0:00:02 > 0:00:04With just 10 days until Christmas, our thoughts turn to children,
0:00:04 > 0:00:07and not just to the ones getting the presents,
0:00:07 > 0:00:09but to the baby at the heart of Christmas
0:00:09 > 0:00:14and the glorious message he brought of peace and goodwill to all.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18We're at St Oswald and St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic church
0:00:18 > 0:00:20for tonight's Songs of Praise
0:00:20 > 0:00:22to celebrate with the young people of Wigan
0:00:22 > 0:00:26and to hear how they're making a difference in their own community
0:00:26 > 0:00:28in the true spirit of Christmas.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32So join us as we sing some wonderful carols by candlelight.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38As the big day nears, we're bringing the young people
0:00:38 > 0:00:41of Wigan together for a Christmas treat.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44We'll be finding out how Wigan's youth are using faith
0:00:44 > 0:00:47and music to make a difference in their town.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00# The first Nowell
0:01:00 > 0:01:05# The angel did say
0:01:05 > 0:01:13# Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
0:01:13 > 0:01:18# In fields where they
0:01:18 > 0:01:22# Lay keeping their sheep
0:01:22 > 0:01:27# On a cold winter's night
0:01:27 > 0:01:31# That was so deep... #
0:04:35 > 0:04:37Thanks very much to Louisa
0:04:37 > 0:04:39for leading us in that first carol so beautifully.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41We'll be hearing from her a bit later on.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44We're surrounded by talented musicians tonight.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46One of them is right here, Josh Hales.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48He's playing the organ for us this evening.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51And you're a graduate of the Wigan Music Service.
0:04:51 > 0:04:52How early did you start with that?
0:04:52 > 0:04:56I was eight years old when I started playing the cornet.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58The Wigan Music Service were brilliant. They came into school
0:04:58 > 0:05:01and they played various pieces on their brass instruments,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04but also had a hosepipe with a mouthpiece attached,
0:05:04 > 0:05:06which we got to have a go at.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09And I went home and I just said I'd really like to try the cornet.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11- Bit of a leap from the cornet to the organ.- Yeah.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13I went to a brass band concert
0:05:13 > 0:05:17and they played a piece that was an arrangement of an organ piece
0:05:17 > 0:05:19and I bought a CD of that on the organ
0:05:19 > 0:05:21and thought I'd really like to have a go at that.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24And now you're a full-time organist
0:05:24 > 0:05:29and able to play that wonderful repertoire of religious music.
0:05:29 > 0:05:30What does that mean to you?
0:05:30 > 0:05:33Well, it means an awful lot.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36I find it very moving, to be honest, often. In all sorts of contexts.
0:05:36 > 0:05:41Sometimes I can find it moving to play a really sort of quiet,
0:05:41 > 0:05:42prayerful verse of a psalm,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44but other times, it's so exhilarating
0:05:44 > 0:05:48to accompany a full church or a cathedral of people, full organ.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50Thanks very much, Josh.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53And Josh is going to be playing for us again now.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Some of us will have learned this next carol at school,
0:05:55 > 0:05:58so we're hoping for some very enthusiastic singing
0:05:58 > 0:06:01from the young choirs who are with us this evening.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03It's the Calypso Carol.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37At nearby St Edmund Arrowsmith High School,
0:08:37 > 0:08:41a thriving school group aims to get pupils more involved at church.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45One of the pupils, Callum, is our young reporter.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49Welcome to our IMPACT group.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51It might look and sound like chaos,
0:08:51 > 0:08:53but trust me, we know what we're doing.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55So we've got Tom, as well.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58Has anybody got any other ideas of how we can advertise?
0:08:58 > 0:09:01IMPACT stands for Involving More People At Church Today.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03Everyone needs to like our Facebook page.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06It's basically about getting the youth involved in the local churches.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10So what we do as our group is we plan our own Mass,
0:09:10 > 0:09:14but we also include something like a social section of the day.
0:09:14 > 0:09:15It's a case of bonding, really,
0:09:15 > 0:09:19getting to know the other members of the youth in the parish.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24On Sunday, before the Mass, we gather together and celebrate.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26We have lots of delicious cakes.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31A group of last year's Year 11s have come along today
0:09:31 > 0:09:34to share in this experience of our Mass.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36They were key members in setting up the IMPACT group
0:09:36 > 0:09:39and since they've left, we've carried on
0:09:39 > 0:09:41what they originally set out to do.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44We first went to an archdiocese conference in Liverpool
0:09:44 > 0:09:46and we were, like, inspired by the good works
0:09:46 > 0:09:48of all the charities there,
0:09:48 > 0:09:51so we decided that we wanted to form a group in school
0:09:51 > 0:09:54that would help and get more young people starting church.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57So that was when we came up with IMPACT.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59Why do you think IMPACT's been such a success?
0:09:59 > 0:10:02I think IMPACT's been a success because it's a one-of-a-kind group.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05There's so many people involved that are dedicated to their faith.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08And they're very happy to stand up for what they believe in.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11It also shows willingness in the community that it's not just
0:10:11 > 0:10:14the older people that want to get involved, it's the children as well.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17And they all want to take an active role in their religion.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21We pray that as we move forward on our journey as the IMPACT Group,
0:10:21 > 0:10:24we will come to know what the Lord is asking of us.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31Everyone's practised their parts. Now, it's time for Mass.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37It was Heaven that gave me these limbs.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40For the sake of His laws, I disdain them.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42ALL: I shall be filled, when I awake,
0:10:42 > 0:10:46with the sight of your glory, O Lord.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49It was really nice to see so many young people
0:10:49 > 0:10:52because I think that's something that we lack at times.
0:10:52 > 0:10:57And I think it brought a lot of youthful energy into the church.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00'It's a very good sign. I only wish we could have these'
0:11:00 > 0:11:02kind of services more often.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06Having successfully arranged their own Mass,
0:11:06 > 0:11:10the IMPACT Group have even loftier ambitions now.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13'We've had a brilliant idea in IMPACT. We've had the idea'
0:11:13 > 0:11:15to take our group out into the community and spread the word
0:11:15 > 0:11:17of what IMPACT does.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19# Hark the herald... #
0:11:19 > 0:11:22'The plan is a flash mob in our town centre of Wigan.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25'One person will start singing a Christmas carol
0:11:25 > 0:11:27'and hopefully - fingers crossed! -
0:11:27 > 0:11:29'more and more people will begin to join in'
0:11:29 > 0:11:32and it will eventually be brilliant.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36So, can the IMPACT Group organise their own festive flash mob
0:11:36 > 0:11:39in Wigan town centre? Just wait and see.
0:13:53 > 0:13:58Up and down the country, families are busy preparing for the big day.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01But some people are facing Christmas with trepidation,
0:14:01 > 0:14:03rather than expectation.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07This year, Georgina and her mum will face their first Christmas
0:14:07 > 0:14:11without Steve, the dad who's always been at the centre of their family.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15Tell me a bit about your dad. I mean, I'm looking at him there,
0:14:15 > 0:14:17great photograph of him. What was he like?
0:14:17 > 0:14:21He was always a really happy person.
0:14:21 > 0:14:26He was so enthusiastic about things. He was never pessimistic about life.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28He always took life as it came.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30How did you find out that he had cancer?
0:14:30 > 0:14:34He was diagnosed with a rare kind of cancer
0:14:34 > 0:14:39called a sarcoma which is a cancer of the soft tissue,
0:14:39 > 0:14:42and there was no cure.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46We kept trying, but we kind of knew that there wasn't really going
0:14:46 > 0:14:48to be any way to get through it.
0:14:48 > 0:14:53When he eventually did die, did you have a chance to say goodbye to him?
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Er, yeah. My mum came and asked me,
0:14:56 > 0:14:58did I want to go and say goodbye?
0:14:58 > 0:15:01Because we knew he wasn't going to last out the day.
0:15:01 > 0:15:06And just as we were leaving, the hospital rang us and told us
0:15:06 > 0:15:09to be quick because he was...he was going, and when we got there,
0:15:09 > 0:15:10he'd just gone.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14It was such a devastating moment for me, and I was crying.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16I was hugging him, I clutched him
0:15:16 > 0:15:19for about half an hour and I wouldn't let go.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23It was hard but I'd been taught well by my dad.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26My dad taught me to always get on with life
0:15:26 > 0:15:28and not to let anything stop me.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30# Think of me
0:15:30 > 0:15:36# Think of me fondly When we've said goodbye
0:15:36 > 0:15:41# Remember me every so often
0:15:41 > 0:15:45# Promise me you'll try... #
0:15:45 > 0:15:48And you were in the middle of your GCSEs at the time, weren't you?
0:15:48 > 0:15:51'My dad died on the Sunday and my next GCSE
0:15:51 > 0:15:53'was on the following Thursday,'
0:15:53 > 0:15:55which was for maths
0:15:55 > 0:15:59and I went into school the following day and my maths teacher told me,
0:15:59 > 0:16:03"You don't have to do this maths GCSE if you really don't want to."
0:16:03 > 0:16:06And I knew that my dad would've wanted me to do it.
0:16:06 > 0:16:07And I went and did it.
0:16:07 > 0:16:12# Stop and think of me. #
0:16:12 > 0:16:18- I came out with 195 out of 200 marks...- Wow!- ..in that maths GCSE.
0:16:18 > 0:16:23Did you have a sense that you were doing it for him, in a sense?
0:16:23 > 0:16:26That was definitely the main thing that came into my head.
0:16:26 > 0:16:33And to what extent has your experience influenced the way
0:16:33 > 0:16:35that you see your own future?
0:16:35 > 0:16:39I want to be able to help other people who might be suffering
0:16:39 > 0:16:41with this kind of cancer.
0:16:41 > 0:16:47Even if it's not sarcomas, even if it's just any kind of cancer,
0:16:47 > 0:16:50so I'd like to go into a specialist area of being
0:16:50 > 0:16:56- a doctor, trained in cancer.- What's kept you going through it all?
0:16:56 > 0:17:01'Definitely a big help has been my mum and also definitely my faith
0:17:01 > 0:17:04'because my faith has mainly come from how my dad taught me,
0:17:04 > 0:17:06'my Christian upbringing'
0:17:06 > 0:17:11and that faith in God has just really pulled me through
0:17:11 > 0:17:15and helped me to pray and helped me to get some sort of relief
0:17:15 > 0:17:17and some sort of comfort from knowing that my dad
0:17:17 > 0:17:18is still watching over me.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37# Star-Child Earth-Child
0:17:37 > 0:17:41# Go-between of God
0:17:41 > 0:17:45# Love child Christ child
0:17:45 > 0:17:48# Heaven's lightning rod
0:17:48 > 0:17:52# This year This year
0:17:52 > 0:17:56# Let the day arrive
0:17:56 > 0:18:00# When Christmas comes for everyone
0:18:00 > 0:18:04# Everyone alive... #
0:18:08 > 0:18:12# Grown child Old child
0:18:12 > 0:18:16# Memory full of years
0:18:16 > 0:18:20# Sad child Lost child
0:18:20 > 0:18:23# Story told in tears
0:18:23 > 0:18:28# This year This year
0:18:28 > 0:18:31# Let the day arrive
0:18:31 > 0:18:35# When Christmas comes for everyone
0:18:35 > 0:18:40# Everyone alive... #
0:18:47 > 0:18:51# Hope-for-peace child
0:18:51 > 0:18:55# God's stupendous sign
0:18:55 > 0:18:59# Down-to-earth child
0:18:59 > 0:19:02# Star of stars that shine
0:19:02 > 0:19:07# This year This year
0:19:07 > 0:19:10# Let the day arrive
0:19:10 > 0:19:15# When Christmas comes for everyone
0:19:15 > 0:19:21# Everyone alive. #
0:19:23 > 0:19:24ROCK MUSIC PLAYS
0:19:24 > 0:19:28The weekend's beginning for a group of Wigan's teenagers.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31# Go, go, go, go! #
0:19:31 > 0:19:34These young people are members of Two Twenty Youth,
0:19:34 > 0:19:38a church group exploring faith and forging friendships.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44- Emma's grown up with the church. - 'It's just a massive family.'
0:19:44 > 0:19:47You come and you just feel like you've come home.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50So you could've had a rubbish week, stuff's going wrong and stuff
0:19:50 > 0:19:53and you just feel totally accepted, totally at home.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56You learn more about God and passionate people
0:19:56 > 0:19:58and you just want to get to know them more.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02The group's part of Today's Community Church,
0:20:02 > 0:20:06a Christian community at the heart of Wigan. Nick joined two years ago.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09'Before I came, it always felt like I was searching for something
0:20:09 > 0:20:11'but never really getting that.'
0:20:11 > 0:20:14But now, coming to Two Twenty,
0:20:14 > 0:20:20that hole that was in my life is now made a whole.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24These kids don't just hang out with each other on a Friday night.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26The following day, they're out in Wigan High Street
0:20:26 > 0:20:28offering hugs and sweets to passers-by
0:20:28 > 0:20:31as well as a special Christmas message for the public.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34- Would you like some free sweets? - Erm, yeah, go on, then.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Great, brilliant. Nice one.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38I've been given a lollipop now and it says,
0:20:38 > 0:20:40"Don't just give a gift, be a gift."
0:20:40 > 0:20:43- That's brilliant, you know, that's a great ethos. - Give of yourself.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46- Take a lolly?- Oh, brilliant.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50I love just going out, being able to show people who God is,
0:20:50 > 0:20:51- who our church is, our youth is. - Yeah.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57Nice to see stuff like that in the town and that,
0:20:57 > 0:20:59because the world can be an ugly place at times.
0:20:59 > 0:21:04- It's nice when people are giving free hugs. Can't do any harm, can it?- Free sweets, lolly?
0:21:04 > 0:21:08I just think, you know, youth are so important and vital
0:21:08 > 0:21:11as part of the community. It's so important that we just keep
0:21:11 > 0:21:14being ourselves, being authentic and looking after people,
0:21:14 > 0:21:15and loving people.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20It says in the Bible that if you have faith as small as
0:21:20 > 0:21:24a mustard seed, that you can move mountains. And...mountains!
0:21:26 > 0:21:29It says in the Bible that everything's possible with God
0:21:29 > 0:21:30and I truly believe that.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34You've just got to have the faith in Him and the faith in yourself.
0:21:41 > 0:21:49# As I walked down the road at set of sun
0:21:49 > 0:21:56# The lambs were coming homeward one by one
0:21:56 > 0:22:03# I heard a sheepbell softly calling them
0:22:03 > 0:22:11# Along the little road to Bethlehem... #
0:22:15 > 0:22:23# Beside an open door as I drew nigh
0:22:23 > 0:22:30# I heard sweet Mary sing a lullaby
0:22:30 > 0:22:38# She sang about the lambs at close of day
0:22:38 > 0:22:46# And rocked her tiny King among the hay... #
0:22:51 > 0:22:59# Across the air The silver sheepbell rang
0:22:59 > 0:23:06# "The lambs are coming home," sweet Mary sang
0:23:06 > 0:23:09# "Your star of gold
0:23:09 > 0:23:16# "Your star of gold
0:23:16 > 0:23:22# "is shining in the sky
0:23:22 > 0:23:27# "So sleep, my little King
0:23:27 > 0:23:32# "Go lullaby"... #
0:23:37 > 0:23:45# As I walked down the road at set of sun
0:23:45 > 0:23:52# The lambs were coming homeward one by one
0:23:52 > 0:24:00# I heard a sheepbell softly calling them
0:24:00 > 0:24:08# Along the little road to Bethlehem. #
0:24:20 > 0:24:23As promised, the big moment has arrived for the IMPACT team
0:24:23 > 0:24:25from St Edmund Arrowsmith High School.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28Soon, these unsuspecting Wigan shoppers will be
0:24:28 > 0:24:33embroiled in a surprise singing extravaganza - hopefully!
0:24:33 > 0:24:35- Excited about today? - Yeah, I can't wait.
0:24:35 > 0:24:36It's going to be really good.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38Even BBC Radio Manchester
0:24:38 > 0:24:40has got wind that something special's planned.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43- What about you, Joe?- It'll be really good because the people of Wigan
0:24:43 > 0:24:48- are in for a big surprise when they found out what's in store for them.- Ah, yes, exactly!
0:24:48 > 0:24:50A few minutes later, and the stage is set
0:24:50 > 0:24:53for brave soloist Lily and Sam on cornet.
0:24:56 > 0:25:01# Hark! The herald angels sing
0:25:01 > 0:25:06# Glory to the newborn King
0:25:06 > 0:25:12MORE BRASS AND VOICES JOIN: # Peace on earth and mercy mild
0:25:12 > 0:25:17# God and sinners reconciled
0:25:17 > 0:25:23# Joyful, all ye nations rise
0:25:23 > 0:25:28# Join the triumph of the skies
0:25:28 > 0:25:33# With the angelic host proclaim
0:25:33 > 0:25:40# Christ is born in Bethlehem
0:25:40 > 0:25:45# Hark! The herald angels sing
0:25:45 > 0:25:51# Glory to the newborn King
0:25:53 > 0:25:59# Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace
0:25:59 > 0:26:04# Hail the Son of Righteousness
0:26:04 > 0:26:10# Light and life to all He brings
0:26:10 > 0:26:16# Risen with healing in His wings
0:26:16 > 0:26:21# Mild He lays His glory by
0:26:21 > 0:26:27# Born that man no more may die
0:26:27 > 0:26:32# Born to raise the sons of earth
0:26:32 > 0:26:38# Born to give them second birth
0:26:38 > 0:26:44# Hark! The herald angels sing
0:26:44 > 0:26:51# "Glory to the newborn King. #
0:26:51 > 0:26:55CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:26:55 > 0:27:00Amazing what can be achieved with a voice, bravery and belief.
0:27:00 > 0:27:05It's been fantastic this morning down here at the Wigan Grand Arcade.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09- Were you nervous?- Yeah, but I was more excited, if anything.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13- And did it go well, Niamh?- I think it did, yeah. I had lots of fun.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15'Inspire us with your Holy Spirit.'
0:30:15 > 0:30:18'Move our hearts closer to you.'
0:30:18 > 0:30:20'Preserve our faith.'
0:30:20 > 0:30:23'Assist us in our weakness.'
0:30:23 > 0:30:28ALL: 'Calm us in our fears, transform us and our world.'
0:30:30 > 0:30:33It's great to hear how many young people are making a difference,
0:30:33 > 0:30:36whether through their musical talents or through
0:30:36 > 0:30:37caring for others around them.
0:30:37 > 0:30:41We've certainly got Wigan singing and hopefully you, too
0:30:41 > 0:30:45as you join in this final carol. You're bound to know it.
0:33:15 > 0:33:19Next week, join Aled for The Big Sing Top Ten Carols
0:33:19 > 0:33:22from the Royal Albert Hall.
0:33:23 > 0:33:27Star guests and an audience of 5,000 voices sing the carols
0:33:27 > 0:33:29voted as the nation's favourites.
0:33:29 > 0:33:33To see if yours is among them, tune in next week.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd