All ground is holy ground

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.

Sunday Worship
Sunday 5th June 2011

MediaCityUK
Salford Quays

Preacher: The Rt Revd Chris Edmondson
Leader: The Revd Hayley Matthews
Daily Service Singers
Manchester Chamber Choir
BBC Philharmonic
Conductor: Paul Brough

CHOIR & ORCHESTRA: Gloria (Vivaldi)

THE REVD HAYLEY MATTHEWS:
Good morning and welcome to MediaCityUK in the heart of Salford on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal. This multi-million pound development has become the foundation of an unprecedented act of regeneration. Where the once vibrant docks ground to a halt almost thirty years ago, this new complex has risen to transform the area from port to portal.

The Church has just celebrated the ascension of Christ. Jesus’ bodily resurrection and ascension leaves us with the Spirit of truth, spreading the gospel message through myriad people in diverse ways and places, in a way that the physical presence of one man could not hope to achieve. So there’s a certain sweet irony that our focus here too has shifted from the physical to the virtual, from transportation of goods for profit, to a communication hub that sends messages to the world. And, just like the Gospel, it’s all about community and communication.

Joining me here this morning are ministers and members of a number of Salford churches, representatives of Salford City Council, the Manchester Chamber Choir and, in their new, purpose-built studio, the BBC Philharmonic. And they’re going to lead us in our first hymn – ‘Angel-voices ever singing’.

CHOIR, CONGREGATION & ORCHESTRA: Angel-voices ever singing
UNISON
Tune: Angel voices
Music: E.G.Monk
Words: F.Pott

ALEX ROBERTSON:
A reading from the Book of Exodus chapter 3

Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, ‘I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.’ When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said, ‘Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’

THE REVD HAYLEY MATTHEWS:
Let us pray.
We stand on hallowed ground that has been prayed over and built on as an act of regeneration and faith. And so we remember all those whose lives and livelihoods have depended on this place, and all those whose lives were shattered by the closing of the docks. Father, as we ask for Your blessing on all who now live, work and enjoy recreation here, and on those who will do so in the future, may Your kingdom come in and through this new MediaCityUK, in Jesus’ name.
ALL:
Amen.

THE REVD HAYLEY MATTHEWS:
All Ground is holy ground, as our first passage from the bible, read by Alex Robertson, a member of the pastoral team at The Lighthouse, a church in nearby Eccles, has just reminded us. When I first arrived here six months ago I was surprised to learn that for over twenty-five years local churches had been literally coming down to this site to pray over the land here when it was derelict and defunct, and the vision for MediaCityUK was not even a twinkle in the eye. So although this new media city seems to have risen up from the ground since the seven tower cranes moved into place in November 2007, the five years of building have a much deeper foundation of prayer beneath them as the local community longed for something to replace the once thriving docks which had kept thousands in work for nigh on a century. One of those prayer-warriors was David King, director of the City Light Trust.

INSERT: DAVID KING:
For three generations my Family have prayed for and worked in this great City of Salford, believing it has a God-given destiny to be creative and prosperous.

When we were young the docks was active; the World came to Salford and Salford went to the World.

But what do you do when your Docks close, and hope is said to be lost? We prayed, and encouraged the Churches to pray believing that God had not finished with Salford yet and the best from Him was yet to come for this City and its people. We trusted in God that the gift of creativity He had put deep within the heart of Salford would grow and prosper and the World would come again to Salford and Salford would again go to the World from what had been the docks.

Here today you can see and hear our prayers have been answered, Media City UK is built on God’s own ground that has been prayed over for many years; Salford, once again, is going to the World and the World this morning is listening and has come again through the media to Salford.

I’m confident prayer has indeed changed Salford and will continue to do so.

THE REVD HAYLEY MATTHEWS:
Gabriel Fauré’s ‘Cantique de Jean Racine’ speaks powerfully of the prayerfulness and providence that underpin the Holy Ground on which we stand today: ‘O divine word above, our hope and consolation…Look down, O Lord, and hear thy people’s prayer!... From slumber waken us, our weary souls reviving, that we may never forget thy laws! O Jesus Christ, have mercy on thy congregation…renewed by thy gifts may they go forth in peace.’

CHOIR & ORCHESTRA: Cantique de Jean Racine (Fauré)
BARBARA SPICER:
A reading from St Paul’s letter to the Philippians, chapter 4.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

THE REVD HAYLEY MATTHEWS:
Our reader was Barbara Spicer, Chief Executive of Salford City Council, one of the partners in creating MediaCityUK. Bringing renewal is vital to the long-standing local communities surrounding MediaCity. Media organisations including the BBC, community workers, schools and Salford University are collaborating with local councils and with the owners of the site, the Peel Group. Together, they want to ensure that what has been one of the most deprived areas of the United Kingdom in the past really is positively impacted by the new centre.

One of my key tasks as Chaplain is to act as both spiritual bridge and broker between these different communities as we look for ways to work together, integrating the old and the new to the benefit of all.

In a moment we’ll hear from the Bishop of Bolton, Chris Edmondson, who’s been highly instrumental in creating the role of Chaplain and bringing to fruition the vision for The Anchor – our chaplaincy – here at MediaCity. Holding the portfolio for ministry and mission in the Diocese, it comes as no surprise that Bishop Chris would want to see faith and spirituality at the centre of any new city.The opportunity for the good news of the gospel to have a place at the centre of a 21st Century communications hub is a perfect fit. Where better to show in word and deed that grace, love and inclusive hospitality are core to our Christian faith, than in the centre of a diverse multi-faith and multi-cultural community? But I would also want to add that in such a fast-paced environment, The Anchor importantly provides a still small space of calm – a silent oasis if you will, such as the one we sing about in our next hymn, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.

CHOIR & ORCHESTRA: Dear Lord and Father of mankind (Parry)

THE BISHOP OF BOLTON:
If, 30 years ago, you’d seen the initials ‘PC’, the assumption would have been that this referred to an officer of the law. Nowadays it could equally or more likely refer to a personal computer or the need to watch our language - to be ‘politically correct’.

Until my sons were teenagers in the 1990’s, I’d always assumed that the word ‘wicked’ referred to something or someone on the evil side of bad. But I quickly learned from them that it had taken on a more positive meaning - ‘great’.

It was in the 1980’s that the word ‘whatever’ was adopted by Californian ‘Valley Girls’ to express their community’s easy-going attitude to life. It quickly crossed the pond but interestingly was adopted here more as an expression of disdain and aimlessness. Of course, more recently it’s been popularised by two comic TV characters, Vicky Pollard (played by Matt Lucas in Little Britain) and Lauren (played by Katherine Tate).

As we’ve already heard this morning, Sunday worship comes for the first time from Salford’s Media City UK. When its spiritual predecessor Broadcasting House in London was opened in May 1932, a Latin inscription was carved on the wall above the reception area for all to read. It’s still there in bold capital letters and translates like this:

“This Temple of the Arts and Muses is dedicated to Almighty God by the first Governors of Broadcasting in the year 1931, Sir John Reith being Director General. It is their prayer that good seeds sown may bring forth a good harvest, that all things hostile may be banished from this house, and that the people inclining their ear to whatsoever things are beautiful and honest and of good report, may tread the path of wisdom and uprightness.”

The inscription clearly draws inspiration from verse 8 of Philippians chapter 4, which we heard earlier. “Finally beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things”.

But whatever – or whatsoever - hopes people of good will might hold for all that is just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise, that other ‘whatever’ – that more contemporary expression of a certain aimlessness and disaffection – inevitably pervades our consciousness these days, both in the media and through so much of our society in general. Is it too much to hope and pray that the values contained in that original BBC inscription can become part of the ethos of those working here in Salford Quays in all the different media organisations and help balance or to some extent neutralise that other all pervading ‘whatever’? It’s a big ask given the prevailing climate. But even if there isn’t a visible stone engraving in Media City UK, I believe it’s possible, through the life of Christ within us, whose life and ministry perfectly embodied these values, to have them engraved on our hearts and minds.

BBC employees are moving here from London, from their old building in central Manchester and from elsewhere around the country, together with many new recruits. Of course, one of the reasons for establishing this new base here at Media City UK, is to ensure that the BBC speaks for the whole of the UK and not just for one particular part of it and particularly that the north of the country is more equally represented. The country the BBC now serves is one of great breadth and diversity which is continually developing. And so, from Songs of Praise to Blue Peter, Match of the Day to the Daily Service, The Moral Maze to Dragons’ Den, from the whole of Radio 5 Live to the wonderful music-making of the BBC Philharmonic playing here in their new purpose-built studio, the BBC’s contribution from Salford will make its mark on the whole country and beyond.
For me as a Bishop, this amazing breadth and diversity is easily seen in this diocese, involved as I am at leadership and local level with people from many non-Christian faith communities. But I can also look within the Christian family, to people who have come to a living faith in Christ, and who I then have had the privilege of confirming. Over recent months, this would include people whose roots are in such diverse parts of the world as India, Hong Kong, Pakistan, various parts of the Caribbean, Morocco, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda and Sudan, as well of course as people born and brought up in the longer-established communities that make up Greater Manchester.

I read a story recently about a boy who lost his dog in New York City. As he walked up and down the streets, systematically and slowly, a friend complained that he wasn’t even looking for the dog. He answered: ‘I’m not looking for him. I’m letting him find me. Sooner or later he’ll discover the trail I am putting down and follow it until he comes to me’.

The new Anchor chaplaincy here at Media City UK is working in partnership with all the local faith communities and with Salford University. It’s my hope and prayer that many, whether living, working, studying or simply visiting may pick up at different points the rumour of God in their lives, or rather realise they are being found by him. To discover, as in the experience of Moses in our Old Testament reading, there is nowhere God is not; here too is holy ground and the potential for encountering Him who would want WHATEVER is beautiful and honest and true to characterise all we are and all we do.

CHOIR & ORCHESTRA: Jesu, joy of man’s desiring (J.S.Bach)

THE REVD HAYLEY MATTHEWS:
Bach’s anthem ‘Jesu, joy of man’s desiring’ sung by Manchester Chamber Choir with the BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Paul Brough.

Major Mel Jones, Divisional Commander of the Salvation Army’s Central North division and The Revd Andy Salmon of St Philip with St Stephen and Sacred Trinity churches in Salford will now bring our needs and our thanks before God in prayer:

MAJOR MEL JONES:
We pray for the poor in our communities, for families relying on benefits, and for the unemployed. We pray that MediaCityUK will bring hope as it brings jobs and prosperity. Teach us not to judge anyone on the basis of their employment status but to acknowledge how much you value each person as sons and daughters of God. And we pray for local and national government at this time of economic challenge.

Lord in your mercy:
ALL:
hear our prayer

THE REVD ANDY SALMON:
We pray for a sense of encouragement as people move here to embrace new opportunities and new challenges. Bless and guide them to new communities of friendship, companionship and support.

Lord in your mercy:
ALL:
hear our prayer

MAJOR MEL JONES:
We pray for those who will study and work here at MediaCityUK. May the opportunity to become a worldwide communication portal be taken up with both joy and responsibility.

May the love, laughter and creativity of Christ burst into life through the creative endeavours and the community groups that will ripple out from MediaCityUK.

May the news and views that we share encourage, enliven, educate and entertain; let nothing deny or destroy the dignity or design of another.

Lord in your mercy:
ALL:
hear our prayer

THE REVD ANDY SALMON:
We pray for the children and young people of local communities who will experience opportunities never dreamt of by their parents; give them the courage to forge new paths and the determination to push through to a new way of living that will give their children too a future and a hope.

Lord in your mercy:
ALL:
hear our prayer

MAJOR MEL JONES:
We thank you for the renewal of hope and new beginnings that is represented by MediaCityUK; bless all those who have been involved in its construction, from the architectural visionaries to the brickies and sparkies.

Lord in your mercy:
ALL:
hear our prayer

THE REVD ANDY SALMON:
Help us, as we look across the chasms of culture, background, education and religion, to see your image in everyone. To know that our hands are your hands, our hearts, a glimpse of yours when we show that we love one another as you have loved us. Thank you for the opportunity to make a difference to so many lives in so many ways from this place and bless the work of The Anchor chaplaincy as we seek to build a sense of community here in Your Name.

ALL:
Amen

THE REVD HAYLEY MATTHEWS:
We draw our prayers together in the words Jesus taught us:

ALL:
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

THE REVD HAYLEY MATTHEWS:
It’s been fantastic to see so many groups represented here today in this first broadcast act of worship from MediaCityUK. When we come together in community we begin to get a real reflection of the many facets of God’s glory and that between us something as miraculous as this MediaCity can rise from the ashes of the past. We may not have seen a burning bush, but we can recognise through such a remarkable act of resurrection that not only is this ground holy ground, but that every person we meet carries the divine image and the creative spark. God’s Spirit is inspiring us to create words that will bring life to others. Christ within us, the hope of glory - no wonder we can but sing, O Praise Ye the Lord!
CHOIR, CONGREGATION & ORCHESTRA: O praise ye the Lord!
Tune: Laudate Dominum
Music: C.H.H.Parry
Words: H.W.Baker

THE BISHOP OF BOLTON:
Christ our ascended King, pour upon you the abundance of his gifts and bring you to reign with him in glory; and the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you now and for ever.
All:
Amen

ORCHESTRA: Hornpipe (from Concerto grosso in F Major) – G.F.Handel