Manx Radio's Praise

On this week's programme - Dr Richard Hubbard, Valerie Kinrade and Reverend Jo Dudley, tell the story of the background to the new Visit Laxey Valley Heritage Trail which opens next Saturday, 29 June, at 12 noon. Christ Church in Laxey will be the Welcome Centre for visitors to the trail, in addition to retaining its purpose as a place of worship. Music today is from the Celtic-influenced duo CAIM, and Louise Whitelegg pops in to explain The Time Is Now - it's a rallying call for everyone to march to Tynwald on 26 June at 1pm, to press the Government into action on climate change and related concerns.

We celebrate Father's Day with a selection of stories, as three people each remember their Dad - and we travel to Ramsey for a Service of Celebration in which a Declaration of Commitment was signed between the Ramsey Methodist Church and Trinity United Reformed Church in Ramsey. After 4 years of preparation and discussion, each have left their own buildings and will now work and worship together, in St Pauls' Church Hall in Ramsey - this is the first such partnership on the Island - might others now follow? And there's music too!

On PRAISE today, we reflect on the 75th Anniversary of D-Day with thoughts from some of the Veterans as they returned to the Normandy beaches. If you're looking for a summer holiday suggestion, there's something for everyone at a quality Christian camp site in the Vendee region of France, and Charles Guard talks about his composition 'The Legend of St Maughold' which he will perform in St Paul's Church in Ramsey next Saturday - 15 June

Meet The Racing Preacher! In a special PRAISE programme for TT, Methodist local preacher and sidecar passenger Andy Haynes shares his life story. With wisdom and gentle humour, he talks about faith, family, choices and challenges (and much more!) and there's music too!

The Firestarter Youth Camp is 22 years old but it's fresher and brighter than ever - team leader Tommy Harrison and Natalie Brennan update us on this year's event - but be prepared for a VERY unexpected side to the story! Check out the festival, and book, via www.firestarter.im Simon Brown is a volunteer with London Zoo - and with the charity A Rocha. He's passionate about cherishing our world, and the people who live in it. He wants our places of worship to become Eco Churches - leading the way in caring with and for the community. Do the survey, and find out more at www.ecochurch.arocha.org.uk And we're keeping it topical with a biking story - but this one is from a MOST unusual source!

On PRAISE today, members of two Ramsey churches - Trinity United Reformed Church and Waterloo Road Methodist Church - describe the process that's led them to sell their existing church buildings, and plan a future sharing their weekly services together, and working together to serve the local community and the wider world. From 9 June their weekly shared service will be at 10.30am in St Pauls Church Hall in Ramsey. The Local Ecumenical Partnership -the legal agreement which is what the two denominations are working towards - will be the first of its kind on the Isle of Man.

Looking ahead to Praying the Keeills Week, discovering the power of sunflowers, and a first meeting with the inspirational Emily Owen - it's all on PRAISE today - plus The Deer's Cry - ancient words set to beautiful music

On PRAISE today we catch up with Bishop Michael Burrows, from our 'twinned' diocese in Ireland, and discover the link between Our Lady of Walsingham and the Isle of Man - plus brass band hymn tunes from this years Guild

A much-loved Manxman is remembered, and we discover some fascinating insights into the real life of Vincent Van Gogh Reverend David Gordon was pastor at Broadway Baptist Church in Douglas, and left some 18 years ago to become National Mission Advisor for the Baptist Church in Scotland. He's now Pastor and Team Leader at Kirkintilloch Baptist Church in the north of Glasgow. For many years David has been interested in the life and work of the painter Vincent Van Gogh but it was only whilst on sabbatical last year that he got the chance to turn his interest into a real study of the man - with fascinating results! Listen to David tell his story .... The late John Kennaugh was a popular contributor to Manx Radio's Thought for the Day - we share some of John's thoughts from his Easter broadcasts MUSIC ON PRAISE TODAY : Christ, whose glory fills the sky (St Michael Singers) Tell me the old, old story (London Fox Singers) My song is love unknown (last verse only) Incidental piano music is by Rick Wakeman

The message of Easter is at the very heart of the Christian faith - but what does a gift of new life mean to ordinary people like us? Georgie and Nigel Dempsey-Moore know exactly what it means to them, and they share their searingly honest story on today's programme. Bishop Gavin Ashenden explains what Easter means to him - and there's lovely music and lighthearted moments as the Broughton Boys Choir share highlights from their recent Training Course on the Island

Do you remember a 'young Ulsterman' who came to Broadway Baptist Church in the 1980's ? He's on PRAISE today! Plus news of THREE chances to enjoy some really beautiful music around the Island in the next few days - and we consider why today is the first day of a week that the Christian Church calls HOLY

Homelessness ? Is it just rough sleeping - in a doorway or on a park bench - or is there maybe more to it than that? Michael Manning thinks there is ..... and William King decided to give up something for Lent - what was it, and has it been worthwhile ? Find all the answers - mixed with some beautiful music from Karl Jenkins - on this week's PRAISE programme

On PRAISE this week we take a look at the wider world, talking to Verity Johnson, CAFOD's Country Representative in Zimbabwe about the current situation there, in the wake of Cyclone Idai, and Anna Burden of Christian Aid, and expert beekeeper Harry Owens reflect on their recent trip to Burundi, sharing their skills with some of the world's poorest people in a bid to help them work their way out of poverty. And there's music too!

Better late than never! Tech troubles held up the PRAISE podcast from Sunday 24th March - but it's here now. Catch the bus with a difference - the Bus Ny Bannaghtyn - and meet Rev Michaela Youngson and Bala Gnanapragasam, the current leaders of the Methodist Church in Britain who visited the Island recently - and there's music too!

Would you leave the security of your home in Peel, to spend 3 months in an area full of conflict? Rosemary Clarke did, and she joins us on PRAISE today to tell her story. As we continue our journey through the weeks of Lent, we meet Dylan and hear his story - of rejection, and acceptance. And there's music too!

Two very different journeys feature on PRAISE today - words and music for the first week of our journey through Lent, to Easter, and local beekeeping expert Harry Owens reports on his week spent journeying around the south of Burundi - one of the world's poorest countries - where he's helping local people to work their way out of poverty through a Christian Aid beekeeping project

Praise goes to London! Steel bands in Southwark Cathedral, exploring places of pilgrimage, and finding the link between ashes and pancakes PLUS EXCLUSIVE to this week's podcast - a day by day report from beekeeper Harry Owens - transforming lives in Burundi

The wait is over! 85-year-old local beekeeping expert Harry Owens is finally in Burundi - helping some of the world's poorest people to work themselves out of poverty, and he's sending us daily updates. Plus news of Heal Nepal - the latest project from the Leprosy Mission - and there's music, too.

Meet Greta Thunberg, the 15-year-old Swedish climate activist who inspired students around the UK - and beyond - to go on strike last Friday in a fight against climate change; learn about Craft Activism with Christian Aid's Louise Whitelegg and we dip into the archives again, to hear much-loved actor Wendy Craig talk about her life and her faith journey. Plus music - and a pause for a poem, from Anne Clarke.

On PRAISE this week - ahead of Valentine's Day, we've relationship advice from couples who've been married for well over 50 years, and Christian Aid representative Louise Whitelegg wants us to change the colour of romance from red to green! We find out what it really takes to minister to people who have been bereaved in the most tragic circumstances, and visitor Michael Mwanikha shares his inspiring story - and a mouthwatering menu of Kenyan food! Plus - two more of the nation's favourite hymns.