Sobremesa for the Soul

In the eighth and final Podcast of the Lent 2022 pilot series, Mike Jowett of El Palmeral  talks to Noel Richards. Noel also sings live in the studio with 3 of his best loved songs.Noel has performed in 40 countries and played in every kind of venue - street corners, bars, concert halls, churches, cathedrals and stadiums. Since the late 1970s, Noel & Tricia have written many modern hymns and songs, including All heaven declares, You laid aside Your majesty. To be in Your presence, and He has risen. Noel´s work can be found at his website, www.noelrichards.com  with a range of resources, videos, downloads etc.  In 2010, Noel & Tricia moved to the island of Mallorca, Spain where they live in Palma, the capital city.  They continue to write, record and perform together and their latest CD – Quiet My Soul – was released in September 2017. They now perform as The Emigres with another amazing website www.theemigres.com, featuring music, poetry and downloadable videos.This Podcast was recorded before the death on April 3rd 2022 of Noel´s great friend and co-worker Gerald Coates, who Noel speaks about in the story of the writing of ´He has risen´.  Noel´s tribute to Gerald can be found on his blog at https://noelrichards.com/blog/blog/gerald-coates-was-my-friend

In the seventh of the Lent 2022 series, Mike Jowett of El Palmeral  talks to Jeff Lucas. Jeff Lucas is an international author and speaker.   He writes daily bible notes titled Life with Lucas  and broadcasts weekly on Premier Radio. Jeff has written a number of books that combine spiritual insight and humour, taking a more light hearted approach to Christianity, including his Seriously Funny series, written with Adrian Plass. In this Palm Sunday Weekend episode of the podcast, Jeff speaks about the misconceptions we can have in life and faith, as well as speaking candidly about the personal impact of the Pandemic lockdown.

In the sixth of the Lent 2022 series, Mike Jowett of El Palmeral  talks to Helena Wilkinson.Helena Wilkinson published her first book, Puppet on a String, at the age of nineteen.  She is the author of eleven books and contributor to a further six as well as preparing devotional monthly readings such as Inspiring Women Every Day and Living Light.  A trained counsellor, Helena has helped others in their journeys as a speaker, facilitator, with her latest specialism working as an Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Practitioner.   A life changing event in July 2019 turned her world upside down - a freak horse-riding accident resulted in her being airlifted to hospital, where it was touch and go whether she would survive.  After 7 months in hospital, she was able to return home, but life would never be the same again. Helena shares with us her engaging and inspirational story.

In the fifth of the Lent 2022 series, Mike Jowett of El Palmeral  talks to Judy Moore.Judy  has worked and trained as an actress, touring in Australia, South Africa and the USA.  She´s taught in secondary schools and is now part of the senior leadership team at Riverside Church, Birmingham, but Judy may be  best known for her work with Saltmine Theatre Company, eventually becoming Ministry Director. Judy speaks at festivals and other events and is an author with two books, "The dog who thought his name was No" and her most recent release "The bird who sang again." which is also available as an audiobook.Following the huge success of the play based on Corrie ten Boom´s classic book, ´The Hiding Place´, Judy has recently written and is performing "Return to the Hiding Place". For details of dates and venues please look out for her new website www.judymoore.co.uk 

In the fourth of the Lent 2022 series, Mike Jowett of El Palmeral  talks to Tony Horsfall.Tony is a freelance trainer, retreat leader and author based in Yorkshire. He is an elder of Ackworth Community Church and regularly travels abroad leading retreats and Quiet Days. Along the way, he´s written several books, including Rhythms of Grace, Working from a place of rest, and Resilience in Life and Faith.2020 was a year of profound transition and pain for Tony, a life and death struggle with Covid, and the loss of his wife Evelyn through cancer.  In this Podcast, he gives 5 questions to ask ourselves as part of the Lent journey, downloadable here.

In the third of the Lent 2022 series, Mike Jowett of El Palmeral  talks to Clare Maclaren.Clare is Canon for Music and Liturgy at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Cathedral. Prior to that, she has served in roles across Church of England dioceses as well as being a parish Priest in both Leeds and Bradford. Throughout her life, music and singing has played a key central role in her life, pursuing a lively musical career in both leading Worship and singing in Ceilidh bands! Her Twitter account self describes her as "Still joyful, wild'n'woolly, angry, passionate and proud. Underdogs' ally - melancholy wordsmith - seeker after Truth."You can visit the Newcastle Cathedral YouTube Channel and also hear Clare's full Evelyn Glennie rendition of Thine be the Glory here

In the second of the Lent 2022 series, Mike Jowett of El Palmeral  talks to Bob Hartman.  Bob is one of El Palmeral´s retreat leaders, so watch this space for upcoming events.Bob Hartman is a bestselling children’s author and Performance Storyteller. Originally from Pittsburgh, Bob now lives in Wiltshire and continues to be a prolific writer as well as story telling for Churches and festivals such as Spring Harvest. Bob is the creator of the YouVersion Bible App for Kids Bible stories, which have been downloaded 30 million times. His long list of children’s titles have sold over a million copies, including The Lion Storyteller Bible, which has been printed in eleven different languages.His latest Clever Cub series can be found by clicking on the link, and Bob´s books can also be found by searching for them on the "mail order company beginning with A".

In the first of the Lent 2022 series, Mike Jowett of El Palmeral  talks to Amy Boucher Pye.  Amy Boucher Pye is a writer, speaker, and spiritual director. She writes devotional thoughts for several publications including Our Daily Bread and New Daylight. She is the author of several books, including 7 Ways to Pray  (NavPress/Form) and Celebrating Christmas (BRF). She blogs at www.amyboucherpye.com.In her spare time she is a Mum of two teens, as well as being married to a C of E Clergyman. Amy is running a retreat at El Palmeral in September 2022, further details can be found here .In this episode Amy talks about how she approaches Lent, as well as giving details of her online course for Lent meditations.   In the online course,  Amy leads participants through six of Jesus’ prayers in the gospels, from the Lord’s Prayer to the prayers he uttered on the cross. It’s ideal to work through in the season of Lent, or at any other time of the year, and it’s great for small groups.Each video runs for approximately 25 minutes and will lead you through teaching, conversation between Amy and Micha Jazz, and prayer exercises. Discover how Jesus prayed as you build a hopeful sense of expectancy that God will meet you in prayer.More details here