0:00:05 > 0:00:09On Songs Of Praise this week, we're celebrating fathers and fatherhood.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15And, as this is my first programme, welcome to my part of the world.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18This is Jordanstown on the shores of Belfast Lough.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27This week, I'll be chatting with hymnwriters Keith and Kristyn Getty.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30There's music from Matt Redman.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34And our choirs will sing some great hymns
0:00:34 > 0:00:36especially for Father's Day.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53Jordanstown is one of several small towns that stretch northwards
0:00:53 > 0:00:54along Belfast Lough.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56In the 1960s, the population swelled
0:00:56 > 0:01:00as Northern Ireland's second university made the town its home.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Today, Jordanstown is a popular residential area within
0:01:07 > 0:01:09easy commuting distance of Belfast.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14And it's here at St Patrick's Parish Church
0:01:14 > 0:01:18that choirs from Jordanstown and the surrounding areas
0:01:18 > 0:01:20have gathered to sing their songs of praise.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22And this Father's Day,
0:01:22 > 0:01:24we'll begin with that great hymn,
0:01:24 > 0:01:27Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19Keith and Kristyn Getty's hymns are sung by millions of Christians
0:04:19 > 0:04:21in churches all over the world.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Although they're based in Nashville,
0:04:23 > 0:04:26their roots are firmly in this part of the world.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29Kristyn's father is the pastor of a local church.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33They've just finished their latest tour of North America, accompanied
0:04:33 > 0:04:38this time by a new addition to the family, Charlotte Juliana Getty.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42How has the journey been? How difficult has it been
0:04:42 > 0:04:46juggling life on the road and having the kids with you as well?
0:04:46 > 0:04:47This last tour has been interesting
0:04:47 > 0:04:50because our youngest was only three months old
0:04:50 > 0:04:51when we took her on the tour bus,
0:04:51 > 0:04:54so it was a lot of fun bouncing along all the different roads
0:04:54 > 0:04:57from state to state, trying to feed a baby at 3am,
0:04:57 > 0:04:58it was pretty challenging!
0:04:58 > 0:05:01- He was fast asleep, he loved it. - Of course.- He slept like a baby.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05- Well, unfortunately...- He sleeps like the baby and the baby was awake.
0:05:05 > 0:05:06The baby didn't sleep like a baby!
0:05:06 > 0:05:09We've got two buses. One's called the family bus
0:05:09 > 0:05:11and one's called the fun bus, so we are now on the family bus.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14This is Father's Day, we're celebrating Father's Day.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17How has that changed you, Keith, would you say?
0:05:17 > 0:05:20I think children just broadens and deepens life in a unique way
0:05:20 > 0:05:22that really makes you realise what a gift it is.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25We for many years didn't know if we could have kids, so I think
0:05:25 > 0:05:29- it makes you just so grateful when that opportunity comes.- Absolutely.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33And your own fathers have been a huge influence in your careers.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36That's right. We're just so incredibly blessed.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39We're both had dads who are strong believers
0:05:39 > 0:05:44and brought us up to understand faith and music and life.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46My dad is a pastor, and so we grew up
0:05:46 > 0:05:49with many people coming to our house for dinner, for example,
0:05:49 > 0:05:53and these people just became the most inspirational influence in my life
0:05:53 > 0:05:56and I know that you were the same. We just had very busy kitchens
0:05:56 > 0:05:59in our house growing up, and busy dining room tables
0:05:59 > 0:06:03and lots of conversation and that's just all fed into our faith
0:06:03 > 0:06:05on a personal level but also in our songwriting
0:06:05 > 0:06:09and our leading and all that, so we are very grateful for that.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12You sit down to write a hymn. Where does it come from?
0:06:12 > 0:06:16I do lean initially in the fact that we are Irish, we write melodies,
0:06:16 > 0:06:18that groups of people sing at a football match,
0:06:18 > 0:06:21in a pub, in a family home.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Right throughout church history,
0:06:23 > 0:06:27the liturgies and the hymns and the songs of God's people have defined
0:06:27 > 0:06:30how they think about God, and thus how they think about themselves,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32so I think in this 21st century,
0:06:32 > 0:06:34where there are more Christians now in the world
0:06:34 > 0:06:37and the Bible is in more languages than at any point in history,
0:06:37 > 0:06:41I think there is an even bigger need now for a new and fresh canon
0:06:41 > 0:06:44of hymns that Christians around the world can sing,
0:06:44 > 0:06:46that teach us what we understand about God
0:06:46 > 0:06:49and that tell this incredible story of Christ.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Writing songs, do you have more of an understanding
0:06:52 > 0:06:55of God as the Father?
0:06:55 > 0:06:59I think in some ways, and the sense of God's love is overwhelming
0:06:59 > 0:07:02because those girls are just everything to you.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04You can't imagine you could love somebody so much,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07you can't manage you could think about somebody or talk incessantly
0:07:07 > 0:07:11about somebody as much as you do these beautiful little girls,
0:07:11 > 0:07:15so it brings God's love out in a broad and a deeper,
0:07:15 > 0:07:17and almost, at times,
0:07:17 > 0:07:20it's almost too much at times to think about such things.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23The three best tunes I've written in the last two years,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26my daughter was singing around the house before I decided to use them,
0:07:26 > 0:07:28so she listens to me play the tunes,
0:07:28 > 0:07:31and the ones that I think are good, she doesn't sing,
0:07:31 > 0:07:33you actually know, cos that's the amazing thing about a song.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36A song, as Kristyn says, reaches deep into humanity.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38A three-year-old and a 93-year-old know a great song,
0:07:38 > 0:07:41even though they're not musically educated.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Your latest one, My Worth, tell me about how that came about.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47It's a very, I think, poignant topic.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49We struggle continually, I struggle continually,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52every day with my worth and how I look, how I don't look,
0:07:52 > 0:07:54what I have, what I don't have,
0:07:54 > 0:07:58all those things that can trouble us so quickly and steal our peace,
0:07:58 > 0:08:02all those ideas and yet continually coming back to Christ
0:08:02 > 0:08:04and what he's done for us and where we're going,
0:08:04 > 0:08:08it's much bigger than how I'm feeling today, what I'm going through today.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Yes, God speaks through that, he's not far away from us,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14and that's how music can be used to keep reminding us of that
0:08:14 > 0:08:15because we forget so easily.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20# My worth is not in what I own
0:08:22 > 0:08:26# Not in the strength of flesh and bone
0:08:28 > 0:08:32# But in the costly wounds of love
0:08:33 > 0:08:36# At the cross
0:08:40 > 0:08:45# My worth is not in skill or name
0:08:46 > 0:08:50# In win or lose, in pride or shame
0:08:52 > 0:08:57# But in the blood of Christ that flowed
0:08:58 > 0:09:02# At the cross
0:09:04 > 0:09:09# I rejoice in my Redeemer
0:09:09 > 0:09:12# Greatest treasure
0:09:12 > 0:09:15# Wellspring of my soul
0:09:16 > 0:09:21# I will trust in him, no other
0:09:21 > 0:09:26# My soul is satisfied in him alone
0:09:37 > 0:09:41# As summer flowers we fade and die
0:09:43 > 0:09:47# Fame, youth and beauty hurry by
0:09:49 > 0:09:54# But life eternal calls to us
0:09:54 > 0:09:58# At the cross
0:10:01 > 0:10:05# I will not boast in wealth or might
0:10:07 > 0:10:11# In human wisdom's fading light
0:10:13 > 0:10:18# But I will boast in knowing Christ
0:10:18 > 0:10:22# At the cross
0:10:25 > 0:10:30# I rejoice in my Redeemer
0:10:30 > 0:10:33# Greatest treasure
0:10:33 > 0:10:36# Wellspring of my soul
0:10:37 > 0:10:41# I will trust in him, no other
0:10:41 > 0:10:47# My soul is satisfied in him alone
0:11:11 > 0:11:17# Two wonders here that I confess
0:11:18 > 0:11:23# My worth and my unworthiness
0:11:24 > 0:11:29# My value fixed, my ransom paid
0:11:29 > 0:11:35# At the cross
0:11:37 > 0:11:41# I rejoice in my Redeemer
0:11:41 > 0:11:44# Greatest treasure
0:11:44 > 0:11:47# Wellspring of my soul
0:11:48 > 0:11:52# I will trust in him, no other
0:11:52 > 0:11:59# My soul is satisfied in him alone
0:12:02 > 0:12:08# My soul is satisfied in him alone. #
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Well, it's a bit of a hike to get here,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33but the view is certainly worth it.
0:12:33 > 0:12:34This is Knockagh monument,
0:12:34 > 0:12:36and from up here, you get a really good idea
0:12:36 > 0:12:38of just how Jordanstown fits in
0:12:38 > 0:12:42to the rest of the communities that stretch up the lough to Belfast.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49This monument was erected to remember the young men
0:12:49 > 0:12:53who lost their lives in two world wars, and today, on Father's Day,
0:12:53 > 0:12:57we remember those who never had the opportunity to become a father,
0:12:57 > 0:13:01and we also remember those who have lost loved ones this year
0:13:01 > 0:13:04and who today will have an empty seat in their home.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57This week across the country,
0:15:57 > 0:16:00schoolchildren have been busy secretly making cards and presents
0:16:00 > 0:16:02to give to their dads.
0:16:04 > 0:16:05This is a great picture.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Tell me about your daddy with his lovely spiky hair here.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10He plays with me a lot
0:16:10 > 0:16:11and takes us swimming.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15And what's your favourite thing about your daddy?
0:16:15 > 0:16:18Because he gives me snuggles and kisses and hugs.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22I love Daddy because he's very funny
0:16:22 > 0:16:24- and he plays tickle monsters.- Oh!
0:16:24 > 0:16:28So he chases us and then when he gets me and Katie, he tickles us.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30I like the look of this picture.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32Now, tell me, who's in this picture?
0:16:32 > 0:16:35That's me helping my dad fix my bike,
0:16:35 > 0:16:40and it had a skiddy flat, so we had to change a new wheel.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43- I also like playing pool.- Ooh.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45- Are you good?- Yeah.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47Who's better, you or your daddy?
0:16:47 > 0:16:48Both.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50What's he like, your dad?
0:16:50 > 0:16:55He kisses me and gives me snuggles and gives me a story at bedtime
0:16:55 > 0:16:59and I like that, that's why he's the best daddy in the world.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05As we're here at school, it's a good chance for us to announce
0:17:05 > 0:17:08details of our next School Choir of the Year competition.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11We're looking for the best junior and senior school choirs
0:17:11 > 0:17:14to enter from right across the UK,
0:17:14 > 0:17:17and if you think your school choir has what it takes,
0:17:17 > 0:17:18then we would love to hear from you.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22You'll find all the details you will need to apply on our website...
0:17:26 > 0:17:29And you can even check out the standard your choir should aim for
0:17:29 > 0:17:33by watching clips of all of last year's finalists.
0:17:34 > 0:17:35Daddy!
0:17:40 > 0:17:43When adult relationships end in separation or divorce,
0:17:43 > 0:17:46sometimes the children are not able to see their mum or dad
0:17:46 > 0:17:51because they no longer live in the family home. In these circumstances,
0:17:51 > 0:17:54it's places like this that can be a real lifeline,
0:17:54 > 0:17:57helping to maintain those important family ties.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00A contact centre is basically where
0:18:00 > 0:18:04parents who no longer live with their children can come and have contact
0:18:04 > 0:18:07and develop relationships with them.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11How important is it to keep those lines of communication open?
0:18:11 > 0:18:13Without contact centres
0:18:13 > 0:18:16there would be a lot of children simply not having the contact,
0:18:16 > 0:18:19because the contact here is a result of relationship breakdowns.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22How important is it to have a neutral environment for these families?
0:18:22 > 0:18:25The main reason they're here is because they haven't been able
0:18:25 > 0:18:28to come to an accommodation of where to meet.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32It's great because it gives dads a chance to see their kids.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35We're all here for obvious reasons.
0:18:35 > 0:18:36She loves it down here.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40She's met loads of friends. It's basically a nursery school to her.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44- Only with daddy in tow. - Only with daddy, yeah!
0:18:44 > 0:18:47How important is it for you to keep up the contact with Emily?
0:18:47 > 0:18:50It's very important, because I was very close with Emily,
0:18:50 > 0:18:55you know, from the day she was born. I've always been close to her.
0:18:55 > 0:18:56'I look forward to Saturdays so much,
0:18:56 > 0:18:59'Everybody looks forward to the weekend,
0:18:59 > 0:19:02'but I look forward to Saturdays a lot more because I know that'
0:19:02 > 0:19:06on a Friday night, I get to see the child in the morning.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11'At Mothers' Union one night, someone asked for more volunteers,
0:19:11 > 0:19:13'and I thought I could do this.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17'A lot of these young fathers who are coming in,'
0:19:17 > 0:19:20they have no experience with their children.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23I, as a grandparent, have had the experience of my own children
0:19:23 > 0:19:25and my grandchildren.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29We may have very young fathers who have never lived with the child
0:19:29 > 0:19:33and may need help or assistance with changing nappies or feeding,
0:19:33 > 0:19:35or anything like that. On many occasions,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38the fathers are very nervous, especially on the first visit.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Once I tell her, "Lunchtime," she puts on her coat,
0:19:45 > 0:19:49and she knows straightaway that it's picnic time, to go outside
0:19:49 > 0:19:51and we have our picnic outside.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54- No matter what the weather? - No matter what the weather.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57- We've got ham and cheese! - We've got ham and cheese!
0:19:58 > 0:20:00MELANIE: Because I'm here every week,
0:20:00 > 0:20:02I can see the development of the relationships,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05and I've yet to see a child who doesn't want to have contact with
0:20:05 > 0:20:08their other parent, and I suppose that's the most important bit,
0:20:08 > 0:20:11the fact that the child deserves to have a relationship
0:20:11 > 0:20:15with both parents in spite of their relationship breakdown.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17And your faith, what role does that play
0:20:17 > 0:20:21in helping you perform your duties as a volunteer here?
0:20:21 > 0:20:23My faith is that the Lord is always here,
0:20:23 > 0:20:27kind of sitting on my shoulder, and watching out for me,
0:20:27 > 0:20:30and I would like to think that because I have that faith,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33maybe I could be a help to them in some way.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40# I have heard so many songs
0:20:40 > 0:20:44# Listened to a thousand tongues
0:20:44 > 0:20:49# But there is one that sounds above them all
0:20:52 > 0:20:57# The Father's song, the Father's love
0:20:57 > 0:21:03# You sung it over me, and for eternity
0:21:03 > 0:21:06# It's written on my heart
0:21:08 > 0:21:11# Heaven's perfect melody
0:21:13 > 0:21:16# The Creator's symphony
0:21:17 > 0:21:20# You are singing over me
0:21:21 > 0:21:24# The Father's song
0:21:26 > 0:21:28# Heaven's perfect mystery
0:21:30 > 0:21:33# The king of love has sent for me
0:21:34 > 0:21:37# And now you're singing over me
0:21:38 > 0:21:41# The Father's song
0:21:44 > 0:21:48# I have heard so many songs
0:21:48 > 0:21:52# Listened to a thousand tongues
0:21:52 > 0:21:57# But there is one that sounds above them all
0:22:01 > 0:22:05# The Father's song, the Father's love
0:22:05 > 0:22:11# You sung it over me, and for eternity
0:22:11 > 0:22:15# It's written on my heart
0:22:17 > 0:22:20# Heaven's perfect melody
0:22:21 > 0:22:25# The Creator's symphony
0:22:26 > 0:22:28# You are singing over me
0:22:30 > 0:22:33# The Father's song
0:22:34 > 0:22:37# Heaven's perfect mystery
0:22:38 > 0:22:41# The king of love has sent for me
0:22:43 > 0:22:46# And now you're singing over me
0:22:47 > 0:22:50# The Father's song
0:22:53 > 0:22:57# The Father's song, the Father's love
0:22:57 > 0:23:03# You sung it over me, and for eternity
0:23:03 > 0:23:06# It's written on my heart
0:23:12 > 0:23:15# It's written on my heart. #
0:23:34 > 0:23:37Every year, thousands of students come from near and far
0:23:37 > 0:23:39to study here at the University of Ulster.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43For many of them, it's their first taste of independence.
0:23:43 > 0:23:44I'm here to meet to people
0:23:44 > 0:23:48who are on hand to make sure that transition is as smooth as possible.
0:23:51 > 0:23:56'I just find life here among students so rewarding. They keep me so young.'
0:23:59 > 0:24:00'I love chaplaincy because
0:24:00 > 0:24:05'it's not confined to a specific worshipping community.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10'For me, the church doesn't just stay within the walls
0:24:10 > 0:24:14'of church buildings. It's very much out here in the real world.'
0:24:15 > 0:24:17We stand back
0:24:17 > 0:24:18and give them their space.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20We observe, we see what's going on,
0:24:20 > 0:24:22but we don't intrude.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25We let them get on, and when they're ready to raise the question,
0:24:25 > 0:24:27whatever it is that they need to raise,
0:24:27 > 0:24:29we're there as a sort of presence.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Presence is a very important word for me,
0:24:32 > 0:24:36so that whenever they are in need, we're ready to respond.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43- Morning.- Morning.- How are you? - Aye, not too bad.- Good to see you.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Every week I come here for this lunch,
0:24:47 > 0:24:50and they always ask me how I'm doing and how my coursework is going.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54The chaplains are kind of like our parents when we're over here
0:24:54 > 0:24:56because a lot of us sometimes have hard times
0:24:56 > 0:24:59when we're studying abroad this far away from home,
0:24:59 > 0:25:03and they're the first people that we'll approach or go to.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06'God makes his presence felt in the physical presence of Jesus Christ
0:25:06 > 0:25:09'and through the spirit of Christ. We were being'
0:25:09 > 0:25:13offered the opportunity as chaplains to be physically present
0:25:13 > 0:25:15in the university, physically
0:25:15 > 0:25:18listening, loving,
0:25:18 > 0:25:22drawing people not by clever gimmicks but by love.
0:25:24 > 0:25:29'Terry's like this really cute grandpa figure, you know, like,'
0:25:29 > 0:25:32always asking how you are, if you need anything,
0:25:32 > 0:25:34and trying to feed you more food, you know.
0:25:34 > 0:25:35Help yourself to whatever you see.
0:25:35 > 0:25:40'It's really nice to know we have a kind of support system away from home.'
0:25:41 > 0:25:44'Cheryl and Terry, they're very giving and loving people.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48'I don't think anybody could really replace one's parents,
0:25:48 > 0:25:52'but they do a lot of really important and necessary work'
0:25:52 > 0:25:53for the students here.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56It can be really lonely, and they do a great job.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03But one of the moment I'll always treasure is helping a young man
0:26:03 > 0:26:04to become a better Muslim,
0:26:04 > 0:26:09and that, for a Christian, is a very worthwhile thing to be able to say,
0:26:09 > 0:26:11and I know he appreciated it.
0:26:11 > 0:26:12How does that make you feel?
0:26:12 > 0:26:15It makes me feel warm inside,
0:26:15 > 0:26:18as if the spirit is saying, "Yes, you did well."
0:26:20 > 0:26:22There are all those Bible stories
0:26:22 > 0:26:25of Jesus telling his disciples to come and be fishers of men,
0:26:25 > 0:26:28and for me, being here in the university gives us opportunities
0:26:28 > 0:26:34to bring good news, to be drawn into God's work
0:26:34 > 0:26:37of bringing healing and wholeness to people.
0:29:26 > 0:29:30'God the Father, bless all fathers today with wisdom,
0:29:30 > 0:29:33'with patience, with courage,
0:29:33 > 0:29:36'and above all, with love for their children.'
0:29:36 > 0:29:41'Father God, bless all children today with openness to learn
0:29:41 > 0:29:44'and above all, with love for their fathers.'
0:29:45 > 0:29:49'Father God, bless all who are fatherless today.'
0:29:49 > 0:29:53'Surround them with godly men and women to teach, affirm them,
0:29:53 > 0:29:57'and above all, to love with the love of a father.'
0:29:57 > 0:30:01The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
0:30:01 > 0:30:07be with each of you and with all whom you love this day and always.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09- ALL:- Amen.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13And that's it from our Father's Day Songs Of Praise.
0:30:13 > 0:30:18For our final hymn, our choirs have chosen that great Fanny Crosby hymn
0:30:18 > 0:30:21To God Be The Glory. Happy Father's Day.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19Next week, Diane and David are off on their summer holidays
0:33:19 > 0:33:21as they visit Butlin's
0:33:21 > 0:33:24and discover how chaplains played an important role at the resorts.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28Diane also learns more about the nation's favourite hymn
0:33:28 > 0:33:31and there's music from across the country to lift your spirits
0:33:31 > 0:33:32come rain or shine.