Assembly Bangers
Have you heard Jason Manford’s ‘Assembly Bangers’ yet? Jason is an English writer, comedian, actor, radio and television presenter. He has been on TV programmes such as ‘Would I lie to you’ and ‘Live at the Apollo’.
Last week he released a ‘single’ called ‘Assembly Bangers’ with all the profits going to the Trussell Trust (the charity behind Foodbanks).
Mr Manford said, ‘When I first started talking about Assembly Bangers on stage I never once thought we’d get to this point of releasing an actual record! It’s nuts. The track is a bit of nostalgic fun from our school days and if we can raise money for the charity, whilst having a laugh with the single, that would be fantastic!’
The track is a medley of songs that were sung in assemblies many years ago! They are: ‘This little light of mine’, ‘He’s got the whole world in his hands’, ‘When I needed a neighbour’, ‘Lord of the dance’ and ‘Give me oil in my lamp (Sing Hosanna!)’.
I remember singing all of those when I was at junior school in the 1970s! The video for the song was recorded live in a huge arena, as part of Jason’s stand-up comedy show. There are thousands of people singing these old songs. I found it both nostalgic and moving at the same time.
Why? Because these songs declare truth about God, Christian living and in particular, the final song is both a prayer and worship!
The chorus of ‘Give me oil in my lamp (Sing Hosanna!)’, echoes what was said when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey…
“The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?””
It was quite a scene when Jesus went into Jerusalem, so no wonder people asked, ‘who is this?’ In my experience, Jesus still has the ability to cause people to ask that same question today.
It can be his overwhelming love, or his unbound grace, or his non-judgmental mercy, or his gentle challenge. Whatever it is, Jesus makes a difference, for good!
My prayer is that ‘Assembly Bangers’ makes loads of money for the Trussell Trust. More importantly I pray that it will re-awaken all those people, who sang those ‘classic’ songs in school halls, all across the country, to the reality of Jesus. That they will ask ‘who is this’? and come to know Him for themselves.
For more information about supporting this cause (and to watch the song) go to: https://ingrv.es/assembly-bangers-5pg-1
God bless
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader