Launching this Sunday 12 July on Radio Norfolk at 9.45 am, it is also available now as a podcast on this website or via your podcast provider.
Each interviewee has a story to tell. Each is regarded by others as a saving grace – someone who has brought help and healing into a testing situation, someone who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in order to serve those in their care. But in turn, each of them is aware of others who have been saving graces to them – colleagues, family members, God.
Diocesan Spirituality and Discipleship Adviser, Susanna Gunner, interviews a different individual each fortnight: a vicar who has helped co-ordinate food provision, a hospice chaplain, a retail assistant, a headteacher, a priest who has been shielding and a delivery driver.
“Interviewing is a new experience for me but I’m loving it,” says Susanna. “Such inspiring stories! And so good to play a part in bringing them to a wider audience. I’ve been moved and humbled by each one.”
“We had been hearing so many great stories of people from our church communities reaching out in such a rich variety of ways and being sustained through these difficult times by their faith in Jesus,” explains Barbara Bryant, Diocesan Communications Officer. “We wanted to explore a different way of getting these stories out to as many people as possible to show how God has been walking with us through this period. We worked with the Sunday Breakfast team at BBC Radio Norfolk to ensure the quality would be of broadcast standard and were delighted that they will be sharing them with their listeners too!”
Anthony Isaacs, Assistant Editor, BBC Radio Norfolk says, “It’s been so inspiring to hear stories of people on air helping out their communities in Norfolk and we’re pleased to be able to broadcast the podcast which tells people how the county’s faith community is making a difference.”
In the first episode, Susanna interviews the Revd Matthew Price, Vicar of St Mary Magdalene in Gorleston. This church has been incredibly active during the pandemic with amazing practical community outreach (with over 100 volunteers) as well as online worship services. Susanna asks Matthew to describe what’s been happening and he explains how they been responding in partnership with others in their local community at this time of great need. Although Matthew and his wife have been the saving graces in terms of co-ordinating the response, he also talks about those he has found to be a saving grace to them.