Good Will
On the day angels are said to have promised peace and goodwill on earth, Mark Tully considers the idea of benevolence. With readings from Derek Jacobi and Adjoa Andoh.
According to the gospels, on the first Christmas Day, angels promised peace and good will on earth. The meaning of peace is clear, but what did they mean by good will and what do we understand it to mean today?
Mark Tully discusses the spiritual and religious idea of benevolence with academic, musician and priest June Boyce-Tillman and asks how we can show good will to those around us on a day which can be both joyful and stressful.
Derek Jacobi and Adjoa Andoh read from work by Archbishop Tutu and poets Mark Turbyfill and Karen Gershon, and there’s music from Tchaikovsky, Ella Fitzgerald and The Van Dykes. Albert Finney sings as well.
Readers: Derek Jacobi and Adjoa Andoh
Presented by Mark Tully
Produced by Frank Stirling
A Unique production for Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Next
Music Played
-
![]()
Ella Fitzgerald
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
- Capitol.
-
![]()
Albert Finney
I Hate People
- Planetworks.
-
![]()
The Van Dykes
No Man Is An Island
- Connoisseur Collection.
-
![]()
Lama Gyurme & Jean Philippe Rykiel
Chenrezi Pureland Prayer
- Real World.
-
![]()
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Symphony No. 4, IV. Finale (feat. Leningrad Philharmonic / Evgeny Mravinsky)
- Deutsche Grammophon.
-
![]()
George Frideric Handel
Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne: Eternal Source of Light Divine
Performer: Academy of Ancient Music. Performer: Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford. Conductor: Simon Preston.Handel:Utrecht te deum & Jubilante etc
- DECCA.
- 16.
Readings
Title: God's Dream
Author: Desmond TutuÌý
A speech given at the Distinguished Peace Leadership Presentation in 1990.
Ìý
Title: StrangersÌý
Author: Mark TurbyfillÌý
Published by the Poetry Foundation
Ìý
Title: The Church and the Working ManÌý
Author: Edgar J HelmsÌý
Published in Zion's Herald 17 July 1901
Ìý
Title: Letter XIIÌý
Author: Mary WollstonecraftÌý
Published in the Virago Book of Spirituality
Ìý
Title: Three WishesÌý
Author: Karen Gershon
Published in Selected Poems by Gollancz
Ìý
Title: Scrooge, A DefenceÌý
Author: Gwyn ThomasÌý
Published in Father's Christmas by Ingot
Broadcasts
- Christmas Day 2016 06:05Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4
- Christmas Day 2016 23:30Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4
- Christmas Day 2022 06:05Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4
- Christmas Day 2022 23:30Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4
Featured in...
![]()
Traditional Christmas
Radio 4 brings you a selection of treats for Christmas.
