Yours Is A Precious Love featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album Precious recorded and produced by Ross Gill
I left last week’s blog by saying “And then there is “Theophilus- the Musical”. Over the next couple of weeks I will remind you of its journey so far.”
Well in fact I am going to delay that as I have to share two lovely messages that I received from the Mayor of Fareham and the Mayor of Gosport, both guests of Mustard Seed Songs at the 20th year celebration of their musical “His Story” last month.
BTW “Kathleen” to whom the Mayor of Fareham refers is Ms Kathleen Jones, the former Mayor of Gosport who is an amazing advocate for Mustard Seed Songs.
The Season of Singing featuring Lucy Jane Rutherford from the album The Season of Singing recorded and produced by Ross Gill
So what next indeed for Mustard Seed Songs after the recent amazing success of the 20th year celebration of our first musical “His Story”?
Well we continue to support the Risen Christ Central Chapel in Southern Nigeria. We have our interactive study course “A Journey of Faith” ready to launch early in the new year and then there is our third musical “ Theophilus- The Musical” from which “A Journey of Faith” is taken.
“A Journey of Faith” is completed with ten episodes filmed, the interactive book ready for print and the website just about done. We would have launched it by now but first “His Story” and now Christmas mean that it now has to be the new year.
And then there is “Theophilus- the Musical”. Over the next couple of weeks I will remind you of its journey so far.
A Worship Song featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album Where Would I Be Without You? recorded and produced by Ross Gill
One of the things we wanted from our recent production of “His Story” was for people to leave uplifted with a smile on their faces. It is completely false to believe that being a Christian is boring – is no fun. With this in mind I thought I would share something from Word for Today written by Bob and Debbie Gass
Solomon wrote, ‘I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness’ (Ecclesiastes 8:15 NLT). If you are wise, you will take those words to heart. The impact of laughter is well documented. Studies show it lowers blood pressure and reduces hypertension. It reduces stress hormones and cleanses the lungs and body tissues of stored stale air, because laughter empties more air out than it takes in. It increases immune functions in the body. On top of all these benefits, laughter triggers the release of endorphins – those ‘feel good’ chemicals in the brain that make you feel happy. These are the identical chemicals released when some people, after a prolonged period of running, experience a runner’s high. That’s why the Bible says, ‘A merry heart does good, like medicine.’
So, take advantage of every opportunity to have a good hearty laugh. Laugh at your mistakes – especially on the job. Shed the superwoman or superman image, and start having fun. This doesn’t mean you have relaxed your standards of excellence; it just indicates you are aware of the fact that you and those around you are human. So have some fun; be a good sport. Don’t allow life’s pressures and negative circumstances to snuff out your sense of humour. Laughter reflects positive emotions and makes you a lot more enjoyable to be around. Nobody enjoys a sourpuss; laughter can also take your mind off what’s stressing you. So, laugh often, and remember, ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength’ (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV).
Well, the 20th anniversary of our musical “His Story” on Saturday, November 8th was absolutely fantastic.
The format had actors acting, singers singing and dancers dancing – all parts rehearsing separately and not coming together until the evening before- so pretty scary! One of the joys was to see each set of performers seeing others perform for the first time, smiling in admiration.
The response to His Story has been brilliant and the idea formed that any church wishing to produce a community event now has a template. Local talent could be enlisted to include a Primary school choir- a dance school or perhaps Secondary School GCSE dance students –an amateur theatrical company and the church’s own worship band. Mustard Seeds could provide the audio -visual presentation which helps tell the story through scripture text and voice overs.
The Mayor of Fareham and the Mayor of Gosport were at the Matinee performance, and they both loved it!
So, a huge, huge thank you to the cast:
Theatre: Mary, Mother of Jesus – Leah Halliwell Peter – Richard Mellion John – Jake Drake
Music: Vocals and Piano: Lucy Stimpson Maynard- The St Mary’s Roman Catholic Primary School Choir – Mustard Seed Soul and Gospel Band- Vocals: Tim Glennie, Sarah Summer Lead Guitar: Adrian Grobler Bass: Heath Williams – Matinee | Gemma Terry – Evening Drums: Jenna Gunter Keys: Pete Marsh Auxiliary Keys and Backing Vocals: Lewis Gunter Trumpet: Jon Yates Tenor Sax and Whistle: Tim Downs Musical Director: Lewis Gunter
Dance: The Alverstoke School of Dance
Tech:
Voice Overs: Edward Baker-Duly
AV Presentation: Joffy James and Chris Binns
Sound: Technical Services Ltd
Lighting: Essential Marketing – PJ Radcliffe
The musical was filmed but that will take some time to edit – in the meantime I hope you enjoy today’s clip from one of the original productions 20 years ago!
Now only 3 days before the 20th anniversary of our musical “His Story” on Saturday, November 8th – performances at 3.00 pm and 7.30 pm. Here is another bio of one of our actors.
Richard Mellion, who plays the disciple Peter was trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. He has toured with numerous Christian productions including “A Fisherman’s Tale” and “It Is Well With My Soul” in which he played the famous preacher D.L Moody.
Richard played Peter in Mustard Seeds’ staged concert of Theophilus- The Musical and in their soon to be released, interactive study “A Journey of Faith.” Today’s video clip is taken from “A Journey of Faith.”
We Can Do Anything featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard
Now only 1 week and 2 days before the 20th anniversary of our musical “His Story” on Saturday, November 8th – performances at 3.00 pm and 7.30 pm. Here are bio’s on two of our performers.
Lucy Stimpson- Maynard, who features on so much of this blog and who is singing and playing piano in His Story.
Lucy is the original singer and pianist of Mustard Seed Songs. She arranged all the music and sang and played on the albums I Look Up To The Heavens, Love Is The Way, Uplifted, Where Would I Be Without You? His Story, Precious and The Season of Singing. Lucy performed in all the His Story productions, and it is wonderful to have her return to celebrate this 20th anniversary
John Drake who is playing the disciple, John.
Jake has toured with faith-filled shows like Fisherman’s Tale, Beyond Bars, and Where Adventure Begins and even played Jesus in the 2024 Worcester Passion Play. He’s thrilled to play John in His Story along with two dear friends, retelling the good news that continues to transform us today. Here are some facts on two of our performers
I will share some more bios of His Story performers next week
Only 2 weeks and 2 days before the 20th anniversary of our musical “His Story” on Saturday, November 8th – performances at 3.00 pm and 7.30 pm
Here is the storyline:
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
In John’s house, he and Mary, mother of Jesus are deep in conversation. John realises that he and Mary know more about Jesus than anyone else in the world and has the idea of writing a book about His life. Joined by the disciple Peter, Mary and John reminisce on the life of Jesus and the Gospel story unfolds in a fusion of music, dance, song and theatre.
Next week I’ll share a little of our three brilliant actors who play Mary mother of Jesus, and the disciples John and Peter. Of course, there is also the Mustard Seed Soul and Gospel Band, soloists Lucy Stimpson- Maynard (who features in todays song) and Ross Gill plus the Alverstoke School of Dance and the St Mary’s R.C Primary School Choir.
The Fire of Sacrifice featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album Precious recorded and produced by Ross Gill
So sorry I thought I had concluded the series of blogs on this subject, but I have just read this and thought I had to share. It is from the Word For Today written by Bob and Debbie Gass.
The psalmist wrote, ‘Your path led through…mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen’ (v. 19 NIV). When you can’t see God’s ‘footprints’, He is calling you to walk by faith, not by sight (see 2 Corinthians 5:7).
Joni Eareckson Tada wrote: ‘A few months from now, I’ll mark an anniversary that is a heart-breaking story of loss and an incomparable testimony of God’s faithfulness…I will have been in a wheelchair for 47 years…barely a heartbeat in history, and as nothing compared with eternity. But for a flesh-and-blood, earth-dwelling human being, 47 years is a long time. Anyone who suffers…[wants] assurance that somehow, someway, things will work out in the end. We want to know that God is at the centre of our suffering. In Romans 8 we have…that assurance: “For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (v. 28 ESV) …[God] is so supremely in charge of the world that everything touching our lives…is ordered in such a way that it serves our good.
‘This is true whether we face cancer, broken relationships, job loss, bankruptcy…or even a broken neck at age 17. The strong hope of the believer is not that we will escape “bad things”…but that God will transform our hardships into an instrument of his mercy to do us good…Paul said [our] sufferings are small and short…compared with the weight of glory they are accruing for [us] in heaven. So bear with heartbreak and hardship a bit longer. These things are expanding your soul’s capacity for joy, worship, and service in heaven.’
Precious featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album Precious recorded and produced by Ross Gill
To conclude this series of blogs on how can a God of love allow suffering, I would like to refer to my blog of March 17th 2022.
Richard England, the Vicar of Holy Rood Church, Stubbington once pointed out that we, in the West seem to expect to have a life that is epitomised by “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”- this is our right and something is fundamentally wrong when we don’t get it. In other parts of the world, however people are much more realistic and accept that suffering is a part of this life and we should not be surprised when it happens. This does not mean that there is no God or that He does not care – it just means that things will go wrong and His promise is not to take bad things away but to stay close to us through life’s challenges and His promise is not to take bad things away but to stay close to us through life’s challenges and sufferings.
In “The Case Against Christ” John Young (not be confused with Lee Stobel’s “The Case for Christ”) writes that we live in “a world that makes itself”. He says that as science has shed more light on our world, we have discovered that the finely tuned processes which enable and sustain life are inevitably fragile; good outcomes contain risks. The movements of the continental plates- an essential aspect of our eco system- can also cause earthquakes. The weather system on which life depends is extremely sensitive and climatic events in the Arctic can lead to hurricanes in New York.
God, continues Young, has created this amazing world with a life of its own – “a world that makes itself”. Accidents happen; they are not “sent”. We live in a beautiful and exciting world, but it is unpredictable, often dangerous and sometimes downright terrifying. Perhaps the act of creation inescapably involves the fact of suffering. Can we have one without the other? Jesus Himself accepted suffering as an inevitable part of life.
It is impossible to come through this life without experiencing some form of suffering – so perhaps we should not be surprised when it does come our way- and perhaps also appreciate the good times more than we do.
The Gospel of Christ sang and arranged by Lucy Jane Rutherford from the album “Where Would I Be Without You? recorded and produced by Ross Gill
Continuing the series on this most challenging subject – here is the final episode in this series from Word For Today written by Bob and Debbie Gass
Have you heard of the principle of supercompensation? A pastor explains:
‘When an athlete is pushed beyond the threshold of pain and exhaustion, the body overcompensates. The more a muscle is broken down, the more it builds back up…The two hundred and six bones in the body are constantly going through a process called remodelling. They are being broken down by osteoclasts and built back up by osteoblasts. The process of remodelling is intensified when a bone is broken. Extra osteoblasts help rebuild the bone. There is a period of weakness where the bone is more vulnerable to re-injury. That is why we wear casts. But eventually the bone ends up stronger than it was to begin with because the body overcompensates. Very rarely does a bone break in the same place twice because the bone is thicker and stronger than it was before the break.
‘Almost like a broken bone that needs to be reset, God breaks us where we need to be broken. He fractures the pride and lust and anger in our lives, but He does it to remodel us into His image, and once we heal, we end up stronger than we were to begin with. [Paul writes,] “It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ…to suffer for him” [Philippians 1:29 NIV]. The word “granted” comes from [a] Greek root…which literally means “to grant a favour”…We tend to see suffering as a necessary evil at best, but Paul calls it a divine favour.’
So, maybe God is remodelling you. Perhaps the problem you thought you would never overcome will become your most effective ministry to others.
