(IIllustrations; United Folk at the Civic Centre , Newcastle and in St Luke's Church Wallsend)

When we look carefully at issues which often divide us as a human race, we can often see prejudice, intolerance, pride, fear and an inability to listen to another’s views, all of these usually well-hidden and under wraps. But the biggest one of these is surely fear; fear of incurring God’s wrath and displeasure should we deviate from well-trodden paths of belief. But if there is a willingness to engage with others in meaningful conversation, in an atmosphere of love, understanding and empathy, it can actually help us unwrap what God is trying to teach us, as long as we speak openly and honestly to one another, without such fear.

In United Folk we possessed that kind of openness, and we were so fortunate to be able to express ourselves freely, in a loving environment.

What kept us ‘united’ and ‘grounded’ was that first of all our focus was upon God. He was at the heart of our worship; we also loved the music we sang and shared with one another. We listened to each other’s points of view, and respected what was said. We were even free to agree to disagree at times, because we had love at our core. And if, before any big event, any minor tension or nerves crept in, praying together before we witnessed, restored our confidence and joy. The ‘roaring lion’ mentioned in scripture was sent packing.

In 1 Peter 5. 8-9, it says:-

‘Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.’

If anyone was set in their beliefs though, it was me. I took the Bible very seriously, at face value, without having studied the context, the culture of the times; without looking at who was actually writing it, and their reasons for writing what they did. 

One quote of mine was always cropping up: “But it says here in scripture!” pointing out some passage in the Bible. Looking back now I felt it essential in life, to defend God’s word, to the letter! But it was never the basic, essential faith that we differed on, merely its laws and rules and how it was being interpreted.

For example, when my own sister initially felt a deep and personal call to the priesthood, I told her that this that was impossible, women could not be priests, only men had been chosen as disciples, and that it was forbidden for women to instruct men, according to the apostle Paul.

Then later a friend disclosed to me, that she was involved in a loving relationship with someone of the same sex, and that it was their intention to live together. I simply could not bring myself to celebrate such a union then. She began pressing me to agree that such a relationship was NOT a sin, and I simply could not condone it, for I felt I would be going against what the Bible taught.

I even objected, as a teacher, to a horoscopes programme at school, being organised for a parents open evening.

I’m thankful to those who stood their ground, and over time, taught me a thing or two.

We, in United Folk, grieved about the many tragic divisions and schisms we saw right around the world, especially where people professed faith, yet did nothing to show this in their actions.

Song:- Pete Scott was reminding us of the need for intercessions to be offered constantly for the world,  in his song: Talking to the Man:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT8mEkwmuRE&list=PLnUh_ZGnZNfUlV8HEyppRIv8FLBtyEY65&index=16

We prayed for more unity across denominations, and for people with disagreements to come to the talking table, and air their views, just as we were trying to do in bridging any of our dividing lines.

This song is called:- The Dividing Line

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKsKUVbA9X0&list=PLnUh_ZGnZNfUlV8HEyppRIv8FLBtyEY65&index=70

Some of us visited Northern Ireland, in 1989, during the troubles, this was before the peace talks. The very fact that we had come together across the great divide of religious denominations was a testimony in itself there. We stood for unity.

Just before we went, I made some notes, and as I was thinking and praying, I filled the margins at the side of the page, with doodles of dandelion seed heads for some reason, with seeds drifting off into the air.

Amazingly, as we drove into Londonderry (Derry to Roman Catholics) and rounded a corner, there was a massive statue of a dandelion seed head!

I was telling some ladies about this coincidence, at our Roman Catholic retreat centre later, and they came knocking on the door later that evening, with a poster for me, depicting’ Our Lady of Derry’. There at her feet were dandelion seed heads and seeds flying, these flowers were her emblem! The unity we represented must have had ‘Our Lady of Derry’s’ approval in Northern Ireland?

We had wonderful fellowship in that small retreat centre in Donegal, and we worshipped together, Roman Catholics and Protestants, but when we went into the main church in the City Centre, we had to accept the fact that we would not be allowed to receive bread and wine with our Roman Catholic friends. This filled us with a deep sadness.

Jesus said “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. ( John 17.21)

How come many Christians don’t understand this heartfelt prayer of Jesus?

And yet, in Derry at that time, whenever a bomb exploded and people were hurt, Christians from different denominations in the town, united to pray together the following day. at a set venue.

This was never highlighted in the press!

Even today there is much talk of divisions and splits within the body of Christ! Should we not be consolidating our ranks, agree to differ, and speaking out powerfully on other vital issues around the world that really matter, concerning the poor, the starving, the outcast and the persecuted?

United Folk continued to witness about their Christian faith throughout the eighties and early nineties; indoors and out of doors, in all kind of weathers; wherever we were invited all over the North-East of England. We were one big family! 

One of our songs was used by the long running radio programme, ‘The Archers’ when a modern Christian folk music band was needed singing in the background of a church service. We also did a BBC World Service programme too.

During our time together we recorded our own songs; first on cassettes, three of them;

Stir into flame; Inside out and From this moment on.

Later we recorded two CD’s:- ‘The Best of United Folk’ included sixteen of the group's favourite tracks from the three cassette albums;  other songs which were not included on this album, were recorded later on a second United Folk CD called ‘Out of the Archives.’

It was wonderful that we had the benefit of so many songwriters in United Folk:- Ken, myself, Margaret Scott, Angie, Avril, Chris, Pete, Ron, Terry and Kathryn, who all still provide a record of all we had achieved.

Thinking back, it was such a treat to hear back what we sounded like to others, once our recordings were mixed and finalised, and handed to us.

I still get that buzz listening to all those beautiful songs we used to sing together, even after all these years. People continue to let us know that they still enjoy them. I still can still picture everyone in those recording studios, especially those who are no longer with us, who gave so much of themselves.

 I recall the sense of achievement and the excitement we all felt way back then.

The profits from our music, and any offerings,  were given to charity; we felt that it was an important part of our witness.

In 2020, during Lockdown I began making videos of these songs, and my own, more than seventy of them.

 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnUh_ZGnZNfUlV8HEyppRIv8FLBtyEY65

Margaret Scott and I led the group together, until I responded to the call into ordained ministry in 1992, and then Margaret took over the reins for a year. Quite a few of the original group had already moved on.

When Margaret left the group at the end of that year too, I carried on in a leadership role for some time, but I had such a lot to do i.e. studying to do for ordination while I was training for ministry, school preparation work, and seeing to my family too. It was becoming impossible for me to carry on leading United Folk.

Some felt saddened that our group was coming to a close, but no-one felt the call to take up the reins of leadership themselves, and so United Folk came to a natural end in 1996.

However, many of us did indeed go on to do many different kinds of ministry from that point on: missionary work, catechistic teaching, priesthood; charity work, asylum administration, local choirs, cancer patient transport and so on.

We continued stirring into flame the gifts we’d all been given. Here’s the song: Stir into flame

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86uvx0x59m8&list=PLnUh_ZGnZNfUlV8HEyppRIv8FLBtyEY65&index=12

Such is our friendship though, we still have lovely reunions, meeting up for coffee and a natter, we still have a prayer and communication chain which links us together, and we all have our treasured memories, so many of them.

And so now we look back at that Golden Age of music in our lives, to have been drawn together by God in this way. It's a time none of us will never ever forget.

Members of the group over the years include: (in alphabetical order)

Jonathan Ashton, Ron Bedford, Hazel Bell, Margaret Bell, Margi and Tony Buglass, Carol Cairns, Ann Caton, Martin Cooke, Pat Craighead, Karen Flanaghan, Anthony and Kathryn Frederiksen, Tom Giblin, Ken Hawker, Sheila Hamil, Muriel Heslewood, Clem Hewison, Carol Hirst, Liz Johnson, Chris James, Jennie Magee, Angela Maughan, Janet McLeod, Gerry O'Hanlon, Terry Patterson, Judith Pearl, Avril Pease, Rose Reeve (nee Nixon), Margaret Scott, Pete Scott, Lynne Smith, Margaret Storey, Mary Thomson, Zena Thompson.  

I didn’t mention this earlier, but this was the same group that helped me in the early eighties, through a bout of post-natal depression. It was wonderful that I was surrounded by such lovely friends who would pray with me if ever my tears rose to the surface. I can’t thank them enough, for they, my family and my husband were able to convince me that an ‘Amazing love, loved me!’

Bob claims he co-wrote this song with me, because he was the one who suggested the perfect word I was searching for at the time to fit into this phrase:-

‘like the sun . . . from the sea’

He came up with the word ‘erupting’.

Without him this song might not have been completed!

Song: An amazing love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iE8iBfmI_c&list=PLnUh_ZGnZNfUlV8HEyppRIv8FLBtyEY65&index=64

One important song, from that time, which came from a picture in my mind, also helped, and it just may help someone reading this at present who is feeling low in their self-esteem.

I saw a rope coming down from heaven, and I was flailing around in the ocean, sinking, but a voice was telling me to hold on to that rope, and that rope was ‘love’; love for God, love for my family, love for my friends. My song writing really took off after that, with a vengeance, at this trying period of my life.

Here is the song  which shone in the night-time of my fear.

Hold on to Love

Hold on to love, don’t let it go!

You may feel discouraged

 and your spirit sinks so low.

But there’s a gift so precious,

 you must never let it go .

You must hold on, hold on, hold on to love.

Do not be discouraged;

 the good outweighs the bad.

Fill your mind with laughter;

 don’t let your soul be sad.

Bear in mind the good times,

 and the happiness you’ve known.

Set aside black yesterdays,

 for through them you have grown.

Draw closer to the Father, 

and know the peace He gives.

He’ll handle your tomorrows

 and show you how to live. . .

 in love