Facebook Live Concerts: Replay

On Saturday, March 28th 2020, as the COVID-19 lockdown started to take hold, I thought I would make a contribution to lifting all of our thoughts by putting on a concert of inspirational Christian music, live from my living room, on Facebook. At 7pm GMT, I perched my iPhone on the end of my baby grand piano, logged on to Facebook Live and started to play Unfolding Day.

For 16 weeks I did the same every Saturday evening, as demand grew and grew. The concerts have become more sophisticated than those early home-made affairs (with grateful thanks to the lovely people at spirituality4.me for their support) but they continued to be just me, sat at my piano, playing songs I hoped would lift troubled spirits and calm troubled thoughts. These concerts have been a huge blessing for me and brought fresh inspiration to my songwriting - I’ve premiered more than 60 new compositions since we started. From the rush of positive feedback I’ve received, I know they touched many listeners’ hearts as well, and all over the world, too.

Do join me live on my homepage, at spirituality4.me, or on my Facebook page, and check back here or on my Calendar for the latest news.

October 30th - Retrospective

Nothing but the classics today as I played some of my favourite tracks from my recordings with The Newsong Group and as a solo artist. Now that I’ve got that out of my system, next month I’ll be playing nothing but new songs to launch my brand new double album, Home. See you then!

Come Gracious Spirit / Child of God / God Is Working His Purpose Out / The King of Love / Feed My Sheep / I Love Thy Way of Freedom, Lord / Father We Your Loving Children / I Love To Tell The Story / Don’t Be Afraid / Speak Gently / Mother’s Evening Prayer / Hymn of Life / As Sings The Mountain Stream / The Lord’s Prayer / From sense to Soul / Three Ls for Life

September 18th - Peace for the World

I was joined by guests Alex Cook, Désirée Goyette, Nitya Thomas and Jill Gooding, and shared seven new tracks including original settings of O Peace Of The World, Mary Baker Eddy’s Love and Jill’s new poem, My Peace I Give To. This was my chance to contribute to our collective prayers for the world and in particular those in Afghanistan.

Mother's Evening Prayer / God of Creation / The Peace That Passes All Understanding / Satisfied (Nitya Thomas) / Peace, Love and Grace / Be Still and Know / Plant a Seed (Désirée Goyette) / Love / Peace of the World / At Our Side. / All Glory be to God Most High / Oh Lord Most Holy / The Voice That Loves You (Alex Cook) / Dear Lord I Pray / Heavenly heavenly presence / The Rainbow / This Is The Time To Pray / In The Secret Place / Home is the Consciousness of Good / My Peace I Leave With You

August 14th - Pick ‘n’ mix Summer Concert

A fun mix of summery favourites and new compositions - just me and my piano!

God Is Working His Purpose Out / I Love Thy Way of Freedom, Lord / In Heavenly Love Abiding / From sense to Soul / Temple of Love / Safety / Be Still and Know / Clouds Without Their Rain / Hymn of Life / Grace to Go Forward (Pilgrim) / The Rainbow / Three Ls for Life / In the Secret Place / My Shepherd

June 25th - God loves you, friend

This month’s concert was dedicated to children of all ages, and featured some real life children as special guest contributors - thank you, Roman and Sasha! I also premiered a record five new compositions.

God Loves You Friend / God is where I am / My sisters bless the Lord / I Love To Tell The Story / Love One Another / Communion Hymn / Circle of Love / I Love Thy Way of Freedom, Lord / I Walk With Love / Father Mother God / Lullaby for a Child / Shepherd Show Me / Now I lay me down to sleep / God loves you / Mother’s Evening Prayer

May 29th - Healing Solutions Spiritual Summit

I was honoured to be asked to contribute to this online event alongside Fujiko Takai Signs CSB from Tokyo, and Melanie Wahlberg CS in California, exploring healing solutions to life’s challenges.

In between the talks given during the 150-minute event, I played Unfolding Day, The Rainbow, In the Secret Place, Under His Wing / Lullaby for a Child, As a Child, Safety, From sense to Soul / In Heavenly Love Abiding, I Love to Tell the Story, My Shepherd, This Is The Time To Pray and Three Ls for Life.

May 4th - Best of the Brits

My lyricists for this concert were my favourite Brits - Fenella Bennetts CSB, Jill Gooding CSB and Violet Hay CSB. Fenella was such a dear friend, Jill Gooding still is, and Violet Hay was a trailblazer for the CS movement and the 1932 hymn book.

From these thy children / All glory be to God most high / Pilgrim on earth / Arise ye people / Lo he sent His word / I Love Thy Way of Freedom, Lord / Safety / Oh Dreamer / From sense to Soul / Christ Be In Your Christmas / Three Ls for Life / Peace, Love and Grace / Light Of The World / Who Was That Man in Galilee / Choose! / Circle of Love / Though I may speak / My Shepherd / Irish Blessing

April 2nd - What Easter Means to Me

It was a joy to welcome back not just Airlie Scott, but also readers like Chet Manchester, Annette Kreutziger-Herr, and Angela Marriott to share their readings on Easter.

Now Thank We All Our God / Communion / Walk with God / We gather together / What Brightness Dawned / O Life that maketh all things new / Still with thee / Steadfastly Protected / Light Of The World / Oh Dreamer / I Love Thy Way of Freedom, Lord / Tender Loving Shepherd / Nearer, my God, to Thee / Pie Jesu / Christ My Refuge / From sense to Soul / He That Hath God His Guardian Made / Christ is Risen / My Shepherd

March 19th - All Request Friday 2

So much fun I had to do it twice.

My Shepherd / Be still and know / Satisfied / Love's ever presence / Speak Gently / Oh Dreamer / As Sings The Mountain Stream / From sense to Soul / He That Hath God His Guardian Made / Soulscapes / Pilgrim on Earth / Temple of Love / The Lord Is My Shepherd / Not What I Am / This Is The Time To Pray / Irish Blessing / Love's Ever Presence

March 5th - All Request Friday

I let my listeners choose the songs this week. and I was overwhelmed with requests for both old favourites and recent compositions - so much so, I decided to do another requests show two weeks later! I also premiered a new Easter song and a new setting to Pilgrim On Earth.

Come Gracious Spirit / The Lord’s Prayer / Choose! / Still with thee / In The Secret Place / The Rainbow / What Brightness Dawned / The Father Is Calling / In Heavenly Love Abiding / Child of God / Let no wall divide us / Lullaby for a Child / This Is The Time To Pray / Eternal Mind The Potter Is / Under His Wing / Pilgrim on Earth / Irish Blessing

3.6: February 12th - Love

Special thanks to my special friend Angela Marriott CS, for her readings on Love from Paul and elsewhere.

I Walk With Love / Love one another / The greatest and the best is love / He That Hath God His Guardian Made / Be still and know / Love / Love’s ever presence / All glory be to God on high / Not What I Am / Shepherd show me / Tender Loving Shepherd / Father We Your Loving Children / Child of God / In Heavenly Love Abiding / Behold What Manner of Love / Let no wall divide us / Irish Blessing

3.5: February 5th - Government/the Sustaining Infinite

My guest reader this week was my friend Tricia Cullimore - thank you, Tricia!

In The Secret Place / The Lord’s Prayer / Lo he sent His word / Eternal Mind The Potter Is / The presence of Love / Our God Is All in All / Come Gracious Spirit / Three Ls for Life / Grace for today / This Is The Time To Pray / Gentle Presence / Tender Loving Shepherd / Christ My Refuge / The Pearl of Great Price / My Shepherd / Satisfied

3.4: January 29th - Joy

I’m grateful this week to Annette Kreutziger-Herr CS for her deep and thoughtful readings on the subject of Joy.

In Mercy in Goodness / Mine Eyes Look Toward The Mountain / The reign of Soul / Praise We The Lord / Hymn of Life / Mother's Evening Prayer / The Breath of God / In Atmosphere of Love / Dreamer / He That Hath God His Guardian Made / Holy Spirit, Light Divine / Dear Lord and Father of us all / Child of God / The Gift of Gratitude / Under His Wing / In Heavenly Love Abiding / Behold What Manner of Love

3.3: January 22nd - Certainty and Expectancy of Good

Special thanks to Francesca Simpson for her lovely readings.

From these thy children / As a child / Lullaby for a Child / Christ My Refuge / Be Still and Know / As Sings The Mountain Stream / Come Gracious Spirit / Unfolding Day / Peace, Love and Grace / Each Smile a Hymn / Abide with me / Laws to live by / Light Of The World / Now Thank We All Our God / Temple of Love / Love One Another / Circle of Love

3.2: January 15th

My guest reader this week was the lovely Bonnie Thomas, a nurse from the USA.

Communion / Shepherd show me / Still with thee / I Walk With Love / Walk with God / Love / The Rainbow / Beauty of the Earth / From sense to Soul / The Whole World In His Hands / I Love Thy Way of Freedom / The Lord’s Prayer / Pilgrim / Eternal Mind The Potter Is / Love One Another / Dear Lord I Pray / Satisfied / Three Ls for Life / This Is The Time To Pray

3.1: January 8th

My new series of weekly concerts features a theme each week, and guest readings to uplift thought and complement the music. This week my special guest was Tricia Rickard.

In Heavenly Love Abiding / All is well / O Lord I Would Delight in Thee / Love / Don’t Be Afraid / Love’s Ever Presence / Be Still My Heart / Safety / Prayer for loved ones / Three Ls for Life / Our God Is All in All / Christ My Refuge / Dreamer / Under His Wing / My Shepherd

2.5: January 2nd 2021 - Happy New Year…

Let’s be honest - it’s been a challenging 2020. So here’s an evening full of faith, hope and expectation for a brighter 2021 - and news of a new series of weekly concerts, beginning Friday January 8th at 7pm GMT!

Shepherd / In The Secret Place / Unfolding Day / Blessedness / He That Hath God His Guardian Made / Hear Our Prayer / Dear Lord and Father of us all / Oh life that maketh all things new / Come Home to the Father / From sense to Soul / Speak Gently / Three Ls for life / I love Thy way of freedom / My Shepherd

2.4: December 19th Winter Warmer

This concert includes special guest performances by Airlie Scott and my friends the Sentinellas, readings and contributions from the UK, the USA and Germany, and new songs and carols including Hallelujah Christ Is King, and I'm Surrounded By Love with words by Jil Gooding. The concert was sponsored by the Joint Online Christian Science Reading Room at spirituality4.me, which also provides the streaming platform for my other monthly concerts.

O come all ye faithful (Sentinellas), O Holy Night, Silent Night (Airlie), Thoughts on Light (Annette), Gracious Spirit (with Airlie), O Little Town, Once in Royal David's City (with Airlie), In the Bleak Midwinter (Sentinellas), The Nativity (Tricia), Road to Bethlehem (with Airlie), Away in a Manger, Poem (Jill), Blest Christmas Morn, Thoughts on Gratitude (Bonnie), Father we your loving children, Sussex Carol (Sitfords & De Leons), Sweet Immunity (Tricia), Hymn of Life, Excerpts from The Messiah (Margaret), Come Unto Him (Airlie), God’s anointed (Chet), The Rainbow, Mrs Eddy and Christmas (Jill), The Presence of Love, Ding Dong Merrily (The Blands), All Glory Be To God on High, Sing Hallelujah, Christ Be In Your Christmas, Irish Blessing.

2.3extra: December 12th - an answer to a need

2.3: November 7th

High Wycombe Society very kindly both hosted and sponsored this month’s concert, which featured two brand new compositions inspired my rediscovered poems and blustery seas!

A Glorious Day Is Dawning / Unfolding Day / Satisfied / Speak Gently / Dear Lord I Pray / Still with thee / Nearer, my God, to Thee / In The Secret Place / Love One Another / Love (Brood O’er Us) / Safety / The Lord’s Prayer / Dreamer / Irish Blessing

2.2: October 10th, featuring Tamsin, Jamie and Monty Bland

My old Newsong Group friend Tamsin Bland (flute) joined me this week, and brought her talented young men Jamie (Trombone/Tenor) and Monty (Double Bass/Bass Guitar) for good measure. We had a joyous time playing some old favourites, and a few new ones too.

In The Secret Place / Come gracious Spirit / The Father Is Calling / In Mercy in Goodness / Hymn of Life / I Know No Life Divided / Shepherd / Mother's Evening Prayer / In Heavenly Love Abiding / O Life that maketh all things new / Pilgrim / From sense to Soul / The Circle of Love / My Shepherd / Eternal Mind The Potter Is

2.1: September 5th, featuring Airlie Scott

My new series of monthly concerts kicked off with a special guest - my old Newsong Group friend, Airlie Scott*. It was such a joy to sing with her again. If you’d like to hear more of Airlie, check out all the Newsong Group albums in my shop, as well as Airlie’s wonderful album Skyward, and the website for her live music performances: Pronto Jazz.

I Love To Tell The Story / Father, We Your Loving Children / I Love Your Way of Freedom, Lord* / All is well* / Lo, He sent his word / Circle of Love* / Shepherd Show Me / Not What I Am* / In the Secret Place / God Loves You, Friend* / Eternal Mind The Potter Is* / He That Hath God His Guardian Made* / My Shepherd / Dear Lord and Father of us all* / The King of Love* / God Is Working His Purpose Out* / Walk with God* / Satisfied*

2: April 4th

Come Gracious Spirit / Child of God / I Love Thy Way of Freedom, Lord / Mother’s Evening Prayer / Satisfied / Peace, Love and Grace / From sense to Soul / Dear Lord and Father of Us All / The Gift of Gratitude / O Life that Maketh All Things New / Hymn of Life / Safety / Love / Eternal Mind The Potter Is / Behold What What Manner of Love