County Fermanagh

6:56:41 > 6:56:48.

6:56:50 > 6:56:53This week on Songs Of Praise we've come to the most south-westerly

6:56:53 > 6:56:56county in Northern Ireland - stunning County Fermanagh.

6:56:59 > 6:57:02We're on board with the ambulance technician whose drive it is

6:57:02 > 6:57:04to care for others.

6:57:04 > 6:57:07We meet the Irish dancers who are sharing their faith.

6:57:07 > 6:57:09And there is music from Clannad's Moya Brennan,

6:57:09 > 6:57:12and the congregations of Enniskillen churches.

6:57:21 > 6:57:24Fermanagh is one of the smallest counties in Northern Ireland

6:57:24 > 6:57:27and many say the most picturesque.

6:57:28 > 6:57:31A third of Fermanagh is covered by water.

6:57:31 > 6:57:33Upper Lough Erne is that way,

6:57:33 > 6:57:35Lower Lough Erne is that way.

6:57:35 > 6:57:38I suppose you could say this is our very own Lake District.

6:57:40 > 6:57:43It's a waterway that is bursting with wildlife at this

6:57:43 > 6:57:47time of year, and it is busy, too, with boatmen and anglers.

6:57:49 > 6:57:52Upper and Lower Lough Erne meet here where the River Erne

6:57:52 > 6:57:55flows around the market town of Enniskillen.

6:57:55 > 6:57:57The town is actually an island,

6:57:57 > 6:58:00but it is connected by several bridges that cross the river.

6:58:03 > 6:58:07Today we are staying on the island and we have come to Saint Macartan's

6:58:07 > 6:58:10Church of Ireland Cathedral to sing our first hymn -

6:58:10 > 6:58:12Thy Hand, O God, Has Guided.

7:00:33 > 7:00:36SIREN WAILS

7:00:39 > 7:00:42Being involved in an accident or suddenly becoming seriously ill

7:00:42 > 7:00:45can be a very scary experience.

7:00:45 > 7:00:48When you are first on the scene as an ambulance technician,

7:00:48 > 7:00:51how you react can be a matter of life or death.

7:00:52 > 7:00:55After spotting an ad in the local paper for a position

7:00:55 > 7:00:57in the emergency services,

7:00:57 > 7:01:03Marina Hassard quit her job as an estate agent and took to the road.

7:01:03 > 7:01:06SIREN WAILS

7:01:08 > 7:01:11How difficult is it turning up at the scene of a crisis,

7:01:11 > 7:01:14or an accident and not knowing what to expect?

7:01:14 > 7:01:18It can be quite daunting. If it's a road traffic collision you

7:01:18 > 7:01:22are thinking about the casualties - how serious are their injuries?

7:01:22 > 7:01:25The car, is it on its roof, is it still on the road?

7:01:25 > 7:01:28It could be in a field upside down. I mean,

7:01:28 > 7:01:32there are times when I send up a quick prayer before particular calls.

7:01:32 > 7:01:36Through God's word he says that he's never going to leave us,

7:01:36 > 7:01:39or forsake us if we have faith and believe in him.

7:01:39 > 7:01:43I do, and I know that that's where I get my strength from.

7:01:43 > 7:01:46A lot of people rely on people like you.

7:01:46 > 7:01:48What makes this job special to you?

7:01:48 > 7:01:52It's an immense privilege for us because you build up a rapport

7:01:52 > 7:01:55with patients, no matter how short the journey.

7:01:55 > 7:01:57We are caring for them and doing as much as you can for them

7:01:57 > 7:01:59en route to hospital,

7:01:59 > 7:02:02you're handing them over to another team, and you're trusting

7:02:02 > 7:02:06them over to somebody else's care, and that can be quite emotional.

7:02:06 > 7:02:09You're maybe going out to somebody who is taking their last breath,

7:02:09 > 7:02:13and you are also maybe going out to somebody who is just about to

7:02:13 > 7:02:16bring new life into the world, so, there are just

7:02:16 > 7:02:22so many different aspects to life that we come across.

7:02:22 > 7:02:25Because I have experienced death, bereavement

7:02:25 > 7:02:31and illness in my own life I think that actually helps me

7:02:31 > 7:02:35to tune into other people's bereavement and sickness.

7:02:35 > 7:02:38What is it like being an ambulance technician?

7:02:38 > 7:02:42I never dreamed that I would be working in emergency services.

7:02:42 > 7:02:44I never thought that I could cope with the sight of blood,

7:02:44 > 7:02:48let alone anything else, so, I think I've learned things about myself,

7:02:48 > 7:02:50qualities that I never realised I did have.

7:02:52 > 7:02:54I love driving those vehicles - I think

7:02:54 > 7:02:57it's probably the best part of the job.

7:02:57 > 7:03:01We certainly get to see vast areas in this job.

7:03:01 > 7:03:04We travel for hundreds of miles.

7:03:04 > 7:03:07When the blue lights aren't flashing, do you ever get time

7:03:07 > 7:03:11to look out the window and appreciate your environment

7:03:11 > 7:03:14and what's around you and think about life?

7:03:14 > 7:03:17You do, you've time to take in things as you're going by.

7:03:17 > 7:03:21People around you, people going about their daily business.

7:03:21 > 7:03:26Animals in the field, there is something beautiful about that.

7:03:26 > 7:03:28Marina's faith keeps her focused

7:03:28 > 7:03:31and gives her the strength to help others.

7:03:31 > 7:03:34Jesus' life on Earth was the perfect example.

7:03:34 > 7:03:38He showed compassion to everybody, from all walks of life.

7:03:38 > 7:03:41He didn't judge anybody, he didn't condemn anybody,

7:03:41 > 7:03:45and I always remember that, that no matter who I meet,

7:03:45 > 7:03:48no matter what walk of life they come from,

7:03:48 > 7:03:50I treat them all with dignity and respect

7:03:50 > 7:03:52and I think that's very important.

7:03:53 > 7:03:57As I look at the master physician, God, I just

7:03:57 > 7:04:02see that there is somebody greater that we can all trust and lean on.

7:04:02 > 7:04:05There's a lovely verse in Proverbs, actually, in Proverbs 3,

7:04:05 > 7:04:09verses five and six, and it's "Trust in the Lord with all your heart

7:04:09 > 7:04:12"and lean not on your own understanding.

7:04:12 > 7:04:16"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight."

7:06:33 > 7:06:36In these days of e-mail, Facebook and Twitter,

7:06:36 > 7:06:39it's always nice to get a letter from a friend in the post.

7:06:39 > 7:06:40That is what the people from the

7:06:40 > 7:06:44Postal Bible School in Enniskillen think, as well.

7:06:44 > 7:06:48Each month, thousands of special packages get parcelled up

7:06:48 > 7:06:51and get posted out to children around the globe who have signed up

7:06:51 > 7:06:53to a Bible correspondence course.

7:06:53 > 7:06:55For just the cost of a stamp,

7:06:55 > 7:06:57children as young as four can complete

7:06:57 > 7:07:01the study lessons at home and then post them back to Enniskillen,

7:07:01 > 7:07:04to be marked by these volunteers.

7:07:04 > 7:07:07The Postal Bible School began over 50 years ago in Cork,

7:07:07 > 7:07:09with just one student.

7:07:09 > 7:07:13Today, volunteers and centres right across the UK mark around 30,000

7:07:13 > 7:07:19study lessons every month from children in more than 20 countries.

7:07:19 > 7:07:22The ones I send to would be in Northern Ireland, plus I have a

7:07:22 > 7:07:28lot in Malawi, Nigeria, USA,

7:07:28 > 7:07:31Romania, France, a lot of countries.

7:07:31 > 7:07:33You get wee notes from the children, as well, which is

7:07:33 > 7:07:37really nice to get. We got one recently from Malawi -

7:07:37 > 7:07:41a young guy has been doing it there for maybe four or five years,

7:07:41 > 7:07:44and how he told us that he became a Christian actually doing

7:07:44 > 7:07:46the lessons, which was really exciting for us.

7:07:46 > 7:07:49Just the translation, how's the progress going with

7:07:49 > 7:07:52translation of the Bible time lessons?

7:07:52 > 7:07:54Louise's husband Sam helps to coordinate a growing

7:07:54 > 7:07:57number of international centres, which can mean him having to

7:07:57 > 7:08:02travel to places as far away as Africa, Ukraine and Brazil.

7:08:02 > 7:08:05I'm dealing with instructors that I go to train how to use the lessons,

7:08:05 > 7:08:08and a lot of them come from very difficult backgrounds,

7:08:08 > 7:08:12very poor backgrounds, especially in the developing world.

7:08:12 > 7:08:17A lot of the children have very little, practically, and I suppose

7:08:17 > 7:08:20we see ourselves as coming alongside those that are providing

7:08:20 > 7:08:23the physical and material needs to children in orphanages

7:08:23 > 7:08:26and things like that, and we bring the spiritual

7:08:26 > 7:08:28dimension in the Bible lessons we provide,

7:08:28 > 7:08:30and to go into those situations

7:08:30 > 7:08:34and sit down with the kids is actually a very emotional experience.

7:08:34 > 7:08:36How important is it to you is it

7:08:36 > 7:08:38that the work that you do reaches out

7:08:38 > 7:08:40to children and young people?

7:08:40 > 7:08:45Things aren't always easy for a child, and it is very special to

7:08:45 > 7:08:49know that God is with them and able to just wrap his arms around them.

7:08:55 > 7:08:57Louise and Sam's determination to reach out to others

7:08:57 > 7:09:01prompted them, along with a few friends, to set up a new

7:09:01 > 7:09:03independent church in Enniskillen.

7:09:05 > 7:09:08They describe the Fermanagh Christian Fellowship Church

7:09:08 > 7:09:10as a hospital for the hurting.

7:09:12 > 7:09:16There are a lot of people who are hurting out there, through various

7:09:16 > 7:09:20issues, you know, with addictions, maybe with marital problems

7:09:20 > 7:09:23and issues like that, and we want to try to help people like that

7:09:23 > 7:09:25and bring the Bible perspective to that

7:09:25 > 7:09:29and how Jesus would have dealt with those type of people.

7:09:29 > 7:09:31Fermanagh, to me, is a really special place.

7:09:31 > 7:09:34I draw a lot of inspiration from the beauty of God's

7:09:34 > 7:09:35creation around here.

7:09:35 > 7:09:38I have spent time in the lake, I have visited different islands

7:09:38 > 7:09:42that go back to ancient Christianity within this county,

7:09:42 > 7:09:46and now I have the great privilege of still spreading that gospel

7:09:46 > 7:09:48message with my family, my church, both locally,

7:09:48 > 7:09:51and indeed right across the world in many countries.

7:13:02 > 7:13:04Back in medieval times,

7:13:04 > 7:13:07these waters would have been busy with travellers,

7:13:07 > 7:13:09and by the sixth century, missionaries were building churches

7:13:09 > 7:13:14and monasteries on some of the 154 islands in Lough Erne.

7:13:15 > 7:13:18Saint Molaise arrived at this site,

7:13:18 > 7:13:21and chose Devenish Island to establish his monastery.

7:13:23 > 7:13:26The Devenish monastic site is one of just many early Christian

7:13:26 > 7:13:27sites in Lough Erne.

7:13:28 > 7:13:31Further down the lough is White Island,

7:13:31 > 7:13:34best known for its stone figures.

7:13:34 > 7:13:37These were carved by master craftsmen sometime in the ninth

7:13:37 > 7:13:40or tenth century, and are believed by some to represent

7:13:40 > 7:13:43Christ and an emerging Christian Ireland.

7:13:45 > 7:13:48Today, the Sacred Heart Church in the parish of Devenish

7:13:48 > 7:13:50celebrates the early Christian missionaries who brought

7:13:50 > 7:13:54the word of God to Ireland some 1,500 years ago.

7:13:55 > 7:13:58The Irish oak carvings in the Garden of Celtic Saints

7:13:58 > 7:14:00at Irvinestown remind us

7:14:00 > 7:14:04of the journeys that were made by saints like Molaise and others.

7:14:06 > 7:14:10And these Celtic influences continue to inspire artists

7:14:10 > 7:14:14and musicians, none more so than Moya Brennan from Clannad.

7:14:16 > 7:14:21# When the morning breaks above us

7:14:21 > 7:14:27# And the wild stars disappear

7:14:27 > 7:14:31# New day begins

7:14:31 > 7:14:36# Waking you and I

7:14:36 > 7:14:40# Waking you and I

7:14:40 > 7:14:43# With love

7:14:45 > 7:14:49# If the wind and rain should gather

7:14:49 > 7:14:55# All the storms of the Earth

7:14:55 > 7:14:59# You call my name

7:14:59 > 7:15:03# And you'll understand

7:15:03 > 7:15:09# And you'll understand my love

7:15:11 > 7:15:14# Dum-da, da-da, da, da-da, dum, dum

7:15:14 > 7:15:15# Da, da-da, da, dum, dum

7:15:15 > 7:15:18# Da, da-da, da, dum, dum

7:15:18 > 7:15:20# Da, dum, dum, dah

7:15:20 > 7:15:22# Dum-da, da-da, da, da-da, dum, dum

7:15:22 > 7:15:25# Da, da-da, da, dum, dum

7:15:25 > 7:15:27# Da, da-da, da, dum, dum

7:15:27 > 7:15:30# Da, dum, dum, dah

7:15:32 > 7:15:37# If the crowd all walk together

7:15:37 > 7:15:42# And I fear behind this veil

7:15:42 > 7:15:47# You hold my hand

7:15:47 > 7:15:50# And you'll see me through

7:15:51 > 7:15:56# And you'll see me through each day

7:15:58 > 7:16:03# Does the red rose speak of passion?

7:16:03 > 7:16:08# Does the white rose speak of love?

7:16:08 > 7:16:12# I think of you

7:16:12 > 7:16:16# And you fill my heart

7:16:17 > 7:16:22# And you fill my heart each day... #

7:16:24 > 7:16:28THEY SING IN GAELIC

7:17:06 > 7:17:10Our next hymn is a prayer asking God to be our vision.

7:17:10 > 7:17:14As pilgrims travelled through this beautiful and serene place,

7:17:14 > 7:17:16they looked to God to guide and protect them.

7:19:41 > 7:19:43And, lift!

7:19:43 > 7:19:45Get your hands back and fly the jump.

7:19:45 > 7:19:47It takes a lot of practice

7:19:47 > 7:19:49and hard work to become an Irish dancing champion,

7:19:49 > 7:19:51and no-one knows this better than dance teacher

7:19:51 > 7:19:53Deborah Anderson.

7:19:53 > 7:19:55In her teens she won numerous titles.

7:19:55 > 7:19:59But by her early 20s, and after years of training and competing,

7:19:59 > 7:20:04she finally took off her dance pumps and vowed never to dance again.

7:20:04 > 7:20:08I had come out of this world of dance, competitive dancing.

7:20:08 > 7:20:12And it was like, "What do I do now? What do I do with myself?"

7:20:12 > 7:20:15And then how did you get back into dancing?

7:20:15 > 7:20:19God started to press upon my heart about the dancing, the Irish dancing.

7:20:19 > 7:20:21And every time he came on to my heart,

7:20:21 > 7:20:24I was like, "I don't want to go there, I don't want to do this."

7:20:24 > 7:20:28And I came to the point with the pressure where I felt myself,

7:20:28 > 7:20:32"OK, God. I will teach this, but I will never advertise

7:20:32 > 7:20:34"and I am not going to look for a hall."

7:20:34 > 7:20:38That's how the school started, in my garage.

7:20:38 > 7:20:40And she's never looked back.

7:20:40 > 7:20:42Deborah formed the Zephaniah Dancers

7:20:42 > 7:20:45who give Christian-inspired performances

7:20:45 > 7:20:47in churches across Northern Ireland.

7:20:47 > 7:20:51Right! Come on! Hurry up, we're on in ten minutes.

7:20:51 > 7:20:54Tonight, the girls have been invited to dance

7:20:54 > 7:20:58for Cavanaleck Presbyterian Church in Fivemiletown.

7:20:58 > 7:20:59Get the tape on your shoes.

7:21:01 > 7:21:04Before we go out on floor to dance, we always get into a circle,

7:21:04 > 7:21:06and they all pray.

7:21:06 > 7:21:09We thank you for bringing all these people here tonight,

7:21:09 > 7:21:10we pray that they will enjoy the night

7:21:10 > 7:21:12and we will do everything right. Amen.

7:21:12 > 7:21:14We will not glorify ourselves in this, Lord,

7:21:14 > 7:21:15that we will glorify you

7:21:15 > 7:21:18and we will bless all the people in this place tonight, Lord. Amen.

7:21:18 > 7:21:19And I just pray, God,

7:21:19 > 7:21:23you just look after the girls as they go out in your name,

7:21:23 > 7:21:25- in Jesus name. ALL:- Amen.

7:21:41 > 7:21:43What about the girls who dance for you,

7:21:43 > 7:21:46what effect does all of this have on them?

7:21:46 > 7:21:49Well, for the girls themselves to come into Zephaniah Dancers,

7:21:49 > 7:21:52they really blossom in their personalities.

7:21:52 > 7:21:56And I think when they move from the competitive end to the Zephaniah,

7:21:56 > 7:21:58number one - they're not competing,

7:21:58 > 7:22:01there is absolutely no expectation on them,

7:22:01 > 7:22:04they're there to just dance unto the Lord.

7:22:04 > 7:22:06And I think they love that freedom.

7:22:14 > 7:22:18The girls dance in the colour blue, because in the Bible,

7:22:18 > 7:22:20blue represents healing and restoration.

7:22:20 > 7:22:23Priests in the old Testament in part of their robes,

7:22:23 > 7:22:25they would have had the colour blue.

7:22:25 > 7:22:28This what we represent - healing and restoration.

7:22:28 > 7:22:32- Where does Zephaniah come into it? - The name Zephaniah means hidden.

7:22:32 > 7:22:37And I feel as a person, that's what I like.

7:22:37 > 7:22:39You know, I like sort of to be covered and hidden.

7:22:39 > 7:22:42And even my girls as dancers would have...

7:22:42 > 7:22:46They're not show-offs, they would have that same attitude.

7:22:46 > 7:22:48Very unassuming girls.

7:22:48 > 7:22:52So what's your vision with the Zephaniah Dancers?

7:22:52 > 7:22:55I believe Zephaniah Dancers was a calling in my life.

7:22:55 > 7:22:59Through the girls, God or the Holy Spirit has connected with people,

7:22:59 > 7:23:01and everybody's looked at them

7:23:01 > 7:23:03to the level where they're all looking unto God,

7:23:03 > 7:23:05cos it's for the glory of God.

7:23:29 > 7:23:32# God knows me

7:23:32 > 7:23:37# And he knows my woes

7:23:37 > 7:23:43# He knows where I'll be before I go

7:23:47 > 7:23:55# He knows of all that I've been through

7:23:55 > 7:23:57# And he knew

7:23:57 > 7:24:00# That I needed you

7:24:05 > 7:24:08# God knows you

7:24:08 > 7:24:13# And he knows your ways

7:24:13 > 7:24:19# And he knows just what you'll say

7:24:22 > 7:24:29# He knows your heart in all you do

7:24:29 > 7:24:32# And he knew

7:24:32 > 7:24:36# That I needed you

7:24:39 > 7:24:44# Oh-oh

7:24:44 > 7:24:48# Oh-oh

7:24:57 > 7:25:01# Oh-oh

7:25:01 > 7:25:05# Oh-oh

7:25:15 > 7:25:19# God knows us

7:25:19 > 7:25:23# And he knows our dreams

7:25:24 > 7:25:30# And he has the power to set us free

7:25:34 > 7:25:36# I know his way

7:25:36 > 7:25:42# Is tried and true

7:25:42 > 7:25:44# Cos he knew

7:25:44 > 7:25:48# That I needed you

7:25:51 > 7:25:53# He knew

7:25:53 > 7:25:57# That I needed you

7:25:59 > 7:26:02# God knew

7:26:02 > 7:26:06# That I needed

7:26:07 > 7:26:10# You. #

7:26:16 > 7:26:22God, the Holy Trinity, make you strong in faith and in love.

7:26:22 > 7:26:28Defend you on every side and guide you in truth and in peace.

7:26:28 > 7:26:31And by the blessing of God Almighty, the Father,

7:26:31 > 7:26:33the Son and the Holy Spirit,

7:26:33 > 7:26:40- be among you and remain with you always. Amen.- ALL:- Amen.

7:26:41 > 7:26:45And so to our final hymn of praise - To God Be The Glory

7:26:45 > 7:26:49As We Give Thanks For All The Good Things He Hath Done.

7:26:49 > 7:26:51From Enniskillen, until the next time, bye-bye.

7:29:55 > 7:29:58Next week, to mark the 60th anniversary

7:29:58 > 7:29:59of the Queen's Coronation,

7:29:59 > 7:30:03Bill visit Westminster Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral.

7:30:03 > 7:30:05He meets the Bishop of London,

7:30:05 > 7:30:09a chorister who sang solo on the big day in 1953,

7:30:09 > 7:30:11and music sung in Canterbury Cathedral

7:30:11 > 7:30:14includes the glorious Coronation anthems

7:30:14 > 7:30:16I Was Glad and Zadok The Priest.

7:30:30 > 7:30:34Subtitles by Red Bee Media