Sanctuary First: Recent Episodes
Sanctuary First
Beginning to Flourish Pod 1 — What actually happens when we read the Bible?
Welcome to the Beginning to Flourish Pod from Sanctuary First! Join James Cathcart and Albert Bogle’s free range exploration of life and theology as we’re living it today! This pair are buzzing with questions…
What is actually happening when we open a Bible? Why, when it comes down to it, are we all actually Nicodemus? Why do we talk about having a ‘faith life’ as something different from our everyday life? (Does the phrase ‘faith life’ even make sense?) What happens when love is stripped bare on the cross? How can we begin to flourish wherever we’ve come from and whatever we’re heading into? What happens when we lose religion and find faith? Oh, and what’s so good about the Good Samaritan anyway?
In this six part series, inspired by Sanctuary First’s Lent and Easter theme for 2025, Beginning to Flourish, they explore topics such as breath, shelter, thirst, belonging, eternal love and life changing grace.
Over the episodes James and Albert shoot from the hip and cover a lot of ground from contemporary cultural trends to ancient biblical history (they even cook up a harebrained harmonica scheme at one point…) passionate to explore what beginning to flourish looks like for those restless and looking in at church, and those restless IN church and looking out.
Let’s begin to flourish! And don’t forget your harmonica.
Read our Connect Bible study for Lent 2025 here: https://www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/assets/documents/uploads/beginning_to_flourish_connect_booklet_A5_06.02.25.pdf
Find out more about our Lent theme here: sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/themes/article_new/beginning-to-flourish-lent-2025
Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
(Listen to Episode 2: You, me, everybody, we are all Nicodemus!)
Beginning to Flourish Pod 2 — You, me, everybody, we are all Nicodemus!
Welcome to the Beginning to Flourish Pod from Sanctuary First! Join James Cathcart and Albert Bogle’s free range exploration of life and theology as we’re living it today! This pair are buzzing with questions…
What is actually happening when we open a Bible? Why, when it comes down to it, are we all actually Nicodemus? Why do we talk about having a ‘faith life’ as something different from our everyday life? (Does the phrase ‘faith life’ even make sense?) What happens when love is stripped bare on the cross? How can we begin to flourish wherever we’ve come from and whatever we’re heading into? What happens when we lose religion and find faith? Oh, and what’s so good about the Good Samaritan anyway?
In this six part series, inspired by Sanctuary First’s Lent and Easter theme for 2025, Beginning to Flourish, they explore topics such as breath, shelter, thirst, belonging, eternal love and life changing grace.
Over the episodes James and Albert shoot from the hip and cover a lot of ground from contemporary cultural trends to ancient biblical history (they even cook up a harebrained harmonica scheme at one point…) passionate to explore what beginning to flourish looks like for those restless and looking in at church, and those restless IN church and looking out.
Let’s begin to flourish! And don’t forget your harmonica.
Read our Connect Bible study for Lent 2025 here: https://www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/assets/documents/uploads/beginning_to_flourish_connect_booklet_A5_06.02.25.pdf
Find out more about our Lent theme here: sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/themes/article_new/beginning-to-flourish-lent-2025
Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
(Listen to episode 3: Why do we even talk about having a ‘faith life’?)
Beginning to Flourish Pod 3 — Why do we even talk about having a ‘faith life’?
Welcome to the Beginning to Flourish Pod from Sanctuary First! Join James Cathcart and Albert Bogle’s free range exploration of life and theology as we’re living it today! This pair are buzzing with questions…
What is actually happening when we open a Bible? Why, when it comes down to it, are we all actually Nicodemus? Why do we talk about having a ‘faith life’ as something different from our everyday life? (Does the phrase ‘faith life’ even make sense?) What happens when love is stripped bare on the cross? How can we begin to flourish wherever we’ve come from and whatever we’re heading into? What happens when we lose religion and find faith? Oh, and what’s so good about the Good Samaritan anyway?
In this six part series, inspired by Sanctuary First’s Lent and Easter theme for 2025, Beginning to Flourish, they explore topics such as breath, shelter, thirst, belonging, eternal love and life changing grace.
Over the episodes James and Albert shoot from the hip and cover a lot of ground from contemporary cultural trends to ancient biblical history (they even cook up a harebrained harmonica scheme at one point…) passionate to explore what beginning to flourish looks like for those restless and looking in at church, and those restless IN church and looking out.
Let’s begin to flourish! And don’t forget your harmonica.
Read our Connect Bible study for Lent 2025 here: https://www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/assets/documents/uploads/beginning_to_flourish_connect_booklet_A5_06.02.25.pdf
Find out more about our Lent theme here: sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/themes/article_new/beginning-to-flourish-lent-2025
Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
(Listen to episode 4: Feeling restless out of church? Feeling restless IN church?)
Beginning to Flourish Pod 4 — Feeling restless out of church? Feeling restless IN church?
Welcome to the Beginning to Flourish Pod from Sanctuary First! Join James Cathcart and Albert Bogle’s free range exploration of life and theology as we’re living it today! This pair are buzzing with questions…
What is actually happening when we open a Bible? Why, when it comes down to it, are we all actually Nicodemus? Why do we talk about having a ‘faith life’ as something different from our everyday life? (Does the phrase ‘faith life’ even make sense?) What happens when love is stripped bare on the cross? How can we begin to flourish wherever we’ve come from and whatever we’re heading into? What happens when we lose religion and find faith? Oh, and what’s so good about the Good Samaritan anyway?
In this six part series, inspired by Sanctuary First’s Lent and Easter theme for 2025, Beginning to Flourish, they explore topics such as breath, shelter, thirst, belonging, eternal love and life changing grace.
Over the episodes James and Albert shoot from the hip and cover a lot of ground from contemporary cultural trends to ancient biblical history (they even cook up a harebrained harmonica scheme at one point…) passionate to explore what beginning to flourish looks like for those restless and looking in at church, and those restless IN church and looking out.
Let’s begin to flourish! And don’t forget your harmonica.
Read our Connect Bible study for Lent 2025 here: https://www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/assets/documents/uploads/beginning_to_flourish_connect_booklet_A5_06.02.25.pdf
Find out more about our Lent theme here: sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/themes/article_new/beginning-to-flourish-lent-2025
Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
(Listen to episode five: Love was stripped bare on the cross)
Beginning to Flourish Pod 5 — Love was stripped bare on the cross.
Welcome to the Beginning to Flourish Pod from Sanctuary First! Join James Cathcart and Albert Bogle’s free range exploration of life and theology as we’re living it today! This pair are buzzing with questions…
What is actually happening when we open a Bible? Why, when it comes down to it, are we all actually Nicodemus? Why do we talk about having a ‘faith life’ as something different from our everyday life? (Does the phrase ‘faith life’ even make sense?) What happens when love is stripped bare on the cross? How can we begin to flourish wherever we’ve come from and whatever we’re heading into? What happens when we lose religion and find faith? Oh, and what’s so good about the Good Samaritan anyway?
In this six part series, inspired by Sanctuary First’s Lent and Easter theme for 2025, Beginning to Flourish, they explore topics such as breath, shelter, thirst, belonging, eternal love and life changing grace.
Over the episodes James and Albert shoot from the hip and cover a lot of ground from contemporary cultural trends to ancient biblical history (they even cook up a harebrained harmonica scheme at one point…) passionate to explore what beginning to flourish looks like for those restless and looking in at church, and those restless IN church and looking out.
Let’s begin to flourish! And don’t forget your harmonica.
Read our Connect Bible study for Lent 2025 here: https://www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/assets/documents/uploads/beginning_to_flourish_connect_booklet_A5_06.02.25.pdf
Find out more about our Lent theme here: sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/themes/article_new/beginning-to-flourish-lent-2025
Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
(Listen to episode six: What’s so good about the Good Samaritan anyway?)
Beginning to Flourish Pod 6 — What’s so good about the Good Samaritan anyway?
Welcome to the Beginning to Flourish Pod from Sanctuary First! Join James Cathcart and Albert Bogle’s free range exploration of life and theology as we’re living it today! This pair are buzzing with questions…
What is actually happening when we open a Bible? Why, when it comes down to it, are we all actually Nicodemus? Why do we talk about having a ‘faith life’ as something different from our everyday life? (Does the phrase ‘faith life’ even make sense?) What happens when love is stripped bare on the cross? How can we begin to flourish wherever we’ve come from and whatever we’re heading into? What happens when we lose religion and find faith? Oh, and what’s so good about the Good Samaritan anyway?
In this six part series, inspired by Sanctuary First’s Lent and Easter theme for 2025, Beginning to Flourish, they explore topics such as breath, shelter, thirst, belonging, eternal love and life changing grace.
Over the episodes James and Albert shoot from the hip and cover a lot of ground from contemporary cultural trends to ancient biblical history (they even cook up a harebrained harmonica scheme at one point…) passionate to explore what beginning to flourish looks like for those restless and looking in at church, and those restless IN church and looking out.
Let’s begin to flourish! And don’t forget your harmonica.
Read our Connect Bible study for Lent 2025 here: https://www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/assets/documents/uploads/beginning_to_flourish_connect_booklet_A5_06.02.25.pdf
Find out more about our Lent theme here: sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/themes/article_new/beginning-to-flourish-lent-2025
Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
(Listen to episode one - What actually happens when we read the Bible?)
At Aberfeldy, in the very heart & middle of Scotland, Rev Neil Glover shares his own passion & fiery heart for Scotland’s Redemption.
With 5 Perthshire parishes & serving the national church as convenor of the ambitious ’Seeds for Growth’ Fund, Rev Neil Glover has recently released a thoroughly readable & compelling book ‘Finding Your Voice’. Neil tells us his view of where we are at in secular Scotland as we position ourselves to share the wonderful news of Jesus Christ, as more and more people yearn to be re-enchanted with life and living. Revs Neil Urquhart & Neil Glover chat as they tread through the gorgeous gorge, waterfalls & burn of The Birks, once celebrated by Robert Burns in one of his poems. Be encouraged and inspired!
We explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode 24
This is the Third in our Live recordings of the Songs of Christmas at the Brewery. This Episode we have the whole gang joining us. Andrea and Angus, Jack Shuttleworth, Jim Steel, Graham Silk and Dan Harper shares the Christmas Message.
Join us this month at the Brewery as we dive into three evenings of music and the story of Christmas this season. Listen to the recorded podcasts or join us in person ion Bridge of Allan Allanwater Brewhouse.
Gather your friends and family for a cosy celebration filled with, Live music, stories of faith & some of the best local beer & cider in Scotland. Join us for three evenings of Live Music & Stories of Faith this Christmas season at the Allanwater Brewhouse in Bridge of Allan.
Find out more about the events: Christmas Events - Songs of Christmas at the Brewery
Read this story as a Blog: Working with the Grain
Next Episode: The Unexpected Gift
3 of 3
Working with the Grainby Katy Emslie-Smith
The Third of our ‘Stories of the Unexpected’ is written by Katy Emslie-Smith. In this short story we hear of a carpenter dutifully working in his shop, he is interrupted with urgent and exciting news that makes him question everything ‘Sense of betrayal combated with affection, anger wrestled with love, custom warred with compassion’. To clear his head, he sets about doing what he knows best, and works the grain of the wood in his workshop with his hands…
This Month on Sanctuary First we will be releasing a series of short stories ‘Stories of the Unexpected’ which will revolve around our December theme ‘The Unexpected Visitor’. Three writers and members of the Sanctuary First community have each contributed a short story that they have written around the months theme, these will be released each Sunday over the next three weeks in podcast and blog form, each story will be followed with its own ‘Writers Room Book Club’ on the following Saturday where we will meet to talk about the story, this will all conclude on the fourth week with a final story in the form of a Christmas film!
This Podcast was originally published on: December 11, 2021
Luke 2:1–7
2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Listen to the full series: St Ninian’s Community Church Podcast
St Ninians Community church is a friendly, informal church that meets in Stirling, Scotland.
We come from many backgrounds, and warmly welcome anyone to come along and join us!
Our purpose is to share the good news of Jesus with the people of St Ninians and together become faithful members of God’s family.
Matthew 1:18–25
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
Listen to the full series: St Ninian’s Community Church Podcast
St Ninians Community church is a friendly, informal church that meets in Stirling, Scotland.
We come from many backgrounds, and warmly welcome anyone to come along and join us!
Our purpose is to share the good news of Jesus with the people of St Ninians and together become faithful members of God’s family.
This is the second in our Live recordings of the Songs of Christmas at the Brewery. This Episode we have Stirling North Church Choir bringing some Christmas carol classics and Rev Albert Bogle brings the message and story of Christmas.
Join us this month at the Brewery as we dive into three evenings of music and the story of Christmas this season. Listen to the recorded podcasts or join us in person ion Bridge of Allan Allanwater Brewhouse.
Gather your friends and family for a cosy celebration filled with, Live music, stories of faith & some of the best local beer & cider in Scotland. Join us for three evenings of Live Music & Stories of Faith this Christmas season at the Allanwater Brewhouse in Bridge of Allan.
Find out more about the events: Christmas Events - Songs of Christmas at the Brewery
Read this story as a Blog: Anna the Prophetess
Next Episode: Working with the Grain
2 of 3
Anna the Prophetessby Linda Pollock
The second of our ‘Stories of the Unexpected’ is written by Linda Pollock. In this short story we hear from the voice of Anna the Prophetess from the bible, she has recently lost her dear husband ‘Ronel’, in grief and in a moment of questioning faith she doubts Gods plan that it would leave her so alone. Slowly she begins to realise there’s light ahead as she opens up her heart to God…
This Month on Sanctuary First we will be re-releasing a series of short stories ‘Stories of the Unexpected’ which were created for our December 2021 theme ‘The Unexpected Visitor’. Three writers and members of the Sanctuary First community have each contributed a short story that they have written around the months theme, these will be released each Tuesday over the next three weeks.
This Podcast was originally published on: December 05, 2021
Read this story as a Blog: Upon a Midnight Clear
Next Episode: Anna the Prophetess
1 of 3
Upon a Midnight Clearby Alec Shuttleworth
The first of our ‘Stories of the Unexpected’ is written by Alec Shuttleworth. The short story tells of a man who has lost touch. One cold winter night he hears a persistent ‘Tap, Tap, Tap’ at his window, it turns out to be a little blackbird pecking at his window, what follows leads to a change…
This Month on Sanctuary First we will be re-releasing a series of short stories ‘Stories of the Unexpected’ which were created for our December 2021 theme ‘The Unexpected Visitor’. Three writers and members of the Sanctuary First community have each contributed a short story that they have written around the months theme, these will be released each Tuesday over the next three weeks.
This Podcast was originally published on: December 05, 2021
This is the first in our Live recordings of the Songs of Christmas at the Brewery. This Episode we have Duncan Cullens & Jim Steel bringing some Original and some Old Favourite Christmas Songs and Rev Albert Bogle brings the message and story of Christmas.
Join us this month at the Brewery as we dive into three evenings of music and the story of Christmas this season. Listen to the recorded podcasts or join us in person ion Bridge of Allan Allanwater Brewhouse.
Gather your friends and family for a cosy celebration filled with, Live music, stories of faith & some of the best local beer & cider in Scotland. Join us for three evenings of Live Music & Stories of Faith this Christmas season at the Allanwater Brewhouse in Bridge of Allan.
Find out more about the events: Christmas Events - Songs of Christmas at the Brewery
Is atheism on the way out as the belief in God tide comes back in?
Podcaster, theologian, apologist, and down-to-earth good guy ‘Justin Brierley’ gives good reasons to suggest that here in the West there is a change in the air as people re-find the importance and significance of the Christian story. Talking about his latest book ’The surprising rebirth of belief in God’ - Why new atheism grew old and secular thinkers are considering Christianity again.’ Justin talks about how atheism, humanism, materialism, secularism and woke culture seem to be broke and how more and more people are seeking meaning, significance, purpose and identity beyond all that simply meets the eye. What an opportunity and responsibility we have, as Church, to meet people in their search and points of need!
Together, Neil Urquhart and Ruth Kennedy explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode 23 - Journey of Faith
’From Stornoway Black Pudding to Angel Delight!’
Lewis’s Tommy MacNeil shares his journey of faith which took him from teenage disillusionment and work in a butcher’s shop to leading a thriving church, authoring a book about awakening the beautiful & beloved bride of Christ in Scotland, and leading the Church of Scotland’s Faith Action Programme Leadership Team. Full of empathy, compassion, courage, & hope, Tommy’s enthusiasm and prophetic expectancy is infectious. You might even hear the angels over Stornaway applauding. Be encouraged and inspired.
Together, Neil Urquhart and Ruth Kennedy explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode 22 - Moderator’s Glimpses
Why would the Moderator of the Church of Scotland take a service for 20 people? Not the start of a joke! But the start of Rt Rev Shaw Paterson’s Moderatorial year where he is catching glimpses of comfort, courage and creativity in the everyday wonders. Tune in to hear more about dusty feet and wet blazers!
Together, Neil Urquhart and Ruth Kennedy explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode 21 - Crofter’s Kirk
Ruth and Eloho encounter Martin and Erin who are engaged in curating 900 works of art as a fundraising effort for St Margaret’s Saturday School for Ukrainian Children. The Edinburgh 900 Exhibition will be based in St Cuthbert’s Parish Church in Edinburgh — spiritual home of the podcast studio! Check out their webpage — maybe you have some art to contribute?!
Follow the rest of the podcast series on the Sanctuary First website and app/
https://sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/podcast/fatf
Ruth Kennedy and Laura Digan meet Linda Hoskins who is passionate about art and passionate about justice. Linda is fine art graduate and her driving force isn’t to necessarily ‘make it’ in the art world, but she is looking to restore hope, to think differently, to inspire others through creativity and to be a pioneering spirit: making a change one painting and product at a time. You can check out her work here.
Follow the rest of the podcast series on the Sanctuary First website and app/
https://sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/podcast/fatf
Ruth Kennedy and Laura Digan meet some of the cast and crew of Stirling Management who are bringing their show “What Matters in the End” to the Fringe this year. Together they explore the hard questions we face within society, family, love and culture.
Catch it while you can, and book tickets here.
Learn more about the production and how to book tickets, and follow the rest of the podcast series on the Sanctuary First website and app/
https://sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/podcast/fatf
Ruth Kennedy and guest host Heather Thorpe explore the story of Antoni Gaudi, the visionary architect who is being considered for canonisation - being made a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. Stephen Callaghan, playwright and theatre maker returns to Faith at the Fringe to talk about ‘Gaudi God’s Architect’, and tackling faith topics more generally.
Learn more on the Stephen’s website, and get tickets from the Edinburgh Fringe website.
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/gaudi-god-s-architect
https://stephencallaghan.com/
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Ruth Kennedy and guest host Heather Thorpe speak with Wendy Patterson of Heart and Soul Producers about their production at the Edinburgh Fringe ‘A-Night-To-Remember’ the Christmas story re-imagined in a Broadway style - and debuting in August at the Fringe!
Learn more on the Heart and Soul producers website, and watch digitally from the Edinburgh fringe website.
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/night-to-remember
https://www.heartandsoulproducers.com/a-night-to-remember
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Ruth and Duncan talk with Tim Hunter about Northern faith, faith, music and history.
Book tickets on the fringe website and/or listen to the album ‘Connecting with Faith’ on bandcamp.
https://northernfaith.bandcamp.com
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/northern-faith
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
“At Joppa, waiting to set sail for new adventures, contemplating his recent past and his encounters with Jesus. What did it all mean?”
Sanctuary First minister Ruth Kennedy is joined by co-host Hannah Sanderson along with today’s guest Trevor Gill from Bright Umbrella Theatre discuss two of their upcoming shows:
- A Farther Shore, following the story of the biblical figure Peter, with a modern message.
- Dean and The Devil, a darkly funny and uplifting one-man, multi-role show about one man’s fight against addiction - performed by Trevor himself!
You can book tickets for both of these shows on the Edinburgh Fringe website.
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/farther-shore
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/dean-and-the-devil
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
“Suffer us not to mock ourselves with falsehood”
Sanctuary First minister Ruth Kennedy is joined by co-host Hannah Sanderson along with today’s guest Paul Burrows discuss the role of
movement and dance in faith.
TS Eliot’s poem Ash Wednesday is widely regarded as a work of great spiritual depth. Its images are full of movement, making it highly suggestive for choreography and the art of dance. Paul Burrows (dancer/priest) has created a piece in which movement interacts with the speaker in Eliot’s poem; narrated by George Ormerod. A highly unusual integration of the arts of dance and poetry.
Join Paul on the 13th of August for Dancing Ash Wednesday at the Edinburgh Festival of Sacred Arts as part of the Fringe.
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
“A letter has finally been delivered to its destination – more than a century after it was written…”
In this third episode, Sanctuary First minister Ruth Kennedy is joined by Hannah Sanderson, Programme and Innovation Manager for the Church of Scotland. Today’s guest is John Handscombe from Good Wolf People, and the podcast focuses on their new show The 100 Year Old Letter - made in collaboration with participants from the Phoenix Players.
Their fringe shows are sold out, but you can learn more about the show and future opportunities to see it on their website.
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Sanctuary First minister Ruth Kennedy and guest host Peter Sutton continue learning about the Edinburgh Festival of Sacred Arts from episode one. Today they explore Scottish religious poetry with Alison Jack - editor of ‘Scottish Religious Poetry’ - and Gordon Graham, director of the Edinburgh Festival of Sacred Arts.
Learn more on their website.
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
For our first episode of Faith at the Fringe 2024, Sanctuary First minister Ruth Kennedy and guest host Peter Sutton talk with Calum Robertson about the Edinburgh Festival of Sacred Arts, and their new Young Composers competition.
Learn more on their website
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
City Slicker Andrea Boyes followed Jesus into radical rural life, mission and ministry to pastor people and shepherd a growing flock of sheep. Tune in for some of Andrea’s hilarious, creative, and courageous stories of following ultimate Shepherd Jesus in North West Coast Scotland! Listen in to find out more!
Together, Neil Urquhart and Ruth Kennedy explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode 20 - Sharing Stories
Agriculture & Growth! Sanctuary First’s Green Christian NetworkThis time Laura is speaking with Agriculture Consultant Charles Howie all about growth, sustainable agriculture and how we can support our farmers for the better of the environment.
The Green Christian Network group for this podcast will be held on the Wednesday the 26th of June 2024 online. Come along with your questions and speak with Charles directly. Find out more and enter via the Sanctuary First website and App.
Every month there will be new material diving into a different idea around the environment where we will encourage each of you to take part and start your own projects at the end of the month, we will conclude with an online Green Christian Network group where we take time to pray and encourage each other to care for God’s beautiful creation.
Join the Network Group: Green Christian Network
What have a pannier pilgrimage, hunger and singing got in common? The Emerging Emmaus team, Neil and Ruth, find the connections over their last few months of adventures. Listen in to find out more!
Together, Neil Urquhart and Ruth Kennedy explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode Nine - Rebuilding from the Ground Up
Laura and Linda are back with a new season of podcasts. This third episode looks at Anne Vallotton, a Swiss and French artist best known for her illustrations in the Good News Bible. Vallotton created over 500 illustrations and drew some of them up to 90 times to get them right. Vallotton’s distinctive style uses simple lines and shading to convey character and emotion: “I wanted to simplify them the most I could. I wanted to get to the truth… the most important thing!”
Each month Laura and Linda welcome a guest to discuss the women of the Bible - the well-known women, the loved women, the unnamed women and the forgotten women. Each month they will also spend time talking about issues affecting women today.
Neil Urquhart meets with well known author Steve Aisthorp. Steve is a former Mission worker in Nepal, and most recently longtime Church of Scotland pioneer mission development worker. Realising he had become cautious and comfortable, Steve left full-time employment, not knowing where his next step would be. Out of that ’Stew’ came ‘Kilmalieu’ (Kilmaloo). Here’s the story to inspire and encourage us in listening to God; retreating to advance in God’s Will.
Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode Eighteen - Community Church
“Let’s pick up our wheelbarrow and our fork and go into the stables and muck out…”
Laura Digan invites us back to the stables to muck out as she reflects once again on Wild Jesus!
Wild Encounters!
What can the digging of dogs, the singing of birds and the munching of horses teach us about the wild ways of our Wild Messiah? Listen to our new mini-series to find out!
These episodes are a collaboration between Laura Digan and James Cathcart for Sanctuary First and features music from ‘Have You Room For Love?’ by The Bogle Band.
Like this kind of thing? Check out our recent Five Tastes mini-series.
“As we walk up to the field let us just breathe and take in the scenes around us…”
Laura Digan invites us to the stables as she reflects on Wild Jesus!
Wild Encounters!
What can the digging of dogs, the singing of birds and the munching of horses teach us about the wild ways of our Wild Messiah? Listen to our new mini-series to find out!
These episodes are a collaboration between Laura Digan and James Cathcart for Sanctuary First and features music from ‘Have You Room For Love?’ by The Bogle Band.
Like this kind of thing? Check out our recent Five Tastes mini-series.
Together, Neil Urquhart and Jo Black meet with Worship Coordinator Jo Love & Community Development Worker Catriona Milligan from Gorbals Parish Church, who share on the synergies of Spirit, souls, teams, and Jesus’ Love. It’s raw, real, relevant and a right good listen!
Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode Seventeen - Youth Ministry for the Whole Church
“Watching birds and listening to them runs deep, because we’ve always done it…”
James invites us to the garden as he reflects on Wild Jesus! He reflects on why we are drawn to the sounds of birds singing and what they can tell us…
Wild Encounters!
What can the digging of dogs, the singing of birds and the munching of horses teach us about the wild ways of our Wild Messiah? Listen to our new mini-series to find out!
These episodes are a collaboration between Laura Digan and James Cathcart for Sanctuary First and features music from ‘Have You Room For Love?’ by The Bogle Band.
Like this kind of thing? Check out our recent Five Tastes mini-series.
“The dogs are sniffing, sniffing about the hedgerows, they’ve got the smell of something…”
Laura Digan invites us on a dog walk as she reflects on Wild Jesus! As the dogs bound about she is inspired by their antics to ask us thought provoking questions.
Wild Encounters!
What can the digging of dogs, the singing of birds and the munching of horses teach us about the wild ways of our Wild Messiah? Listen to our new mini-series to find out!
These episodes are a collaboration between Laura Digan and James Cathcart for Sanctuary First and features music from ‘Have You Room For Love?’ by The Bogle Band.
Like this kind of thing? Check out our recent Five Tastes mini-series.
Together, Neil Urquhart and Jo Black meet with Joel Nicholas, Youth Minister from Gorebridge Parish Church about the fruit of their long term intentional investment in young people and the ways they are seeking to equip and train new youth pastors for wider Scotland. It’s a really encouraging listen – don’t miss it!
Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode Sixteen - Conflict and Reconciliation
Laura and Linda are back with a new season of podcasts. This second episode explores the life of Gladys Aylward, who overcame many obstacles to be a missionary in China.
Gladys Aylward was a determined woman. Once she felt the call to the mission field, she refused to allow any excuses to hold her back. She chose to follow God’s call to serve in China even though she had little money and was unable to make it through missionary school. God used her to reach a whole community in China with the Gospel and help 100 children flee to safety during WWII.
Each month Laura and Linda welcome a guest to discuss the women of the Bible - the well-known women, the loved women, the unnamed women and the forgotten women. Each month they will also spend time talking about issues affecting women today.
Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy and Verene Nicolas discuss the use of non violent communication in the process of conflict and reconciliation within the Church.
Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode Fifteen - Community Church
Episode 5: Salt
“This can’t be the end.
I thought there was more to it.
We all thought there was more to it.
He can’t have died for nothing.
I thought there was more to it. More to Jesus.
I’m going to make soup.”
This Holy Saturday Laura concludes our series, imagining how an exhausted disciple might have felt on that bittersweet day, and the salt that stirs them to action.
The final episodes in a sequence of five audio meditations running daily Tuesday - Saturday of Holy Week. Poetry, drama, music, and prayer come together and invite us to rediscover the wonder of Easter through our tastebuds.
Each day we focus on one of the five tastes to experience the vividness of these timeless events in a new way. We will see how harshness, deliciousness, acidity, richness and tanginess can draw us further and deeper into this world-changing, universe-changing, week.
The series is a collaboration between James Cathcart and Laura Digan and features music from ‘Have You Room For Love?’ by The Bogle Band.
Listen to Episode 1: Bitter
Listen to Episode 2: Sweet
Listen to Episode 3: Sour
Listen to Episode 4: Umami
Episode 4: Umami
“Agnus Dei.
Your body broken for us
Your blood shed for us
Pause
Your body broken for me
Your blood shed for me”
On this Good Friday Laura and James take us to the foot of the cross to contemplate the unstoppable love of Agnus Dei, the Lamb of God.
This is a series of five audio meditations running daily Tuesday - Saturday of Holy Week. Poetry, drama, music, and prayer come together and invite us to rediscover the wonder of Easter through our tastebuds.
Each day we focus on one of the five tastes to experience the vividness of these timeless events in a new way. We will see how harshness, deliciousness, acidity, richness and tanginess can draw us further and deeper into this world-changing, universe-changing, week.
The series is a collaboration between James Cathcart and Laura Digan and features music from ‘Have You Room For Love?’ by The Bogle Band.
Listen to Episode 1: Bitter
Listen to Episode 2: Sweet
Listen to Episode 3: Sour
Episode 3: Sour
“Sour, stale bodies make preparations,
hands shaking, hands questioning if this will be the last time
the last time we’re all together
acidic words are exchanged
words that bite
there is excitement and unease
faith and doubt
mystery and wonder…”
This Maundy Thursday James takes us to the upper room of the Last Supper where the animated and anxious disciples gather in an atmosphere of electric anticipation.
A series of five audio meditations running daily Tuesday - Saturday of Holy Week. Poetry, drama, music, and prayer come together and invite us to rediscover the wonder of Easter through our tastebuds.
Each day we focus on one of the five tastes to experience the vividness of these timeless events in a new way. We will see how harshness, deliciousness, acidity, richness and tanginess can draw us further and deeper into this world-changing, universe-changing, week.
The series is a collaboration between James Cathcart and Laura Digan and features music from ‘Have You Room For Love?’ by The Bogle Band.
Listen to Episode 1: Bitter
Listen to Episode 2: Sweet
Episode 2: Sweet
“Breathe in the sweetness, in and out, in and out.
Gaze upon his face
Breath in his love…”
Listen as Laura takes us to Bethany and writes in the second person to immerse us in the story of Jesus’s anointing with sweet nard.
A series of five audio meditations running daily Tuesday - Saturday of Holy Week. Poetry, drama, music, and prayer come together and invite us to rediscover the wonder of Easter though our tastebuds.
Each day we focus on one of the five tastes to experience the vividness of these timeless events in a new way. We will see how harshness, deliciousness, acidity, richness and tanginess can draw us further and deeper into this world-changing, universe-changing, week.
The series is a collaboration between James Cathcart and Laura Digan and features music from ‘Have You Room For Love?’ by The Bogle Band.
Listen to Episode 1: Bitter
Episode 1: Bitter
“A small palmful of these bitter leaves are picked
for Thursday
for the meal that will become the last supper
they are sought out of this dense overgrown garden
while outside even now
there are voices clamouring
for a saviour, for a rebel, a warlord, an avenging angel…”
Listen as James takes us to the brooding atmosphere as Holy Week begins, tensions mount, and bitter herbs are gathered.
A series of five audio meditations running daily Tuesday - Saturday of Holy Week. Poetry, drama, music, and prayer come together and invite us to rediscover the wonder of Easter through our tastebuds.
Each day we focus on one of the five tastes to experience the vividness of these timeless events in a new way. We will see how harshness, deliciousness, acidity, richness and tanginess can draw us further and deeper into this world-changing, universe-changing, week.
The series is a collaboration between James Cathcart and Laura Digan and features music from ‘Have You Room For Love?’ by The Bogle Band.
This week on the Emerging Emmaus Podcast we spoke to Anne Stott who is the community minister at Bertha Park in Perth.
Watch the new episode live on Wednesday at 7pm, catch previous episodes on Sanctuary First, Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Download the App: www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/app
Laura and Linda are back with a new season of podcasts. This first episode explores the unnamed Samaritan woman that Jesus met in John chapter 4. The Woman at the Well.
She is never named, yet her encounter with Jesus is the longest between the Messiah and any other individual in the Gospel of John. Representing the lowest of the low — a female in a society where women are both demeaned and disregarded, a race traditionally despised by Jews, and living in shame as a social outcast — she not only has a holy encounter with Christ but also receives eternal salvation. And her testimony convinces an entire town to believe, too.
Each month Laura and Linda welcome a guest to discuss the women of the Bible - the well-known women, the loved women, the unnamed women and the forgotten women. Each month they will also spend time talking about issues affecting women today.
This week on the Emerging Emmaus Podcast we spoke to Peter Neilson about Church Without Walls and where we are at now within the Church of Scotland.
Watch the new episode live on Wednesday at 7pm, catch previous episodes on Sanctuary First, Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Download the App: www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/app
Introducing Creation and The Creator! Sanctuary First’s Green Christian Network
Laura Digan and Laura Miller continue our Green Chistian Network series with Episode Two of our Creation & The Creator podcast. This time we are talking all about Food Waste!
Every month there will be new material diving into a different idea around the enviroment where we will encourage each of you to take part and start your own projects at the end of the month, we will conclude with an online Green Christian Network group where we take time to pray and encourage each other to care for God’s beautiful creation.
Read the Laura Millers blog on Harvesting & Composting: Gathering What We Need
Find out more about the end of month group: Green Christian Network
This week on the Emerging Emmaus Podcast we spoke to Barry Hughes about Divine Interventions and being in the right place at the right time.
Watch the new episode live on Wednesday at 7pm, catch previous episodes on Sanctuary First, Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Download the App: www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/app
This time we are speaking to Rev William Boyle all about the community that has grown out of Port Glasgow New Parish Church, and how working together can help us to build better communities where all can bring there gifts of the spirit to the table.
Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode Eleven - Mission & Change
This Labyrinth has been designed to encourage you to make a journey to follow the star like the wise men of old to find the child in the manger who is the Saviour of the world. Make this journey with Mary and Joseph, with the shepherds, with all who came looking for the promised king.
There will be different stations to stop at on this journey giving you an opportunity to participate, to think, to pray. Music will accompany your journey, enjoy the experience and allow God to speak to you in this meditation.
Join the Christmas Labyrinth Workshop: Christmas Workshops
Introducing Creation and The Creator! Sanctuary First’s Green Christian Network
Laura Digan and Laura Miller dive into the first Episode of our Creation & The Creator podcast series talking all about Harvesting the crops from summer ahead of winter, and taking time to compost and cultivate new growth.
A new monthly video, blog and podcast series exploring God and the environment and how we as Christians can do our part to care for the natural world.
Every month there will be new material diving into a different idea around the enviroment where we will encourage each of you to take part and start your own projects at the end of the month, we will conclude with an online Green Christian Network group where we take time to pray and encourage each other to care for God’s beautiful creation.
Read the Laura Millers blog on Harvesting & Composting: Layers of Life
Find out more about the end of month group: Green Christian Network
What do we need to do to effect real change in the church and in our communities? This time Neil and Ruth are speaking with Rev Dr Liam Fraser all about ‘Mission & Change’ in the church, and his new book ‘Mission In Contemporary Scotland’.
Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy and Steve Aisthorpe explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode Nine - Rebuilding from the Ground Up
How do we build the next generation of Christians in our communities? Neil and Ruth are speaking with Graham Duffin and Sheila Notman all about the Growing Young program and how their churches have unleashed a passion of young people in their churches.
Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy and Steve Aisthorpe explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode Nine - Rebuilding from the Ground Up
Ruth, Neil and Steve explore the story of a church’s lowest point and how it gathered its community around it to rebuild from the ground up!
Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy and Steve Aisthorpe explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode Eight - Running the Race Together
Emerging Emmaus is back after our Summer break! Join Ruth and Neil as we catch up over all that’s happened over the summer and discuss how we can all Run the Race Together as communities through a love for Jesus.
Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy and Steve Aisthorpe explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode Seven - Green Shoots
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. Albert chats with Pete Sutton, minister at St Cuthbert’s — the location of this year’s podcast studio — and occasional host of the Sanctuary First podcast series.
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. Albert chats with Stephen Callaghan. Stephen is a prolific playwright and theatre-maker, based in Glasgow. He has written extensively on faith-related subjects, from the lives of Saints to Biblical material in new and challenging ways. Often infused with the humour and style of his native city, his plays have been performed widely in local venues and schools around Scotland and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. Minister of St Cuthbert’s, Rev Pete Sutton has an in-depth conversation with artist and friend Adrian Wiszniewski. One of Adrian’s masterpiece’s, “Lake Tekapo” graces the west wall of the sanctuary of St Cuthbert’s parish church, and is on display of visitors, tourists and festival-goers alike.
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. In episode nine Albert talks with Jon Lawrence, an author and musician who trekked across five deserts over five contents to raise money for a cancer charity in memory of his father. Their discussion focuses on grief, it’s influence on us, how we approach it, how it evolves and what we can learn from addressing it.
Good Grief: Five Deserts in Search of My Father, Jon’s show retelling his story trekking across five deserts can still be seen at the Edinburgh fringe, alongside his other show The Music Man, which features silly songs which encourage the children to sing, dance, laugh and learn.
Buy tickets to either of Jon’s shows: the music man or good grief
Purchase Jon’s book Good Grief: Five Deserts in Search of My Father and I
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. In this episode we are speaking with Clara-Nel Haddon the writer of ‘When Kurt Met Thora’ and Kellie Gamble - who portrays Thora - about the show and the themes explored within.
BBC Studios, November 1991.
Thora Hird, aka Captain Emily Ridley from Hallelujah, encounters Kurt Cobain ahead of Nirvana’s infamous appearance on TOTP. A mutual love of coastal towns, music and family is revealed over tea and custard creams as they reflect on their individual experience of God and wonder if at the final reckoning ‘Jesus will want them for sunbeams’, and whether happiness is ever really a choice or something predetermined for us all.
Purchase tickets from the Fringe website, or learn more about the show from the Plush Tiger Productions website and facebook
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. ‘Tomatoes nearly killed me. but the banjo saved my life’
Keith Alessi a CEO of a large North American Corporation two weeks after quitting his high-flying job, to take up his dream of becoming a banjo player finds out he has a rare cancer with a 50% chance of living for a year.
Seven years on he talks with Albert Bogle and Rob Rawson about the power of prayer and music in helping him survive. This is a far reaching podcast in which they touch on topics of healing, forgiveness, music, prayer and the need to live one day at a time.
Learn more about Keith, his show, and where you can see it on his website!
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. This Episode we are speaking to Camp Kirkland and Jeff Shelton all about music, Faith and the Origin Big Band from Orgin Scotland.
ONE NIGHT ONLY! 17 August will see the launch event of the all-new 18-piece jazz Origin Big Band. Featuring four trumpets, five saxophones, four trombones, keys, drums, bass, guitar and vocals, and a wide range of music from jazz to funk and blues. The singers will share their testimonies and there will have an interview with Kevin Flynn, Great British Bake-off baker extraordinaire (who will also provide baking you can purchase, and a cake you could win!). Bring a friend to hear how Jesus changes everything. Refreshments available, no tickets required. Unoma Okudo, Scott Rennie and Jonny Russell will be our lead singers, and we will have Steph Macleod joining us, and an all-new Big Band arrangement of one of the first songs he recorded with us.
No tickets required: Thu 17th August 2023 - 8:00 pm - Charlote Chapel Edinburgh
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. This Episode we are speaking to Andy Amour and John Kirk about the work of Street Pastors in Edinburgh, with a particular focus on their work interacting with the visitors to the Edinburgh Festival this year.
To find out more about the work of Edinburgh Street Pastors, visit their website.
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. This Episode we are speaking to Michael Taylorson about the play inspired by the film Chariots of Fire.
Set in Paris, during the Olympic Games of 1924, we see the struggles Eric Liddell faces in staying true to his principles. ‘Engaging at all times’ (BroadwayBaby.com). Five shows only, run for a ticket! When given the chance to become the fastest man in the world, will his convictions buckle? Should he stay true to his beliefs? And can he bring back a medal for King and country? ‘Searchlight elevate this from mere biography to an exploration of determination, ambition and faith’.
Find the Show: 12 Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, EH12 5AA
Buy Tickets
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series.
This Episode we are speaking to David Robinson all about his dramatic production of C.S Lewis The Screwtape Letters.
The most critically acclaimed production of C.S. Lewis’ masterpiece is back! The Screwtape Letters is an award-winning satirical comedy that is now touring the UK for its 13th year. Nigel Forde’s “sparkling script” and David Robinson’s “impressive Screwtape” (The Stage) bring to life Lewis’ classic book, which has sold millions of copies worldwide.
The story is set in Professor Screwtape’s study in the timeless dominion of Hell. The play follows Screwtape’s attempts to train his junior devils, including his protégé Wormwood, in the fine art of temptation. It remains faithful to the original text, characters and themes created by Lewis and holds three Edinburgh Fringe Sell-Out Show Awards.
Buy tickets here
Next Performances:
Thu 10 Aug - 14:30, Fri 11 Aug - 19:30, Sat 12 Aug 16:00, Tue 15 Aug - 19:30, Wed 16 Aug - 19:30 - Charlotte Chapel, Venue 320 Edinburgh Fringe
“The performances are well honed, with Screwtape himself standing out as an embodiment of snide evil”
★★★★★ - British Theatre Guide
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe Sanctuary First’s NEW podcast series.
Find out More
For our First Episode of the second season we will be Speaking to Faith Sutherland from Green Shoots Youth Theatre.
Find the show via the Sacred Arts Festival at St Vincent’s Chapel in Stockbridge.
Five Medieval Mystery plays brought to life by Peter Holloway. The newly formed Green Shoots Youth Theatre, under the direction of Faith Sutherland, transform
the atmospheric Undercroft of the Chapel into a compelling urban location for drama. Noah, a tale of climate change, the refugees Flight into Egypt, The Whistle-blower’s Jesus’ last days and the Resurrection, with warmth, humour and humanity.
Real people in real situations, the reality of life in our world in 2023. The Medieval Mystery Plays were the soaps of their day; they were warm, funny, but with a serious
mission – to bring to life Biblical stories. We have reimagined them for our time, making our point about the topics that concern us: climate change, refugees, war, and the joy of New Life.
Welcome to the Emerging Emmaus Podcast, a new biweekly podcast on Sanctuary First.
This time we are speaking Sue McKenzie and Erika Pryde from the community of Newton Parish Church, faced with church closure we hear of their journey of turning an unloved and unwelcoming church hall into a space where the community feel welcomed and find help and support, and ultimately find a connection to their faith!
Find out more: Newton Parish - Fresh Expressions
Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy and Steve Aisthorpe explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode Six - Passing the Batton
Sustaining Faith Join Albert Bogle, Laura Digan and Iain Jamieson on the Late Show Podcast for an hour of inspiration and encouragement as they share together their stories of life, and how faith has sustained them through challenging times.
This is an opportunity to reflect on the journey of faith each of us take only to discover Jesus has gone ahead of us waiting for the reshaping moment of encounter. The conversation as you might imagine turns to the stories and teaching of Jesus that still speak into our lives. This is an honest and engaging conversation between friends.
Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!
Welcome to the Emerging Emmaus Podcast, a new biweekly podcast on Sanctuary First.
This time we are speaking with Rev Martin Fair the former moderator of the Church of Scotland about his new role and how he hopes we can begin to foster a new generation of church leaders and ministers that will help us to come together, heal past wounds and build the kingdom of God.
Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy and Steve Aisthorpe explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode Five: Love & Community
Unity Trumps Everything Albert Bogle and Laura Digan enter into an inspirational conversation with best selling Christian author Jeff Vanderstelt, centred around the strategic missional importance of Christian communities honouring each other and seeking to work as one church in order to share the mission of Christ in the world today. We are called to make disciples
not denominational members.
As Jeff prepares to be a keynote speaker at the Refuel Festival this Summer this is an opportunity to hear some of his insights into the crisis facing the church worldwide today.
Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!
Welcome to the Emerging Emmaus Podcast, a new biweekly podcast on Sanctuary First.
This time we are speaking with the community from Dundonald Parish Church and we hear all about there transformations and changes over the last few years and how they have placed Love & Community at the heart of there church.
Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy and Steve Aisthorpe explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode Four - Journeys of Faith
Welcome to the Emerging Emmaus Podcast, a new biweekly podcast on Sanctuary First.
This time we reflect on our first three episodes and dive into a bit more detail on the back stories behind Steve, Neil and Ruth’s Journeys of Faith and what has brought them to where they are now…
Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy and Steve Aisthorpe explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode Three - Creative Expressions of Faith
Our theme: Spiritual HealthAn in-depth discussion about the spiritual health of the nation, while numbers at church attendance are on the wain, interest in spiritual ideas and science fiction, self help material, and Well Being are all on the increase.
Have we concentrated too much on social issues without linking the social to the spiritual? Where’s the balance?
Martin Fair talks about his new role within the Church of Scotland and explains what the strategies will be for establishing new forms of church and recruiting/training new types of church leaders.
Welcome to the Emerging Emmaus Podcast, a new biweekly podcast on Sanctuary First.
This time we are speaking with Fiona Stewart and Peter Gardner all about ‘Creative Expressions of Faith’ and how art can help us to come closer to God.
Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy and Steve Aisthorpe explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode Two - Acting In God’s Time
Welcome to the Emerging Emmaus Podcast, a new biweekly podcast on Sanctuary First.
What does it mean to Act in God’s Time? What is the difference between a Good Idea and a God Idea? This time we are speaking with Rev Tommy MacNeil all about his Ministry and about Acting in Gods Time and how there may be hope on the horizon in the Church!
Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy and Steve Aisthorpe explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Listen to the previous: Episode One - Change & Hope
Our theme: InnovationThis week Albert Bogle, Iain Jamieson and Laura Digan, are in search of Inspiration.
They chat with Scott Shackleton who is head of the Church of Scotland Faith and Action Programme, and also Hannah Sanderson who has a special remit to seek and search for areas of innovation in congregations.
Hannah shares inspirational stories where the churches are partnering with others and in doing so embarking on a mission that shares faith with others as a journey of discovery.
Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!
Welcome to the Emerging Emmaus Podcast, a new biweekly podcast on Sanctuary First.
In this Episode we are speaking to the community from Granton Parish Church about the changes they face with a new presbytery union ahead, a departing Minister and an ambition to continue they’re open hearted approach to outreach…
Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy and Steve Aisthorpe explore the stories of struggle and perseverance within the church allowing Jesus to renew our vision & vigour for His New Life. Join us as we discover, faith hope and stories of grief in the Church of Scotland. Come! Emmaus, Emerge from the gloom. Come Holy Spirit Come!
Read Neil’s Blog to find out more about the podcast series: Emerging Emmaus Podcast Series
The First Episode of the Emmerging Emmaus Podcast series will air on Wednesday the 22nd of March at 7pm on Sanctuary First, here on our Facebook page and will be available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
Neil Urquhart tells us a bit more about the podcast series and what we can expect as we start this new journey together in faith together…
Read Neil’s Blog to find out more about the podcast series: Emerging Emmaus Podcast Series
Laura and Linda are back with the second Time of the Month podcast of 2023. This episode they are joined by Ruth Forsyth and are discussing Jael from the Bible.
Who was Jael and what role did she play in the Bible? Jael became an Israeli hero for killing the general of Israel’s enemy, the Canaanite Sisera by hammering a tent peg into his temple. He was the commander of King Jabin’s army from Hazor.
She deceived Sisera by breaking cultural and social customs and her deception just doesn’t sit well with some modern Christian readers. Some scholars have not considered her a hero at all. Like many of the women that feature in this series of women from the bible, Jael is not a straight forward character, but one who is complex and controversial, Laura and Linda together explore this and more in this months episode. What do you make of Jael?
You can read about Jael in Judges 4
Listen to last months - Bathsheba
Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!
Our theme: Outreach & FellowshipIn the newest episode of our monthly podcast we are speaking to Brian Honey-Morgan from The Hive Cornwall and to Craig Mackay from The Refuel Summer Festival all about Outreach and Christian fellowship. Watch live here on Facebook on Sanctuary First’s website or via our App, or you can listen back as a podcast later on via all of the above and Spotify and Apple podcasts.
The Hive is a U.K. based charity that believes they have a solution to world hunger and famine. Over one third of the world’s food that is produced is wasted. They are turning discarded industrial farmed food into nutrient-packed meals to feed the hungry. This will be a fascinating conversation as our usual presenters; Albert, Iain and Laura learn how Brian is seeking to explore how their work might be replicate in Scotland. Find out more: This Charity Wants Us To Rethink Food During The Coronavirus Pandemic - YouTube
Laura will be exploring with Craig the benefits of congregations going on holiday together. Could this be a solution to developing a new kind of church fellowship? The Scottish Christian Summer Festival, takes place in the stunning grounds of Gordon Castle Estate, on the banks of the River Spey. Craig will share why he believes the Refuel Festival offers a solution to congregations who are seeking to renew their vision.
Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!
This month joining Albert will be Sandy Sneddon, the Associate International Partnership Support Manager with the Church of Scotland.
This is an opportunity at first hand to hear about some of the issues that Sandy deals with on a day to day basis as he, deals with advocacy, and development work, that supports over a dozen international partners.
Following on from last month’s conversations when Albert, Laura and Iain got inspired about mission in Scotland. Sandy has some inspiring stories to tell about his last visit to the church in Korea and some lessons we could learn from the world church.
Moving from an international conversation we’re delighted to have Rev Jill Clancy join us to talk about her work as a Chaplain in the famous Barlinnie Prison in Glasgow.
This should be an interesting discussion especially, since Dr Iain spent seven years as Medical Director in one of Scotland’s prisons.
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Laura and Linda are back with the first Time of the Month podcast of 2023 talking all about Bathsheba from the Bible. Wife of King David and Mother to King Solomon. As usual Linda and Laura have a fascinating and wide ranging conversation covering a lot of topics including some of a more sensitive nature, especially so in this episode.
It should be noted: Given the unsettling nature of the story they discuss tragedy, sexual assault and grief.
You can read about Bathsheba in 2 Samuel: 11 and 1 Kings 1 & 2.
Listen to last months - Midwives of Moses
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Year in Review
At the end of the year Albert Bogle, Iain Jamieson and Laura Digan look back over the past year and reflect up some of the guests and topics covered. These range from looking at the poetry and social conscience of our national poet Robert Burns, to a very interesting evening chatting with John Lowrie Morrison the well known Scottish landscape painter to understanding the moral obligations placed upon the Western world to help those who have been displaced through war and climate change.
We hope the evening will end with a note of renewed confidence that through all the changing scenes of time God hasn’t abandoned his world. As we come to the end of the year we discussion will seek to find seeds of hope that we can plant for the future.
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The Sleeping Giant
This month The Late Show team meet Tommy MacNeil the author of the ’Sleeping Giant’
It will be an opportunity to hear at first hand from Tommy how his book is being received, and to engage with the vision that Tommy Sets our for the church. In his writing of the ‘Sleeping Giant’ Tommy MacNeil seeks to bring before the church a vision of what still can be. He writes at a time of great discouragement and disappointment when many church leaders are exhausted and questioning the tired models of inherited patterns of church life. With the voice of a prophet he calls for the re-awakening of the giant to rise to our full stature in Christ. With great sensitivity and passion he calls individual Christians back to the place of personal renewal encouraging the church community to fall in love with Jesus all over again.
The show will be streamed live on our site, app and Facebook page and will be available to listen or watch back later on the site and on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. Through lively discussion, wacky anecdotes, stimulating interviews, heartfelt poetry, striking monologues and gentle night prayer we hope to enact the moving, funny, vibrant and often messy experience of being a Christian in the 2020s.
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In the Footsteps of Jesus
Sanctuary First contributor Rev Linda Pollock will be leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land Monday 6 February 2023 – Thursday 16 February 2023. Members of the Sanctuary First community are invited to join Linda in this trip following in the footsteps of Jesus.
View the Itinerary: In the Footsteps of Jesus
For more information and registration, please contact Rev. Linda Pollock at: RPollock@churchofscotland.org.uk
Find out more on this theme of Pilgrimage in the most recent episode of the Sanctuary First Late Show: Episode Eleven
This podcast will centre around the rising popularity in pilgrimage.
There have been numerous TV productions following celebrities on the Camino and recently Ben Vogle on the Pilgrimage to the Scottish Isles.
In the podcast we’ll ask what is it that attracts people to go on Pilgrimage.
This week we are joined by Alec Shuttleworth, Ondřej Bockschneider and Linda Pollock.
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The Late Show this month welcomes the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and Stuart Forsyth from Digital Parish.
Albert Bogle, Laura Digan and Iain Jamieson explore with the Moderator his role in the church and nation. The discussion develops into the place of Digital Ministry in the Church of Scotland and need for great investment in this area of ministry.
Laura and Linda are back with the Time of the Month podcast. This month we are looking at the Midwives of Moses which can be found in Exodus 1: 15-21. To help you get the most from the podcast we invite you to read the text first.
First set aside some time when you can be quiet with God. Sit and be still and ask God to open your heart and your mind so that you can receive his blessings, his love and his direction.
Listen to the full podcast here on Facebook, on Sanctuary first or via our App. You can also find us on Spotify and Apple Music.
Read the blog before you listen: Midwives of Moses
Listen to last months - The Witch of Endor
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Welcome to Faith at the Fringe Sanctuary First’s NEW podcast series Find out more.
This is the final episode of the Faith at the Fringe Podcast series for 2022. For our fourteenth and last episode of the series we have been talking to the famous author Ian Rankin all about; crime writing, finding inspiration, Edinburgh city during the Fringe and his views on Church and faith and how this has affected some of his characters and stories.
We would like to thank everyone who has been a part of the Faith at the Fringe podcasting project and has helped to make it happen. Thanks all our great guests for coming on and sharing your stories, to all our fab hosts from Sanctuary First, and to the technical team behind the scenes, and of course to you the Sanctuary First community for joining in and being part of the discussion.
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Welcome to Faith at the Fringe Sanctuary First’s NEW podcast series Find out more.
Judy and David from Searchlight Theatre Group have created a heart-rending production based on the story of Corrie ten Boom called, “Return to the Hiding Place”. Corrie was a Dutch watchmaker who helped Jewish people escape the holocaust by hiding them in her room. They share with Albert and Hannah their experiences in performing this powerful reimagining of the story. #containsSpoilers!
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Welcome to Faith at the Fringe Sanctuary First’s NEW podcast series Find out more.
Fiona Stewart from Foolproof Creative Arts takes Albert and Hannah on an exuberant ride from the seedling of her theatre group to the present day — here at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Check out these Foolproof links!
- Foolproof Creative Arts website - https://www.foolproofcreativearts.com
- Personal website - https://fionacstewart.com
- Foolproof Bites podcast - short form digital communication/performance help - https://foolproofbites.buzzsprout.com
- Hollow+Substantial - inter-generational conversation - https://www.buzzsprout.com/638266
- The Outspoken Bible - conversation with Neil Glover and Jen Robertson for SBS - https://scottishbiblesociety.org/resources/theoutspokenbible/
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe Sanctuary First’s NEW podcast series Find out more.
We’re delighted to welcome back Ellyn Oliver, who brings along Jon Green, Worship Arts Director at Hope City Church. They talk with Albert and Jack about providing creative and varied worship services to Festival-goers during the Fringe.
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe Sanctuary First’s NEW podcast series Find out more.
Author, Writer, Performer and Storyteller Jonathan Tipton Meyers shares with Albert and Jack his journey* of life that led him to this one-man show here in Edinburgh, “We are Traffic – An Uber Adventure”
*see what we did there?
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe Sanctuary First’s NEW podcast series Find out more.
Founder of Origin Scotland, Colin Peckham, is our guest today, in conversation with Albert and Pete. He shares his views on church music, and introduces us to the the Metro Big Band.
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe Sanctuary First’s NEW podcast series Find out more.
International touring sensation, the Soweto Gospel Choir, are in town for the Festival. Today we were joined by Milton Ndlakuse and Mary Mulovhedzi and they shared some very emotive and profound insights into their life and the Soweto Gospel Choir.
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe Sanctuary First’s NEW podcast series Find out more.
Making the short stroll from Princes Street Gardens to our studio on George Street is today’s special guest, Nicola (Nikki) Anderson. As part of the 12-strong team of gardeners there, Nikki’s “canvas” is just under 30 acres — we reckon it’s the largest creative installation in Edinburgh!
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe Sanctuary First’s NEW podcast series Find out more.
Get your feet a-tapping, with the The Foot Stomping Gospel Band! Albert and Hannah are joined by David Biddulph and Ellyn Oliver from Origin Ministries.
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe Sanctuary First’s NEW podcast series Find out more.
Today we’re delighted to welcome Rev David Todd — chaplain to theatres in Edinburgh. Working out of Greenside Parish Church, alongside Edinburgh Churches Together, David shares with us something of the human story behind the velvet curtain.
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe Sanctuary First’s NEW podcast series Find out more.
Anyone who has been in Edinburgh during the Festival time can’t fail to have noticed dozens and dozens of artfully painted Giraffe statues! We find out what it’s all about from artist Tabi Harvey, who was commissioned to create two of the tower of giraffes adorning the city. She also helps us explore the connection between art and God’s creation.
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe Sanctuary First’s NEW podcast series (find out more here).
Today, we’re thrilled to be in conversation with Stewart D’Arrietta. In his Festival performances he shares the poetry, stories and insights of the great Leonard Cohen. Albert and Nikki delve deep with Stewart into his own story, and the influences of Leonard Cohen and how music can connect with faith.
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe Sanctuary First’s NEW podcast series (find out more here).
For our second episode we are speaking with Very Rev Professor Gordon Graham about the Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts.
The Sacred Arts Festival takes place in various venues throughout the city, and you can find a listing here of all events.
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Welcome to Faith at the Fringe Sanctuary First’s NEW podcast series.
Find out More
For our first episode we are speaking to Stefan Smart about his show ‘I AM Mark’. A live performance and reading of the Gospel of Mark at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. we speak to Stefan about the ways in which bringing the bible to life through art and spoken word can bring people closer to the word of God and to the Holy Spirit as they find something in stories they may already know re inspiring them and touching their hearts.
Find Stefan at Riddle’s Court (at the top of the Royal Mile) Tuesday 9th until Saturday 13th at 12.50pm
Listen to the Faith at the Fringe podcasts here on Sanctuary First, our App and you can also find us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Laura and Linda are back with the Time of the Month podcast. This Episode marks no.12 and we will be chatting all about ‘The Witch of Endor’. Listen to the full podcast here on Facebook, on Sanctuary first or via our App. You can also find us on Spotify and Apple Music.
Listen to last months - Sarah & Hannah
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The Christian faith is not about a set of theological words brought together in a set logical order.
It is about living every day with Jesus as our coach and mentor.
This month the Late Show team of Albert Bogle and Laura Digan are delighted to have as their guest Neil Urquhart former Chaplain to the Olympics and to Kilmarnock Football Club. Neil will be joined by Robert Thomson who works along side Neil at Fullarton Connections as a pioneer missioner. Our discussion this month will centre around the important role sport can play in helping us grow spiritually.
Refugee Week Scotland is a festival celebrating the contributions, creativity, and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. It takes place in Glasgow at the end of June. This week the Late Show is delighted to welcome back Rev Linda Pollock.
Linda has worked with a refugee families and a few years back many in our community were praying that a particular family would be allowed to stay in Scotland. This is an opportunity to catch up with Linda and reflect upon the journey that refugees make.
‘The Sanctuary First Late Show’ is our new series featuring an informal mix of discussion, interviews, spoken word and music. Together we will be exploring what it means to laugh, cry and wonder as followers of Jesus in the 21st century.
The show is streamed live on our site, app and Facebook page on Friday at 9PM as well as being available to listen or watch back later on the site and on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
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This month the Late Show interviews Campbell Dye a lawyer who works in the famous London City Square Mile.
Campbell is a regular contributor to the Sanctuary First daily worship. He is also a musician songwriter and has recently been involved with a Charity taking relief to the war zone on the Ukrainian border.
In a honest and frank discussion Iain Jamieson Laura Digan and Albert Bogle explore with Campbell the challenge of living faith on the frontline.
‘The Sanctuary First Late Show’ is our new series featuring an informal mix of discussion, interviews, spoken word and music. Together we will be exploring what it means to laugh, cry and wonder as followers of Jesus in the 21st century.
The show is streamed live on our site, app and Facebook page on Friday at 9PM as well as being available to listen or watch back later on the site and on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!
Laura and Linda are back for another episode of the Time of the Month Podcast. This time they are talking about the stories of Sarah & Hannah from the Bible and how their stories impact us now in 2022.
Listen to last months - Three Prophetesses
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Our special guest this month on the Sanctuary First Late Show is John Lowrie Morrison the well known Scottish painter also known as Jolomo!
Morrison along with his collaborator Rev Ken MacKenzie tells the story of how their latest book of paintings and poetry came about and share their love of Iona and the beauty of the landscape that is created by the unique light of the west.
They are also joined by Angus Mathieson, Partnership Development Secretary of the Church of Scotland and a long standing member of the Iona Community. Together we explore the spiritual significance of Art Community and place, and Angus helps us explore the spiritual aspects of community that could be taken up and reflected within the Sanctuary First digital worshipping community!
‘The Sanctuary First Late Show’ is our new series featuring an informal mix of discussion, interviews, spoken word and music. Together we will be exploring what it means to laugh, cry and wonder as followers of Jesus in the 21st century.
The show is streamed live on our site, app and Facebook page on Friday at 9PM as well as being available to listen or watch back later on the site and on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!
Albert Bogle, Laura Digan and Iain Jamieson are going to be joined in the late Show this week by the Rev Aaron Stevens of the Church of Scotland in Budapest. This congregation has been a touching place for many fleeing from the atrocities in Ukraine. This is an opportunity to hear at first hand how we can help those who are seeking to reach out and make a difference to lives escaping from a war torn area
‘The Sanctuary First Late Show’ is our new series featuring an informal mix of discussion, interviews, spoken word and music. Together we will be exploring what it means to laugh, cry and wonder as followers of Jesus in the 21st century.
The show will be streamed live on our site, app and Facebook page and will be available to listen or watch back later on the site and on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. Through lively discussion, wacky anecdotes, stimulating interviews, heartfelt poetry, striking monologues and gentle night prayer we hope to enact the moving, funny, vibrant and often messy experience of being a Christian in the 2020s.
Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!
This week Albert, Laura and Iain are talking all about ‘Songs that speak to the Heart’. Songs that we love and that bring join and inspiration into our lives.
‘The Sanctuary First Late Show’ is our new series featuring an informal mix of discussion, interviews, spoken word and music. Together we will be exploring what it means to laugh, cry and wonder as followers of Jesus in the 21st century.
The show will be streamed live on our site, app and Facebook page and will be available to listen or watch back later on the site and on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. Through lively discussion, wacky anecdotes, stimulating interviews, heartfelt poetry, striking monologues and gentle night prayer we hope to enact the moving, funny, vibrant and often messy experience of being a Christian in the 2020s.
Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!
Laura and Linda are back after the New Year break with another episode of the Time of the Month podcast, this time they are joined by Christine Colliar, a member of the Sanctuary First Community and a talented writer, you might have read or listened to one of Christine’s stories over Christmas as part of our Stories of the Unexpected Series. This episode we are looking at ‘Three Prophetesses’ from the bible and talking all about how they’re stories resonate and inspire in today’s society.
Listen to last months - Anna and the Wisdom of Age
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Join us for The Late Show, this episode Albert Bogle, Iain Jamieson and Laura Digan are thinking all about Unpacking Boxes and the Life of Robert Burns and much much more…
‘The Sanctuary First Late Show’ is our new series featuring an informal mix of discussion, interviews, spoken word and music. Together we will be exploring what it means to laugh, cry and wonder as followers of Jesus in the 21st century.
The show will be streamed live on our site, app and Facebook page and will be available to listen or watch back later on the site and on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. Through lively discussion, wacky anecdotes, stimulating interviews, heartfelt poetry, striking monologues and gentle night prayer we hope to enact the moving, funny, vibrant and often messy experience of being a Christian in the 2020s.
Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!
A new episode of The Time of the Month podcast is out now. Tune in for a heartfelt and hard-hitting discussion about Anna the Prophetess and recent tragic events in the news. Join Laura and Linda as they discuss old age, wisdom, the voice of experience, trauma, and God birthing new life.
Find Anna in Luke 2: 36-38 and look up Linda’s story from the Stories of the Unexpected series about Anna. Listen to last months - Deborah and Details
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Read this story as a Blog: The Unexpected Gift
Find out more about this series: Stories of the Unexpected
The Unexpected Gift by Christine Colliar
The Last of our ‘Stories of the Unexpected’ is written by Christine Colliar. In this short story we hear from a young girl who has an unexpected visitor in there garden shed on the run up to Christmas. A strange mystery man appears in there garden and is invited into there home out of the cold, the young girl slowly begins to warm to the strange visitor and gradually she begins to welcome the spirit of Christmas and Christ into her heart…
This Month on Sanctuary First we will be releasing a series of short stories ‘Stories of the Unexpected’ which will revolve around our December theme ‘The Unexpected Visitor’. Three writers and members of the Sanctuary First community have each contributed a short story that they have written around the months theme.
Listen to the podcast above, or listen on Spotify & Apple podcasts OR Read the story as a blog: The Unexpected Gift
Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!
Read this story as a Blog: Working with the Grain
Find out more about this series: Stories of the Unexpected
3 of 3
Working with the Grain by Katy Emslie-Smith
The Third of our ‘Stories of the Unexpected’ is written by Katy Emslie-Smith. In this short story we hear of a carpenter dutifully working in his shop, he is interrupted with urgent and exciting news that makes him question everything ‘Sense of betrayal combated with affection, anger wrestled with love, custom warred with compassion’. To clear his head, he sets about doing what he knows best, and works the grain of the wood in his workshop with his hands…
This Month on Sanctuary First we will be releasing a series of short stories ‘Stories of the Unexpected’ which will revolve around our December theme ‘The Unexpected Visitor’. Three writers and members of the Sanctuary First community have each contributed a short story that they have written around the months theme, these will be released each Sunday over the next three weeks in podcast and blog form, each story will be followed with its own ‘Writers Room Book Club’ on the following Saturday where we will meet to talk about the story, this will all conclude on the fourth week with a final story in the form of a Christmas film!
Listen to the podcast above, or listen on Spotify & Apple podcasts OR Read the story as a blog: Working with the Grain
Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!
Join us for our Advent edition of the Sanctuary First Late Show. Albert, James and Laura from the team have pre-recorded a laidback, wide ranging and heartfelt discussion as they get their heads around our theme: Angels
‘The Sanctuary First Late Show’ is our new series featuring an informal mix of discussion, interviews, spoken word and music. Together we will be exploring what it means to laugh, cry and wonder as followers of Jesus in the 21st century.
The show will be streamed live on our site, app and Facebook page and will be available to listen or watch back later on the site and on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. Through lively discussion, wacky anecdotes, stimulating interviews, heartfelt poetry, striking monologues and gentle night prayer we hope to enact the moving, funny, vibrant and often messy experience of being a Christian in the 2020s.
Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!
Read this story as a Blog: Anna the Prophetess
Find out more about this series: Stories of the Unexpected
2 of 3
Anna the Prophetess by Linda Pollock
The second of our ‘Stories of the Unexpected’ is written by Linda Pollock. In this short story we hear from the voice of Anna the Prophetess from the bible, she has recently lost her dear husband ‘Ronel’, in grief and in a moment of questioning faith she doubts Gods plan that it would leave her so alone. Slowly she begins to realise there’s light ahead as she opens up her heart to God…
This Month on Sanctuary First we will be releasing a series of short stories ‘Stories of the Unexpected’ which will revolve around our December theme ‘The Unexpected Visitor’. Three writers and members of the Sanctuary First community have each contributed a short story that they have written around the months theme, these will be released each Sunday over the next three weeks in podcast and blog form, each story will be followed with its own ‘Writers Room Book Club’ on the following Saturday where we will meet to talk about the story, this will all conclude on the fourth week with a final story in the form of a Christmas film!
Listen to the podcast above, or listen on Spotify & Apple podcasts OR Read the story as a blog: Anna the Prophetess
Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!
Read this story as a Blog: Upon a Midnight Clear
Find out more about this series: Stories of the Unexpected
1 of 3
Upon a Midnight Clear by Alec Shuttleworth
The first of our ‘Stories of the Unexpected’ is written by Alec Shuttleworth. The short story tells of a man who has lost touch. One cold winter night he hears a persistent ‘Tap, Tap, Tap’ at his window, it turns out to be a little blackbird pecking at his window, what follows leads to a change…
This Month on Sanctuary First we will be releasing a series of short stories ‘Stories of the Unexpected’ which will revolve around our December theme ‘The Unexpected Visitor’. Three writers and members of the Sanctuary First community have each contributed a short story that they have written around the months theme, these will be released each Sunday over the next three weeks in podcast and blog form, each story will be followed with its own ‘Writers Room Book Club’ on the following Saturday where we will meet to talk about the story, this will all conclude on the fourth week with a final story in the form of a Christmas film!
Listen to the podcast above, or listen on Spotify & Apple podcasts OR Read the story as a blog: Upon a Midnight Clear
Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!
This week we’ll be reflecting on COP26 and how we as faithful disciples of Jesus can hold our nerve and respond creatively and compassionately to world events championing his grace, mercy and peace.
‘The Sanctuary First Late Show’ is our new series featuring an informal mix of discussion, interviews, spoken word and music. Together we will be exploring what it means to laugh, cry and wonder as followers of Jesus in the 21st century.
The show will be streamed live on our site, app and Facebook page and will be available to listen or watch back later on the site and on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. Through lively discussion, wacky anecdotes, stimulating interviews, heartfelt poetry, striking monologues and gentle night prayer we hope to enact the moving, funny, vibrant and often messy experience of being a Christian in the 2020s.
Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!
Linda Pollock reads to us a creative telling of the story of Blind Bartimaeus from the Bible, with music by Allan Hewitt. This Podcast is part of our collection of Bible Stories.
What does this story mean for us? Jesus names faith as what impels Bartimaeus. The rest of the story shows us what that faith is. Bartimaeus’s faith is not about reciting the correct confession or subscribing to certain dogmas. It is his unrelenting conviction that Jesus can and will rescue him from his need. This story invites us to consider how faith is manifested, nurtured, and stunted within communities.
“Don’t be afraid! Come on! He is calling for you”
View Bible Text: Blind Bartimaeus - Mark 10:46-52
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Laura and Linda are back! This month they are joined by George Sneddon, Probationary Minister in Mossneuk Parish Church. They talk about the biblical prophet and judge Deborah (see Judges 4 & 5) and discuss revealing details, women in leadership, palm trees, artistic depictions, postnatal depression, Angela Merkel, Britney Spears, Maria Kolesnikova and much more.
Listen to last months - The Daughter of Jephthah
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Episode two of the Christian Creatives podcast is out now, listen here on Sanctuary First, on our App and on Spotify.
In season two of the monthly Christian Creatives podcast Laura Digan will continue to discuss sources of inspiration, practicalities and managing confidence with creatives from different disciplines. In the second episode of season two Laura speaks to designer and co-owner of Sew Ho Studios Nikki Kirkland about creativity and wellbeing within the workplace.
Find out more about Sew Ho Studios and Nikki: Sew Ho Studios
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For the latest Time of the Month podcast Laura and Linda are joined by Christopher Rowe, Minister at Colston Milton Parish Church. In this episode they reflect on the daughter of Jephthah and her troubling demise (see Judges 11). In a wide-ranging and hard-hitting conversation they discuss interpretation, discernment, sacrifice, trauma, being nameless in the Bible, and the unfolding situation in Afghanistan.
Listen to last months - Episode 6: Lydia and Laws
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The ‘Christian Creatives’ podcast series returns for a new season! In season two’s monthly episodes Laura Digan will continue to discuss sources of inspiration, practicalities and managing confidence with creatives from different disciplines. In the first episode of season two Laura speaks to writer, creative and founder of Sensory Church at Home, Lily Cathcart. Laura and Lily discuss creativity in the different seasons of our lives and how to find time to be creative when you have caring responsibilities.
Look out for the new season’s accompanying blog next week!
**Find out more about Sensory Church at Home:
Website - Facebook - Instagram**
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A three part series where James Cathcart chats to informed, funny and wise experts about how our minds, bodies and breath interact in that pattern of tissue and synapses and bits of bone and soul that happen to make you — you.
In this final episode he talks to yoga teacher, triathlete, and musician Mark Russell. Listen to get practical tips on tuning in to your breath (including a neat trick of counting without actually counting…) and to find out: what porridge has to do with yoga, an unusual technique used in medieval kitchens, and the commitment you make to a banana when you eat it. Thanks to Mark for the music and Jack Steel for the cover art.
Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Listen to Episode 2: ‘The Mind’ with Amanda MacQuarrie.
Listen to Episode 1: ‘The Body’ with Claire Young.
In the latest episode of the Time of the Month podcast Laura and Linda are joined by Kaye Gardner, soon to start her probation ministry placement at St Rollox Church in Glasgow. They discuss Lydia — a hugely important figure in the history of the the church — who is only mentioned in a few brief verses. They talk about luscious cloth, love’s ripple effects, Lebanon, and the legal systems that affect the lives of women and girls living today.
Listen to - Episode 5: Esther and Objectification
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A new series where James Cathcart chats to informed, funny and wise experts about how our minds, bodies and breath interact in that pattern of tissue and synapses and bits of bone and soul that happen to make you — you.
In this episode he talks to runner, walker, kayaker, minister, and absolute dynamo: Amanda MacQuarrie. Get practical tips on tuning in to your mind and find out: how a hurricane was instrumental in her becoming a minister, just how susceptible James is to confirmation bias, and that the key to finding yourself might just be realising that you’re in the movement of something else… Thanks to Mark Russell for the music and Jack Steel for the cover art.
Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Listen to Episode 1: ‘The Body’ with Claire Young.
Listen to Episode 3: ‘The Breath’ with Mark Russell.
A three part series where James Cathcart will be chatting to some informed, funny and wise experts about how our minds, bodies and breath interact in that pattern of tissue and synapses and bits of bone and soul that happen to make you — you.
In this first episode he talks to physiotherapist, educator, community leader and force of nature: Claire Young. Get practical tips on tuning in to your body and find out: just what ‘fascia’ is, something weird about that voice in your head, and how the lines we draw between our emotional and physical reactions might be more blurred than we think. Thanks to Mark Russell for the music and Jack Steel for the cover art.
Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Listen to Episode 2: ‘The Mind’ with Amanda MacQuarrie.
Listen to Episode 3: ‘The Breath’ with Mark Russell.
Tonight the team reflect on a year and a half of the Weekly Review, what it has meant to come together in a pandemic, the importance of rest and recuperation and what the future holds. James from the team will be sharing a bit about his new podcast series ‘Mind Body Breath’ and we’ll all reflect on personal highlights of the last 18 months of Sanctuary First.
A preview of the first episode of our new podcast series from James Cathcart where he speaks to physiotherapist (and force of nature) Claire Young…
Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts:
Laura and Linda are joined this month by Ruth Forsythe, an Ordained Local Minister and the Community Development Director of Finn’s Place, a wellbeing project initiated by Langside Church. They discuss the complex and layered story of Esther and the unsettling sexual and power dynamics facing both the characters in the narrative and women today.
Each month Laura and Linda welcome a guest to discuss the women of the Bible - the well-known women, the loved women, the unnamed women and the forgotten women. Each month they will also spend time talking about issues affecting women today
Listen to - Episode 4: Eve and Equality
Tonight we talk about leadership, living through major change and acting with courage! There are many competing forces and demands on our time and attention, how do we stay focused on the core principles that really matter?
Join the Weekly Review team for an open-ended discussion on faith, the workplace, the future of work, and what principles we can use to guide us through our working and praying lives. We are delighted to be joined tonight by Jim Steel from the SF team, doing double duty after the Live Jam, and Rob Tribken who has just written ‘Sacred
Rhythm, A Christian Spirituality for Our 21st Century Work Lives’.
27 days later, and 27 ‘Re-‘ words later, our May theme Re:Set is about to draw to a close. It finishes tomorrow with Re:Start (because of course!). Over these weeks we have been imagining an ongoing email thread between humanity and God, on a journey of rediscovery, reimagining, recalibration and refuelling. Join the SF team as we review the site and take a moment to reflect on what it means to reset with God’s grace. We are delighted to have Jack and Jane along with us tonight to chat about Tales From The Library and our new group Art Connection!
This week the team are talking about calibrating, chords, connecting and kites! As we follow God how do we keep ourselves on course day to day, week by week, year on year? How do we keep the tune, join the dots, catch the current? We are delighted that this week’s Daily Worship writer Peter Neilson will be joining us to discuss all this and more.
Listen to Andy’s song and more: Secret Chord Sessions
Tonight the team talk about engaging our imaginations and recapturing a sense of the love and tenderness of our creator God that sustains us through everything. We are delighted to be joined by this week’s Daily Worship writer Linda Pollock.
For this latest instalment of the Time of the Month podcast Laura and Linda are joined by Robert Allan of Falkirk Trinity Parish Church. In a wide ranging conversation they talk about everything from period dramas to legal systems, from serpents to advertising, from Notre Dame to bouncy castles!
Each month Laura and Linda welcome a guest to discuss the women of the Bible - the well-known women, the loved women, the unnamed women and the forgotten women. Each month they will also spend time talking about issues affecting women today.
Listen to - Episode 3: Mary Magdalene and Ministry
Tonight we engage with our new monthly theme Re:Set. An interesting theme to pick up during a weekend of national election results…
From politics to personal preferences there appears to be a re-setting of goals, ambitions and attitudes. This week our Daily Worship writer Campbell Dye has set the tone for our discussions. We welcome the usual panel plus Linda Pollock as our guest to help us reflect on the challenges of re-setting politics, personal goals and church life.
Albert, Laura and James are joined by the multi-skilled musician and worship leader Ian Paget. They talk about the future of leadership in the church, awakening, the Connect material, and interview Ian about singing and songwriting.
Albert, Laura and Alec talk about the place of prayer during the Lockdown. Why have people been helped by ‘Lighten our darkness and also the early 7.00am prayer meeting?
Is there an awakening to spiritual things because of what has been experienced during lockdown, bereavement, loss of Jobs, increase in depression, fear that the economics of the pandemic are going to be with us into another generation…
Could there really be a silent awakening happening around the church and also in the country or world at large?
Join Albert, Jack and our special guests Lily Cathcart this week’s Daily Worship writer, and Dr Martin Fair Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, to explore renewal, transformation and waking up…
Tonight we continue reflecting on this season of awakening, a time when the Holy Spirit draws near to us all and brings about a renewal of faith. What does it mean to ‘wake up’ and is the alarm clock already blaring?
Albert writes in Sanctuary First this month “This is a ‘shaking of the foundations’ moment.There is a stirring in the air, across the world, like a changing of the guard, no one can quite put their finger on it, but we know when we come out of lockdown — lockdown will have transformed everything. Nothing will quite ever be the same again.” Is he right?
It’s the time of the month for the Time of the Month podcast! In this episode Laura Digan and Linda Pollock are joined by the Reverend Lynsey Brennan of Dundonald Parish Church. They have an in-depth discussion about Mary Magdalene, mischaracterisation, biblical mixups, ministry and the first eyes to see the risen Jesus…
Each month Laura and Linda welcome a guest to discuss the women of the Bible - the well-known women, the loved women, the unnamed women and the forgotten women. Each month they will also spend time talking about issues affecting women today.
Listen to - Episode 2: Delilah and Downtime
Tonight’s theme: The Awakening Albert, Laura and James go deep discussing awakening, faith and the Holy Spirit…
A four part series that takes inspiration from the rich Christian tradition of immersive storytelling, from the street theatre of Mystery Plays to the sequences of paintings known as The Stations of The Cross, to travel with Jesus through the events of the Passion. If you want to download the podcasts to listen to offline you can do so by looking up Sanctuary First on your preferred podcasting platform.
This is Episode 1: Water. In this first episode we come alongside Jesus in the trial with Pontius Pilate, thinking about power and oppression, weakness and freedom…
Listen to Episode 2: Daughters
Look up our Lent Retreat: Alongside Jesus for more material.
A four part series that takes inspiration from the rich Christian tradition of immersive storytelling, from the street theatre of Mystery Plays to the sequences of paintings known as The Stations of The Cross, to travel with Jesus through the events of the Passion. If you want to download the podcasts to listen to offline you can do so by looking up Sanctuary First on your preferred podcasting platform.
This is Episode 2: Daughters. In this second episode we come alongside Jesus as he speaks to the Daughters of Jerusalem on the road to the cross, thinking about reaching out and burdens…
Listen to Episode 3: Nails
Look up our Lent Retreat: Alongside Jesus for more material.
A four part series that takes inspiration from the rich Christian tradition of immersive storytelling, from the street theatre of Mystery Plays to the sequences of paintings known as The Stations of The Cross, to travel with Jesus through the events of the Passion. If you want to download the podcasts to listen to offline you can do so by looking up Sanctuary First on your preferred podcasting platform.
This is Episode 3: Nails. In this third episode we come alongside Jesus in the crucifixion, thinking about what holds life together…
Listen to Episode 4: Sepulchre
Look up our Lent Retreat: Alongside Jesus for more material.
A four part series that takes inspiration from the rich Christian tradition of immersive storytelling, from the street theatre of Mystery Plays to the sequences of paintings known as The Stations of The Cross, to travel with Jesus through the events of the Passion. If you want to download the podcasts to listen to offline you can do so by looking up Sanctuary First on your preferred podcasting platform.
This is Episode 4: Sepulchre. In this fourth episode we come alongside Jesus at the tomb, thinking about burial and honour…
Listen to Laura Digan’s Guided Meditation: Jesus Washes your Feet
Look up our Lent Retreat: Alongside Jesus for more material.
Tonight the team are joined by this week’s Daily Worship Writer Jonathan Fleming to discuss tears, rediscovering our song, and lighting a candle in the darkness.
Join us for the Sanctuary First Weekly Review where tonight we talk about painting a picture, both literally and figuratively. We will have a look over the SF site and discuss how we can use different media to paint pictures for one another and enliven our faith.
This week the Albert, Laura, James, iain and Jack talk about Neighbouring as a verb and in doing so they open us up to a looking further afield in the ever increasing reach of Sanctuary First.
Join Laura Digan and Linda Pollock for the second installment of their new monthly podcast series Time of the Month. Each month Laura and Linda welcome a guest to discuss the women of the Bible - the well-known women, the loved women, the unnamed women and the forgotten women. Each month they will also spend time talking about issues affecting women today.
Episode 2: This month Laura and Linda are joined by Pamela Gordon Minister of Barrhead Bourock Parish Church. They discuss Delilah, dunamis, debates and the importance of downtime.
Watch Episode 1: Hagar and Home Schooling
This week the team discuss signs in the Bible, signs in our lives and signs of the times. Expect rainbows, uncanny moments and surreal tangents.
We are delighted to be joined by Katy Emslie-Smith our Daily Worship writer for the week. She teaches medicine as a GP and greatly enjoys working in a partnership network with refugee families in Dundee to combat isolation and technological poverty.
This week the team discuss the season of Lent which began on Wednesday and continues for the next several weeks until Easter Sunday. Traditionally a time of reflection and contemplation in the Church, how can Lent - especially this year - be a time of transformation and renewal as we look around us with renewed vision at the things that truly matter…
Joining us is this week’s Daily Worship writer John Povey Parish Minister of Kirk of Calder, Mid Calder.
A short guided meditation developed for our Lent 2021 Retreat ‘Seeing with new eyes’**. This is the rural version. How can the natural world around us sing to us and reveal God’s glory anew, prompting our prayers in response?
A short guided meditation developed for our Lent 2021 Retreat ‘Seeing with new eyes’. This is the urban version. How can the vivid interplay between the natural and built-up world around us from street signs, to public art and striking architecture speak to us of God’s glory and prompt our prayers?
Tonight on the Weekly Review the team are crying freedom! We will be exploring how to find freedom in Lent, freedom in one another, and our ultimate freedom in Jesus Christ. We will also be chatting about our free digital Lent Resource Booklet and our Lent Legacy action prompts to encourage us to travel mindfully together through the season. We are delighted to be joined by this week’s Daily Worship writer Robert S.T. Allan, Minister of Falkirk Trinity Parish Church.
Join Laura Digan and Linda Pollock for their new monthly podcast series Time of the Month. Each month Laura and Linda welcome a guest to discuss the women of the Bible - the well-known women, the loved women, the unnamed women and the forgotten women. Each month they will also spend time talking about issues affecting women today.
Episode 1: This month Laura and Linda are joined by Moira Wintersgill to discuss Hagar from the Old Testament and the pressure of home schooling during the lockdown.
Albert, Laura, Iain and Scott Shackleton are thinking about the importance of small beginnings.
Keeping in mind The Parable of Social Distancing could could one man socially distanced raise 39 million?
The Bible verse says: “Don’t despise the day of small beginnings.”
The theme we’re going to talk about is human resilience in the face of great adversity. We wlll also look at the capacity we have within us to forgive and start again.
We’ll take a look at Fiona Reynold’s reflections and see how her thoughts this week ink into the human spirit we all require to get through our present crisis
Tonight we are delighted that Peter Cochrane, an amazing singer-songwriter who is one of our regular contributors to the Live Jam Sessions, joins us on the Weekly Review.
This instalment of the weekly review comes from a line in Amanda Gorman’s beautiful poem ‘The Hill We Climb’. Tonight the team talk about trains, awakening and the light at the end of the tunnel. Tonight Albert, Laura and James are joined by Jamie Wells.
Tonight on the Weekly Review the team are discussing bling, fool’s gold, being a fool for Christ and weaving the golden thread of love into our lives. Gold is a bit is like love, on the one hand it’s delicate and easily broken but on the other hand it endures — never rusting, or corroding or tarnishing. And both can come out of fire more refined. This year what changes can we make to continue to build the precious, generous love of God into our everyday lives? An enduring love that catches the light like gold…
We are joined by Rev Rhona Cathcart of Inverurie West Parish Church who has been writing about gold in our Daily Worship this week. From her prayer on Sunday 10th: “Help us to uncover the warmth, the lustre which you planted deep inside us, that we might gleam with gratitude, wonder and praise.”
he dream team of Albert, Laura, Iain and James will be getting to grips with our new theme for January by asking - So what exactly are humans anyway? When it comes down to it, what are we made to be and what are we called to do? We will go spiritual, medical, poetic and far off the beaten track as each of us try to answer from our unique perspectives what it means to be human.
Join Albert, Laura and James (sadly Iain was out on call!) as they look back over a year of Sanctuary First and indeed a year of Weekly Reviews. We started doing these shows back in January and we have had a blast - there’s been tears, laughter, insights, songs and seriously bizarre tangents. In this special pre-recorded edition the team reflect on their favourite moments from 2020 and anticipate all 2021 has to bring us.
Look up! Tonight on the Weekly review the team are gazing upwards and discussing how the skies are wide open to let in Christmas! We are joined by Allan Vint a minister and keen astrophotographer who will be leading our Daily Worship (and sharing his pictures of stars and outer space) over the Christmas week. It will be all kinds of cosmos chat this evening as we get astronomical and find out more about an upcoming celestial event…
The Weekly Review - an hour of banter, discussion, theology, anecdote and whimsy! This Advent we have been opening up Christmas at Sanctuary First and tonight we want to ask - how open are our hearts? Open to God? Open to one another? Open to our own fears, longings and hopes?
Alongside the regular team to discuss stitching our hearts to our sleeves is this week’s Daily Worship writer Lily Cathcart who has been running with the theme of hearts in her writing. Join us for heartfelt musings, ramblings and insights!
Tonight on the Weekly Review Advent is underway, the days are getting shorter and we are looking for light and hope in the darkness! We are delighted to be joined by this week’s Daily Worship writer Jane Denniston, Minister of Campsie Parish Church, and to welcome Daniel Ferguson from Westhill. Daniel is a singer-songwriter, worship leader and youth pastor in Westhill Community Church. His latest single “Sympathy” draws attention to the struggles many young men face with issues of mental health.
Daniel writes “The work I’ve been doing with mental health is through ‘THERE IS HOPE’ - facebook.com/thereishopeuk”
“The little message we have on the page is this: THERE IS HOPE. This is our message. We want to provide a community for people struggling, raise awareness of mental health and say: THERE IS HOPE!”
In this week’s episode of the Weekly Review Albert, James and Laura are joined by Norah Summers, this week’s Daily Worship writer. They discuss following in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd. As apprentice shepherds we do what we can to seek the lost, bring back the strayed, bind up the injured and strengthen the weak.
Tonight on the Weekly Review the team discuss how to keep the faith alive… despite everything! It’s been a strange year. Perhaps a time of losing faith in some things and gaining faith in others. How do we nurture our faith when we are up against it?
Joining the team to explore this is Pete Phillips of the Centre for Digital Theology at Durham University who has been writing our Daily Worship this week.
Albert and Laura are joined by this week’s Daily Worship writer Scott Shacklton and Jack Steel from the SF team to chat about remembrance and how to be church and show God’s love in today’s modern/socially distant world.
This week on the Weekly Review the team are thinking about saints - remembering all those souls who have got us this far and anticipating all those to come who will lead us on from here! In strange and turbulent times we can draw strength from the ongoing Communion of Saints that inspire, encourage and challenge us. Joining us for the discussion is friend of Sanctuary First George Sneddon a student minister who will be collaborating with Laura on an upcoming Sunday Live service. Find out more about our November theme All The Saints.
Tonight on the Weekly Review - How do we leave a legacy that makes a good future possible for those who come after us? We discuss Moses, fatherhood, giving thanks for the past, rejoicing in the present (regardless of circumstances), and how we can inspire others to move forward.
This week we are delighted to welcome back the man himself Dr Iain Jamieson - fresh and ready for all the banter along with special guest Scott Shackleton who lends his insight on leadership from the perspective of Navy Chaplaincy.
In this edition of the Weekly Review the team are asking - What are the big issues facing our world today that are demanding leadership? And what kind of leadership is needed? In politics, industry, church, culture, the arts… and on the street where you live?
Do the leadership styles promoted by world leaders influence other sectors? How does our local legacy of Presbyterianism in Scotland shape how we model leadership in our churches? What kind of leadership example did Jesus set?
Joining the team to discuss this is our Daily Worship writer Peter Neilson. Peter is a longstanding friend of Sanctuary First and a leader with over 45 years of experience of ministry in parish and national roles who has worked to support other ministers. In his week Peter has been discussing the importance of presence, justice, sovereignty, joy, encouragement and discernment for leaders.
Imagination is a powerful thing - it can allow us to unlock our potential and to innovate, but it can also be a form of escapism. Rather than living life in all its fullness we can use our imaginations to tune out and switch off. How do we help one another to imagine new ways of being here and thriving rather than new ways of getting away from it all? What role do we have as communities of faith in helping people engage their imaginations in a way that doesn’t allow them to turn their backs on the hardships and injustices of the world? Join us for another fun, wideranging informal installment of the Weekly Review.
How do poetry and prayer use language to lead us deeper in to reality? Joining the team to discuss this and much more is our Daily Worship writer this week is Rev Dr Val Hindmarsh, Associate Minister, Norbury Parish Church who has a background in education and literacy.
How do you worship God? A classic example of a sentence with multiple meanings depending on where you place the stress: How do you worship God? or How do you worship God? The team will explore the ‘how’ and the ‘you’ of worship. What does worship mean to each of us? We often use the term as a shorthand for church services in general or singing hymns in particular — but there are many ways of praising God.
How do you worship? What helps you to connect and tune in? Quiet and calm or noise and vividness? Continuity or spontaneity? Music? Nature? Art? Reading? Journalling? And how does worship transform us an individuals and as communities? Our worship reminds us we are citizens of heaven - how does that inform how we live as citizens on earth?
The team are joined by our Daily Worship writer this week Gordon Kennedy, Parish Minister of Craiglockhart Parish Church, Edinburgh. Gordon also contributed to our recent Sunday Live service ‘Set Free To Worship’ which is available to watch as a replay.
For this edition of the Weekly Review the team are joined by our Daily Worship writer for the week Dan Harper, Parish Minister of Bridge of Allan Parish Church. Dan has had a returning motif in this series of tuning in to hope, justice and love. As a group we will be wondering if there is a unique role that Christian churches and communities can play in a time of recession and societal restructuring. We will be chatting about leadership, community and worship as we anticipate our new theme for October ‘Living Freedom Through Recession’.
For this edition of the Weekly Review Albert, Laura, James and Iain are joined by special guest Sandy Smith: an expert on the celebrated author and thinker C.S. Lewis. They discuss Lewis’s enduring appeal and his particular relevance to the times we are living in. Sandy also tells us about the new Sanctuary First book group he is hosting that reads through Lewis’s Surprised by Joy.
In this edition of the Weekly Review Albert, Laura, James and Iain are joined by Laura Vermeulen. Laura is a volunteer worker in a Christian community in Greece working with refugees. We discuss identity, calling and trembling!
What makes us the church? What does church mean in the Square Mile, the Green Mile, the Difficult Miles and when you’re going the Extra Mile? Albert, Laura, Iain and James are joined by this week’s Daily Worship writer Campbell Dye to discuss what it means to be the church in a time of pandemic.
Albert and James are joined by the missiologist Les Henson and the musician and SF contributor Jim Steel.
Tonight the Weekly Review dream team of Laura, Albert, Iain and James consider the importance of unity as we consider how we are going to have to come together as a wider society to face the tasks ahead. Unity is vital in our families, in our churches, between band members and co-hosts…
This week our guest is Erick du Toit and the theme is music and how it has shaped our culture starting with the influence of Elvis.
‘Setting Out’ This week the gang are chatting about what it means to pause and draw breath before heading out on the ‘next stage’ in your life. Thinking of those facing new challenges in education, work, family and wider life with special guest trainee minister George Sneddon!
NEW PODCAST - Check out our new podcast and the first of this podcast series! In this series we will chat to some of the talented artists involved with the Secret Chord Sessions project, about there inspirations and music This episode we are talking to Ian Paget about his song ‘Simon Says’ which is currently the featured song on the chord sessions. The song was recorded in isolation in lockdown from the safety of Ian’s own home. You can also listen to this podcast on Apple Music and on Spotify HERE
Listen to ‘Simon Says’ HERE
Albert and Laura are joined by James Cathcart and Iain Jamieson. Watch the video version of the show HERE.
In ‘Christian Creatives’, a new fortnightly podcast series, Laura Digan discusses sources of inspiration, practicalities and managing confidence with creatives from different disciplines. In this second episode Laura interviews doctor and musician, Iain Jamieson.
Each week, to encourage you to grow your creative skills and confidence, the featured artist will set a creative activity for you to take part in. Check out the blog post to see Iain’s activity. Have fun with it!
In ‘Christian Creatives’, a new fortnightly podcast series, Laura Digan discusses sources of inspiration, practicalities and managing confidence with creatives from different disciplines. In this second episode Laura interviews artist Morven Robertson.
Each week, to encourage you to grow your creative skills and confidence, the featured artist will set a creative activity for you to take part in. Check out the blog post to see Morven’s activity. Have fun with it!
Join us for the Sanctuary First Weekly Review - a relaxed, informal conversation with the Sanctuary First team and special guests reviewing the past week. Expect laughter, music and surreal tangents… This week Albert, Laura and Iain are joined by Matt Hickman and Jonathan Fleming.
Join us for the Sanctuary First Weekly Review - a relaxed, informal conversation with the Sanctuary First team and special guests reviewing the past week. Expect laughter, music and surreal tangents… This week Albert, Laura and Iain are joined by Fiona Reynolds and Scott Shackleton.
In ‘Christian Creatives’, a new fortnightly podcast series, Laura Digan discusses sources of inspiration, practicalities and managing confidence with creatives from different disciplines. In this second episode Laura interviews song writer and musician Jim Steel.
Each week, to encourage you to grow your creative skills and confidence, the featured artist will set a creative activity for you to take part in. Check out the blog post to see Jim’s activity. Have fun with it!
In ‘Christian Creatives’, a new fortnightly podcast series, Laura Digan discusses sources of inspiration, practicalities and managing confidence with creatives from different disciplines. In this first episode Laura interviews the poet James Cathcart. James is familiar member of the Sanctuary First team but in this episode you get to hear him with his ‘poetry hat’ on encouraging us to give it a go, blur the boundaries, loosen up, and to avoid the blank page at all costs.
Each week, to encourage you to grow your creative skills and confidence, the featured artist will set a creative activity for you to take part in. Check out the blog post to see James’s activity. Have fun with it!
Albert and Linda talk about the plans for the upcoming children’s app, its uses, the importance of encouraging prayer amongst young children and the challenges of creating the app itself.
This is a 36 minute podcast where the Sanctuary First Production Team, Albert Bogle, Laura Digan and Jack Steel reflect on the content they have just produced for the site.
The Apostle John the last of the disciples of Jesus recalls what he remembers about Jesus and Mary and Joseph. This is a charming short story written by Iain Jamieson and read by Alec Shuttleworth.
Albert looks through the Christmas archive and highlights Alec Shuttleworth’s heart warming story of Phillippi the painter
Albert talks with Jack Steel about the preparations he has been making to shoot the Sanctuary First Christmas Movie. It is due to be released on the 16 December.
This is a short movie placed ten years from now in a more hostile environment. Following another serious financial world recession where food is scarce a young woman encounters obstacles that make her afraid to believe in goodness.
Albert Bogle speaks to Iain Jamieson about the Christmas Theme ‘ When Grace Comes to Town’. Iain asks where has grace gone in our public debate? He suggests that Grace needs to be encountered before we can live it out. This is a free ranging conversation that engages with the meaning of grace.
Albert speaks to his long time friend Fergus Buchanan on how individual people leave their mark on our lives. Fergus chats about Miss McNeill.
Albert speaks with Linda Pollock about an “Inheritance of Love” in a divided city, and Laura Digan shares what happens when you are given the inheritance of music from a much admired teacher.
Listen to our latest podcast. James chats to Neil Urquhart of Fullarton ConneXions, one of our Daily Worship writers for our Game On theme, who talks about his love of sport, helping athletes come to terms with injury, the history of rulemaking, the Latin root of ‘Competition’, and the value of sport for developing character and building community - “God has used sport to teach me so many lessons.”
Laura Digan minister in training joins Sanctuary First team over the Summer and chats with Albert Bogle about the growing interest in being part of a worshipping ‘online” community like Sanctuary First.
This is an up date about Maqsood and his family. I caught up with Linda Pollock his minister just before his story was told again at the General Assembly. We only need a few more thousand votes.
This an update on the
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/somer-and-areeb-should-stay-in-the-uk
Listen to James Cathcart from the SF team as he goes for a walk and thinks about Psalm 148, birdsong and “this wild worship that is going on all around us that we can join in from time to time…”
Beholding The Man… as a Lent Discipline. James Cathcart from the SF team talks about our Lent Disciplines and the wonder of incarnation. He invites us to take the time to picture what Jesus looks like… “A human like you and me and also unutterably unlike you and me. An entire human who is also entirely divine. Our minds struggle to find it sensible, but it makes sense. It makes sense that a loving God reaches out to us — to walk our road, to carry our burdens, to feel our pain but also our joy, our enthusiasm, our adventurous spirit.”
James Cathcart reflects on our March theme ‘In The Neighbourhood’ and this idea of contemplating our relationship with God in the context of the communities we live in. He shares a poem he has written about Glasgow, where he now lives, entitled ‘Glasgow-On Yourself…’ “Where the despicable and the inexplicable, / and the breathtakingly beautiful / jostle into view.”
James Cathcart catches up with Rev Dan Harper of Bridge of Allan Parish Church. They pick up on our February theme ‘I Have Called You Friends’, chat about Jesus, friendship and start on an extended metaphor about rugby and discipleship - and it’s fair to say they run with the ball… Ever wondered what Christians can learn from rugby players? Or what position the Sons of Thunder would play in a starting 15? Listen now to find out.
In this episode James speaks to three more participants from our recent Re-Imagining Church conference, Russell McLarty, Fiona Campbell and Martin Johnstone. They discuss the importance of stories, art, and fragility… Listen to part 1 ‘Looking out in love’ to hear James talking to Darren Jalland and Esther Vaughan.
In this episode James speaks to two participants from our recent Re-Imagining Church conference, Darren Jalland, and Esther Vaughan. They discuss the importance of having an open outlook, loving and caring for one another, and tea breaks!
James Cathcart from the team shares a poem entitled: ‘Cardboard Stars’. It’s about the original nativity story and the retellings that have come after that invite us to join the mystery.
This is the second in a series of podcasts where Albert chats to ministers as they move around their parishes.
In this podcast Albert reflects with Elspeth MCKay the minister of Cumbernauld Old about the opportunities and challenges her Kirk Session face as they begin to re-imagine the future of their ministry in a changing culture.
Albert in conversation with Rev Gordon Reid former minister of Gillespie Memorial in Dunfermline. Albert and Gordon discuss the place of small groups in bringing renewal to the church
Enjoy live music, reflection, poetry, interview, discussion? Join our recording of our recent live ‘radio show’ at the Royal Hotel, Bridge of Allan. Featuring James Cathcart, Amanda MacQuarrie, Albert Bogle, Dan Harper and guest musicians Those Scottish Campers.The Bible is a book but it is also much older, stranger and wilder than the category ‘book’. It is more of a library than a book - a collection written over thousands of years across a number of different cultures, spanning multiple genres… Join us in the library.
From 1949 to 1953, thousands of young people participated in the construction of the first buildings of Crêt-Bérard under the leadership of Pastor Albert Girardeau. He made an appeal to the Waldensian youth to help him build a place of retreat in order to help Christians grow in their faith. Today Crêt-Bérard continues to do this but is also open to many other groups and individuals to use their facilities. I spent a wonderful afternoon finding out about the centre with Neil Wallace who attends the Scots Kirk in Lausanne. This podcasts reflects a little of that afternoon.
From 1949 to 1953, thousands of young people participated in the construction of the first buildings of Crêt-Bérard under the leadership of Pastor Albert Girardeau. He made an appeal to the Waldensian youth to help him build a place of retreat in order to help Christians grow in their faith. Today Crêt-Bérard continues to do this but is also open to many other groups and individuals to use their facilities. I spent a wonderful afternoon finding out about the centre with Neil Wallace who attends the Scots Kirk in Lausanne. This podcasts reflects a little of that afternoon.
In this episode James from the team spoke to Lorna and Barry a few days before our minister Albert married them at a recent ceremony. Find out how they met, get some advice for planning your own wedding, hear of the importance of ‘maverick mums’, and discover why weddings should be #Epic…
Albert takes a drive with Rev Linda Pollock around her Possilpark Parish discussing life, death and community. The podcast features a recording of the Bogle Band performing ‘Have You Room For Love?’ from our recent Songs of Sanctuary Gig in Edinburgh.
James from the SF team goes for a run with Rev Dave Slater of Gartcosh and Glenboig parish churches - they chat pilgrimage, fitness apps, prayer, C25k, ParkRun, ducks and great crested newts! Their conversation ties in to the ‘Ready Pilgrim?’ theme.
In this episode James Cathcart from the team leads a ‘Tin Can Meditation’. So before you listen we invite you to go get a tin. Dig around in the back of the cupboard, or nip down to the shops, so that you can use the tin for the mindfulness reflection and can then donate it. In the reflection we will think about where the tins are from and where they are going. You will then be invited to drop your tin off at a local foodbank to help those in need in your community.
In this podcast Albert talks to Iain Campbell the resident artist in St George’s Tron Church of Scotland, about his work and together they reflect upon the theme ‘Heaven Touching Earth’.
James found himself in a furniture shop the other day and found himself thinking about others who find themselves furniture shopping… You see all stages and phases of life in a furniture shop. Listen for an immersive soundscape prayer to find out what he found… Thanks to Lily Cathcart for production support for this episode. For more on the cycles of life see Norah Summers’ Encourage Me article Letting go in love.
Catch up with Albert and James as they talk Holy Endings, Heaven Touching Earth, cold pews and warm soup!
James speaks to artists Gardner and Gardner of a pioneer ministry in Glasgow about drawing the interactive art piece to a close. They discuss how the idea was developed, how it grew, how it surprised them, and the importance of ending well.
Albert joined over 8,000 others overnight, sleeping outdoors in Princes Street Gardens for ‘Sleep in the Park’ to highlight the issues of homelessness in Scotland
Albert and Alec discuss Sanctuary First’s new radio adverts, as part of the next phase in connecting with wider groups of people.
What has Jesus got to do with blue M&Ms? James looks back at our recent service and considers how 3 everyday objects we take for granted: toast, keys and your mobile phone can help us think about God and community.
Albert and James discuss our current theme: ‘Writing in the Dust’ and look ahead to future themes.
Sermon about Esau and Jacob and the folly of favouritism, the short sightedness of Esau, the trickery of Jacob, and the story of God in spite of all these things doing what he will because God’s love is unconditional. God loves us, God blesses us in spite of all, beyond all and through all.
Preached by Rev. Colin C. Renwick minister at Dunblane Cathedral.
For many people Summer is the time for romance. So perhaps a romantic story in the right zone. This story may feel a bit off to those of who in the West but in many culture arranged marriages have worked for centuries.
Abraham and Sarah are reaching the end of their lives and Abraham calls his faithful servant and instructs him to go back to the land of his ancestors in search of a wife for his son Isaac. The story unfolds in such a way to show that God works in our hearts and minds to lead us to the right people at the right time in order to fulfil his purposes. Eliezer suceeds in finding Isaac a bride but the family difficulties continue.
Genesis is all about personal and family relationships. Genesis 22.1-14 is an interesting passage to reflect on. You could say it’s about a father and son relationship that has the potential to go wrong. At a superficial level it appears God is testing Abraham to see if his loyalty to his long awaited son Isaac outstrips his love and devotion to him. In some ways it’s a difficult story because at first glance Abraham is contemplating child sacrifice.
Traditionally this story has been seen by Christian commentators as a prefiguring of the death of Christ. God the father makes a way of atonement for sinful humanity. Jesus is the lamb of God, God’s solution to redeem a rebellious world.
Albert and James talk about their plans for Sanctuary First over the next couple of months.
Albert chats with Kay Brown who has been writing on the complex characters of Samson and David. Kay is an OLM at Falkirk Trinity Church.
Albert chats to Donald Scott about complex characters, especially those who are in prison. Donald is the chaplain at HMYOI Polmont.
Albert and Alec talk about the prayers Alec has written this week. The theme is the campfire. After a long day walking or trekking there’s nothing better than sitting round a campfire. For thousands of years human beings have found contentment by gathering around a fire and spending time together, in song, story or comfortable silence. Each daily worship is about a moment of profound peace or contentment, when the pieces have slotted together, it could be a few minutes, a summer, a split-second when something clicked into place…
Albert speaks with Jane Denniston, minister at Campsie Parish Church. Jane has been our prayer writer this week and has been writing about the belayer relationships.
Out of all our relationships the one we sometimes value the most is the belayer relationship.
Belaying is a technique climbers use. One person holds tension on the rope while the climber isn’t moving and then releases some slack when they need it to move. If the climber slips the person belaying can hold the rope tense again and stop the climber from falling far. On the journey through life you have to continually appreciate your friends and family who ‘belay’ for you. Cutting you slack and holding you back when you need it.
This week we are thinking about Foothills, those early adventures where play and imagination are as important as determination and endurance. As a child a trip up the hill in the local park can become a trek of survival against the odds to crest the highest peak… all before getting back in time for tea! Turning molehills into mountains is part of the fun of childhood.
In this podcast Albert talks about the challenges of staying the course as a Christian.
The podcast is interspersed with the well known hymn, ‘He who would valiant be” performed by Albert, Iain and Colin Jamieson.
This is a delightful podcast written by Iain Jamieson and narrated by Alec Shuttleworth . It seems to tell the story of the birth of Jesus from the perspective of the Apostle John. John looks back over the years and recounts what he remembers of Mary and Joseph and in a shares how he misses the physical presence of Jesus. This is a must to listen to to capture a different perspective on Christmas.
Albert talks to Len Bennett about his trip to Israel to visit the Tabeetha School. Len also shares a song that takes him back down memory lane.
There was a Soldier is a show that is on at the Fringe. Liz and Mary talk about what inspired them to create this show.
Albert talks with Tim O’Connor from the band Ashton Lane. Tim is working as a volunteer to help relieve some of the stress that faces the 4000 refugees held in camps at Calais.
Albert speaks with Willie McCulloch, minister at St Andrew’s Church in Rome, about some of the things that have challenged and inspired him during his time of ministry in Rome.
Albert chats with Martin Robb who is a working hill farmer in Perthshire. They talk about the issues facing farmers and how the church can support farmers.
Albert speaks to Norman Smith from the Church of Scotland’s Mission and Discipleship Council