Episodes
No one could fail to be moved by the pictures and reports coming from Afghanistan this week - but local Christian Aid representative Louise Whitelegg was determined to put the despair she felt, into positive action. So in a matter of days, she had organised, and advertised Island-wide, a 4-hour Prayer Vigil - last Thursday evening in Trinity Methodist Church at Rosemount in Douglas - praying for Afghanistan and for Haiti - one country devastated by violence, the other devastated by earthquakes, storms and political unrest which is hampering the delivery of essential aid.
On today's pr...
After an absence of two years due to the pandemic, Canon Philip Gillespie is back, spending summer on the Island, and taking care of the churches in Ramsey and Peel whilst resident Parish Priest Fr Brian O Mahony is on holiday. Canon Philip will be warmly remembered for his time on the Isle of Man as Parish Priest of St Mary of the Isle in Douglas, and as senior priest with oversight of all the Island's Catholic Churches. Now the Rector of the Pontifical Beda College in Rome, Canon Philip reflects on life during Italian lockdown, and shares some Scripture, prayers and hymns from the So...
On this exact weekend 15 years ago, a group of German visitors were enjoying exploring our Island and building strong bonds of friendship with their Manx hosts.
I joined them for a service of Celtic Evening Prayer when they were in Maughold, and today's programme features that recording, and the story behind the visit.
There's wonderful Manx music from Emma Christian, who entertained the group before and after the service, plus our usual notice board, and a word of warning if you like cooking with onions ...... !!
Information for the notice board, and requests for your favourite hymns t...
Reverend Dr Janet Corlett is the new Chair of District - leader of the Methodist Church on the Island - and will take up her post at the end of August. In an interview first broadcast in. 2018, when she came to the Island to visit her parents, we learn something of her background, and the extensive experience she will bring to her leadership role in ministry on the Island.
And Sheila Sutton joins us with some gentle thoughts with powerful messages!
Hymns today are from the Lincoln Minster School Chamber Choir
And there's notice board news, too.
If you'd like to choose a favourite hymn fo...
The Venerable Andi Brown will retire in a few days' time, having completed ten years as Archdeacon of Mann and Vicar of St George and All Saints Church in Douglas. On At Your Service today, he talks about the challenges and blessings of doing two demanding ministries at the same time, and reflects on the other experiences he's gained during 41 years as a priest in the Church of England.
It's been over four years in the making, but this weekend a dream came true for Jean Faragher, as her project to draw together willing volunteers from local Christian churches of all denominations, to ...
Research has shown that we fear dementia more than we fear cancer - and we find it such a hard subject to discuss - yet most of us know a friend or family member living with the illness.
On the programme this week, three very different but hugely positive and inspirational women share their message. Gina Shaw was diagnosed with dementia when she was in her early 50's but she refuses to be worried or miserable - Jackie Kline is a teacher in Liverpool and she's thrilled that all the children in her school are dementia-aware, and love their weekly visits to the local care home - and Profes...
New storyboards have appeared in St George's Churchyard in Douglas - Archdeacon, and Vicar of St George's, The Ven Andie Brown, explains why they're there, saints and sinners - and if you go to St George's (Upper Church St, Douglas) on Saturday 17 July at 2.30pm you can hear more, and enjoy a strawberry tea, too! Tours of St George's Bell Tower will be available - and it's all free (but donations to Graih would be appreciated!)
The Cathedral in Peel has been part of a Green Pilgrimage - encouraging us to be more eco-aware and live more sustainable lives - and their major exhibition is s...
When a Methodist Minister retires, tradition says that they are 'sitting down'. So, having completed 9 years as Chair of the Isle of Man District of the Methodist Church, Reverend Richard Hall is 'sitting down' and he and is wife Ruth will shortly be leaving the Island. On today's programme, Richard reflects on his life as an ordained minister, hints at some of the challenges facing the Methodist Church, and chooses some music which is particularly meaningful to him.
Mrs Olive Dobson first played the harmonium in Abbeylands Chapel on the first Sunday in July, 1941, for the Sunday School...
This week, we're in the bell tower in St Thomas's Church in Douglas, to talk to Tower Captain Edwin Creer as he makes the Island part of a little bit of bell ringing history.
Next, Pastor John Powell of the Elim Community Church explains why he's leading an hour of prayer for our Island on Tynwald Hill from 7pm - 8pm on Tuesday 6 July - and as the Isle of Man Flower Festival prepares to open at St John's Mill from 3th - 5th July, we get the details from organiser Judy Matthews, and also chat with Pat Jackson and Eileen Speers - founder members of the original Manx Heritage Flower Festival...
Dr Graham McCall could be enjoying a relaxing retirement in Patrick, following a varied career in medicine, as a general surgeon and a GP in inner city Sheffield. But instead, he's reinstated his medical qualifications and works on the Covid 111 Helpline. He's also deeply involved in the life and ministry of his local church - Kirk Patrick - and keeps his vibrant Christian faith at the very heart of all he does. On At Your Service this week, he tells his story - chooses a favourite Bible passage, and adds some uplifting music.
There's also a full Notice Board of events during the coming...
Agneash Chapel, in the hills above Laxey village, has been a place of prayer and worship for over 1,300 years - since a monk first lived in a keeill (a tiny chapel) built on the boundary wall of the current chapel, in AD690. The present chapel was built in 1857 after 17 years of services being held in nearby cottages. In the 1800's Agneash was in a mining and farming community and often there would be around 200 people at services and events in the tiny chapel.
Numbers are less now, but the chapel still has a dedicated congregation with a deep desire to preserve the 'specialness' of ...
The Port St Mary Beach Mission is a firm fixture on the Manx calendar - those two weeks of fun and faith-sharing, in August each year, began in 1901 - and the outreach has only ever been completely stopped by the two World Wars.
It attracts around 400 children and teenagers, and a team of adult volunteer leaders give up their own holiday time, to help with the mission. Even last year, when border restrictions meant that the UK leaders couldn't travel to the Island, the Beach Mission went ahead - on line - with videos, games, music, and resources to use at home.
But what makes the Beach...
Laxey resident Sheila Sutton is no stranger to suffering, having recently undergone major surgery to remove a cancerous tumour - yet she remains happy - and hugely hopeful! On today's programme, she explains where her hope really lies, with a reflection, a favourite poem and a few moments of prayer.
Rev'd Nicky Gumbel is an Anglican priest based in Holy Trinity Church, Brompton, London, and is known as the developer of the Alpha Course - an 11-session programme which gives a basic introduction to Christianity, and which is supported by churches of many different Christian traditions. Al...
Manxman Brendan O'Friel spent his entire working life in seven different penal institutions, including Strangeways Prison in Manchester before and during the riots of 1990. He's just published a fascinatingly detailed and informative book which has already been acclaimed as essential reading for anyone considering a career in the prison system, and joins us on the programme to explore how his Catholic faith has informed his choices, value systems and general approach to his working life.
Brendan's book - Prison Governor's Journal - is available from Lexicon Bookshop, 63, Strand Street, ...
WELCOME to an AT YOUR SERVICE special podcast-only programme.
This is the full service to celebrate the Centenary of the Royal British Legion, recorded in St George's Church, Douglas, the Civic Church of the Isle of Man's Capital Town, on Sunday 16 May 2021. The service is led by the Archdeacon of Mann, The Venerable Andi Brown, in the presence of His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Richard Gozney, and Lady Gozney.
The Lord Bishop, the Rt Reverend Peter Eagles, preaches the sermon, and there are musical items from a piper from the Ellan Vannin Pipes and Drums, Women in Song Co...
For the past sixteen years, Praying the Keeills Week has offered eight days of varied walks, talks, coach tours and times of fellowship - all in the glorious Manx countryside - exploring, with the help of well-informed guides - our Island's ancient keeill sites. Keeills are Christian chapels built on the Isle of Man between the 8th and 12th centuries. The earliest ones were small, and built of earth. Later they were made of stone, and were larger. It's believed that there were around 200 keeills, of which visible remains of only about 35 can be seen today. They had a variety of uses - ...
Whereas our western 'wealth' affords us at least some certainty in difficult times, a combination of the pandemic and the effects of climate change have widened the gap between us, and our poorest global neighbours.
This year’s Christian Aid project will help young unemployed people in Burundi - still one of the world’s most poverty-stricken countries, with over 70% of the population who have no work at all, and as she launches the NO SMALL CHANGE appeal, Christian Aid’s local representative Louise Whitelegg wonders if she’s a lover? Or a fighter?
This year’s project will be life-chan...
Lockdown is easing, Spring has sprung and today is the final day of National Gardening Week!
Run annually by the Royal Horticultural Society, the focus this year has been on encouraging people to keep growing things and enjoying green spaces for their proven benefits to health and general wellbeing.
This morning we hear three stories of how churches are using gardens to serve their local communities.
And we meet Maggie - one of a number of people who took part in The Bible Society's quest to find our favourite Bible verse - but for Maggie, the words of the 23rd Psalm really did become ...
Do you remember the KB Krew?
If the answer is 'yes' you'll love today's programme - and if you've never heard of them, you'll enjoy meeting them for the first time.
On At Your Service this week, we're delving into the archives to listen to a service recorded in Kirk Braddan in 2007, entirely prepared and presented by members of the KB Krew - the parish youth group who met every Sunday night under the guidance of Lloyd and Carolyn Shipstone, and with the support of the Vicar of Kirk Braddan at that time, Canon Philip Frear.
The KB Krew enjoyed sports challenges, picnics, and BBQ's, a...
We begin this week's programme with edited highlights from the ceremonial funeral for His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, held yesterday in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, under strict Covid restrictions.
Every detail of the service was planned in advance by the Duke himself, to reflect personal elements of his life and his close military ties. There was no eulogy singing his praises, no sermon, and no family readings. Instead, the Duke chose Bible passages, prayers and sacred music which reflected his deep Christian faith.
In death, there is no rank or seniori...
Following the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, we reflect in words, music and prayers on 'a life well lived' for the benefit of others - and including not only the late Duke, but all who have died recently.
We also recall an exceptional man who, at the age of 90, died in March - Reverend Canon Dr John Polkinghorne - a distinguished academic, an expert in quantum physics, and an Anglican priest who was awarded the £1 million Templeton Prize for his use of science to explore life's deepest questions.
In this programme, we listen again to an interview he...
The Easter Halleluia is here! At Your Service on this most important day, comes from St German's Cathedral in Peel, and includes a welcome from the Dean, the Very Reverend Nigel Godfrey, a challenging message from Bishop Peter, and Reverend Ruth Walker, curate at the Cathedral, shares a very vivid Easter memory. The St German's Cathedral choristers also play a major part in today's programme, as we premier their brand new recording of the Easter Halleluia - words by Kelley Mooney to a very familiar tune! The Easter Halleluia music video has been produced to mark the 40th Anniversary of...
Today is PALM SUNDAY, the first day of a week that the Christian church calls HOLY - today we recall Jesus - riding into Jerusalem on a humble donkey - yet greeted like a king by the huge crowds cheering and shouting his praises So - how could a week that begins with so much joy and excitement - end with a sordid and painful death? But it did - and yet still we call it ‘Holy Week’ - and the worst day of all - we call it Good Friday.
But it IS a Holy Week
And Friday IS Good
And the events we’re reflecting on this morning still have the power to change lives today - if we let the story of ...
We now know that for the second year, our celebration of Easter will be different - with none of the special church services, walks of witness and other ways that we mark the feast that’s at the very heart of the Christian faith.
And although this might at first seem disappointing, it COULD also make the Easter message even more meaningful.
Because the message of Easter - the absolute core of the Christian faith - is that God sent his son Jesus Christ to live a fully human life, experiencing and understanding all the things that make up OUR lives - even to accepting an unjust and degra...
On this - Mothering Sunday - the programme looks at women - at loving relationships, and how they shape our lives.
For Margaret Tooth, Mothers Day has a double significance, and Reverend Jo Dudley, vicar of Christ Church in Laxey, speaks movingly of a truly life-changing relationship.
We also delve into the archives to hear from women who visited the Island some 15 years ago, and in so doing, made a bit of Methodist Church history at St John's. Remarkably, the organisation they represented then is still going strong - working in 71 countries and involving over three and a half millio...
Once again, we're AT YOUR SERVICE with words, thoughts and music to lift you up, whilst we're locked down. This week, we feature another Gareth Moore recording, as he sings and plays a fine male voice choir arrangement - by John Tudor Davies - of 'I hear thy welcome voice'.
We know the top priority now is to bring the Covid-19 situation under control,
but I think all of us are feeling some limitations of life at the moment.
There’s a lot we can’t do, people we can’t see, places we can’t visit.
We have time that perhaps we’re not used to,
but fewer choices as to what to do with it...
We're constantly told that "it's OK to be not OK" - yet why is there so often still a stigma attached to mental health? Why do we feel it's a sign of weakness? That we should be able to "snap out of it" .... That we don't need anyone's help .... And could going to church make things even worse, when we're told in our hymns and prayers to "rejoice in the Lord at all times" ?
On At Your Service this week, Rev'd Steve Ingrouille, Methodist Minister in the East of the Island, shares a moving account of his own experience of breakdown, and Caroline Salmon, a Methodist Local Preacher based in R...
Lent started last week, with pancakes on Shrove Tuesday followed by Ash Wednesday - and now we have 6 weeks to prepare for the great celebration of Easter. We start this week's programme by asking how we might make best use of this time - should we be be 'giving up something' and just be grumpy for the whole of Lent? - or would it be better to look on these weeks as a chance to 'spring clean' our life - to ask God's forgiveness for the things we know we could have done better - to look again at our values and attitudes, and to think more deeply about our world, and our place in it.
The...
Good morning - and happy Valentine’s Day!
Louise Whitelegg is the Island’s Christian Aid representative - she’s also a Methodist Local Preacher, and deeply committed to caring for our planet - which is why she’s calling us to a greener way of life - and on this Valentine’s Day - when so many tokens of romantic love will be exchanged - Louise is asking us to ‘go green’ and show another kind of love - love for the planet - love for our world.
She’s invited friends to join her on the programme, each of them answering her question - how do YOU share a greener kind of love?
So, alongside...
If you've ever wondered why the Mariners Services are so popular - attracting full churches wherever they are on the Island, then today's edition of At Your Service might provide some answers.
We're going back in time - some 20 years - to listen to extracts from a Mariners Service recorded in July 2000 in Trinity Methodist Church at Rosemount in Douglas - You’ll hear familiar voices of faith-filled friends who have now passed into everlasting life in God’s kingdom, and there are other voices who are perhaps not so actively involved with the Mariners nowadays - but I’m sure you’ll catch t...