Making melody to the Lord
It began in October 1961, with a gathering of people in Cardiff and has been broadcast on Sunday afternoons or evenings ever since. In the early 1990s, the weekly viewing figures showed that about twenty-five per cent of the British population watched it. It has been presented by, amongst others, Sir Harry Seacombe, Alan Tichmarsh and Pam Rhodes, and more recently by Aled Jones and Katherine Jenkins. It has become one of the longest running television programmes of its kind anywhere in the world. Of course, I am talking about “Songs of Praise.”
Although Songs of Praise has adapted its approach, moving from something close to a church service with a congregation singing hymns, to a more Magazine format, music remains at its heart and now reflects a more varied style, and range of songs.
For local churches singing in praise to God is of course, a regular feature. Some, like us at All Saints’, have also had special events called “Songs of Praise” where people are invited to choose a song or hymn, and where possible, share something about why it’s special to them.
By request, we plan to hold such a Songs of Praise service on Sunday 10th February at 10.30am. This is planned as a joint service for both morning congregations with a short said Holy Communion at 9am.
If you would like to suggest a hymn or song, sign up on the sheet in Church or let me or Adam or Lester or the wardens know, so that together we can speak to “one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord … giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:19).
Matthew Brailsford