The Great Eastern Run
 The Great Eastern Run (half marathon) re-started in Peterborough in 2005. In 2007 Colin Moore, a member of Werrington Parish Church (St John’s with Emmanuel) decided to do church in a new way and to be church in the community. He and five friends acted as marshals for a small part of the route in Werrington, from St John’s Church to Lincoln Road.Last year
In 2008, Colin persuaded the Rev George Rogers, Vicar of Werrington Parish Church to suspend the two mid-morning services so that more of the congregation could be involved. About 50 volunteers acted as marshals. It is a responsible job to keep the route clear for the runners, to chat to the spectators and to those who feel they are being inconvenienced by the road closures. Prior to the day, Colin organised an information session at St John’s Church led by one of the Council organisers.
As well as marshalling, Church members provided refreshments for spectators and music, including inspirational songs like Chariots of Fire.
This year
 The Great Eastern Run will be on 11 October 2009. Werrington Parish Church will again suspend its two mid morning services so there will be no 10 am at Emmanuel or 10.30 am at St John’s. There will be an 8 am Holy Communion and a 6.30 pm evening service, both at St John’s.Colin is on course to provide marshals for the whole Werrington part of the course (about 4 ½ miles). He is hoping to recruit up to 100 church members to act as key marshals, marshals, back up marshals and provide refreshments for the spectators and music for the runners. It also helps the organisers as providing marshals for one section of the course is one less worry for Nicky McCready and the hardworking GER team.
‘It’s about being church in the community’ says Colin. On this day when Peterborough is running for charity, ‘we don’t want to be huddled in our church building, but outside in our community, serving people’. He hopes that the volunteers will make a day of it; meet their neighbours; be a part of the city of Peterborough, serving God and their community.
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