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Good morning

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Today the small Welsh town of Llangollen opens its doors to every tribe and nation again as it hosts what to my mindÌýisÌýone of the world’s most inspirational cultural festivals: the International Musical Eisteddfod. Every year around 4000 performers gather to sing and dance in a variety of competitions. But most significantly, they and the thousands more who come to watch and cheer, do so with a conscious commitment to promote international peace and friendship. ÌýÌýÌý

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The first of these festivals was held in 1947 when Harold Tudor organised a music competition as a way for healing the deep wounds and divisions of the Second World War, bringing together in common purpose people who had so recently been enemies. ÌýÌýÌý

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At its best music offers fertile ground for such reconciliation. The very word con-cert means to act together. At Llangollen the hope remains,that nations can learn to overcome their differences through the arts and move, however slowly, from days of conflict towards peace. That this happens again and again in a small Welsh town seems to me to be a minor miracle, but then as the poet Dylan Thomas says, ‘the only surprising thing about miracles, however small, is that they happen.’

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I love the story of St Peter who climbed out of his boat and walked out across the stormy sea to meet with Jesus. All went well until he was distracted by the problems of the wind and waves, until he took his eye off the miracle. And yet, the wonder is that for a few short steps, however small, it happened.

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Perhaps most miracles begin that way, with some short and faltering human steps;

And they happen because people set their hearts and minds upon a higher goal.

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God of miracles and wonder,

Thank you that you entrust

the greatest possibilities for our lives

Not to angels but to us

Woking together in concert with you

Help us sing your songs of peace and friendship on the earth: ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

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