At Your Service

This weekend, the first female Archdeacon of Man will be installed, the first female priest-in-charge will be licensed to the parish of St George and All Saints in Douglas, and the first female will begin her ministry as Chaplain to the House of Keys.  Happily, it's the same person who is undertaking all three roles, and she is my special guest on today's programme.  Join me, in...

On AT YOUR SERVICE this week: - Rev'd Canon Margaret Burrow, an Anglican priest involved in the life of the church in the West of the Island, shares some thoughts on being part of the historic tradition of receiving Maundy Money - The feast of Celtic St Columba was on 9th June - we celebrate his inspirational life in words and music - a beautiful poem by Scottish poet Kenneth Steven and equall...

Andrew Haynes is an experienced sidecar passenger and a regular competitor in the TT Festival - he's also known as The Racing Preacher.   In conversation, we find out how faith and racing work in partnership - as well as discussing harnessing the best of social media, and what we can learn from a pandemic.   And Andy explains why there's no TT for him this year....... The Royal S...

Rev'd Dr Dee Dee Haines spent over ten years on the Isle of Man, leading the Methodist Church at Rosemount in Douglas, and despite being in ministry in various other countries, the Island still holds an incredibly special place in her heart.  Back here for a brief visit, and to share in Praying the Keeills Week, Dee Dee joins us to share what she has learned through her present ministry i...

A book written 60 years ago, but which remained in manuscript form and was never published, has been lovingly brought to new life by the author's three children, and is launched this week, to coincide with the diamond Jubilee of the present Coventry Cathedral.  The book's author is Rev'd Canon Joseph W. Poole who was the first Precentor of the new Cathedral with a special responsi...

As Mental Health Awareness Week comes to a close, three people share their thoughts and experiences.   PAUL MARTIN has Manx roots but for the past 23 years has lived and worked in Missouri - where he is State Representative for Celebrate Recovery - a world-wide Christ-centred recovery programme.   REV'D STEVE INGROUILLE is a Methodist minister, in charge (in partnership with his wife...

On Saturday 14 May, the Cathedral in Peel will join with Cathedrals round Europe for 'Cathedrals at Night' - a free event designed to encourage everyone to explore our Cathedral  'after hours' - to help people to understand that our Cathedrals are both sacred spaces and a resource available to the whole community.                  ...

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK  starts on 15 May and this week Louise Whitelegg - our local representative for the charity on the Isle of Man - joins us, not just with information about the last campaign, or even with news about the new appeal (although all that information IS there!) but Louise uses her own thoughts, Bible readings and prayers to put this year's appeal into its proper context. &nbsp...

As soon as the severity of the Russian attacks on Ukraine was known, at the end of February this year, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool  launched its #liverpool4ukraine fundraising appeal. To date (end April) it has already raised well over £100,000.00 through individual donations, and scores of fundraising events.   It also inspired a group of people from the Liverpool...

On today's programme we're celebrating the life-changing message of Easter that's at the very heart of the Christian faith. There's great Easter hymns, worship songs from Graham Kendrick and Stuart Townend, a new composition from John Rutter, written to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and reflections and prayers too - and Ruth Rice from the charity Renew Wellbeing is ba...

Today is the start of the week that the Christian Church calls Holy - it begins with Palm Sunday - a day which recalls the tremendous excitement of the crowds when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey -  they greeted him as their King, spreading palm leaves and even their cloaks on the ground under his feet - yet just FIVE days later, these same crowds were calling for the same Jesus to be c...

Growing a supportive community ..... Scripture Union is an interdenominational, evangelical Christian organization,  founded over 150 years ago - and works with churches and partner organisations, inviting children and young people to explore the difference Jesus can make to the challenges and adventures of life.   Scripture Union England and Wales works  on the Isle of Man through...

My special guests on this week's programme are different in many ways, but are united by a dedication to a powerful organisation that’s rooted in the Anglican Church, but  whose four and a half million members reach out around the world to support family life in all its forms - helping it to thrive in all circumstances, particularly when difficulties come along.   They are Rev&...

In The Bible we read ..... 'and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God' This is a verse that's often quoted by Christian Aid and similar charities, who share a vision for 'a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty'  But what about the 'walking humbly' part of that Bible verse?...

Ruth Keggin-Gell is the Manx Language Development Officer with Culture Vannin - dedicated to encouraging people to get interested and involved in wider use of the Manx language.  When she thought of using Manx in our church services, she found an enthusiastic supporter in Pioneer Minister Rev'd Alex Brown.   On AT YOUR SERVICE today they discuss how this could be done, and Ruth has d...

The Season of Lent - six  weeks of preparation for the celebration of Easter - started last week, on Ash Wednesday.  But what are its origins - and what does it offer us today?  We eavesdrop on a conversation between Patrick Woodward and Russ Bravo ` And this week's special guest is Manx-born Ruth Rice, founder of Renew Wellbeing, the charity which runs simple cafe-style spaces...

Friday March 4 is WORLD PRAYER DAY - there'll be services around the Island at different times on that day, which will link the Isle of Man with praying people all over the world, using the same theme "I know the plans I have for you". The service this year has been prepared by the Christian women of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  But, in the light of recent developments,...

Ways to pray is the theme that links three guests on today's programme.  Reverend Alex Brown has been a Pioneer Minister in Douglas for the last couple of years, having conversations with people of all ages who have either never had any contact with a church, or have tried it, and left.  What has he learned? And what is the significance of his commissioning service taking place later...

Love is in the air today!   Ahead of the day when a billion cards will be exchanged world-wide, Saint Valentine tells his story - and Louise Timmins tells her story of patience, prayer and total trust in God's guidance, which eventually led to her chance to adopt two children. Russ Bravo reflects on the nature of another kind of love, and there's music from the Jane Lilley Singers, an...

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Lord of Man, is the first British Monarch to reach a Platinum Jubilee - on this day -  the 6th of February 2022, she completes 70 years of devoted service to the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth.  This morning we pause for a moment of reflection, and pray God's blessing on her.   Sunday 30th January was World Leprosy Day.  Sadl...

The theme for National Holocaust Memorial Day 2022 was  'One Day' - a stark reminder that life can fatally change for ever in the space of just one day.  On today's programme we hear stories from three Holocaust survivors, and reflect on the horrifying fact that genocide can still happen today.   Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald is a Roman Catholic priest belonging to the Mis...

Philip Longworth is a 'glass half full' person!   Partially sighted all his life, Philip has faced every challenge with courage and positivity - and has dedicated his working life to reaching out with compassion and understanding to other people with their own challenges to face. Now he's living on the Island and has just started a new job with the Anglican Diocese of Sodor and Ma...

Open Doors UK, and Kintsugi Hope are just two of around 90 charitable organisations who last year each received a share of around £2 million which AFD Software, the Postcode people based in Ramsey, gave away from their company profits during 2021.   On this week's programme, I talk with Diane Regan of Kintsugi Hope and Henrietta Blyth from Open Doors UK - Kintsugi Hope is dedicated...

The 6th of January is the official end of the Christmas season - it finishes with the Epiphany - a feast that is celebrated in different ways, according to local customs, all around the world.  In the Christian church, it is the day when we recall the 3 Kings, or Magi, following a star to find the Christ child, and is a reminder that the Son of God came to offer fullness of life to everyone -...

Traditionally, the sound of Big Ben heralds the start of a New Year - so our first At Your Service programme for 2022 takes bells and their traditions for its main theme.  Anglican Priest, Father Michael Brydon, is Chaplain to the Rt Rev'd Peter Eagles, Bishop of Sodor and Man - but joins in the programme today with a wealth of stories and bell-ringing legends to share.  Plus there&#...