Our society in Northern Ireland
is divided in many ways –
by income and occupation,
by age and health,
by where we live
and, of course,
by religion and politics.

But on Sunday evening,
a group of us came together
as part of the West Belfast Festival
to worship Our God
through music and song.

People came from many churches –
Catholic, Church of Ireland and Methodist.
People came from many parts of Belfast
with many singing styles
and playing many different instruments.
But most importantly,
people came together
with open minds
and with open hearts.

On Sunday evening,
at St Agnes’s church,
against a political background
of protests about flags and parades
a group of us came together
and set aside our differences
to focus on the faith that we have in common
and we united to sing in beautiful harmony
and to give praise to Our God.

© Claire Murray