[Updated on February 18, 2007] February 18, 2007, was "Amazing Grace Sunday." Some 5,000 chuches in 50 states in the U.S. and 10 provinces in Canada sang "Amazing Grace" during their services. To remember that day, we've created this playlist of 50 rrenditions of "Amazing Grace" from gospel singers, rock groups, folk singers, and others, plus some instrumental versions. Many of the songs are available on Napster, so you can lis... [+]

[Updated on February 18, 2007] February 18, 2007, was "Amazing Grace Sunday." Some 5,000 chuches in 50 states in the U.S. and 10 provinces in Canada sang "Amazing Grace" during their services. To remember that day, we've created this playlist of 50 rrenditions of "Amazing Grace" from gospel singers, rock groups, folk singers, and others, plus some instrumental versions. Many of the songs are available on Napster, so you can listen to the whole playlist for free with FIQL's great "Listen to Playlist . . . at Napster" feature.

Why "Amazing Grace" and why now? Two hundred years ago, British politician William Wilberforce took on the most powerful forces of his day to end the slave trade. His mentor was John Newton, the slave-trader-turned-songwriter who wrote "Amazing Grace." This year is the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade. "Amazing Grace Sunday" also kicks off a new campaign to end the contemporary slave trade. There are 27 million slaves in th world today -- men, women, and children.

A movie biography of William Wilberforce, appropriately titled Amazing Grace, opens February 23 in theaters throughout the U.S. For our review of the movie, visit http://spiritualityandpractice.com/films/films.php?id=16588. To see clips from the movie and to learn more about the movement to end modern-day slavery, visit the http://www.amazinggracesunday.com/us/index.html and http://www.notforsalecampaign.org.
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