Finding God through Music
On East Herts Radio from 3-24 March 2021
Listen to recordings of Rev. Alan Stewart on Bernie Keyte's Wednesday afternoon East Herts Radio show. Alan shares his music selection and there are shout-outs to people in the local community. Click on the links below to listen to the programme recordings.
Here's some of the music that features in this first week, with Alan's words about his choices...
Alison Krauss - Down to the River to Pray
"This song seems like a good place to start because this is where I think I first most deeply encountered God, by the river. It takes me right back to being a child and living by a river... there was something about the water and the stillness of the place, I felt like I was in my own cathedral... it was my holy place. This is a special song to me and possibly lots of us relate to that idea of 'church not made with hands'."
This Mortal Coil - Song to the Siren
"When I first heard this song it stopped me in my tracks. I was aged about 14. There's something about Elizabeth Fraser's voice that takes me to a different place and I can only call that place my soul, I don't have another word for it."
Jonathan Elias - Movement 5, 'Grace', sung by James Taylor, from The Prayer Cycle
"The Prayer Cycle is a collection of poems... The first verse here is, 'Father won't you carry me, for the ocean is wide, Father won't you carry me, for my boat is small'. I've been long interested in the side of Christianity called Celtic Christianity... it's a very earthy sprituality, a kind spirituality, and it's linked to the earth and the ground and the seasons. Also, that sense of the fatherhood of God has been an important one to me; that sense of someone who is the strength of my life, the one who carries me... that unconditional love."
Here are Alan's three song selections in the second week of the series, and some of the lyrics...
Sinéad O'Connor - This is to Mother You
For child I am so glad I found you
Although my arms have always been around you
Sweet bird although you did not see me
I saw you
And
I'm here to mother you
U2 - Grace
Because Grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things
Grace finds beauty
In everything
Grace finds goodness in everything
Joan Osborne - One of Us
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
Listen to the second part of the show, featuring shout-outs for local people
Here are Alan's three song selections in the third week of the series, and some of the lyrics (listen on Spreaker - the Show starts at 4mins 30secs in)...
U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
I have climbed the highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you
I have run, I have crawled
I have scaled
These city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Into My Arms
And I don't believe in the existence of angels
But looking at you I wonder if that's true
But if I did I would summon them together
And ask them to watch over you
Both to each burn a candle for you
To make bright and clear your path
And to walk, like Christ, in grace and love
And guide you into my arms
Florence + The Machine - You've Got The Love
Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air
I know I can count on you
Sometimes I feel like saying "Lord I just don't care"
But you've got the love I need to see me through
Sometimes it seems that the going is just too rough
And things go wrong no matter what I do
Now and then it seems that life is just too much
But you've got the love I need to see me through
Here are Alan's three song selections in the fourth and final week of the series, along with some of the lyrics...
The Velvet Underground (with Niko) - I'll Be Your Mirror
When you think the night has seen your mind
That inside you're twisted and unkind
Let me stand to show that you are blind
Please put down your hands
'Cause I see you
I'll be your mirror
Daniel Lanois - The Maker
Oh, oh deep water, black and cold like the night
I stand with arms wide open,
I've run a twisted line
I'm a stranger in the eyes of the Maker
I could not see for the fog in my eyes
I could not feel for the fear in my life
And from across the great divide, In the distance I saw a light
Jean Baptiste's walking to me with the Maker
Gillian Welch with David Rawlings - Orphan Girl
I am an orphan on God's highway
But I'll share my troubles if you go my way
I have no mother no father
No sister no brother
I am an orphan girl
. . .
But when He calls me I will be able
To meet my family at God's table
I'll meet my mother my father
My sister my brother
No more orphan girl
Alan talks about the book You Are Special by Max Lucado - here's a link to the book on Eden.co.uk
Listen to Rev. Alan's local radio interview
Rev. Alan Stewart was interviewed by Bernie Keyte on East Herts Radio at Christmas time in 2020 - you can listen to the interview by going to our Media Library or you can listen via YouTube.
As Bernie summarises, "AIan gives a full and very honest in-depth interview about his life, on his journey to becoming a vicar. His account is incredibly touching and his path to forgiveness is inspiring. Alan is the team leader of a wonderful church community in Hertford... Alan has become a master of Zoom and his wonderful church website bursts with friendliness, caring and a genuine warm welcome. All the activities are so fantastic and diverse and I for one can't wait for the Beer and Carols event next Christmas."