91福利社

Miranda Threlfall-Holmes:听

In 1526 a book - smuggled听into England听from the continent - was considered so dangerous that the Bishop of London听had as听many copies as he could find burnt听-听 in听St Paul鈥檚 churchyard where听I鈥檓听standing.听

The book was the New Testament, translated听听 into English by William Tyndale听鈥撎� His听work听 was听to cost him his life 鈥� but 12听years听 after听the听Bishop鈥檚听bonfire Thomas Cromwell ordered a copy of the Bible in English to be placed in every parish church in the land.听听听

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Today we give thanks for the life and work of Tyndale and for the riches he bequeathed to us.听

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Almighty God, who guided the Magi by a star,听听

Guide us, by the light shone on your Word by generations of biblical translators and scholars.听

Bless us with their commitment to draw near to you in听worship;听

Bless us with their perseverance in the face of听opposition;听

Bless us with their willingness to lay our gifts at your feet.听

Amen听

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Hymn - As with Gladness, men of old 鈥揅hoir of St Martin in the Fields.听听The听Complete听New English Hymnal, The Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge, Volume Fourteen听

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William Tyndale was born in Gloucestershire in around 1494.听听He was a priest and scholar, a brilliant linguist who famously vowed to 鈥渃ause the boy who drives the plough鈥� to know more of the scriptures than the powerful听and听 learned.听听听

But England in the 1520s was a dangerous place for the work听of听 translation. Diarmaid听Macculloch听 is听Emeritus Professor of the history of the church at Oxford University听听

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Interview with Professor Diarmaid听Maculloch听on why translating the Bible into English was so听dangerous, how听Tyndale died, and Thomas Cromwell鈥檚 role in ensuring a copy of the Bible in English was placed in every parish church.听听

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Miranda:听I鈥檓听climbing up the geometric staircase听in听 St听Pauls cathedral with Dr Paula Gooder who is the Canon Chancellor at St Pauls and听we鈥檙e听heading to Wren鈥檚 historic library which holds St Pauls greatest treasure, the Tyndale translation of the New Testament.听听听

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Interview with Canon听Dr听 Paula听Gooder about the cathedral鈥檚 copy of Tyndale鈥檚 New Testament and his genius for translation.听听

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Music - Purge me O Lord 鈥� Thomas Tallis, performed by the Tallis听Scholars, Peter Phillips.听Album title. The Tallis scholars sing Thomas Tallis.听

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Reading:听1听Corinthians 13听

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Miranda: England鈥檚 great sixteenth听century听 composers听rose to the challenge of听setting听 the听Bible in听English听 to听music.听听听听

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Music: William Byrd鈥檚 setting of part of Psalm 117.听听Praise our Lord all ye Gentiles.听听听听听

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There will be events up and down the country this year, marking the anniversary of听Tyndale鈥檚听 translation.听听But one Cheshire town has already stolen a march on the celebrations,听As听part of its annual听festival,听 Churches听Together in Lymm organised a Tyndale 500听programme,听 showcasing听the Bible听through听 readings听exhibitions and the performing arts.听

Simon Fawcett is chair of churches together in Lymm.听

Interview with Simon Fawcett about the Lymm festival鈥檚 celebration of Tyndale, and with actor Martin Buchan about how to read the Scriptures.听听

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Reading听-听John 4 5-14听

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MUSIC 鈥� verse 2 of I heard the voice of Jesus say. Daily Service Singers听

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Miranda: Often in a Sunday worship the gospel will be followed by a sermon. But in the spirit of Tyndale who put the scriptures into our hands in our own language听I鈥檓听here with the some of the people of Lymm to consider what this passage might mean to us today.听听听

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Music. Choir of the New Apostolic Church, Cape Town听

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet.听

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Let us Pray.听

Almighty God, we thank you for revealing yourself to your world, in the beauty of creation, in the incarnation of your Son Jesus, and in the witness of the Holy Scriptures.听听

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We thank you for all those who in countless generations have passed on the scriptures to us. We thank you for the skills of translators and scholars; of readers, preachers,听composers听and lyricists; and for all those involved in the printing and distribution of Bibles throughout the world.听

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We pray for those who risk danger simply by owning a Bible, or by challenging those who seek to enforce one reading of it. We pray for all those who are persecuted for their faith; and for a world in which your peace, love and justice may prevail.听

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We pray that you will continually open our hearts and minds to the transforming power of your word; that we may see you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more听nearly day听by day.听

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AND听

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Our Father听听

Who art in heaven听听

Hallowed be your name听听

Your kingdom come, your will be done听听

On earth as it听is听 in听heaven听听

Give us this day our daily bread听听

And forgive us our trespasses听

as we forgive those that trespass against us听

And lead us not into temptation听

but deliver us from evil听

For thine is the kingdom,听

the power and the glory听

for ever and ever, Amen听听

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Blessing听听

Closing music. Thou whose Almighty听Word听,听from听Christmas Oratorio by Bob Chilcott.听

Choir of Merton College, Oxford.听Delphian Records听

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