winning and success. And may they know the Peace of God that surpasses all understanding
Pray for the CEO’S . CFO’S and COO’S of NATIONAL GOVERNING BODIES as they plan for the future to support the needs of their respective sports at Elite, Amateur and Grassroots level , that they will be encouraged by the responsibility they have and that you will give them YOUR clear vision of leading and serving in their sport
Prayers provided by Philip Mitchell, Sports Chaplaincy UK National Director for Northern Ireland.
Prayers for our young people
For all young people missing their team mates and the sport they are not able to play.
For young people whose sports community is their ‘life-line’ that they would be being supported by their coaches (community sports or club based) and teammates
For young people whose purpose and identity has been rocked and knocked and are uncertain over the future
For young people who are dealing with grief and fear in their households and families
That Christian young people are able to support and share God’s love to their team mates and they receive the support they need to do this.
Prayer points contributed by Richard Witham, National Sports Mission Leader, Scripture Union
New 2022 all age worship provided by The Resources Cupboard.
The following film clips can used in this All Age Worship
In partnership with assemblies.org.uk we have a special assembly written for those working in schools. You can find it here.
- Will you pray for the community of sport?
Linvoy Primus MBE, Ambassador
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWzEFseOh5s - Have you considered becoming a Chaplain?
Warren Evans, CEO of Sports Chaplaincy UK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5y5LvdJPlo - Don’t make sport an optional extra
Dr Nick Shepherd, Programme Director of Setting God’s People Free, Church of England
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOUA5jqQzPY - Rally call to Elim churches to engage in National Sports Sunday
Rev Mark Greenwood and Rev Nigel Tween, Elim Churches
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb0QQNq6vuc - God is interested in all spheres of life
Carolyn Skinner, CEO of Third Space Ministries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXlq2DLFdyg - 3 simple things you could do to engage the community of sport
Warren Evans, CEO of Sports Chaplaincy UK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsJri2fZcNs
2018 Prayer – Written by Andy Frost, Director of Share Jesus International.
Father,
We thank you for the gift of sport, for the opportunity to celebrate the endless possibilities of being part of a wonderful and diverse community.
And we thank you that ultimately sports people or clubs are not defined by victories or failings on the pitch because you see each sportsperson beyond the outward appearance. You see beyond the football shirts and the boxing gloves and the rackets and the trainers.
Help us to remind this community that they are loved by you and that we are your children; may we demonstrate that in our words and actions.
Prompt us as your church to consider how we might get more involved in sport and share your love and compassion with this amazing community. Amen
2019 Prayer – written by His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos
Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gifts You constantly give us and first and foremost, the gift of Your Spirit within us that strives and yearns for fellowship.
We give thanks for all those who provide opportunities for our fellowship through the various sporting activities that are available, and that become, for so many, a source of support in their daily journey, knowing that they do not journey alone but amongst friends and companions.
We give thanks, at a time of great uncertainty through our Nations, that we are still able to gather across all lines and experience the fellowship that is provided through these various experiences and events.
We ask your blessings upon those who partake, that You may grant them the spirit of graciousness and sportsmanship, and that they may be reminded of the true and ultimate goal, of not only winning the game but of being in fellowship and journeying to Your Kingdom, and that in doing so they become a light and an example to all those witnessing their good works.
Amen
- Why is celebrating the community of sport important? Warren Evans speaks to UCB1’s Paul Hammond about this on Talking Point.
- Sports Chaplaincy UK CEO, Warren Evans spoke to Mike Naylor, Sunday Breakfast presenter at BBC Three Counties Radio on Sunday 12th May 2019 about National Sports Sunday 2019.
- Adam May, Communications Officer for Sports Chaplaincy UK praying the 2018 National Sports Sunday Prayer, written by Andy Frost, Director of Share Jesus International on Premier Praise.
- Rev Tony Miles shares the prayer from the Coptic Archbishop of London, His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos on Saturday Quiet Time on Premier Christian Radio – Saturday 18th May 2019
- Sometimes, we can look at the community of sport as being fit, healthy and sadly, wealthy. Warren Evans, CEO of Sports Chaplaincy UK discusses the spiritual poverty which exists with UCB 1’s News and Current Affairs presenter, Paul Hammond on Talking Point.
- Warren Evans, CEO of Sports Chaplaincy UK spoke with Matthew Price on BBC Radio Jersey and Guernsey Sunday Breakfast about National Sports Sunday on Sunday 19th May 2019.
- Rev Nick Atkins, Rector of St Matthew, Triangle & All Saints, Ipswich and Warren Evans, CEO of Sports Chaplaincy UK spoke with Lesley Dolphin on BBC Radio Suffolk Sunday Breakfast about National Sports Sunday on Sunday 19th May 2019.
- Adam May, Communications Officer for Sports Chaplaincy UK praying the 2019 National Sports Sunday Prayer, written by Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London on Premier Christian Radio’s Worship At Home.