At Your Service - Manx Radio

Recorded 26 years ago - still relevant today - Rev'd David Adam, author and former Vicar of Lindisfarne - Holy Island - finds a huge mesage in just one verse of St Patrick's Breastplate - and modern-day pilgrim Richard Littledale shares some thoughts inspired by the hills of North Wales, as he prepares to walk the ancient pilgrim route - the Camino de Santiago - plus music and another packed notice board.

Alison Mac Tier is Executive Director of The Retreat Association - on today's programme we discuss her own faith journey - popular misunderstandings that stop people from going on a retreat - the impact of the gift of an icon - and life lessons from Jesus and the Samaritan woman - plus music from Taize and a packed notice board!

Rev Dr Ian Faulds previews St Maughold's Week and explains the significance of the Isle of Man's Patron Saint; Dr Tim Grass explains the importance of the new Translators' Trail - something else to mark the 250th Anniversary of the Bible in Manx, and all the information you need for Port St Mary Beach Mission - which starts on 26 July - is here. Plus music from John Bell, and another packed notice board.

Kristina Reeves, CEO of Scripture Union Ministries Trust, shares new research results which will help to shape their on-going work of putting faith within reach of young people; Sue Yardy reflects on 8 years as a schools worker for SUMT, and Sam Rotchell, Acting Head Teacher of St Mary's RC School in Douglas, talks about the power of one person. Plus - we remember the late Miss Ann Widdecombe, with a challenging thought from an archive interview.

Rev'd John Mann has a new book - Imagining The World - due to be launched in the Cathedral in Peel at 4:15pm on Sunday 12 July. It's intended for use during the Creation Season which begins on the first Sunday of September. John is joined by the Diocesan Net Zero Officer Louise Whitelegg and CEO of Manx Wildlife Trust, Graham Makepeace-Warne, to discuss the book and its implications. Diocesan Bishops are often required to take on additional responsibilities outside their own Diocese - to make a contribution to the wider church. Bishop Tricia joins us to explain the new role she has been asked to undertake.Plus there's music and another packed notice board.

Rev'd Daniel Norris was born and educated on the Island. He left as a student and now returns as Rector of 5 churches in Ramsey and the North East. He shares his experiences as a teacher and a priest in London, and explains why he believes we're all on a pilgrimage together. Author, broadcaster, lecturer and podcaster Richard Littledale reflects on how we feel when our plans don't work out - with a moving story that makes a powerful point. Plus there's music and another packed notice board.

Bishop Tricia - Bishop of Sodor and Man - sets out the Diocesan vision and commitment to safe caring, not just safeguarding - something that should involve everyone - and we explore a life-changing music project.

Father John Hindley has been appointed. to care for the Roman Catholic churches in Ramsey and Peel. He reflects on his own call to priesthood, his training, his prison ministry - and the particular challenges he faces, following Father Brian O Mahony who was Parish Priest in Peel and Ramsey for almost 30 years, right up until his death in April this year. Plus there's music, and our usual notice board.

Lt Col Dr Martin Gliniecki QGM, Executive Director of SASRA - The Soldiers' and Aviators' Scripture Readers Association - talks about his own faith journey, and the work of SASRA today. For more information, see www.sasra.org.uk. Plus there's music from John Bell and The Wild Goose Community - and a full notice board too.

St Ninian's Church, at one of the busiest spots in Douglas (at the Glencrutchery Road traffic lights) is rapdily becoming a very special haven, building community through committed care for all creation - and there's music involved too! Get the whole story in this week's programme.

Founder of SAT-7 International, Dr Terry Ascott, and UK Executive Director Rachel Fadipe, talk about starting the satellite broadcasts to give the churches and Christians of the Middle East and North Africa an opportunity to deepen their personal faith through inspirational, informative, and educational television services. Find out more at sat7uk.org Plus this week's notice board is full of TT cafe info!

20-year-old Genesis Padgett is the current Youth President of the Methodist Church - here they share the vision and vitality they bring to the role - and we're back in the Keystones programme archive for a visit to the ruins of St Trinian's church - plus notice board news and music too.

Praying the Keeills Week is 21 years old - and the new programme of walks starts next Saturday 16 May - all the details are here with comments from organisers Phil Craine and Catherine Wareing. Tobit Curteis talks about his work, mixing the art and the science of caring for historic buildings - and author and broadcaster Richard Littledale has an unusual answer to prayer - plus music, and our usual notice board.

The last chapters of Rev'd Steve Ingrouille's sabbatical journal, written when he travelled recently to Israel and Palestine - seeing where, and how, God is at work in places of deep-seated conflict and challenge. Plus music, and our usual packed notice board!

Taking the Mothers' Union Prayer Baton to the top of Snaefell - as part of its journey around interesting landmarks in the Province of York as part of the MU 150th anniversary celebrations - and we've the story of a fine collection of Celtic Crosses moving into more fitting new surroundings in Kirk Andreas - plus music, and our usual notice board too.

Paying tribute to the late Moya Brennan - the voice of Clannad, and a hugely popular Celtic singer, songwrirter and harpist - in her own words and music - and remembering Father Brian O Mahony - a local Roman Catholic priest who has died suddenly, after serving the churches in Ramsey and Peel for almost 30 years.

Rev'd Steve Ingrouille talks more about the people he met on his recent sabbatical visits to Israel and Palestine, who are working tirelessly for peace in the region, and Richard Littledale has found that his life-long interest in model railways is now turning into material for a new series of podcasts - we have the story here - plus music and notice board news.

On this Easter Day, Bishop Tricia finds new significance in a familiar ritual, and a strong link between the message of Easter and recent events locally and globally. Plus notice board news, well-known Easter hymns, and the voice of John Kennaugh

This is the week that the Christian church calls holy - but why? The full story is here - with music, including a first airplay of a poignant setting of 'There Is A Green Hill Far Away' by musicians Naomi Bedford and Paul Simmonds. And broadcaster and writer Richard Littledale explores the pull of the podcast!

Rev'd David Hardman is the Methodist Liaison Officer in Jerusalem. On today's programme, he talks about his road to ordination, his ministry supporting the groups working for peace in the Holy Land, and explains exactly why he will find it so difficult to leave.

Celebrating St Patrick in music, reflecting on the various emotions around Mothering Sunday, and Rev'd Steve Ingrouille - recently on sabbatical in the Holy Land - brings us into the reality of life in a war zone.

We celebrate the 3 students from King William's College who represented the Diocese of Sodor and Man in the recent prestigious Thomas Cranmer Awards in London, then, from the archives we learn about the history of the College chapel with former Principal Dr Paul Bregazzi, and finish with music from the College chapel choir. And there's an update on the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer, as a unique monument starts to take shape!

Rev'd Professor David Wilkinson - astrophysicist, theologian, astronomer and academic - and director of the project Equipping Christian Leaders In an Age of Science - explains - in his clear and compelling style - how an informed partnership between faith and science, benefits everyone.

Stephanie Gray is a respected Methodist Local Preacher, an enthusiastic member of her church, and an accomplished actor - she's also got a daughter who stepped away from her profession as a midwife, to spend some months doing voluntary work in a hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone - and thanks to Mum Stephanie sharing daughter Pia's story, you too can listen to it here - plus another packed notice board - with all your Lent Lunch info!

Sam Stockill is a Community Relationship Manager with The Leprosy Mission. On today's programme he tells tragically true stories that explain the challenges faced by the charity that's been working for the last 150 years to eradicate this treatable disease that continues to wreck lives. And there's music - plus a thought for the start of Lent, and another packed notice board.

Current President of the Methodist Conference, Rev'd Richard Andrew - on a recent visit to the Isle of Man - shares some of the stories of people and places that have shaped his life as an ordained minister - and Rev'd Professor David Wilkinson has a very original way of showing how science and religion - far from opposing each other - actually help our understanding of both. Plus music from hymnwriter Fanny Crosby, and our usual notice board.

For 50 years, the Promenade Methodist Church in Douglas has been a beacon of light, with its distinctive illuminated cross visible even when out at sea. The Prom Church has always served the needs of the local community, and that's as true today as it was when it opened. Historian, architect and life-long Methodist, Frank Cowin shares some stories of the building of the present church - and in a second programme I'll be going to The Prom church to find out more about their plans and why it's now being called The Prom Space.

With the approach of Holocaust Memorial Day, Carol Jempson of the Jewish community on the Isle of Man, and Bishop Tricia, Bishop of Sodor and Man, explain why they will each be placing a lighted candle in their window, at 8pm on Tuesday 27 January. But there's a bigger story to reflect upon in this mix of words and music around. the theme of genocide.

The national charity Care for the Family works to support family life in all its forms and Starfish Asia works with the poorest children in Pakistan. They were two of over 80 charities who shared in £1.8m given away at the recent AFD Software annual charity night. Listen to their stories here - plus music from Lindisfarne and notice board news too.

Reflecting on the journey of the Magi from the East, to find the infant king (including words recorded in 2007 in Peel Methodist Church and music from Foxdale School, also 2007) and talking with Chris Wildman about the 30th Anniversary celebrations at the church in a pub - Sunday at Ten at The Cat With No Tail on Governors Hill, Douglas

As we begin to pack away the decorations and move into a New Year, Howard Thurman's poem The Work of Christmas reminds us of the real meaning of the season - and Baptist Pastor Richard Littledale explains why rest is not idleness - instead, it's being obedient.Programme includes music by Graham Kendrick, Balanced Voices and Macapella with the Wild Goose Collective.

A New Year hymn (and more good music too!) plus guests in this review of 2025 include the Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell, Ruth Keggin-Gell, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Canon Philip Gillespie, Sam Stockhill, and Rev'd Dr Inderjit Sing Bhogul

Being a community at Christmas - in the village hub that is St James' church and schoolrooms - in conversation with Local Minister Cheryl Cousins, and Dalby residents Ann Quirk, John Mylchreest Corrin, Rosie Evans, Margie Killey, and Priscilla Mayle

Aifric O'Shea, Oliver Lenihan and Leo Fosdil have just returned from a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Papua New Guinea - why did they go? and what did they learn there? Find out here - alongside the story of Village Carols told by Andrew Cole -with music from Kate Rusby. Plus there's another packed notice board!

Through Advent with Bishop Tricia - Week Four - Love that will not let go of us ....There's a short video, and a booklet containing a full transcript of this podcast plus some questions for thought and discussion, and suggestions for action. They can all be downloaded via this link :https://www.sodorandman.im/prayer/advent-study-2025/

Pioneer Minister Rev'd Alex Brown looks and the positives, the negatives and the bigger picture, following the cancellation of this year's Christmas Live - a casualty of the recent stormy weather - and Heather and Tim Price explain why they're preparing a festival of light in New Life Church(Ramsey Independent Methodists) - plus there's music and (another!) packed notice board

Through Advent with Bishop Tricia - Week Three - Joy, beyond all joys ....There's a short video, and a booklet containing a full transcript of this podcast plus some questions for thought and discussion, and suggestions for action. They can all be downloaded via this link :https://www.sodorandman.im/prayer/advent-study-2025/

Why would someone give away £1.8 million that they could keep for themselves?? And what's so different about this year's Christmas Live in Douglas? All the answers are here - plus music, another packed notice board and details of part 2 of Bishop Tricia's new 4-part series of Advent reflections - see the separate At Your Service podcast - THROUGH ADVENT with Bishop Tricia - and find more resources here https://www.sodorandman.im/prayer/advent-study-2025/

Through Advent with Bishop Tricia - Week Two - A different kind of peace ....There's a short video, and a booklet containing a full transcript of this podcast plus some questions for thought and discussion, and suggestions for action. They can all be downloaded via this link :https://www.sodorandman.im/prayer/advent-study-2025/

As Rev'd Catherine McFie begins her new ministry as the Island's first-ever Ecumenical Church Minister, we bring you the full story here - plus music, another packed notice board and details of Bishop Tricia's new 4-part series of Advent reflections - see the separate At Your Service podcast, and find more resources here https://www.sodorandman.im/prayer/advent-study-2025/

Through Advent with Bishop Tricia - Week One - Hope, even in times of darkness.There's a short video, and a booklet containing all the material from this podcast plus some questions for thought and discussion, and suggestions for action. They can all be downloaded via this link :https://www.sodorandman.im/prayer/advent-study-2025/

Recent visitor to the Island, Rev'd Cyprian Yobera, has dedicated his life to reaching out to those on the margins - finding hidden gems in the neglected children living on the streets in one of Africa's largest urban slums - and Peel Commissioner Katryna Baptist is creating some hidden gems for everyone to discover on a Live Nativity Trail - their stories are here - with music and another packed notice board!