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Organ launch at Westminster Central Hall

The Methodist Central Hall is set to launch its famous, newly re-built Great Hall organ at a spectacular Gala Launch Concert on Saturday, October 8th.
The beautiful organ, with its massive 32-foot front pipes, has entranced visitors from all over the world for nearly 100 years and has now been fully restored to the highest possible standard using the latest technology.
Central Hall is again home to one of the world’s finest church and concert organs.
Among previous organists is Lord Lloyd-Webber’s father, the late Dr. William Lloyd Webber.
Today the accomplished international concert organist Gerard Brooks is organist and director of music at Central Hall – he is also professor of organ improvisation at the Royal Academy of Music and has many CDs to his name.
The Gala Launch Concert starting at 7.30pm on October 8th promises to be magical.
Broadcaster Mike Read is co-hosting the event and the church’s own newly formed Westminster Festival Orchestra and choir is making its debut performance.
The Westminster Festival Orchestra includes players of many nationalities, all recommended by The Royal Academy of Music, The Royal College of Music, The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Trinity College of Music and the Southbank Sinfonia.
The choir is made up of members of other churches and choirs, including The Royal Choral Society.
Organist and director of music at Central Hall: Gerard Brooks – www.gerardbrooks.org.uk

For more information please contact: Tony Miles
Deputy Superintendent Minister, Media Chaplain & Broadcaster
Methodist Central Hall, Westminster – 020 7654 3809 or 020 7222 8010

BLAMING GOD…… new Danish book

pk325hWhen life is too painful and has ceased to have any meaning, hospital vicar Preben Kok shows people how to share the burden of responsibility and their sorrow with God.

In his best selling book Blaming God, Kok tackles issues such as relationships, guilt, powerlessness, stress and the illusion of the perfect human being.

Based on a Danish hit TV series ‘Confession’, the book is currently being translated from Danish into English and is looking for a publisher in the UK and USA.

For more information please mail: contact@churchandthecity.com.

Sample quotes from Blaming God:

‘When people say they don’t believe
in miracles, or that they don’t happen
in their lives, then it’s because
they themselves try to define
what constitutes a miracle.
But a miracle is something
you can’t define.
I believe in miracles. I’ve experienced
them in important situations.
And each time the miracle has been
something other than what I had hoped for
or expected.’

‘The church is the only place left
in modern society where
death and defeat are still acceptable.
If someone calls me to say there has
been a death in their family, I don’t say:
‘How unfortunate, death is not a great
brand to be associated with.’

Today many young mothers,
who have lost their baby
during pregnancy, feel guilty
because we in our modern world
will not accept the fact that
powerlessness is a significan part of reality.’

‘Those of us who are religious
can talk to God about our powerlessness,
while those who are not religious
have a serious challenge on their hands.’
When I meet people who are weighed down
I try to encourage them to start

a conversation with God.
That is often possible when
their sorrow is great.’

‘I think rather than a ‘leap of faith’
it is a case of ‘fall of faith.’
The reality is the road one has followed
throughout life which leads one to the edge.
There is no way back – and the road leads
to the botom of the sea. I don’t think anyone
jumps if they don’t have to.
But life can push so that one falls -
and receives the gift of faith: the knowledge
that the water holds.’