“My Beloved King” featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album “Uplifted” recorded and produced by Bob Ross

One question that understandably is so often asked is – “If there is a God and He is good – why does He allow so much suffering in the world? I have on numerous occasions attempted in this blog to shine some light on this most challenging of topics- the last time being January 26th 2017. There is, in fact no easy answers – just “jig saw pieces” that when put together may help. I recently read in the daily devotion Every Day With Jesus (EDWJ) what I felt to be another helpful “jig saw piece” and so will, in the next few weeks, copy extracts from “A Higher Love.” Incidentally the words on the front of the cover “Many waters cannot quench love; rivers can’t wash it away.” Song of Songs 8:7 are used in the song “My Beloved King” which Mary sister of Martha and Lazarus sings to Jesus in Risen! The Musical. It is today’s featured song.

In today’s extract Selwyn Hughes the author of EDWJ makes it clear how difficult this subject is:

We move on to try to answer the question: If God loves us so very much, why is it that He allows so many seemingly bad things happen to us? I have found this to be the one question more than any other that troubles the hearts of so many. Time and time again I have sat beside a weeping man or woman in whose life something tragic has happened and heard them say: If God loves me why did He let this happen?

We have all lived through events that cause our hearts to ache- at such times who has not cried out: God why did You allow this to happen? Do You really care for me? These are the many questions on which many a soul has been shipwrecked leaving them grounded on reefs of pain and doubt.

No minister or counsellor finds it easy to answer these questions – one man that I know left the Christian ministry because he could not come up with an adequate answer to the question why does God allow bad things to happen to good people. If only we understood His heart more clearly….. to be continued.

Quote for the week

“Start where you are, take what you have and do what you can.”

The Word for Today

Jesus meets Cleopas and his friend on the road to Emmaus – from Risen! The Musical Theatre in Education

“Love is the Way” featuring Lucy Stimpson-Maynard from the album “Love is the Way” recorded and produced by John Hodgkinson and Bob Ross

On Sunday at the 6.30 pm Service at Holy Rood church, a question was asked by Rev. Colin Prestige “How many resurrection appearances were there of Jesus”? There were a number of different answers coming from the congregation – I did a quick add up in my head and came up with eleven. Colin said “Close but there were in fact twelve.”
Afterwards I disagreed that it was twelve and Colin and myself exchanged some emails. Colin sent me a link to a blog by Msgr. Charles Pope • April 9, 2012 that records what he believes to be a likely sequence of events. For my suggested eleven appearances I had placed appearances 5 and 6 together and Pope himself states that they are likely to be synonymous.
Incidentally this sequence of events is very similar to that which I chronicled for Risen! The Musical
The Morning of Day One
Very early in the morning a group of several women, including Mary Magdalene, approach the tomb to complete burial customs on behalf of Jesus (Matt 28:1; Mk 16:1; Jn 20:1).

They behold the tomb opened and are alarmed. Mary Magdalene runs to Peter and John with distressing news of likely grave robbers (Jn 20:2)

The women who remain encounter an angel who declared to them that Jesus had risen and that they should tell this to the brethren (Mk 16:5 Lk 24:4; Mt 28:5).

They are filled with fear at first and depart from the tomb afraid to speak (Mk 16:8)

Recovering their courage they decide to go to the Apostles. (Lk 24:9; Mt 28:8)

Meanwhile Peter and John have gone out to the tomb to investigate Mary’s claim. Mary Magdalene followed them back out to the tomb arriving before they left. Peter and John discover the tomb empty though they encounter no angel. John believes in the resurrection. Peter’s conclusion is not recorded.

The other women have reported what the angels say to the Apostles. Peter and John have not yet returned and these remaining apostles are dismissive of the women’s story at first (Lk 24:9-11).

Mary, lingering at the tomb weeps and is fearful. Peering into the tomb she sees this time two angels who wonder why she weeps. Jesus then approaches her from behind. Not looking directly at Jesus, she supposes him to be the gardener. Then he calls her by name, and Mary, recognizing his voice, turns and sees him. Filled with joy she clings to him. (APPEARANCE 1) (Jn 20:16)
The other women have departed the apostles and are on their way possibly back home. Jesus then appears to them (Mt 28:9) after he had dispatched Mary. He also sends them back to the apostles with the news that he had risen and that he would see them. (APPEARANCE 2)
The Afternoon and evening of day one.

Later that Day, two disciples on their way to Emmaus are pondering what they have heard about rumours of his resurrection. Jesus comes up behind them but they are prevented from recognizing him. First Jesus breaks open the word for them, then sits at table with them and celebrates the Eucharist whereupon their eyes are opened and they recognize him in the breaking of the bread. (APPEARANCE 3) (Lk 24:13-30)

The two disciples returned that evening to Jerusalem and went to the Eleven. At first the eleven disbelieved them just as they had the women (Mk 16:13). Nevertheless they continue to relate what they had experienced. At some point Peter drew apart from the others (perhaps for a walk?) And the Lord appeared to Peter (APPEARANCE 4) (Lk 24:34; 1 Cor 15:5) who informed the other ten who then believed. Thus the disciples from Emmaus (still lingering with the apostles) were now told (perhaps by way of apology) that it was in indeed true that Jesus had risen (Lk 24:34).

Almost at the same moment Jesus appears to the small gathering of apostles and the two disciples from Emmaus. (APPEARANCE 5) Thomas was absent (although the Lucan text describes the appearance as to “the eleven” this is probably just a euphemism for “the apostles” as a group) They are startled but Jesus reassures them and opens the scriptures to them (Lk 24:36ff).

There is some debate as to whether he appeared to them a second time that night. The Johannine account has significantly different data about the appearance on the first Sunday evening from the Lucan account. Is it merely different data about the same account or is it a wholly separate appearance? It is not possible to say. Nevertheless since the data is so different we can call it (APPEARANCE 6) (Jn 20:19ff) though it is likely synonymous with appearance 5.

One week later, Sunday two.

Jesus appears once again (APPEARANCE 7) to the apostles gathered. This time Thomas is with them. He calls Thomas to faith who now confesses Jesus to be Lord and God. (Jn 20:24-29)

Interlude

The apostles received some instructions to return to Galilee (Mt 28:10; Mk 16:7) where they would see Jesus. Thus they spent some of the week journeying 60 miles to the north. This would have taken some time. We can imagine them making the trek north during the intervening days.

Some time later

The time frame of the next appearance is somewhat vague. John merely says “After this.” Likely it is a matter of days or a week at best. The scene is at the Sea of Galilee. Not all the Twelve are present. They have gone fishing, and Jesus summons them from the lakeside. They come to shore and see him (APPEARANCE 8 ) . Peter has a poignant discussion with Jesus in this appearance and is commissioned to tend the flock of Christ (Jn 21).

The Appearance to the 500. Of all the appearances you might think that this one would have been recorded in some detail since it was the most widely experienced appearance. Many accounts, it seems, would have existed and at least one would have made its way into the scriptures. Yet there is no account of it, other than it did in fact happen. Paul records the fact of this appearance: 1 Cor 15:6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. (APPEARANCE 9) Where did this take place. What was it like. What was the reaction? We simply do not know. Proof once again that the Bible is not a history book in the conventional sense. Rather it is a highly selective telling of what took place, not a complete account. The Bible makes no pretences to be something it is not. It is quite clear that it is a selective book: (Jn 20:30).

The Appearance to James. Here again we do not have a description of this appearance only a remark by Paul that it did in fact happen: 1 Cor 15:7 Then he appeared to James. (APPEARANCE 10) The time frame is not clear. Only that it happened after the appearance to the five hundred and before the final appearance to the apostles.

The rest of the forty days.

Jesus certainly had other on-going appearances with the disciples. Luke attests to this in Acts when he writes: Acts 1:3 To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God.

During this time there is perhaps the one appearance we can attribute to this time period as recorded by Matthew (Mt 28:16ff) and Mark (Mk 16:14ff). It takes place an “a mountaintop in Galilee.” Mark adds that they were reclining at table. For these notes this appearance (time frame uncertain) is referred to as (APPEARANCE 11) It is here that he give the great commission. Although Mark’s text may seem to imply that Jesus was taken up from this mountain, such a conclusion is rash since Mark only indicates that Jesus ascended only “after he had spoken to them” (Mk 16:19).

Evidently Jesus had also summoned them back to Jerusalem at least toward the end of the period of the forty days. There they would be present for the feast of Pentecost. We can imagine frequent appearances with on-going instruction for Luke records that Jesus “stayed with them.” Most of these appearances and discourses are not recorded. Luke writes in Acts: And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4)

The final appearance and ascension:

After forty days of appearances and instructions we have a final account of the last appearance (APPEARANCE 12) wherein he led them out to a place near Bethany, gave them final instructions to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit was sent. And then he was taken up to heaven in their very sight. (Lk 24:50-53; Acts 1:1-11).

Some also regard another appearance of Jesus to be when He met with Saul (later named Paul) on the road to Damascus some two years later. Acts 9:3-5; 22:7-8; 26:14-16; 1 Cor 15:8

Quote for the week

“Failure is not an event – it is only an option”

The Word for Today

A promo for “Risen! The Musical”  to be broadcast on Credo TV (Romania) on  Monday, April 9th 11.30 am GMT

Last blog I gave an explanation as to why Easter is not a fixed date as is Christmas. At the end I stated that Eastern Christianity applies the same basic rule but uses the older Julian calendar, which is currently 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, giving a different range of possible dates.

I have decided today to give a fuller explanation as I have just been reminded that Easter for the Orthodox Church is this coming Sunday, April 8th. Why have I just been reminded of this? Well last Easter Risen! The Musical was broadcast on Revelation TV in the UK and on Alfa- Omega TV in Romania and also Credo TV in Romania. The Credo transmitters are extremely powerful with signals reaching as far as Siberia and the USA. The young man who translated Risen! into Romanian is Alex- Emmaunel – Serban. Alex is fantastic guy who is a video editor for Credo. He speaks English perfectly and not only translated Risen! into Romanian but he also created the sub titles- thank you so very much Alex!!

Alex has just messaged me to say that Risen! The Musical is being broadcast on Credo TV on Monday April 9th at 1.30 pm Romanian time which is 11.30 am GMT.   You can stream it live via http://www.credo.tv/

Anyway Orthodox Easter, also called Pascha and Resurrection Sunday, is the oldest and most important festival in the Eastern Christian tradition, celebrating Jesus Christ’s resurrection, following his crucifixion and death. In most years its date differs from the date of Easter in Western Christianity (catholic and protestant Easter), and is usually one week, but occasionally four or five weeks, later. However, in some years Orthodox Easter coincides with Western Easter and both observances fall on the same date.

In Western Christianity, the date of Easter is based on the Gregorian calendar and can fall between March 22 and April 25. The Eastern Christian tradition bases its calculations of Orthodox Easter on the Julian calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar by 13 days. This results in a possible date range of April 4 to May 8. However, both Western and Eastern churches agree that Easter should be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox, but always after Passover.

This table compares the dates of Western and Orthodox Easter for the years 2010 to 2030:

Occasionally initiatives are started to introduce a fixed and unified date of Easter (probably the second or third Sunday in April), however there are currently no concrete plans to do so.

Quote for the week

“Sometimes God calms the storm – other times He lets the storm rage but calms us.”

The Word for Today

The Crucifixion from Risen! The Musical – New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth

“A Crown Today A Cross Tomorrow” featuring Lucy Stimpson-Maynard and Lucy Jane Rutherford from  His Story Live (not released) recorded and produced by Ross Gill

With today being Maundy Thursday and tomorrow Good Friday I thought it a good idea to share why Easter does not occur, like Christmas, on the same date each year. So below is a comprehensive explanation taken from an article in The Economist

Unlike other Christian holidays, Easter can move around a lot from one year to the next, its date sometimes varying by more than a month. It falls between March 22nd and April 25th for the Western church, and between April 4th and May 8th for the Eastern church. Why does Easter move around so much?

According to the Bible, Jesus held the Last Supper with his disciples on the night of the Jewish festival of Passover, died the next day (Good Friday) and rose again on the third day (the following Sunday). The beginning of Passover is determined by the first full moon after the vernal equinox, which can occur on any day of the week. To ensure that Easter occurs on a Sunday, the Council of Nicaea therefore ruled in 325AD that Easter would be celebrated on the Sunday after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox. But there’s a twist: if the full moon falls on a Sunday, then Passover begins on a Sunday, so Easter is then delayed by a week to ensure that it still occurs after Passover. To confuse matters further, the council fixed the date of the vernal equinox at March 21st, the date on which it occurred in 325AD (though it now occurs on March 20th), and introduced a set of tables to define when the full moon occurs that do not quite align with the actual astronomical full moon (which means that, in practice, Easter can actually occur before Passover).

The earliest possible date for Easter occurs when the notional full moon falls on March 21st itself, in a year in which March 21st falls on a Saturday. Easter is then celebrated on Sunday March 22nd, a rare event that last happened in 1818 and will next take place in 2285. The latest possible date for Easter occurs when there is a full moon on March 20th, so that the first full moon after March 21st falls a lunar month or 29 days later, on April 18th. If April 18th falls on a Sunday, then the special Sunday rule applies, and Easter is celebrated the following Sunday, or April 25th. This last happened in 1943, and will next happen in 2038. There is therefore a 35-day window in which Easter can fall, depending on the timing of the full moon relative to March 21st.

Eastern Christianity applies the same basic rule but uses the older Julian calendar, which is currently 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, giving a different range of possible dates.

HAPPY EASTER FROM ALL AT MUSTARD SEED SONGS AND RISEN! THE MUSICAL

Quote for the week

“We must be content with what we have but not with what we are.”

The Word for Today

The Name That’s On My Lips featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album ” Where Would I Be Without You?” Recorded and produced by Ross Gill

The Easter Tour of Risen! The Musical Theatre in Education started at St Faiths CofE Primary School, Winchester on Monday, February 26th and seventeen schools later finished on Friday, March 16th at Leesland CofE Primary School, Gosport .

I cannot thank enough the amazing cast of Max Panks (Jesus) Caroline Wetherelt (Mary Magdalene) Katie Forge (Joanna) Rebecca Davis (Mary Magdalene for final week) Mikey Wooster ( Peter, Judas, Thomas and Cleopas’ friend) and Andrew Dovaston (John and Cleopas.) Together with a fantastic technical team of Joffy Girling (backing tracks) Adam Kemp (sound and technical ) and Darren Bovis- Coulter (stage set design and construction) we had a fantastically successful pilot tour which we trust will lead to many more tours in the future.

The response of the children was fantastic and also that of the teachers- quotes include “Absolutely fabulous” “Superb” “Wow I don’t know what to say” and Risen! blew my socks off!

The most comprehensive testimony came from Rev’d Kathy Hicken – Priest in charge and pioneer of St Marks Church, Southampton who organised Risen! to come to St Marks Primary School, Southampton.

Thank you so much for the amazing experience that Risen the Musical was at St Mark’s School! They absolutely loved it. The quality of the production was top-class, the music, set, songs, acting, singing, all of it was brilliant. The children loved the minecraft themed staging, the songs and the bits of humour too. The afternoon musical workshop sessions were also utterly brilliant and the kids had such a wonderful time, and learnt so much. The actors were fabulous in the way they dealt with the children and led those sessions, and got everyone involved. In the end they got the teachers and staff to perform as well, which everyone loved.

Now all we need is a sponsor and then we can start organising the Easter 2019 tour! Please get in touch if you know someone who would like to underwrite a four week tour to the tune of a mere £10k?

Quote for the week;

“An opinion is something you hold – a conviction is something that holds you.”

Every Day With Jesus

Portsmouth Gospel Choir perform for Her Majesty The Queen at Westminster Abbey

“The Season of Singing” featuring Lucy Jane Rutherford from the album “The Season of Singing” recorded and produced by Ross Gill

On Saturday March 3rd Mustard Seed Songs produced the Portsmouth Gospel Choir (PGC) in concert at Kings Church, Portsmouth and I hope this will soon be available for you to view on You Tube.

On Monday March 12th PGC performed for the Queen and other members of the Royal Family at the Royal Commonwealth Service in Westminster Abbey.

The choir also performed in front of the Prime Minister, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, High Commissioners, Ambassadors and Commonwealth dignitaries and around 800 school children.

The service was broadcast live on BBC One

Band Coordinator, Omolade Taiwo, aged 20, said: “We are really honoured. It’s amazing and surreal.

“It’s all God. We’ve done absolutely nothing to deserve this, we’re just a university gospel choir. Genuinely we sing, we have fun, put videos online and then we get an opportunity like this.”

When the group were told the news, they said there was ‘lots of screaming’ with choir members ‘falling to the floor’.

Last year the group were semi-finalists in BBC One’s Pitch Battle. They described the support from the University and local community as ‘incredible’ and said they ‘couldn’t have asked for anything more’.

As well as the Portsmouth Gospel Choir, there were performances from Ngāti Rānana, the London Māori Choir and Liam Payne.

The Portsmouth Gospel choir performed a stunning rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel and their performance was shared by the Royal Family on Twitter

About The Commonwealth Service 

The Commonwealth Service is the UK’s largest multi-faith celebration and takes place annually on the second Monday in March at Westminster Abbey. The one hour service features a mixture of testimonies, readings, and musical performances. Each year the Service is based around an annual Commonwealth Theme.

The Royal Commonwealth Society organises the Service on behalf of a group of Commonwealth organisations, known as the Council of Commonwealth Societies (CCS).

Commonwealth Day has been celebrated across the Commonwealth, every year since the 1970s. In recent years, there has been a shift away from celebrating a single day towards celebrating Commonwealth Week, with Commonwealth Day at its focus on the first day. The aim is to celebrate the unity, diversity and links of the modern Commonwealth and to foster greater understanding of the Commonwealth’s achievements and role, particularly among young people.

You can watch the performance of the Portsmouth Gospel Choir via this link from 58 mins 25 secs:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09vp5z4/a-service-of-celebration-for-commonwealth-day-2018#

Quote for the week;

“Happiness is not getting what you want – it is enjoying what God has given you.”

The Word For Today

“Precious” featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album “Precious” recorded and produced by Ross Gill

We have had a fantastic week with the Risen! The Musical Theatre in Education tour of Primary Schools going from strength to strength. Comments have included “Absolutely fabulous” “Wow I am speechless” and “Superb.”

We also had a wonderful Portsmouth Gospel Choir concert at the Kings Church, Portsmouth but more on both these events next blog as today would have been my mother’s birthday and I would like to share with you how she became a Christian – quite late on in life!

My mum, Audrey Lillian Shearsmith, had attended Chapel as young girl and I knew that she said her prayers without fail every single day. However in 1997 I still was not sure how she would react to me telling her that I had become a Christian.  I therefore showed her a little book from the Alpha course entitled “Who is Jesus?” and we had a short chat before she told me to leave it and that she would read it later.

When she was 102 years old and was living in the wonderful Chesterholm Lodge Care Home mum asked me what a Christian was and how you could became one.  I simply said that to become a Christian you ask God to forgive you for all the things you have done in your life that have displeased Him and to ask Jesus to come into your life. She then smiled her special smile and pointed to her bag and nodded for me to look in it. And there it was -the “Who is Jesus? book that I had given her five years before. I told her that there was a prayer in the book that she could say if you wished to become a Christian. Mum immediately read out the prayer aloud. I was sitting on the bed beside her overjoyed, but at the same time almost not believing what was happening, in fact so much so that I told her that just saying the prayer was not enough she had to really mean it; so she said it again, but this time with even more meaning in her voice!  I noticed, Mandy, one of her carers who worships at my church was outside mum’s room, so I went out to tell her the good news. “Halleluiah” Mandy cried out before telling me that she was not in the least bit surprised because mum had been talking about Christianity for some time. So mum became a Christian at the age of almost 103!

A few days before she died in August 2006 I was with her on my own. She looked at me with so much love, smiled that wonderful smile again and told me that I was precious.

The day after she said “precious” to me I was looking at Psalm 116 and the word “precious” jumped out of the page. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” I read in the concordance that “precious” means, not only highly valued, but also carefully looked after – I can’t tell you how reassuring it was to know that in mum’s last days she was being carefully looked after by God. And she was; all those who were with her will testify to how much at peace she was. She was in no pain whatsoever and was as sharp as always. She left this life in a very gentle and serene way – there is no doubt that she was indeed being carefully looked after and watched over by God.

The day after reading Psalm 116 it was a Sunday and I sat at the back of Holy Rood church with no one on the one seat beside me. Beryl, a retired Curate, came in, which was a bit of a surprise because normally on a Sunday morning she worships at an associate church; coming to Holy Rood for the evening services. Although we are good friends I had not sat with Beryl before, but on that Sunday she asked if she could sit on that one free seat by my side. She knew that my mum was very unwell from the church notice sheet and when she asked me I told her that mum was, in fact dying.

At the end of the service Beryl told me that she had prayed for my mum and me and that during the service God had given her a picture. She had seen a beautiful meadow in which stood a rock- a rock that had been very “precious” to her friends and family. The rock was also “precious” to God. Beryl saw the earth around the rock become disturbed and God taking this “precious” rock up to heaven to be with Him.

Mum died the very next day.

Quote for the week:

He loves you as you are but too much to let you stay as you are.

Every Day With Jesus

“Ready to go  before the first ever appearance of Risen! The Musical Theatre in Education”

The first Risen! The Musical Theatre in Education performance took place at St Faiths Church of England School, Winchester on Monday of this week. The performance was followed by the 5 actors delivering workshops on musical theatre. We got some great feedback such as this comment from the Head teacher:

The whole set up was very professional. The actors and crew prepared everything for the performance and kept to their timings. They were all very enthusiastic and presented the musical with great confidence. The children and staff thoroughly enjoyed the performance and they were keen to join in at appropriate times. It was an uplifting performance of the Easter story and put things in context for the children. It was a great way to tell the Easter story.

The workshops were very well run by the five actors. They were encouraging and kept things going at a good pace. The children really enjoyed being taught by actors and rose to the challenge of presenting a short performance with singing and dancing at the end of their workshop. We will be using the two performances in our Easter Service. Thank you for a great experience!

One of the children summed it all by saying “ I loved it!”

The next day we were in another Winchester Primary School – Western and performed for 300 children- it was again a great success (see video clip.) Yesterday we were in Gosport – in Brune Park Secondary School in the morning and Bay House Secondary in the afternoon playing to a combined audience of 750 from Year 7. We were a bit weary of performing to older children but again both performances went down a storm. It is such a shame that today’s performance at The Kings School Fair Oak has had to be postponed because the school, like many others, is closed because of the forecast heavy snow. We hope we can somehow re-arrange this visit but we are fully booked all the way up to the end of the tour on March 16th.

Of course Mustard Seed Songs are also organising the Portsmouth Gospel Choir concert at Kings Church on Saturday, March 3rd – that is going to be really great. You can get tickets from www.tinyurl.com/PGCconcert. Special guests include the London Touring Cast who will be performing extracts from Risen!

Quote for the week

“Don’t call if failure, call it education. Now I know what does not work!

Thomas Edison

The London Touring Cast rehearsing (and chilling)

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

Well it is a short blog this week as we are in the middle of rehearsals for the forthcoming tour of Risen! The Musical Theatre in Education tour of 17 schools in Hampshire and West Sussex. The fabulous London Touring Cast have been hard at work rehearsing in a country location near Chichester. Joffy our Musical Director and Adam our Technical Director were with them today setting up tech equipment that includes brand new face mics, lighting, PA system and backing tracks. Meanwhile Darren is up in Coventry putting the finishing touches to the stage set and that is one reason why this blog is a tad short – I have to leave at 5.00 am in the morning to pick it up!

Of those 17 schools 15 are Primary but the other 2 make up the largest Secondary school combo in the country – Bay House and Brune Park.

While this is happening interest is also mounting for the Portsmouth Gospel Choir concert at Kings Church on Saturday, March 3rd – you can get tickets from www.tinyurl.com/PGCconcert. Special guest include the London Touring Cast who will be performing extracts from Risen!

Quote for the week

Humility is not thinking less of yourself – it is thinking of yourself less

The Portsmouth Gospel Choir (University of Portsmouth) has been granted the honour of performing for Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the Royal Family on March 12th, “Commonwealth Day” at Westminster Abbey. Now it is unlikely that you have been invited to attend this service, however if you visit www.tinyurl.com/PGCconcert you will be able to purchase tickets to see the Portsmouth Gospel Choir on Saturday, March 3rd at Kings Church, Portsmouth. Special guests of the Portsmouth Gospel Choir are C.J. Edwards from “The Voice” (now known as Chelange) and members of the cast of Risen! The Musical.

The cast of Risen! The Musical arrive this week at their accommodation in West Sussex ready for a week of rehearsals. Then beginning Monday, February 26th they embark on a three week tour of schools delivering the Risen! The Musical Theatre in Education production and also musical theatre workshops. The Theatre in Education cast will be joined by two more cast members from the original Show to sing extracts from Risen! at the March 3rd concert.

Chelange (formally known as C. J Edwards) featured in TVs” The Voice” – As you can see from today’s clip he is perfect to guest for the Portsmouth Gospel Choir. I have it on very good authority that “The Way You Make Me Feel” will be one of the songs he sings.

I visited Kings Church this week with Heavilyn from the Gospel Choir and Adam, our Technical Director. Adam is bringing in additional sound and lighting – you can be assured that March 3rd is going to be a fantastic night!

And to finish with a quote from my journal:

The secret of life is not what happens to you but what you do with what happens to you.