Events

Garth “Live in Sheffield” dvd – NOW AVAILABLE

Live in Sheffield – Garth’s Sheffield concert on DVD

(PAL format)

Filmed during Garth’s concert at

St Mark’s Church, Broomfield Road, Sheffield, on Friday 12th May 2018

for more information or to order your copy click here

An evening of enjoyment, prayers, and stories of struggle and hope in a time of uncertainty.

Garth brings an ancient message – first heard on a hillside, in a garden, in a marketplace, sometimes even a place of worship. We join him as he sings and tells his stories in a local church, and experience the intimacy and friendliness for which his concerts are known as he interacts with his audience, who respond with singing and laughter.

You will feel as though you had been there.

Garth says, “This was a warm and friendly evening, and interestingly I knew many people in the audience from different stages of my ministry. As I look at the film I spot someone who was in our youth club at St Luke’s Maidstone when I was Curate there – I spot people who have promoted concerts for me through the years, people who have been on Amos journeys with us to the Holy Land, Nicaragua, even South Africa. I spot someone who has sung songs of mine in all sorts of different places, which I always feel is a great compliment. There’s a thirteen year old lad who comes regularly to my concerts when I’m in the area – so there’s a good mixture of supporters, encouragers, and friends.”

My Name Is Palestine

I was in Banksy’s Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem where there is a gallery for Palestinian artists, and saw a painting by the superb Palestinian artist Suleiman Mansour. I found the painting so powerful, I said that I would like to put together a song sparked off by this painting – I thought it could be a 12” vinyl single with the painting on the front cover. I told my good friend Wisam Salsaa, Manager of the Walled Off Hotel, and he phoned Suleiman for his permission, which was kindly given. I then wrote to various Palestinian friends showing them the painting, and asked them for their thoughts. Those thoughts I have reflected in the lyrics. It all came together as this song, My Name is Palestine.

I would like to thank those people who responded to me about what the content should be – they are: Naim Ateek, Mitri Raheb, Abdelfattah A Abusrour, Usama Nicola, Zoughbi Zoughbi, Susan Bahroum, and Rasha Salsaa – and special thanks to Wisam for all his help on this project. And of course special thanks also to Suleiman Mansour for allowing me to use his beautiful and striking painting – very grateful thanks.

The Palestinian Nakba, or Catastrophe, has gone on and on for years, with Palestinians treated always as of lesser value and as if they don’t matter. This project is to assert the equality of all people and is a call for justice to come to this community who have suffered so much racism.

Garth Hewitt

Garth’s new album – and a 12″ single!

My Name Is Palestine

Garth says, “I was in Banksy’s Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem where there is a gallery for Palestinian artists, and saw a painting by the superb Palestinian artist Suleiman Mansour. I found the painting so powerful, I said that I would like to put together a song sparked off by this painting – I thought it could be a 12” vinyl single with the painting on the front cover.

I told my good friend Wisam Salsaa, Manager of the Walled Off Hotel, and he phoned Suleiman for his permission, which was kindly given. I then wrote to various Palestinian friends showing them the painting, and asked them for their thoughts. Those thoughts I have reflected in the lyrics. It all came together as this song, My Name is Palestine.”

To accompany the single, and for those without a record player (!) Garth has released a CD with My Name Is Palestine as the title track, along with ten further songs emphasising the dignity and value of each human being, with a strong rejection of the arms trade and war.

Order your vinyl single here, or your CD here

Bethlehem is Calling – sheet music

Order your copies of Bethlehem is Calling sheet music by emailing – £2.50 per copy or ask about our discount for 5 or more

Let Nothing Disturb You

Garth tells the background to the song:

“‘Let Nothing Disturb You’ was inspired by some words of Teresa of Avila, also known as St Teresa of Jesus (1515 – 1582). She was a Prioress and Carmelite nun, a central figure in a movement of spiritual and monastic renewal.

And she wrote these words as a poem, translated here:

All things are passing

God alone never changes

Patience gains all things

If you have God

You will want for nothing

God alone suffices

These words were taken by musicians at Taizé and turned into a short four line song – suitable for times of worship, and the song is repeated again and again. Taizé music is beautiful and very suitable for Lent. I heard the Taizé song from friend and guitarist Dave Perry who played it to a group of us one evening – Dave was the guitarist on my new album My Name Is Palestine, which includes this song.

I liked this chorus, and thought that for a song on an album it needed a bit more progression so I wrote three other verses and then a chorus section. The words are picking up on the original theme of Teresa and also Taizé, where again the song is normally sung in Spanish so I end the song with the Spanish words “Nada te turbé”. Read more…

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