大象传媒

Please note:

This script cannot exactly reflect the transmission, as it was prepared before the service was broadcast. It may include editorial notes prepared by the producer, and minor spelling and other errors that were corrected before the radio broadcast.

It may contain gaps to be filled in at the time so that prayers may reflect the needs of the world, and changes may also be made at the last minute for timing reasons, or to reflect current events.

听大象传媒 Radio 4

Sunday Worship

Eccleston Methodist Church

Sunday, 28th October 2012

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大象传媒 Radio 4 (Time check). Sunday Worship takes a trip to the northern countryside now as it visits Eccleston in Lancashire. The service is led by the Reverend Janet Pybon.

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Janet听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Introduction/Welcome

Good morning, and a very warm welcome from Eccleston Methodist Church. Eccleston is a former mill and mining village near Chorley in Lancashire, although nowadays few vestiges of the village鈥檚 industrial origins are in evidence, and most of the residents are either retired or commute to nearby towns.

Our congregation here in Eccleston has been joined by the Good听 News Singers, an ecumenical choir, which meets together weekly to听 sing and pray together.

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Prayer has been a special focus for Methodists in Lancashire this year, and our preacher and Chair of District, the Reverend Stephen Poxon has just completed a Prayer Walk around the entire Lancashire District,听 visiting every Methodist church and school, and praying with and for the community.

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Hymns are prayers set to music, and we begin our worship with a great Wesleyan hymn, 鈥榊e servants of God, your master proclaim鈥�.听 In it, we find the glorious image of the church on earth combining its worship and praise with the church triumphant in heaven.

鈥榊e servants of God, your master proclaim, and publish abroad his wonderful name鈥�.

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Choir / Cong听听听听听听 Ye Servants of God (StF 340)

Charles Wesley (1707-88)

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Janet听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Link 1 & Prayers

Prayer is the bedrock of Christian faith and practice: through it we can communicate with God, bringing him our thanks and praise as well as our concern for ourselves and others. In prayer we can also hear God鈥檚 response, the 鈥榮till small voice鈥� that calms our fears and guides our footsteps.

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And so now let us bring before God our prayers of praise and thanksgiving and听 confession.

Almighty God,

We come before you in awe and wonder at your power and glory, knowing that no words of ours are ever sufficient to express fully all that you are and all that you do.

You are the one who is without beginning or end, the source of all life and the one who sustains it. You are holy, holy indeed, and we come before you with reverence and praise, offering this act of worship to you.

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We thank you for the richness and variety of your creation and for the many gifts that you have given us. We especially thank you that you are a God who wants to be in relationship with us, a God who loves us with a love that knows no end, a God who listens and responds to our prayers.

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But, Lord God, we confess that there are times when we do not love you as we should; times when our words and deeds do not reflect either the love you show to us or the love you would have us show to others in your name. We know that there are times when our prayers simply become a list of demands, and we do not make time to listen to you and hear your word.

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Forgive us, Lord: renew our faith, energise our worship and our prayer lives, and bring us ever closer to you.

ALL: Amen.

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Choir听听听听听听听听听 The Lord鈥檚 Prayer (arr R. Smith)

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Janet听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Link 2 /Psalm 126听听听听

Our Old Testament reading is Psalm 126, which celebrates the return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem after years of captivity in Babylon, and it is a joyous celebration of God鈥檚 almighty power and all that he has done for his people. Yet life for the returning exiles will not be easy: they have to rebuild the ruined city, and start their lives over again. The psalmist acknowledges that there are still hardships ahead, but ends with the reassurance that in due time there will be a harvest of blessing. We, too, know times when life is hard, and these are the times when our prayer life can seem dry and sterile. The psalmist鈥檚 request for God to pour out his blessings like streams in the desert are a plea for the restoration of our faith, together with the promise that after the bitter sowing will come a time of rejoicing.

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Glynn / Mark听听听听听听 Reading听听听听 Psalm 126 v1-6听 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 [Music running underneath]

Psalm 126听听听听听听听听听 A song of ascents.

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of[a] Zion,

听听听 we were like those who dreamed.[b]

2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,

听听听 our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said among the nations,

听听听 鈥淭he Lord has done great things for them.鈥�

3 The Lord has done great things for us,

听听听 and we are filled with joy.

4 Restore our fortunes,[c] Lord,

听听听 like streams in the Negev.

5 Those who sow with tears

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6 Those who go out weeping,

听听听 carrying seed to sow,

will return with songs of joy,

听听听 carrying sheaves with them.

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Choir听听听听听听听听听 No One But You Lord (Andy Park)

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Copyright 漏 1990 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing.

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Janet听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Link 3/Be thou my Vision听听听听

The much loved hymn 鈥楤e Thou My Vision鈥� is based on an ancient hymn text from eighth century Ireland, but it still resonates with us today, with its heartfelt expression of our yearning for God鈥檚 presence and guidance in our lives.

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The hymn is a prayer, asking that God will be 鈥榦ur vision, our best thought, our presence, our light鈥�. The hymn acknowledges that if we put God at the centre of our lives then we will come to care less about the things that the world values, such as wealth or fame, and instead will 鈥榮et our minds on things that are above鈥� and recognise that our true treasure is to be found in heaven.

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As we sing the hymn or listen to the words, let us make this prayer our own prayer, that God will be our vision and our guide.

鈥楤e thou my vision.鈥�

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Choir / Cong听听听听听听 Be Thou My Vision (StF 545)

Irish c.8th century
tr. Mary Byrne (1880-1931) and Eleanor Hull (1860-1935) 漏 Chatto & Windus

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Janet听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Link 4/ Luke 24;13-27听听听听听听听 28-35听听听听听听

I think for all of us there are times when, however much we might want God to be at the centre of our lives, our vision and understanding are clouded by our personal circumstances, and we are unable to sense him walking alongside us. These may be times of intense grief, when our loss simply overwhelms us, banishing the sense of a God who is with us. For others it may be times of physical suffering, when the pain we experience is so intense it takes over our lives, making it hard to focus on anything else. For others, deep anxiety or mental anguish can be the things which extinguish all sense of God鈥檚 presence or guidance. The Bible, tells us, however, that even at times when, for whatever reason, we are not aware of his presence, God is with us, walking alongside us, waiting to reveal himself to us.

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Lesley听听听听听听听 Reading听听听听 Luke 24 v13-27

A reading from Luke Chapter 24 beginning at verse 13

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles听 from Jerusalem.听 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.听 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

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He asked them, 鈥淲hat are you discussing together as you walk along?鈥�

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They stood still, their faces downcast. 听One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, 鈥淎re you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?鈥�

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鈥淲hat things?鈥� he asked.

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鈥淎bout Jesus of Nazareth,鈥� they replied. 鈥淗e was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 听The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 听In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn鈥檛 find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 听Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.鈥�

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He said to them, 鈥淗ow foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 听Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?鈥� 听And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

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Stephen听听听听 Sermon pt 1

It started out as a bit of a joke really.

2012 is a Year of Prayer for the Methodist people here in Lancashire and in a planning meeting I said, with a smile on my face, 鈥榳ouldn鈥檛 it be good if I visited each of our churches and said a prayer in each one鈥�. Suddenly excitement filled the room and before I knew it a Lancashire Prayer Walk was born and the smile on my face quickly faded!!

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I鈥檓 not a walker鈥�.or at least I wasn鈥檛鈥�.. and the thought of walking to each of our 115 Churches and 11 Schools in this Methodist District filled me with trepidation 鈥︹��but what a wonderful experience鈥︹��a transforming experience 鈥�.similar in some ways to the two friends walking along that road to Emmaus.

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Two people feeling desperate and not understanding what had happened the previous few days in Jerusalem to their friend Jesus鈥︹��.and as they were walking and talking he came alongside them and although they didn鈥檛 recognise him he became their companion

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The Prayer Walk began on Palm Sunday and has taken 30 days finishing only yesterday at Silverdale, covering most of modern day Lancashire..and on each of the days people have turned up to join me鈥�.over 600 people walked alongside me 鈥�some for half a mile 鈥�most for the whole day鈥�and as we have walked so we have shared our life stories鈥�sometimes the conversation was filled with laughter and at other times the quiet sharing of pain鈥�..companions walking together

This is what we are called to do as followers of Christ鈥�to walk alongside others鈥�in our communities鈥�at work鈥�school鈥�college鈥�among our friends鈥�..to share the joys and pain of life鈥�to be those who walk alongside others鈥�listening and responding 鈥�just being there鈥�becoming companions together鈥�

And as Jesus talked to the two friends on the Emmaus Road he helped them understand a little more about what they had experienced鈥�.their minds were opened and they saw things differently

It鈥檚 amazing 鈥�when you walk听 you see things from a different听 angle鈥�a different perspective鈥�.We鈥檝e walked through beautiful countryside, fields full of bulls, through boggy marsh, the back streets of East Lancs鈥�concrete paths of towns鈥� along sea walls 鈥�.in glorious sunshine, torrential rain鈥�.and local people have pointed out things I never knew where there鈥�added some of the local history鈥�the way the roofs slope in Nelson鈥�..the new flood defences along the Fylde coast鈥�.stopping to look at a stone in the middle of a field on the walk between Whalley and Clitheroe鈥�to be told this a the base of a Preaching Cross鈥�from the 13/14th听 听听century鈥� where people gathered to hear God鈥檚 word鈥�destroyed in 16th听 century鈥︹��and all that is left is this base stone鈥�.and I could have walked past it without even knowing鈥�..Seeing things through another person鈥檚 eyes has been a transforming experience鈥�

鈥�and how much more transforming when we begin to see the world鈥�society鈥�the breaking news through God鈥檚 eyes鈥�..and this only happens for me when I allow Christ to be my walking companion through life.

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Lesley听听听听听听听 Reading听听听听 Luke 24 v28-35

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 听But they urged him strongly, 鈥淪tay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.鈥� So he went in to stay with them.

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When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 听Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 听They asked each other, 鈥淲ere not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?鈥�

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They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, 鈥淚t is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.鈥澨� Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Stephen听听听听 Sermon pt 2

As we reached each of the 115 churches along the walk some of the local folk were there to meet and greet us鈥� a cup of tea鈥�dash to the loo鈥�and a welcome sit down鈥�..and over the 30 days of the walk the hospitality has been wonderful with home made cakes, soup and sandwiches鈥�strawberries and ice cream鈥�time and again discovering that large churches and small chapels are re-discovering the gift of hospitality鈥�..鈥�

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For the two friends of Emmaus urged this stranger who had become their companion to stay and eat with them鈥︹�︹��.and the Church today is called to invite the community they serve to come among them鈥�to welcome all鈥�.

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As we ate and shared so we prayed together鈥�I asked a simple question in each church we visited鈥︹�橶hat is God doing in this place鈥�.among you?鈥欌�︹��and wow鈥�what stories we heard听 鈥�of people giving of their time and talents so freely in the service of others鈥�. through care of the homeless鈥�as street pastors鈥�setting up cafes on housing estates to help create a sense of community鈥� church buildings becoming hospitable spaces for groups to meet supporting those with dementia 鈥�.those going through divorce鈥�..of Open Door projects for the lonely, the elderly, the marginalised鈥�.鈥�creative ways of engaging with families鈥�of work with children, keeping open youth clubs going when community ones are closing with budget cuts鈥︹��

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And all done because of faith鈥�faith in a God who loves us so much that people want others to experience this too鈥�..again and again reliving the Emmaus experience鈥�..

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For it was in the home of the friends at Emmaus鈥�over a simple meal as Jesus took bread鈥�prayed and broke the bread that their eyes were opened鈥�they recognised Jesus was in their midst鈥�has been their companion on the road鈥�..

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It was in that moment of bread being broken鈥�.in brokenness that they saw Christ had been there alongside them each step of the way.听 And this is our calling as Christians鈥�as the people of God鈥�to be in the midst of the brokenness of the world鈥�the mess as well as the good things of society鈥�.to be there so others may catch a glimpse of God being alongside them.

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And I can but testify in this small way I have experienced just this鈥� church after church were seeking to be there for the broken of their communities鈥�.to become companions with those in their neighbourhoods鈥�and most not in a grand way but often quietly there,听 with few resources, wondering how to keep going but living out their faith in the only way they know how.

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There we were only last week鈥�fields were so wet鈥�boggy 鈥�mud sucking boggy....and there were only 8 of us that day鈥︹��including Arnold, an older man who was wearing walking boots a size too big for his feet鈥�and the further we went the more unstable he became鈥�and he kept losing his shoe and falling on his knees in the mud鈥�and we would drag him up鈥�

and there was Steve kneeling before him in the mud鈥�.trying to find the buried shoe and then putting it back on鈥︹��and as we reached the lovely chapel at Dolphinholme鈥�.there were a group of people to greet us鈥�we began taking off our muddy boots....and Arnold was really struggling鈥�first a chair appeared for him to sit on鈥�..off came his boots and then as I turned around I caught a glimpse of a couple of women appearing with a bowl of water and a towel to wash his feet鈥�.鈥�and in that moment recognised the Christ among us鈥�..

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鈥�The Prayer Walk has been life changing for me鈥�..I have seen things I never knew existed鈥�I have been privileged to enter people鈥檚 lives I never knew before and I have recognised the presence of God so close to me鈥�.. I鈥檒l miss my walking companions but鈥�

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God鈥檚 invitation today is to walk with us鈥�..be our companion in every moment of life鈥�..

and God鈥檚 challenge is for us to walk with and alongside others鈥�and perhaps like me you may catch a glimpse from time to time of the Christ among you.

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Choir听听听听听听听听听 Prayer Is The Soul鈥檚听 Sincere Desire (Sally DeFord)

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Prayers

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 [Intercessions, interspersed between听 听 Hear Us Lord (trad. Afr arr mmg) ]

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It is a privilege to use God鈥檚 gift of prayer and now we bring before Him our prayers for the world and for ourselves, confident that He hears not just our spoken words but also the whispers of our hearts.

Heavenly Father, we live in a world where there is much that concerns us.
We pray for those areas that are marred by greed and war and for all the innocent people caught up in it.
We remember all the places that have ceased to be front-page news but where the problems haven鈥檛 gone away.
We pray for all who go hungry or thirsty.
May all those who are in positions of power and authority strive to make a real difference, serving justly and with honesty and compassion.

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Choir 听听听听听听听听 Hear us Lord?

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Loving Lord, we pray for the church, for those fellowships where hundreds meet to worship and for the places where only a few gather together.
We pray for all the different ways in which we reach out to those around us as we try and show that your love is for everyone, that you love each one of us just the same.
May we constantly seek new ways of sharing with others.

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Choir 听听听听听听听听 Hear us Lord?

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Merciful Lord, we pray for all we know who are in need today.
People or situations we have heard about in the news,

We pray for our children and young people, especially those who suffer any kind of abuse.
We pray for the sick,
those awaiting test results or treatment,
for the lonely,
those desperately searching for employment,
for the addicted.
We pray for those who feel unloved, especially because of bad memories鈥�
and those who mourn.

We pray too for their families and friends who often feel helpless and distressed by the suffering they see but can do nothing to alleviate.
May each of these people know that you love them and are with them and may they rest in your arms.

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Choir 听听听听听听听听 Hear us Lord?

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Father, we bring ourselves to you. You know the things that trouble and concern us, issues that we don鈥檛 share even with those closest to us. When asked how we are we hide the truth and smile brightly. Help us not to forget that we can bring our problems to you at any time for you will not leave us. May we move forward in your strength.

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Heavenly Father, we offer all our prayers in and through the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Amen.

Janet听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Link 5/Summary

Our next hymn, 鈥楲ord, your church on earth is seeking your renewal from above鈥� was written by Sir Hugh Sherlock, a Methodist minister, who was born in Jamaica, and became the first Chairman of the newly formed Methodist District of Jamaica. In addition to this hymn he also co-wrote the words to the Jamaican National Anthem, 鈥楯amaica, land we love鈥�.

The words of our hymn are a plea for God to send spiritual renewal on his people, to enable us to fulfil the Great Commission of bringing the good news of salvation in Christ to people everywhere.

The hymn contains a wonderful vision of the whole world transformed by the saving love of Christ and reminds each of us of our duty to serve Christ and to enable others to know him for themselves.

鈥楲ord, your church on earth is seeking your renewal from above.鈥�

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Choir / Cong听听听听听听 Lord Your Church On Earth Is Seeking (StF 410)

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Janet听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Closing Prayer听听

Lord God, we thank you for this time of worship, when we have been able to find you in the words of scripture, prayer and song. Strengthen us for the week ahead; enable us to feel your presence at all times and in all circumstances. May we so live our lives that others, too, may come to know your gracious love. Amen.

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Choir听听听听听听听听听 Clare Benediction (Rutter)

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Janet听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Blessing

And may the blessing of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with us this day and evermore, Amen.

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Choir / Cong听听听听听听 We Are Marching In The Light Of God (StF 483)

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Sunday Worship came live from Eccleston Methodist Church. The Minister was the Reverend Janet Pybon and the preacher the Reverend Stephen Poxon. The choir was directed by Sue Guenault and the accompanists were Mark Guenault and Alan Winstanley. The French Horn was played by Eleanor Hey and the producer was Claire Campbell-Smith.

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Remembering Hidden Lives is the theme of next week鈥檚 Sunday Worship for All Souls live from St Martin-in-the-Fields