Episodes
There's a rumour that there won't be any sweets in the Port St Mary Scripture Union Beach Mission this year ... but don't worry - it's only the group names that are changing! A fortnight of fun, games, crafts, contests and interactive Bible-based games are on offer for ages 0 - 17 years, from 31 July to 12 August. Go to the website - www.psmbm.im - for full details of groups, times etc And follow the Beach Mission on Facebook - go to www.facebook.com and search for Port St Mary SU Beach Mission.
Sheran Harper is World Wide President of Mothers' Union - leading 4.5. million women in 84 d...
On today's programme, we explore the role of the Permanent Deacon in the Roman Catholic Church, in conversation with Graeme Easton, a parishioner of St Columba's church in Port Erin.
On Saturday 23 July in St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Hill Street, Douglas, Graeme will be ordained as a Permanent Deacon, by Bishop Tom Williams, an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Liverpool, of which the Catholic Churches on the Island form a part.
Graeme talks about the selection process, his training, and his future role in Church life on the Island. Along the way, he dispels some of the misund...
In the whole world there are only just over 200 of them, and only two of them are in the UK - who are they? They're Cardinals- the most senior officials in the Roman Catholic Church whose duties include electing the Pope, acting as his principal advisors and generally aiding in the government of the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world.
Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald now lives in retirement in Liverpool, and works as an assistant priest in an inner city parish there. But during his long ministry, and as a distinguished academic, Cardinal Michael was for many years the Catholic church'...
In Autumn 2021, Reverend Liz Hull was appointed Priest in Charge of St Thomas's church in Finch Road, Douglas and was excited to see the plans already drawn up, to re-develop this most beautiful church to preserve its artistic and architectural qualities, whilst at the same time meeting the needs of the local community.
On today's programme we meet Reverend Liz and hear the story of her journey from childhood in India, to ordination on the Isle of Man, and get a sneak preview of the ideas proposed for the re-ordering of St Thomas's church.
Today is also the start of an open week at St Thoma...
This week, we go to Rushen Abbey to investigate a week-long event organised by Scripture Union Ministries Trust, which will attract around 700 of the Island's Year 5 schoolchildren. It's called LIFEPATH and involves teachers, leaders and an army of volunteers - two young volunteers, Rosie and Xander Shirtliff explain their role, SUMT out-going Team Leader Ruth Walker reflects on her 12 years of Lifepath, as she looks forward to a new ministry off-Island in the late summer, and her successor as SUMT Team Leader, Mrs Sue Yardy, shares her hopes for her future in her new role.
Phil Craine joi...
This weekend, the first female Archdeacon of Man will be installed, the first female priest-in-charge will be licensed to the parish of St George and All Saints in Douglas, and the first female will begin her ministry as Chaplain to the House of Keys. Happily, it's the same person who is undertaking all three roles, and she is my special guest on today's programme.
Join me, in conversation with The Venerable Irene Cowell and her (Manx!) husband Tom, talking about the past, the present - and the future!
Irene chooses our hymns today, which reflect her dedication to her ministry, which sh...
On AT YOUR SERVICE this week:
- Rev'd Canon Margaret Burrow, an Anglican priest involved in the life of the church in the West of the Island, shares some thoughts on being part of the historic tradition of receiving Maundy Money
- The feast of Celtic St Columba was on 9th June - we celebrate his inspirational life in words and music - a beautiful poem by Scottish poet Kenneth Steven and equally beautiful music from Manx musician Emma Christian
- Prolific author, retreat leader and speaker Margaret Silf will be on the Island next Saturday 19 June, leading a day at Ballagarey Chapel in St M...
Andrew Haynes is an experienced sidecar passenger and a regular competitor in the TT Festival - he's also known as The Racing Preacher. In conversation, we find out how faith and racing work in partnership - as well as discussing harnessing the best of social media, and what we can learn from a pandemic. And Andy explains why there's no TT for him this year.......
The Royal School of Church Music - which supports and encourages choirs of all ages and sizes, has commissioned a new anthem in celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
It's called IN OUR SERVICE and the composer is Thoma...
Rev'd Dr Dee Dee Haines spent over ten years on the Isle of Man, leading the Methodist Church at Rosemount in Douglas, and despite being in ministry in various other countries, the Island still holds an incredibly special place in her heart. Back here for a brief visit, and to share in Praying the Keeills Week, Dee Dee joins us to share what she has learned through her present ministry in a Hospice in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she is the Supervisor of Spiritual Care and Music Therapy, with responsibility also for bereavement support.
Multi-tasking isn't perhaps a term we would instant...
A book written 60 years ago, but which remained in manuscript form and was never published, has been lovingly brought to new life by the author's three children, and is launched this week, to coincide with the diamond Jubilee of the present Coventry Cathedral. The book's author is Rev'd Canon Joseph W. Poole who was the first Precentor of the new Cathedral with a special responsibility for planning services there. Considered by his peers to be 'one of the greatest liturgists in the Church of England in this century' his book is a record of some of the complete services he created, plus n...
As Mental Health Awareness Week comes to a close, three people share their thoughts and experiences.
PAUL MARTIN has Manx roots but for the past 23 years has lived and worked in Missouri - where he is State Representative for Celebrate Recovery - a world-wide Christ-centred recovery programme.
REV'D STEVE INGROUILLE is a Methodist minister, in charge (in partnership with his wife, Rev'd Rebecca) of seven Methodist Churches in the east of the Island. He shares the painfully honest story of his own mental health breakdown, and RUTH RICE, founder of Renew Wellbeing - safe spaces where peo...
On Saturday 14 May, the Cathedral in Peel will join with Cathedrals round Europe for 'Cathedrals at Night' - a free event designed to encourage everyone to explore our Cathedral 'after hours' - to help people to understand that our Cathedrals are both sacred spaces and a resource available to the whole community. Running from 4.30pm to 10.30pm there'll be games, challenges, poetry, music, stargazing and a sound and light presentation - and of cou...
CHRISTIAN AID WEEK starts on 15 May and this week Louise Whitelegg - our local representative for the charity on the Isle of Man - joins us, not just with information about the last campaign, or even with news about the new appeal (although all that information IS there!) but Louise uses her own thoughts, Bible readings and prayers to put this year's appeal into its proper context. If you would like to get involved in this year's Christian Aid Week campaign, search for Christian Aid IOM on Facebook, or ring or text Louise Whitelegg on 07624 474275
GREATER HEIGHTS is the vitally important...
As soon as the severity of the Russian attacks on Ukraine was known, at the end of February this year, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool launched its #liverpool4ukraine fundraising appeal. To date (end April) it has already raised well over £100,000.00 through individual donations, and scores of fundraising events.
It also inspired a group of people from the Liverpool Archdiocese to actually take a consignment of aid to the Polish/Ukraine border, where they handed it over to Bishop Gregory Komar in the Diocese of Sambir-Drohobych in the Lviv region. When the volunteer drivers ...
On today's programme we're celebrating the life-changing message of Easter that's at the very heart of the Christian faith. There's great Easter hymns, worship songs from Graham Kendrick and Stuart Townend, a new composition from John Rutter, written to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and reflections and prayers too - and Ruth Rice from the charity Renew Wellbeing is back with three more letters from her alphabet of wellbeing - and, surprisingly, not one of them is E for Easter!
And there's notice board news too.
If you'd like to hear a favourite hymn or worship song in a fut...
Today is the start of the week that the Christian Church calls Holy - it begins with Palm Sunday - a day which recalls the tremendous excitement of the crowds when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey - they greeted him as their King, spreading palm leaves and even their cloaks on the ground under his feet - yet just FIVE days later, these same crowds were calling for the same Jesus to be crucified.
I invite you to join me as together we walk through the days that make up Holy Week .... immerse ourselves in the story and reflect on why the day when a man dies a hideous death, is called ...
Growing a supportive community ..... Scripture Union is an interdenominational, evangelical Christian organization, founded over 150 years ago - and works with churches and partner organisations, inviting children and young people to explore the difference Jesus can make to the challenges and adventures of life.
Scripture Union England and Wales works on the Isle of Man through partner organisation, Scripture Union Ministries Trust, whose local team leader is Ruth Walker.
Recently two members of Scripture Union England and Wales came to the Island to help Ruth to launch the results...
My special guests on this week's programme are different in many ways, but are united by a dedication to a powerful organisation that’s rooted in the Anglican Church, but whose four and a half million members reach out around the world to support family life in all its forms - helping it to thrive in all circumstances, particularly when difficulties come along.
They are Rev'd JEANETTE HAMER and Mrs MAY CORLETT - Rev'd Jeanette is the vicar in charge of Kirk Michael Parish Church and she has just begun a 3-year term as Diocesan President (local leader) of the Mothers' Union - a charity w...
In The Bible we read ..... 'and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God'
This is a verse that's often quoted by Christian Aid and similar charities, who share a vision for 'a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty'
But what about the 'walking humbly' part of that Bible verse?
What does it mean to 'walk humbly' with God whilst doing justice and loving kindness?
That's the question Christian Aid is exploring in a series of podcasts called WALKING HUMBLY - the podcasts are intended to carry us thoughtfu...
Ruth Keggin-Gell is the Manx Language Development Officer with Culture Vannin - dedicated to encouraging people to get interested and involved in wider use of the Manx language. When she thought of using Manx in our church services, she found an enthusiastic supporter in Pioneer Minister Rev'd Alex Brown.
On AT YOUR SERVICE today they discuss how this could be done, and Ruth has details of the half-day workshop she's leading - CREE AS ANNYM (Heart and Soul) using Manx for worship in easy and accessible ways. It's on Friday 25 March from 9:30am to 12:30pm with hot drinks served on arriv...
The Season of Lent - six weeks of preparation for the celebration of Easter - started last week, on Ash Wednesday. But what are its origins - and what does it offer us today? We eavesdrop on a conversation between Patrick Woodward and Russ Bravo `
And this week's special guest is Manx-born Ruth Rice, founder of Renew Wellbeing, the charity which runs simple cafe-style spaces attached to a quiet room - where it's OK to not be OK.
Ruth's latest book - The A to Z of Wellbeing - is an accessible introduction to help us care for our own individual wellbeing and live out our own 'alphabet of...
Friday March 4 is WORLD PRAYER DAY - there'll be services around the Island at different times on that day, which will link the Isle of Man with praying people all over the world, using the same theme "I know the plans I have for you".
The service this year has been prepared by the Christian women of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. But, in the light of recent developments, the services will also include special prayers for Ukraine, and for the peaceful resolution of the present international crisis.
Some wording in the order of service has caused a problem for certain Christian d...
Ways to pray is the theme that links three guests on today's programme. Reverend Alex Brown has been a Pioneer Minister in Douglas for the last couple of years, having conversations with people of all ages who have either never had any contact with a church, or have tried it, and left. What has he learned? And what is the significance of his commissioning service taking place later today?
Richard Gamble describes himself as 'an ordinary bloke' but he's got an astonishing vision to create a huge and permanent piece of artwork, rising up over the landscape in the Midlands, made up of a mil...
Love is in the air today!
Ahead of the day when a billion cards will be exchanged world-wide, Saint Valentine tells his story - and Louise Timmins tells her story of patience, prayer and total trust in God's guidance, which eventually led to her chance to adopt two children.
Russ Bravo reflects on the nature of another kind of love, and there's music from the Jane Lilley Singers, and from Aled Jones and Russell Watson.
Plus there's all our usual notice board news.
If you have items for the notice board, or you'd like to hear a favourite hymn in a future programme, do please email me: judi...
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Lord of Man, is the first British Monarch to reach a Platinum Jubilee - on this day - the 6th of February 2022, she completes 70 years of devoted service to the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth. This morning we pause for a moment of reflection, and pray God's blessing on her.
Sunday 30th January was World Leprosy Day. Sadly, this crippling disease is not confined to the pages of the Bible, but continues to destroy lives today. But the new campaign just launched by The Leprosy Mission - called "Greater Heights" could well mark the beginni...
The theme for National Holocaust Memorial Day 2022 was 'One Day' - a stark reminder that life can fatally change for ever in the space of just one day. On today's programme we hear stories from three Holocaust survivors, and reflect on the horrifying fact that genocide can still happen today.
Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald is a Roman Catholic priest belonging to the Missionaries of Africa - also known as the White Fathers. After studying psychology and theology, becoming fluent in Arabic, leading courses on Islam for Muslims as well as Christian students, living and working in the Middle...
Philip Longworth is a 'glass half full' person!
Partially sighted all his life, Philip has faced every challenge with courage and positivity - and has dedicated his working life to reaching out with compassion and understanding to other people with their own challenges to face.
Now he's living on the Island and has just started a new job with the Anglican Diocese of Sodor and Man - which has the potential to benefit everyone. Philip is our special guest today, talking about everything from going to boarding school, playing music on the Cavern stage, and getting us to look at our churches...
Open Doors UK, and Kintsugi Hope are just two of around 90 charitable organisations who last year each received a share of around £2 million which AFD Software, the Postcode people based in Ramsey, gave away from their company profits during 2021. On this week's programme, I talk with Diane Regan of Kintsugi Hope and Henrietta Blyth from Open Doors UK - Kintsugi Hope is dedicated to promoting mental health through largely church-based wellbeing groups - 'Discovering treasure in life's scars' and Open Doors supports some of the millions of Christians around the world who face extreme perse...
The 6th of January is the official end of the Christmas season - it finishes with the Epiphany - a feast that is celebrated in different ways, according to local customs, all around the world. In the Christian church, it is the day when we recall the 3 Kings, or Magi, following a star to find the Christ child, and is a reminder that the Son of God came to offer fullness of life to everyone - whoever and wherever you are. It's this gift of love that we must never let go - and indeed the true work of Christmas only starts when the festivities end.
This is the theme of today's programme - ex...
Traditionally, the sound of Big Ben heralds the start of a New Year - so our first At Your Service programme for 2022 takes bells and their traditions for its main theme. Anglican Priest, Father Michael Brydon, is Chaplain to the Rt Rev'd Peter Eagles, Bishop of Sodor and Man - but joins in the programme today with a wealth of stories and bell-ringing legends to share. Plus there's some great seasonal music - Ding Dong Merrily on High, I Saw Three Ships a-Sailing, and a beautiful reflective piece by Margaret Rizza - The Lord is my Light and My Salvation.
There's notice board news too - i...