Of all the secular “Christmas songs” I have always loved “Fairy Tale of New York” co – written by Shane MacGowan, the lead singer of the band The Pogues. Shane died last month and I was interested to read about his faith in an article written by Tim Bechervaise in the Premier Magazine. It is a fairly long article and so I have divided it into two parts. Next week’s blog will feature the Pogues version of “Fairytale” but this week I am going to feature two Irish buskers, 18-year-old Allie Sherlock and 13 year old Fionn Whelan. singing in the streets of Cork.

Did you know that Shane MacGowan was born on Christmas Day? I didn’t – until his death last month. How apt for a man whose band, The Pogues were responsible for ‘Fairytale of New York’, one of the all-time great festive songs.

It’s one of the many notable soundbites to emerge as tributes poured in for a man whose music and life resonated with many – as reflected in the thousands who turned out for his funeral last Friday. Another interesting fact is that, for all its popularity, ‘Fairytale of New York’ has never made it to number one – until this year maybe?

But there’s something else nestled away in the many tributes being paid to the Irish music legend, and that’s numerous references to faith – including how, prior to becoming a punk star, he once considered entering the priesthood.

So, to what extent does faith emerge in the life and work of Shane MacGowan?

“I was brought up to be a religious maniac from an early age,” MacGowan once said of his Catholic background. He gathered with his wider family to pray the rosary and his home was decorated with religious icons. He regularly attended Mass, which he described as “one of the most beautiful experiences a human being can be subjected to.”

Despite the rollercoaster ride as one of Ireland’s most famous artists – including drug and drink abuse, with Sinead O’Connor even calling the police in an attempt to get him off heroin – this upbringing never left him. Indeed, it perhaps meant more to him than is universally acknowledged.

“I always loved the stories of the lives of the saints, and I believe in the saints and always have, I pray to them every day and to Jesus and His Holy Mother,” he told The Catholic Herald.

“I don’t take it for granted that I was born on Christmas Day, Christ’s birthday, and I don’t like that people miss the point of Christmas. It’s not about Santa Claus and presents, it’s supposed to be about the teachings of Christ, who is love. Jesus forgives everyone and we need to practise forgiveness as much as we can. And Jesus teaches peace and love and tolerance, which is what we all need.”

These beliefs fed into his work, with biblical imagery a frequent feature of his song lyrics. In ‘The church of the holy spook’, the opening track of his 1994 post-Pogues solo début, The Snake, he howls: “When the sacred blood of the Holy Ghost is boiling in my veins / I think of Jesus on the cross and I scream out for his pain”. They also inspired his artwork, with one of his drawings offering a take on the Last Supper.

Quote of the Week

There is more to life than there appears to be with the five senses.

Shane MacGowen

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

So to continue from the blogs of the last two weeks – the focus of Mustard Seed Songs has recently been our work in progress “Theophilus- The Musical” and its spin off “A Journey of Faith”.
However, our second musical – Risen! The Musical is back! In May 2024 we have 5 performances booked at Titchfield Festival Theatre’s, Arden Theatre– a brand new auditorium holding approx. 450.
The Director and Choreographer is Jody Brown with Harry Wells, the Musical Director.
Last week I shared with you the letter of invitation that is going to potential performers- this week it is the list of characters.
Risen! The Musical – Characters
Timeframes refer to the film of Risen! The Musical
Risen! The Musical with subtitles in English – YouTube
• Jesus- gentle, but at the same time strong, and very determined. Example of songs “You Are My Rock” (17 mins – 18 mins 37 secs) “All Authority”. (1 hour 16 mins 20 secs- 1 hour 17 mins 12 secs)
• Mary the Mother of Jesus-– a person of dignity, highly respected- example of songs “Give Them Your Heart Lord” (1 hour 27 mins 52 secs- 1 hour 30 mins 08 secs)
• Mary Magdalene- a devoted follower of Jesus and first to see Him after the resurrection. Example of songs “I Know It’s Not Yet The Start Of The Day”. (32mins 35 secs- 34 mins 35 secs)
• Mary wife of Clopas (some believe her to be the wife of Cleopas) – a follower of Jesus – needs a “belt voice” for lead on “Jesus Is My Lord”. (58 mins 21 secs- 1 hour 01 mins 26 secs)
• and call backs on “Risen!” (1 hour 38 mins 14 secs- I hour 41 mins 40 secs)
• Mary sister of Martha and Lazarus- devoted follower of Jesus – sings “My Beloved King”. (1 min 53 secs- 4 mins 38 secs)
• Martha sister of Mary and Lazarus- another devoted follower of Jesus (Jesus often stayed at Martha and her sister Mary’s house in Bethany) sings some solo verses on, for example “Give Thanks To The Lord” (46 mins 36 secs- 49 mins 15 secs)
• John- narrator, youngest of the disciples and writer of the 4th Gospel – example of recitative “So Mary Was The First” (39 mins 23 secs-40 mins 30 secs) Example of song “Your Merciful Love” (1 hour 24 mins 28 secs- 1 hour 26 mins 40 secs)
• Peter- disciple who later becomes their leader- sings “How Can I Love You More”? (1 hour 13 mins 49 secs- 1 hour 15 mins 35 secs)
• James- a disciple who was brother of John and described by Jesus as “a son of thunder” sings “Judas I Don’t Understand” (20 mins 42 secs – 23 mins 35 secs)
• Thomas- disciple, unfairly dubbed “Daunting Thomas” but is, in fact a loyal friend of Jesus. Example of songs “You Are My Lord” (1 hour 02 mins 39 secs-1 hour 03 mins 47 secs)
• Matthew- disciple and writer of the first Gospel- starts “How Great Are His Signs”. (55 mins 45 secs- 56 mins 22 secs)
• Judas- one of the 12 disciples – he betrayed Jesus –Example of songs “I Have Betrayed An Innocent Man”. (23 min 41 secs – 25 mins 35 secs)
• Cleopas and also the disciple Philip– as Cleopas in semi- humorous scene with his friend- sings “Cleopas Come On”. (40 mins 33 secs- 42 mins 58 secs)
• Cleopas’ friend and also the disciple Andrew (brother of Peter) – in semi- humorous scene with Cleopas- sings “Cleopas Come On”. (40 mins 33 secs- 42 mins 58 secs))
• Ensemble
• Simon the Zealot (disciple)
• Nathaniel (disciple) aka Bartholomew
• James, son of Alphaeus-(disciple) aka James the Younger
• Thaddeous (disciple) aka Jude

Quote of the Week

Risen! featuring the Original Cast from the album “Risen! The Musical” recorded and produced by Joffy Girling/Joffy James

So just to continue from last week – the focus of Mustard Seed Songs has recently been our work in progress “Theophilus- The Musical” and its spin off “A Journey of Faith”.
However, our second musical – Risen! The Musical is back! In May 2024 we have 5 performances booked at Titchfield Festival Theatre’s, Arden Theatre– a brand new auditorium holding approx. 450.
The Director and Choreographer is Jody Brown with Harry Wells, the Musical Director.
Last week I shared with you the promo and today it is the letter of invitation that is going to potential performers- so if you fancy “treading the boards” please read the below and get in touch!

Hello,
It is my pleasure to invite you to the Show Launch of “Risen! The Musical” at Holy Rood Church Centre, Stubbington PO14 2AS on Thursday, December 14th at 7.00 pm.
Risen! The Musical is an original “sung through musical” produced by the charity Mustard Seed Songs and will be performed at the new Arden Theatre of Titchfield Festival Theatre PO14 4BG, from Wednesday, May, 1st to Saturday, May 4th.
The Director and Choreographer is Jody Brown and Musical Director, Harry Wells.
Auditions will take place during the first week of January 2024. Rehearsals will immediately follow twice weekly in Stubbington and/or Portsmouth.
The “Risen! The Musical” storyline begins just before Palm Sunday and, unlike Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell, finishes not on Good Friday or Easter Sunday, but 40 days later. We believe this production to be unique and attractive to people of all ages and persuasions.
An earlier production was filmed at Portsmouth’s New Theatre Royal and featured “The London Touring Cast” – alumni and students from the London College of Music, Ealing, London. The Arden Theatre production will be similar, but not identical to the filmed version with, for example the cast not necessarily required to dance.
Here is a short promo taken from the film: https://youtu.be/NP5jJIwzBhw
The full film can be seen here: Risen! The Musical with subtitles in English – YouTube
Attached is a list of the characters, playing ages, voice and song examples using time references from the film.
If you would like to attend the Show Launch, please email your details to ken@risenthemusical.com and I will add you to the attendees list.
With very best wishes
Ken Shearsmith
Founder Mustard Seed Songs (registered charity no 1077618)

Quote of the week

The focus of Mustard Seed Songs has recently been our work in progress “Theophilus- The Musical” and its spin off “A Journey of Faith”.
So, what happened to Risen! The Musical you may well ask – well its back! In May 2024 we have 5 performances booked at Titchfield Festival Theatre’s, Arden Theatre– a brand new auditorium holding approx. 450.
The Director and Choreographer is Jody Brown with Harry Wells, the Musical Director.
Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing the details, but let’s kick off with the promo which is featured today.

Quote of the week

As the conflict in Gaza and Israel continues with more and more horrific images on our tv screens can I please offer another video which I trust helps to convey the anguish of all those caught up in the conflict?

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There is very little I can say about the conflict in Gaza and Israel- the horrific images on our tv screens says it all.

The featured video was meant for Ukraine, but I trust it to be just as relevant for the Palestinian and Israeli people.

Quote of the week

Jesus Christ

“Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled” featuring Ben Morris from the album Risen! The Musical recorded and produced by Joffy Girling

I know that this has been “doing the rounds” on social media but I still thought it worth sharing.

Matthew Perry, the US actor famously known for his role as Chandler in the sitcom Friends, has revealed how he experienced a breakthrough in his battle with alcohol addiction after a prayer.
He said: “God, please help me, show me that you are here. God, please help me…”
“I started to cry. I mean, I really started to cry – that shoulder-shaking kind of uncontrollable weeping. I wasn’t crying because I was sad. I was crying because for the first time in my life, I felt okay. I felt safe, taken care of. Decades of struggling with God, and wrestling with life and sadness, all was being washed away, like a river of pain gone into oblivion.”
“I had been in the presence of God. I was certain of it.”
Perry says he stayed sober for two years based “solely” on that encounter with God.
“God had shown me a sliver of what life could be. He saved me that day, and for all days, no matter what. He had turned me into a seeker, not only of sobriety, and truth, but also of him”.

Quote of the week

Morrie Schwartz/Jack Lemmon

Love Is The Way featuring Lucy Stimpson-Maynard from the album Love Is The Way recorded and produced by Bob Ross.

It is said that a picture paints a thousand words and I believe that this is true of today’s featured photo.
Yes, I am aware that this and similar images have been staged and so could be regarded as “fake”, however can I put this thought to you? “If fake, does the message become even more powerful than if true”? In other words, is the desire for it to be true more powerful than if it were true?

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England’s Marcus Smith kicks a conversion during the Summer Series match at Twickenham Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday July 10, 2021.

There’s More Than One Way Of Saying I Love You featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album Uplifted recorded and produced by Bob Ross.

I am not sure if you have been watching the Rugby Union World Cup, but for those that are not enthusiasts this week we have the semi- finals with Argentina taking on New Zealand and England taking on South Africa.
I am not a fan of the style of rugby that England are playing at present- it is not adventurous enough and that is one reason why my favourite player Marcus Smith is unlikely to be in the starting line -up. He is a fly half, but the problem is Owen Farrell, the England captain also plays in that position. To accommodate Marcus in the last game against Fiji Marcus played full back, but because of tactics he is unlikely to play there against South Africa.
Anyway, in addition to being a brilliant young rugby player Marcus is also a Christian. An extract from an interview with “Square Mile” is below:
Fuelled by his unwavering faith, strong family values, and an insatiable drive for success, Marcus Smith, the England fly-half, has swiftly ascended to the pinnacle of rugby.
Born in the Philippines, this exceptional talent reflects upon the challenging journey that has led him to the upcoming Rugby World Cup this autumn.
He said “Obviously, that season wasn’t all plain sailing. Around November-December time, I was on the bench a few times at Quins. I wasn’t in contention with England, I wasn’t playing my best rugby.
“My mum is massively religious herself, so she always used to encourage us to pray with her. I wanted a solution. I wanted to try something different because what I was doing wasn’t working, and therefore I trusted my mum and listened to her and started praying with her regularly.
“Through that I felt more at ease with myself. I felt more able to deal with the ups and downs of professional sport and life as well.
It allowed me to understand that everything happens for a reason and everything is meant to happen. As long as you are good and do the right things and you work as hard as you can, that’s all you can ultimately do.
“And so I surrendered all the outcomes, everything that I can’t control to Him and worked as hard as I can at the sport I love dearly. It’s definitely brought me very, very close to God and I believe strongly in Him.

Quote of the week

Yours Is A Jealous Love featuring Lucy Stimpson-Maynard from the album Precious recorded and produced by Ross Gill.

I recently read this in the “Word For Today” and thought it well worth sharing.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, ‘There is no limit to what can be accomplished if it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.’ Most people know about Isaac Newton’s famed encounter with a falling apple; how he introduced the law of universal gravitation and revolutionised astronomical studies. But few people know that had it not been for a man called Edmond Halley, the world may never have heard of Newton. Halley was the one who urged Newton to think through his original theories, corrected his mathematical mistakes, and formulated geometrical figures to support his discoveries. It was Halley who persuaded a hesitant Newton to write his great work The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. And it was Halley who edited and supervised its publication and financed its printing, even though Newton was wealthier and could better have afforded the cost.
Historians have called Halley’s affiliation with Newton one of the most selfless cases in science. Newton began almost immediately to reap the rewards of prominence, but Halley received little credit. He did use the principles Newton established to forecast the orbit and return of a comet that would later bear his name. But since Halley’s Comet returns only every seventy-six years, relatively few people still hear his name. However, Halley didn’t care who got the credit as long as the cause of science was advanced. He personified what it means to live by this scriptural principle: ‘Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves.’ Anytime God gives you an opportunity to put others first and yourself second, grab it and run with it.

Quote of the week