Click on the image to see the video

A Crown Today, A Cross Tomorrow featuring Lucy Stimpson-Maynard from the album Where Would I Be Without You? recorded and produced by Ross Gill

So sorry for the late post – been to a wedding!
Not much to say this week either – the video speaks for itself – defo a moment ( actually moments) of sunshine.

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Where Would I Be Without You? featuring Lucy
Stimpson- Maynard from the album Where Would I Be Without You? recorded and produced by Ross Gill

Maro Itoje is the England Rugby Union captain and now also the captain of the British and Irish Lions who are touring Australia.
Below is an extract from an interview he had recently with BBC News.
When asked about how religion fitted into his tactics, former Labour spin guru Alastair Campbell famously said “We don’t do God”.Itoje, who was introduced to Campbell by England team manager Richard Hill as a youngster and remains in touch, definitely does.

At his unveiling as Lions captain in May, he revealed he had missed Bible study to be there.
When he was promoted to England captain in January, his pastor was one of six people he told before the public announcement., external
Asked about the long journey to both posts, Itoje has a simple explanation: “God’s timing is always the best time.” “In the last two or three years I have made a conscious decision to double down in that regard,” he tells BBC Sport. “I was probably a lukewarm Christian for a large part of my life. I was probably someone who went to church but was not really living the principles or values of it that deeply, but I have always been a believer.”The humility that I have tried to embody throughout my life definitely comes from knowing that everything I have has been a gift, not by my own doing, but by the guy upstairs.”
By Itoje’s high standards and own admission, that humility wasn’t always present on previous Lions tours. He has described his 22-year-old self, who won over the Lions fans’ sea of red in New Zealand in 2017, as “a little bit brash and a bit naive”. This time around, at the very centre of the hype and hoopla, he is determined to keep his calm and routine. “I try to have a daily amount of time that I spend, whether that is reading the Bible or praying, ideally both,” he explains. “I also try and do Bible study once or twice a week at least.”I am going to try and maintain the system I have over in Australia, with Zoom and Whatsapp video calls.”

Itoje has his philosophy and his peace. “Sport is unpredictable, you don’t know how things are going to transpire,” he says. “Sometimes you can deserve to win and lose, and sometimes you can deserve to lose and win – there is not necessarily rhyme or reason for that. “You have to just stay as consistent as possible through your actions and hope, through it all, you end up in the place you are supposed to be.”
Faith is just one part of a hinterland as wide as the outback. Itoje describes himself as having a “portfolio existence” off the pitch.The Akoje Gallery, which Itoje founded in 2023, is a prominent part “There is a commercial aspect to it – we want to sell art – but we also want to propel and promote art, particularly African art,” he says.
The breadth of his interests and the depth of his thought have triggered suspicion in some. Former England coach Eddie Jones publicly doubted whether Itoje was captaincy material. Jones claimed Itoje was “very inward-looking” and lacked influence over his team-mates. Itoje politely, but firmly, disagreed. So far, events seem to support the younger man.
Itoje’s clear, calm 80-minute leadership carried England to a second-place finish in this year’s Six Nations. At Saracens, footage of his pep talks show that they are passionate, canny and expletive-free.

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 I’m A Believer (Diamond) featuring the Mustard Seed Soul Band from the album Heart and Soul recorded and produced by Ross Gill

So, following up from last week which included a promo featuring “His Story” at the Kings Theatre, Southsea, today’s promo is taken from a “His Story” production at the Fernham Hall, Fareham.
In the productions of 20 years ago the actors, acted and the singers, sang- which was fine but a little bit “flip flop” from one to the other. However, at our celebration “His Story” of November 8th at Holy Rood church, Stubbington the actors will not just act they will also sing! We have three professional musical theatre performers, one of whom is Richard Mellion who played Peter in the staged concert of Theophilus – The Musical. Richard also played the role of Peter in our soon to be released Bible Study “A Journey of Faith.”
We are also delighted to announce that Lucy Stimpson Maynard will be singing four songs. There will be some new faces joining the Mustard Seed Soul Band, the Alverstoke School of Dance will be performing, and I hope to soon announce the names of the school choirs.
Today’s featured song will be part of the “His Story” finale.

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So, we recently celebrated 25 years of Mustard Seed Songs with an event at Holy Rood church, Stubbington. In addition to me being interviewed by the Vicar, Richard England, the Mustard Seed Soul Band reformed and played 5 songs. We were hoping that our original singer, the fantastic Lucy Stimpson- Maynard would be able to perform, but she had unfortunately hurt her hand so badly that an operation was required.
Well the evening was a huge success, please see Blog March 6th Mustard Seed 25th Year Celebration Part Three | Risen so much so that we plan to celebrate the 20th anniversary of our first musical “His Story” again at Holy Rood church on Saturday November 8th. I will give you more details over the coming weeks, but as a taster today’s featured video is a promo taken from a “His Story” production at the Kings Theatre, Southsea. It features Lucy Stimpson- Maynard, The Mustard Seed Soul Band and the Crofton Hammond Infant Choir- Mary mother of Jesus is played by Michelle Antrobus and John by Ben Morris. At the time they were both studying at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Both later en performed in the West End, Ben, for example in “Phantom of the Opera” and Michelle in “Chicago.”
I’ll share more of “His Story” next week.

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The Gospel of Christ featuring the Mustard Seed Soul Band from the album Heart and Soul recorded and produced by Ross Gill

I told you all about my beloved brother Jack in the blog of Blog June 3rd Jack Ralph Shearsmith | Risen
On Saturday we had a family reunion to celebrate his 94th birthday. When he was 76 he demonstrated his club swinging skills (inherited from our dad- but not passed onto me!) at our mum’s 103 birthday party at the local golf club – it can be viewed here Club swinging- 76 year old (shows you how it’s done) – YouTube
As I was chatting to Jack on Saturday, I thought wouldn’t it be good if he gave us another short demonstration – trouble was there were no clubs about – however there were some Prosecco bottles (empty by then of course!) and so he used these and the result can be seen in today’s featured video- amazing!!

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Howard Loomis

Walking With Jesus featuring the Mustard Seed Soul Band from the album Heart and Soul  recorded and produced by Ross Gill

Back in 2022 Mustard Seeds produced a staged concert of our work in progress “Theophilus – The Musical Blog July 15th “Extracts from the Staged Concert Theophilus- The Musical” | Risen
I always had in mind to extract one song from the concert to be especially used for prayer. At last, we have done so thanks to Leo Higgins, who is the son of Peter, a former student of mine and a member of one of our very successful football teams.
Leo is still at school, but a budding and very professional and excellent videographer – I can highly recommend him to you should you need any work doing – here a link to his website LEO HIGGINS

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Jesus is my Lord featuring the Mustard Seed Soul Band from the album Heart and Soul recorded and produced by Ross Gill

I found this week’s devotion in The Word For Today really moving and worthy of sharing. It also reminded me of the famous line in the 1970’s song “Big Yellow Taxi.” “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” Written and sung, of course by Joni Mitchell (hence today’s featured pic)
Read this: ‘I remember when I took your new car on the road and wrecked it. I thought you would be livid and come down hard on me, but you didn’t. I remember when we went to the beach, and you didn’t want to go because you said it was going to rain. We went, and it rained. I was sure you would rub it in and say, “I told you so!” But you didn’t. Then there was the time when I spilled blueberry juice down the front of your new white tuxedo. I knew you would be upset and blame me. But you didn’t.
‘And remember that formal evening? I was mistaken and told you it was casual. You wore blue jeans and felt like a fish out of water. I was sure you would storm out in anger and leave me standing there. But you didn’t. I wanted to tell you how much I loved you and how much I appreciated you for all those things when you returned from Afghanistan. But you didn’t.’
Don’t spend the future regretting unspoken words someone needs to hear. ‘Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.’ Few things are more effective than the right word at the right time. By the same token, words of kindness withheld are a heavy burden to live with. That’s why the Bible says, ‘Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad’ (Proverbs 12:25 ESV). Don’t let shyness or fear of rejection keep you from saying what needs to be said. Tell them while you still can.

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It’s From The Lord featuring the Mustard Seed Soul Band from the album Heart and Soul recorded and produced by Ross Gill

So following on from last week’s blog here is another great clip from “The Commitments” this time
singing one of my all- time favs – Wilson Picketts “In the Midnight Hour.”
And as promised here is some more info on The Commitments’ lead singer Andrew Strong courtesy of
Wikipedia:
Andrew Strong (born 14 November 1973) is an Irish singer and the son of Irish musician and singing
coach Robert (Rob) Strong. He grew up in Shandon Park, Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland,
(where his father lived while performing with showbands), and later Blessington, Co. Wicklow. He
starred as Deco Cuffe in the 1991 cult film The Commitments based on the book by Roddy Doyle,
despite being only 18 at the time. In 1992, he was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in
a Supporting Role for his performance in The Commitments, and with the cast, received a
nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
Since then, Strong has released a number of albums, including a platinum disc, and toured with
artists including The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Prince, Lenny Kravitz and Bryan Adams.
Strong does not tour with the official tribute act to The Commitments, although he did perform with
the original cast for the 20th anniversary concert in the O2 Arena in Dublin in March 2011.

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Lean on Me (Withers) featuring the Mustard Seed Soul Band from the album Heart and Soul recorded and produced by Ross Gill

I was recently flicking through the TV channels to find some golf or the like and saw that “The Commitments” was being broadcast. Such an amazing film and what a brilliant singer Andrew Strong is – who was only 18 years old when the film was released.
Here is a great clip of the band playing “Try a little tenderness” (the Otis Redding type version.) More of Andrew Strong next week

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You Are My Rock featuring the Mustard Seed Soul Band from the album Heart and Soul recorded and produced by Ross Gill

Last year we hoped to put on our Risen! The Musical at the new Arden Theatre of the Titchfield Festival Theatre (TFT) but were unable to because of an injunction placed on it by Fareham Borough Council (see blog Blog February 1st Risen! The Musical – The Arden Theatre Saga – Part One | Risen)
It would appear that the TFT has lost its latest and probably final appeal – The Daily Mail reports:
A theatre company has claimed Shakespeare would be ‘turning in his grave’ after a local council ordered it to tear down its £1.7million stage and auditorium. The Arden, the newest of three stages at Titchfield Festival Theatre in Hampshire, is still hosting performances despite being declared illegal by a planning inspector in August 2024. The theatre lost a High Court appeal against an order to close the stage.

The 450-seat theatre recently held performances of The Sound of Music over Easter and is still due to host productions next month. An enforcement notice by Fareham Borough Council said the land only had planning permission for storage and there was no lawful use for a theatre.
Kevin Fraser, artistic director of the theatre company told The Times Shakespeare would be ‘turning in his grave’ after he was told to tear the theatre down. He added: ‘I am clearly broken hearted at the decision from the planning Inspectorate. ‘The country will lose one of its greatest community arts assets and Shakespeare must be turning in his grave.’
The theatre said the council was pursuing a ‘vendetta’ against it and has started an online petition to save the stage, with already 6,000 signatures.
The theatre company has a link to Shakespeare through Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, who lived on the family estate at Titchfield Abbey near Fareham and was a patron of the playwright. Mr Fraser said they took legal advice before they began construction of the stage. He claims he was advised that the company could claim ‘deemed permission’ for full theatre use, arguing that after ten years if a decision has not been made it is deemed to have been acceptable.
The High Court did not agree and ruled in favour of the inspector who said the Arden theatre was effectively a new unit for planning purposes. Titchfield Festival Theatre has operated out of a converted barn for 13 years and claims to be the largest community theatre in Europe.
After two failed attempts to gain planning permission to convert a storage space into a theatre in 2019, Mr Fraser decided to start building the Arden theatre in August 2022.Since 2013 it has hosted performances, in November that year the council took action against the building.
Mr Fraser called the planning committee ‘Scrooges’ as he then launched an appeal against the decision by the Planning Inspectorate. Nick Walker, chairman of the planning committee, said: ‘It beggars belief that anyone would build a new 450-seat theatre without first securing planning permission.’
An application for a 567-seat theatre was rejected by Fareham Borough Council in 2019. Another application was also rejected later that year. In their objection, councillors said the site was unsustainable and in a ‘poorly accessible location’. The council added that a lack of adequate parking would cause an increase in disruption and noise for neighbours.
In a statement, Titchfield Festival Theatre said: ‘The trustees are obviously disappointed with the ruling from the Judicial Review. We are taking further legal advice on the potential outcomes. In the meantime the Arden Theatre continues to operate.’

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