Finding Faith Afresh

Download Subtitles

Transcript

0:00:02 > 0:00:05The idea of Sunday being a day of rest isn't really the norm any more.

0:00:05 > 0:00:08A lot of the things done during the week can be done on a Sunday, too.

0:00:08 > 0:00:13Yet there are still lots of churches using initiative and imagination

0:00:13 > 0:00:16to invite people into church in this 24/7 world.

0:00:16 > 0:00:20And this week, I'll be finding out about some of those initiatives

0:00:20 > 0:00:24and also meeting some of the people who've accepted that invitation.

0:00:27 > 0:00:30This week - the newest Methodist church in the country.

0:00:30 > 0:00:33I meet the man running one of the biggest initiatives

0:00:33 > 0:00:34for getting people into church.

0:00:34 > 0:00:38How a summer festival inspired a fresh expression of church

0:00:38 > 0:00:41and lively praise and worship songs from around the UK.

0:00:49 > 0:00:52Later on, we'll be marking International Day of Peace

0:00:52 > 0:00:55with a special prayer from the newly-appointed Archbishop

0:00:55 > 0:00:57and Bishop of Liverpool.

0:00:59 > 0:01:02And the Bishop of Liverpool is also leading a new church

0:01:02 > 0:01:03initiative beginning this month.

0:01:03 > 0:01:05The Season of Invitation,

0:01:05 > 0:01:08when Christians invite their friends to church.

0:01:08 > 0:01:12Ten years ago, we had this simple idea called Back To Church Sunday,

0:01:12 > 0:01:15where church people were asked to invite someone they know

0:01:15 > 0:01:17to something they love.

0:01:17 > 0:01:20And many tens of thousands of people have invited their friends.

0:01:23 > 0:01:26We've moved that on now and we call it the Season of Invitation.

0:01:26 > 0:01:28A season of five occasions.

0:01:28 > 0:01:30End of September, Back to Church Sunday,

0:01:30 > 0:01:33Harvest, October, Remembrance, November,

0:01:33 > 0:01:36Christmas starts December and Christmas Day.

0:01:36 > 0:01:39And research shows us that if people are invited a number of times,

0:01:39 > 0:01:43there's more chance they'll stick with the church, make friends there

0:01:43 > 0:01:46and maybe find out more for themselves what it's all about.

0:01:46 > 0:01:47I came here through a friend

0:01:47 > 0:01:49who I used to go to church with when I was small.

0:01:49 > 0:01:51I've stayed because I've been made to feel so welcome

0:01:51 > 0:01:53and involved in everything the church does.

0:01:53 > 0:01:56I came to church because my wife started coming

0:01:56 > 0:01:58and when I came, I wanted to learn more.

0:01:58 > 0:02:01And I've stayed because it's helped me to live a better life

0:02:01 > 0:02:04and be a better person.

0:02:04 > 0:02:06We came to church to baptise our youngest child

0:02:06 > 0:02:08and we never left.

0:02:08 > 0:02:12And that was 32 years ago and this really is our home.

0:02:16 > 0:02:20Whether you're walking into church for the first or the 1,000th time,

0:02:20 > 0:02:23the redemption and welcome that's at the heart of Christianity

0:02:23 > 0:02:25is open to everybody.

0:02:25 > 0:02:28And that just happens to be the theme of tonight's first hymn.

0:02:28 > 0:02:32A modern version of the 1904 Welsh Revival hymn,

0:02:32 > 0:02:35Here is Love, Vast As The Ocean.

0:04:41 > 0:04:43CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:04:50 > 0:04:53In Warrington town centre,

0:04:53 > 0:04:54the members of one congregation

0:04:54 > 0:04:57have stumbled on a friendly way to invite newcomers.

0:04:57 > 0:05:00The promise of coffee, cake and choruses.

0:05:00 > 0:05:03# Hallelujah

0:05:03 > 0:05:06# Hallelujah

0:05:06 > 0:05:08# Hallelujah. #

0:05:08 > 0:05:125½ years ago, a group of people met together

0:05:12 > 0:05:14with the premise of wanting to go

0:05:14 > 0:05:17to a local coffee shop to start a church there.

0:05:17 > 0:05:19That began a brand-new church community

0:05:19 > 0:05:21which is now known as New Song Network Church.

0:05:21 > 0:05:25What we didn't expect was for it to grow so quickly.

0:05:25 > 0:05:29That so many people who have been un-churched or de-churched,

0:05:29 > 0:05:32those that had walked away from church, come back.

0:05:32 > 0:05:35We now have 190 people meeting for worship

0:05:35 > 0:05:37and a brand-new church community was born.

0:05:37 > 0:05:40The newest Methodist church in the country.

0:05:40 > 0:05:42We are New Song Church!

0:05:42 > 0:05:43CHEERING

0:05:43 > 0:05:45Until six months ago,

0:05:45 > 0:05:48new member Gill Clayton hadn't been to a church since childhood.

0:05:50 > 0:05:52I always felt there was something missing.

0:05:52 > 0:05:54That there was more to life

0:05:54 > 0:05:57than striving for the bigger house, the bigger car.

0:05:57 > 0:06:00But nothing ever fit the bill.

0:06:00 > 0:06:03Nothing ever felt that I could say to myself,

0:06:03 > 0:06:05"Phew! You've made it."

0:06:09 > 0:06:10I was despondent.

0:06:10 > 0:06:16I felt, "This is it. This is all there is to life."

0:06:18 > 0:06:20Gill tried reading the Bible

0:06:20 > 0:06:23and soon afterwards had an unexpected experience

0:06:23 > 0:06:25early one Sunday morning.

0:06:25 > 0:06:27I was woken

0:06:27 > 0:06:31and there was a voice very clearly saying to me,

0:06:31 > 0:06:34"Get up. Get up and go to church."

0:06:36 > 0:06:38So I got ready and I went.

0:06:40 > 0:06:42Gill was made welcome by Jackie, the minister,

0:06:42 > 0:06:46who invited her to the next service of New Song Church.

0:06:46 > 0:06:50I wouldn't have gone if she hadn't of made

0:06:50 > 0:06:53such a personal invitation.

0:06:53 > 0:06:54So important.

0:06:54 > 0:06:57That greeting, that sense of belonging.

0:06:57 > 0:06:59"Come on in, you're home."

0:07:02 > 0:07:07God met me in the people that I met at New Song.

0:07:07 > 0:07:12In the people who drew alongside me that night.

0:07:14 > 0:07:17God...met me there.

0:07:20 > 0:07:22CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:09:30 > 0:09:32Perhaps the most well-known initiative

0:09:32 > 0:09:35bringing new people into church is the Alpha course.

0:09:35 > 0:09:40And this is Holy Trinity Brompton, where it started 25 years ago.

0:09:40 > 0:09:42It's a course that many people have been to, including me,

0:09:42 > 0:09:46and I've come today to meet the man who's responsible for it.

0:09:48 > 0:09:51Jesus was tempted in every way, just like us.

0:09:51 > 0:09:55The Reverend Nicky Gumbel has been responsible for Alpha

0:09:55 > 0:09:56since the late 1980s

0:09:56 > 0:09:59and has seen it grow from a small Bible study group

0:09:59 > 0:10:01to an international operation

0:10:01 > 0:10:05in 169 countries and 70,000 churches.

0:10:05 > 0:10:10Alpha is an introduction to Christianity.

0:10:10 > 0:10:15It's designed for people who wouldn't normally go to church.

0:10:15 > 0:10:17And it's a way they can explore that

0:10:17 > 0:10:21in a really relaxed, unpressurised environment.

0:10:21 > 0:10:25Nothing is off limits. No question is too difficult,

0:10:25 > 0:10:27no question is too hostile,

0:10:27 > 0:10:28no question is too simple.

0:10:28 > 0:10:31Everybody can bring their questions. And that's what they do.

0:10:31 > 0:10:33People come with their questions.

0:10:33 > 0:10:35"Why does God allow suffering?"

0:10:35 > 0:10:37"What about other religions?"

0:10:37 > 0:10:40"How can you trust the Bible? Isn't it full of contradictions?"

0:10:40 > 0:10:43And then we discuss together.

0:10:43 > 0:10:46And most people come because a friend invited them

0:10:46 > 0:10:49or a member of their family invited them along.

0:10:49 > 0:10:52How important is it to have that personal invitation?

0:10:52 > 0:10:55On average, we have about 1,000 people who come on the course here.

0:10:55 > 0:10:59And they have all got lots of friends.

0:10:59 > 0:11:03So when they've finished the course, they say to their friends,

0:11:03 > 0:11:05"That was...I had a great time!"

0:11:05 > 0:11:08Why do you think that something that basically started

0:11:08 > 0:11:11in a Central London dinner party,

0:11:11 > 0:11:13why do you think that's had such an attraction,

0:11:13 > 0:11:16why it's affected so many people throughout the globe?

0:11:16 > 0:11:19I think it works because ultimately, it's about Jesus.

0:11:19 > 0:11:20It's not about Alpha.

0:11:20 > 0:11:22If it was about Alpha, it wouldn't work anywhere.

0:11:22 > 0:11:26But it's about Jesus. And I think the gospel is the same everywhere.

0:11:26 > 0:11:29Is Alpha the only way people can find God?

0:11:29 > 0:11:31I didn't go on an Alpha course.

0:11:31 > 0:11:34I met Jesus through reading the New Testament.

0:11:34 > 0:11:38There are many, many different ways that people can encounter Jesus.

0:11:38 > 0:11:42And we run Alpha here because we haven't found a better way.

0:11:42 > 0:11:45If we find a better way, we'll drop Alpha and run the better way.

0:11:45 > 0:11:49Lots of things have changed over the years.

0:11:49 > 0:11:53Because things that people found really easy a few years ago,

0:11:53 > 0:11:55they find really hard now.

0:11:55 > 0:11:59We used to have the talk on the Bible before the one on prayer.

0:11:59 > 0:12:03Because people didn't find the Bible hard 25 years ago.

0:12:03 > 0:12:05There was a sort of respect for the Bible.

0:12:05 > 0:12:07Now that's completely gone.

0:12:07 > 0:12:10People used to think, "Prayer? That's really boring. That's church."

0:12:10 > 0:12:12Now most people are interested in prayer.

0:12:12 > 0:12:16It's kind of like...it's almost a trendy thing to do, to pray.

0:12:16 > 0:12:19The Holy Spirit, people used to...

0:12:19 > 0:12:21That used to be really hard for people.

0:12:21 > 0:12:24The idea of an experience of the Holy Spirit.

0:12:24 > 0:12:27Now people are very open to experience.

0:12:27 > 0:12:31Looking back over these nearly 25 years,

0:12:31 > 0:12:35what would you say you're most thankful for in regard of

0:12:35 > 0:12:37how Alpha's helped the church to grow?

0:12:37 > 0:12:41It's had a huge impact on our own church.

0:12:41 > 0:12:44We've had literally thousands and thousands of people

0:12:44 > 0:12:48who have come to faith on Alpha and have joined the church.

0:12:48 > 0:12:52And then I've watched that in so many churches around the world.

0:12:52 > 0:12:55Catholic churches, Anglican, Baptist,

0:12:55 > 0:12:58Methodist, Salvation Army, Pentecostal.

0:12:58 > 0:13:01And that's an amazing thing to see, all the variety.

0:13:01 > 0:13:06I've been enriched by my experience of all those different churches.

0:13:06 > 0:13:08And I've learnt so much from them.

0:13:08 > 0:13:10It's just been a wonderful adventure.

0:13:10 > 0:13:13But what makes me most thankful about Alpha

0:13:13 > 0:13:18is watching people's lives being transformed by Jesus Christ.

0:13:21 > 0:13:28# The sun comes up it's a new day dawning

0:13:28 > 0:13:33# It's time to sing your song again

0:13:34 > 0:13:41# Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me

0:13:43 > 0:13:49# Let me be singing when the evening comes

0:13:49 > 0:13:54# Bless the Lord, oh, my soul

0:13:54 > 0:13:57# Oh, my soul

0:13:57 > 0:14:03# Worship his holy name

0:14:03 > 0:14:06# Sing like never before

0:14:06 > 0:14:10# Oh, my soul

0:14:10 > 0:14:15# I'll worship your holy name

0:14:17 > 0:14:23# You're rich in love and you're slow to anger

0:14:23 > 0:14:30# Your name is great and your heart is kind

0:14:30 > 0:14:37# For all your goodness I will keep on singing

0:14:39 > 0:14:46# 10,000 reasons for my heart to find

0:14:46 > 0:14:50# Bless the Lord, oh, my soul

0:14:50 > 0:14:53# Oh, my soul

0:14:53 > 0:14:59# Worship his holy name

0:14:59 > 0:15:03# Sing like never before

0:15:03 > 0:15:07# Oh, my soul

0:15:07 > 0:15:13# I'll worship your holy name

0:15:13 > 0:15:20# And on that day when my strength is failing

0:15:20 > 0:15:27# The end draws near and my time has come

0:15:27 > 0:15:35# Still my soul will sing your praise unending

0:15:35 > 0:15:42# 10,000 years and then forevermore

0:15:42 > 0:15:44# Forevermore

0:15:46 > 0:15:50# Bless the Lord, oh, my soul

0:15:50 > 0:15:53# Oh, my soul

0:15:53 > 0:15:59# Worship his holy name

0:15:59 > 0:16:06# Sing like never before, oh, my soul

0:16:06 > 0:16:11# I'll worship your holy name

0:16:12 > 0:16:19# Yes, I will worship your holy name

0:16:19 > 0:16:24# Lord, I'll worship your holy name. #

0:16:31 > 0:16:34Five years ago, with a tiny congregation

0:16:34 > 0:16:36and a building in disrepair,

0:16:36 > 0:16:39St Peter's Brighton was threatened with closure.

0:16:39 > 0:16:42Then, in a church-planting initiative,

0:16:42 > 0:16:45a fresh team led by new vicar Archie Coates

0:16:45 > 0:16:47began to invite people in.

0:16:47 > 0:16:50About 30 of us moved from central London

0:16:50 > 0:16:53to see whether we could keep the church open

0:16:53 > 0:16:55and reinvigorate and grow it

0:16:55 > 0:16:57and maybe fix up the building at the same time.

0:16:58 > 0:17:02What we found is this great sort of spiritual hunger.

0:17:02 > 0:17:05And as we've gone to get to know people in Brighton

0:17:05 > 0:17:07and people have started to come,

0:17:07 > 0:17:10then they've got friends or family members to invite.

0:17:10 > 0:17:13Today, with its city-centre location,

0:17:13 > 0:17:18St Peter's attracts people from all walks of life.

0:17:18 > 0:17:23I was in addiction for 35 years, in and out of prison.

0:17:23 > 0:17:27I was just a real... Not a very nice person, to be honest.

0:17:27 > 0:17:30And I started coming to the services

0:17:30 > 0:17:32because I got a place just over the road.

0:17:32 > 0:17:34And it's not like that today.

0:17:34 > 0:17:37God has just so transformed me.

0:17:37 > 0:17:39A lot of my behaviours have changed.

0:17:39 > 0:17:42I actually do care for people now and love people.

0:17:48 > 0:17:50Why is this church special to you?

0:17:50 > 0:17:54It's just full of life and full of the Holy Spirit.

0:17:54 > 0:17:55What more can I say, really?

0:17:58 > 0:18:01Our next song is performed by a member of this church.

0:18:01 > 0:18:03He's also a pioneer of contemporary Christian music.

0:18:03 > 0:18:06It's Martin Smith, who, 20 years ago,

0:18:06 > 0:18:09wrote a song that is now a firm classic.

0:18:09 > 0:18:12It's, I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever.

0:18:12 > 0:18:16# Over the mountains and the sea

0:18:16 > 0:18:19# Your river runs with love for me

0:18:19 > 0:18:22# And I will open up my heart

0:18:22 > 0:18:26# And let the healer set me free

0:18:26 > 0:18:29# I'm happy to be in the truth

0:18:29 > 0:18:33# And I will daily lift my hands

0:18:33 > 0:18:35# For I will always sing

0:18:35 > 0:18:40# Of when your love came down

0:18:40 > 0:18:46# I could sing of your love forever

0:18:46 > 0:18:52# I could sing of your love forever

0:18:52 > 0:18:59# I could sing of your love forever

0:18:59 > 0:19:05# I could sing of your love forever

0:19:07 > 0:19:09# Oh, I feel like dancing

0:19:13 > 0:19:16# It's foolishness, I know

0:19:19 > 0:19:24# But when the world has seen the light

0:19:24 > 0:19:27# They will dance with joy

0:19:27 > 0:19:31# Like we're dancing now

0:19:32 > 0:19:38# I could sing of your love forever

0:19:39 > 0:19:45# I could sing of your love forever

0:19:45 > 0:19:51# I could sing of your love forever

0:19:53 > 0:19:58# I could sing of your love forever

0:20:03 > 0:20:07# La-la-la-la-la-la-la

0:20:09 > 0:20:12# La-la. #

0:20:20 > 0:20:24Going back to church isn't just about worshipping on a Sunday.

0:20:24 > 0:20:26It's a whole complete change of lifestyle.

0:20:26 > 0:20:29Retired magician, Des Hawkins,

0:20:29 > 0:20:33is one of a growing number of people returning to church in later life.

0:20:33 > 0:20:38I'm afraid I only attended church for Christmas, Easter,

0:20:38 > 0:20:40big occasions like that.

0:20:40 > 0:20:42- Hi, Simon.- Hi, Des.

0:20:42 > 0:20:44- How are you?- Good. How are you? - Great, excellent.

0:20:44 > 0:20:47Des found faith afresh after a very simple initiative.

0:20:47 > 0:20:51A party invitation from his Christian neighbour, Simon.

0:20:51 > 0:20:53We invited all of our neighbours

0:20:53 > 0:20:59so that somehow we might have an opportunity to talk with them

0:20:59 > 0:21:02about encountering God through Jesus.

0:21:02 > 0:21:04I went to some of their meetings

0:21:04 > 0:21:09and asked lots of questions and got interested

0:21:09 > 0:21:11and I was totally convinced.

0:21:11 > 0:21:14It was... As far as I was concerned, there was no question.

0:21:14 > 0:21:17That was the way to live your life.

0:21:17 > 0:21:21And you didn't have to pass a test or do anything special.

0:21:21 > 0:21:25God was there wanting to be in your life.

0:21:25 > 0:21:27You just have to open the door.

0:21:27 > 0:21:32And thanks to Jesus, we're all... Everything is forgiven.

0:21:32 > 0:21:35We're... Even for me, it was wiped clean.

0:21:35 > 0:21:39So I decided I wanted to become a Christian

0:21:39 > 0:21:41and started attending church.

0:21:41 > 0:21:44And then, two years later, I was baptised.

0:21:45 > 0:21:48Des now puts his faith into action as a volunteer,

0:21:48 > 0:21:50entertaining local school kids

0:21:50 > 0:21:52at the Launch Pad Breakfast Club in West Sussex.

0:21:54 > 0:21:56Children come along and they have a good time.

0:21:56 > 0:21:59And actually, I have a good time.

0:21:59 > 0:22:02All of this, the Breakfast Club and all of this stuff

0:22:02 > 0:22:06all came about because my neighbour Simon

0:22:06 > 0:22:09put that invitation through my door.

0:22:09 > 0:22:12And that was the beginning of everything.

0:24:16 > 0:24:19Since 1989, the New Wine summer conference

0:24:19 > 0:24:21has been inspiring Christians

0:24:21 > 0:24:23to make a difference in their communities.

0:24:23 > 0:24:26In 2012, it moved one group of friends from Halifax

0:24:26 > 0:24:31to start a new initiative for people struggling on the edge of society.

0:24:31 > 0:24:33There were three of us who were here.

0:24:33 > 0:24:36We'd been working with our local food bank.

0:24:36 > 0:24:41We felt God was saying to us that we needed to provide something more.

0:24:41 > 0:24:45Not just meet the practical needs of these guys.

0:24:45 > 0:24:50But we had a real heart for ministering to them spiritually.

0:24:50 > 0:24:53The friends discovered they were each being inspired

0:24:53 > 0:24:56with similar ideas, which they believed came from God.

0:24:57 > 0:25:00God gave each one of us three little bits.

0:25:00 > 0:25:02When we put those little bits together, they became the picture.

0:25:02 > 0:25:05So the three leaders, myself, Linda and Cath

0:25:05 > 0:25:10decided to put an evening on every Saturday

0:25:10 > 0:25:12and call it the Saturday Gathering.

0:25:15 > 0:25:19There's a real sense of community and a real sense of family.

0:25:19 > 0:25:20We love each other dearly

0:25:20 > 0:25:24and we call ourselves a fresh expression of church.

0:25:24 > 0:25:26The Saturday Gathering for me is amazing.

0:25:26 > 0:25:29I feel really connected there to God.

0:25:29 > 0:25:32Saturday Gathering literally saved my life.

0:25:32 > 0:25:35If it weren't for them, I'd be six feet under by now.

0:25:35 > 0:25:38And now the story's come full circle,

0:25:38 > 0:25:42with the members of Saturday Gathering coming to New Wine.

0:25:43 > 0:25:47It's just amazing. I'm moved on. I'm a recovering addict.

0:25:47 > 0:25:50It's cleansed me of so much baggage I've carried for so long.

0:25:50 > 0:25:52It's like a miracle, really.

0:25:52 > 0:25:55This is my first time at New Wine. I think it's great.

0:25:55 > 0:25:57It's overwhelming.

0:25:57 > 0:26:01We're moving forward with the help of Jesus.

0:26:01 > 0:26:04Even if you're struggling with your whole faith,

0:26:04 > 0:26:05by the time you leave here,

0:26:05 > 0:26:09it's like you've had your eyes opened to who God really is.

0:26:09 > 0:26:12And it's just an amazing thing to be part of.

0:26:12 > 0:26:14Seeing these guys come out and give their lives to Christ,

0:26:14 > 0:26:19or go and ask for...praying for each other or ask for healing,

0:26:19 > 0:26:22you know, it's incredibly humbling.

0:26:22 > 0:26:25I'm just so thankful God has given us somewhere like New Wine

0:26:25 > 0:26:28where we can come, spend time with other Christians.

0:26:28 > 0:26:32And I guess it wasn't for New Wine,

0:26:32 > 0:26:34none of what you see with our community

0:26:34 > 0:26:36would really have happened.

0:26:39 > 0:26:42# What a friend we have in Jesus

0:26:43 > 0:26:48# All our sins and grief to bear

0:26:48 > 0:26:53# What a privilege to carry

0:26:53 > 0:26:56# Everything to God in prayer

0:26:59 > 0:27:03# Oh, what peace we often forfeit

0:27:03 > 0:27:08# Oh, what needless pain we bear

0:27:08 > 0:27:14# All because we do not carry

0:27:14 > 0:27:17# Everything to God in prayer

0:27:17 > 0:27:22# What a friend we have in Jesus

0:27:22 > 0:27:27# What a friend we have in him

0:27:27 > 0:27:35# For he knows us and he holds us in his hands

0:27:37 > 0:27:42# And his grace is never failing

0:27:42 > 0:27:47# And his love without an end

0:27:47 > 0:27:52# What a friend we have in Jesus

0:27:52 > 0:27:56# What a friend we have in him

0:27:56 > 0:27:58# Oh

0:27:58 > 0:28:00# Oh-oh

0:28:01 > 0:28:06# Blessed Saviour, you have promised

0:28:06 > 0:28:11# You will all our burdens bear

0:28:11 > 0:28:15# May we ever, Lord, be bringing

0:28:15 > 0:28:20# All to you in earnest prayer

0:28:21 > 0:28:26# Soon in glory bright, unclouded

0:28:26 > 0:28:31# There will be no need for prayer

0:28:31 > 0:28:35# Rapture, praise and endless worship

0:28:35 > 0:28:40# Will be our sweet portion there

0:28:40 > 0:28:45# What a friend we have in Jesus

0:28:45 > 0:28:49# What a friend we have in him

0:28:49 > 0:28:57# For he knows us and he holds us in his hands

0:29:00 > 0:29:05# And his praise is never failing

0:29:05 > 0:29:10# And his love without an end

0:29:10 > 0:29:15# What a friend we have in Jesus

0:29:15 > 0:29:19# What a friend we have in him

0:29:19 > 0:29:20# Oh

0:29:20 > 0:29:22# Oh-oh

0:29:22 > 0:29:24# What a friend

0:29:24 > 0:29:25# Oh

0:29:25 > 0:29:29# Oh-oh. #

0:29:29 > 0:29:31APPLAUSE

0:29:34 > 0:29:37Before our last hymn, we couldn't end without marking today

0:29:37 > 0:29:40as International Day of Peace.

0:29:40 > 0:29:42And so we've asked the Anglican Bishop

0:29:42 > 0:29:44and Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool,

0:29:44 > 0:29:49both new to their jobs, to lead us in prayer for peace.

0:29:54 > 0:29:58Blessed are the peacemakers who say no to war as a means to peace.

0:29:58 > 0:30:00Blessed are the peacemakers

0:30:00 > 0:30:04who offer hope and healing, care and comfort.

0:30:04 > 0:30:08Blessed are the peacemakers who help find answers,

0:30:08 > 0:30:11who welcome, encourage and inspire.

0:30:11 > 0:30:15Blessed are the peacemakers who see the good in others.

0:30:15 > 0:30:18Blessed are the peacemakers who never give up.

0:30:18 > 0:30:20Blessed are the peacemakers...

0:30:20 > 0:30:23- Who give...- And give.- ..and give.

0:30:23 > 0:30:24BOTH: Amen.

0:33:27 > 0:33:30Next week, we celebrate the glorious sound of gospel music.

0:33:30 > 0:33:32David is at the Hackney Empire,

0:33:32 > 0:33:35where six of the best amateur choirs in the country

0:33:35 > 0:33:37sing with all their heart and soul

0:33:37 > 0:33:40in the first of two special programmes

0:33:40 > 0:33:43to find the Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year.