Each week we will run through the weeks readings and questions as we explore together what happens ‘After The Cross’.

Explore this months Connect Material to follow along: After The Cross

Add your questions and thoughts from this weeks readings down below and we will read them out next week!

Restless Sanctuary Episode 9: Flinching and shrugging from the cross?

In this episode James and Albert are joined by preacher, piper, poet and publisher Jock Stein to talk about what it means to flinch or shrug from the cross. For many of us our reactions to the cross will be a mix of sorrow, scepticism, awe and hope. Indeed if the cross never makes us flinch — is it the cross we’re looking at? Or just an empty symbol? And if we have never shrugged, scratched our heads, and been frustrated by the cross — is it the cross we’re looking at or just a logo? How can flinching and shrugging be part of going deeper into what the cross means in our lives?

Listen every fortnight to our new podcast about faith, restlessness and the search for meaning! James Cathcart and Albert Bogle from Sanctuary First share what it’s like to be restless Christians, wrestling with the Bible and spirituality as they try and live it out today.

Right now our world is very restless — politically, economically, culturally, technologically and environmentally. We are living through an age of disruption and upheaval. Many of us are longing for a sense of sanctuary, for belonging, and direction to help us face new and unprecedented challenges.

At the root of Christianity James and Albert uncover a restlessness in God’s heart that mirrors our own. A deep longing and restless love that searches out for each one of us. We glimpse God in the faces of one another in need and in God we glimpse our own human yearning for wholeness and love.

James and Albert reckon Jesus offers sanctuary and respite for our restless souls, but that it is often a restless sanctuary, a temporary makeshift shelter in a world that we are called in turn to go out and love. The ship in their logo, designed by Jack Steel, is itself a restless sanctuary on the open water — not a shelter from the storm but a shelter through the storm.

Join them every fortnight for fascinating discussions about being restless Christians in a restless world!

The series is a collaboration between James Cathcart and Albert Bogle and features the track ‘Symphony of Lies’ by The Bogle Band.

References:

Jock Stein’s book Temple and Tartan: Psalms, Poetry and Scotland from Handsel Press.

Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and most other podcasting platforms!

“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 during 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

Restless Sanctuary Episode 8: Longing for renewal?

In this episode James and Albert talk about what it means to long for renewal — for the breath of new life to sweep through old bones! They discuss Ezekiel, Lazarus, restoration, storytelling and jellyfish!

Listen every fortnight to our new podcast about faith, restlessness and the search for meaning! James Cathcart and Albert Bogle from Sanctuary First share what it’s like to be restless Christians, wrestling with the Bible and spirituality as they try and live it out today.

Right now our world is very restless — politically, economically, culturally, technologically and environmentally. We are living through an age of disruption and upheaval. Many of us are longing for a sense of sanctuary, for belonging, and direction to help us face new and unprecedented challenges.

At the root of Christianity James and Albert uncover a restlessness in God’s heart that mirrors our own. A deep longing and restless love that searches out for each one of us. We glimpse God in the faces of one another in need and in God we glimpse our own human yearning for wholeness and love.

James and Albert reckon Jesus offers sanctuary and respite for our restless souls, but that it is often a restless sanctuary, a temporary makeshift shelter in a world that we are called in turn to go out and love. The ship in their logo, designed by Jack Steel, is itself a restless sanctuary on the open water — not a shelter from the storm but a shelter through the storm.

Join them every fortnight for fascinating discussions about being restless Christians in a restless world!

The series is a collaboration between James Cathcart and Albert Bogle and features the track ‘Symphony of Lies’ by The Bogle Band.

References:

Listen to our episode about following Jesus in a world on fire here.

Listen to our episode about what Jesus has to say about burnout here.

The quote James refers to about shipbuilding is from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the author of The Little Prince “If you want to build a ship,” he counsels, “don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” And was found in James K. A. Smith’s book You Are What You Love.

Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and most other podcasting platforms!

Find more episodes on Sanctuary First

This week on the Emerging Emmaus Podcast we spoke with leadership coach and speaker Shona Stirling for an honest conversation about leadership, faith, and what it means to live well. Shona works with leaders across business and church contexts who are wrestling with deeper questions about purpose, emotional health, and how to stay rooted in Christ in demanding roles.

Together they explore the pressures leaders face, why paying attention to our emotions and inner life matters, and how churches can cultivate discipleship cultures that are life-giving and help people grow in Christ.

If you’ve ever wondered how to lead well without losing yourself—or your faith—this conversation offers thoughtful wisdom and encouragement for the journey.

Books mentioned:

Emotionally Healthy leadership by Pete Scazzero

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero

Emotionally Healthy Church by Pete Scazzero

Managing Leadership Anxiety: Yours and Theirs. By Steve Cuss

Be encouraged & inspired!

Find all past episodes of the podcast on the Sanctuary First website, via our App and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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!

Restless Sanctuary Episode 7: What does Jesus say about burnout?

In this episode James and Albert explore Jesus’s response to burnout, stress, anxiety and doomscrolling! They talk about rest, mental health, resilience, work/life balance, being overwhelmed by the news cycle, the Samaritan woman at the well, and the living water that changes our life — that tells us we’re cherished.

Listen every fortnight to our new podcast about faith, restlessness and the search for meaning! James Cathcart and Albert Bogle from Sanctuary First share what it’s like to be restless Christians, wrestling with the Bible and spirituality as they try and live it out today.

Right now our world is very restless — politically, economically, culturally, technologically and environmentally. We are living through an age of disruption and upheaval. Many of us are longing for a sense of sanctuary, for belonging, and direction to help us face new and unprecedented challenges.

At the root of Christianity James and Albert uncover a restlessness in God’s heart that mirrors our own. A deep longing and restless love that searches out for each one of us. We glimpse God in the faces of one another in need and in God we glimpse our own human yearning for wholeness and love.

James and Albert reckon Jesus offers sanctuary and respite for our restless souls, but that it is often a restless sanctuary, a temporary makeshift shelter in a world that we are called in turn to go out and love. The ship in their logo, designed by Jack Steel, is itself a restless sanctuary on the open water — not a shelter from the storm but a shelter through the storm.

Join them every fortnight for fascinating discussions about being restless Christians in a restless world!

The series is a collaboration between James Cathcart and Albert Bogle and features the track ‘Symphony of Lies’ by The Bogle Band.

References:

The NHS Better Health, Every Mind Matters article about Work-related stress.

The Barbara Brown Taylor article Identity confirmation: John 4:5-42 in the Christian Century.

Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and most other podcasting platforms!

This week we have a special bonus episode recorded live in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania where Albert and his friend friend Ken MacKenzie discuss a recent trip with the Vine Trust. As this was a recording of a quick impromptu conversation the sound quality is a little different to normal with more background noise but we really hope you enjoy this conversation about the life-changing work of Vine Trust.

Listen to our new podcast about faith, restlessness and the search for meaning! James Cathcart and Albert Bogle from Sanctuary First share what it’s like to be restless Christians, wrestling with the Bible and spirituality as they try and live it out today.

Right now our world is very restless — politically, economically, culturally, technologically and environmentally. We are living through an age of disruption and upheaval. Many of us are longing for a sense of sanctuary, for belonging, and direction to help us face new and unprecedented challenges.

At the root of Christianity James and Albert uncover a restlessness in God’s heart that mirrors our own. A deep longing and restless love that searches out for each one of us. We glimpse God in the faces of one another in need and in God we glimpse our own human yearning for wholeness and love.

James and Albert reckon Jesus offers sanctuary and respite for our restless souls, but that it is often a restless sanctuary, a temporary makeshift shelter in a world that we are called in turn to go out and love. The ship in their logo, designed by Jack Steel, is itself a restless sanctuary on the open water — not a shelter from the storm but a shelter through the storm.

Join them every fortnight for fascinating discussions about being restless Christians in a restless world!

The series is a collaboration between James Cathcart and Albert Bogle and features the track ‘Symphony of Lies’ by The Bogle Band.

Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and most other podcasting platforms!

Listen to our new podcast about faith, restlessness and the search for meaning! In each episode James Cathcart and Albert Bogle from Sanctuary First share what it’s like to be restless Christians, wrestling with the Bible and spirituality as they try and live it out today.

This week they ask: How is the world on fire? What do we actually mean when we talk about ‘following Jesus’? And how does following Jesus through the flames change the world? In this episode they discuss our new theme for Lent ‘Come Follow Me.’

Right now our world is very restless — politically, economically, culturally, technologically and environmentally. We are living through an age of disruption and upheaval. Many of us are longing for a sense of sanctuary, for belonging, and direction to help us face new and unprecedented challenges.

At the root of Christianity James and Albert uncover a restlessness in God’s heart that mirrors our own. A deep longing and restless love that searches out for each one of us. We glimpse God in the faces of one another in need and in God we glimpse our own human yearning for wholeness and love.

James and Albert reckon Jesus offers sanctuary and respite for our restless souls, but that it is often a restless sanctuary, a temporary makeshift shelter in a world that we are called in turn to go out and love. The ship in their logo, designed by Jack Steel, is itself a restless sanctuary on the open water — not a shelter from the storm but a shelter through the storm.

Join them every fortnight for fascinating discussions about being restless Christians in a restless world!

The series is a collaboration between James Cathcart and Albert Bogle and features the track ‘Symphony of Lies’ by The Bogle Band.

The book James mentions are ‘You are what you Love’ by James K. A. Smith and ‘Improvisation, The Drama of Christian Ethics’ by Samuel Wells.

Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and most other podcasting platforms!

Find more episodes on Sanctuary First

This week on the Emerging Emmaus Podcast we spoke to William Gibson a young Christian Ministry Student, PhD Student in Theology & multi-media mogul. William shares his meandering journey of Faith, views on where The Scottish Church is at and directions She can hopefully take in following Christ to where people are and are at. A Feast of stimulating, challenging & inspiring food for thought & discussion!

Be encouraged & inspired!

Find all past episodes of the podcast on the Sanctuary First website, via our App and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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!

To read rather than listen to this story you can go to our Sanctuary First blog post.

We are delighted to feature: ‘Stories Round the Table; a series of five specially commissioned short stories by Lily Cathcart which explore how subtle moments around shared tables can change our lives forever. Each story will be published in text and audio on the Sanctuary First Blog.

Lily will take us to a disheveled car, a crowded kitchen table, a busy train compartment, a bustling cafe, a cosy dining room, and a long conference table as we travel with her through each week of Advent (and even a bonus story for Hogmanay!)

Music is ‘Auld Lang Syne’ by Bamtone and ‘Chasing the Light’ by Northern Heart, both licensed by Sanctus Media from www.Artist.io.

To read rather than listen to this story you can go to our Sanctuary First blog post.

We are delighted to feature: ‘Stories Round the Table; a series of five specially commissioned short stories by Lily Cathcart which explore how subtle moments around shared tables can change our lives forever. Each story will be published in text and audio on the Sanctuary First Blog.

Lily will take us to a disheveled car, a crowded kitchen table, a busy train compartment, a bustling cafe, a cosy dining room, and a long conference table as we travel with her through each week of Advent (and even a bonus story for Hogmanay!)

Music is ‘Deck the Halls’ by Bamtone and ‘Chasing the Light’ by Northern Heart, both licensed by Sanctus Media from www.Artist.io.

Find more episodes on Sanctuary First

This week on the Emerging Emmaus Podcast we spoke to Peter Wood. Peter can certainly ‘see the wood for the trees’ when it comes to mission. From The Congo, to Cambridge to Mission Officer of Lothian & Borders Presbytery, with warmth, passion & insight Pete shares about his role & how they’re listening prayerfully & carefully to congregations, parishes & people to find ways to grow can-do cultures of Christ’s mission.

Short courses for the Church Community

Be encouraged & inspired!

Find all past episodes of the podcast on the Sanctuary First website, via our App and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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!

#podcast #onlinechurch #sanctuaryfirst #emergingemmauspodcast

To read rather than listen to this story you can go to our Sanctuary First blog post.

We are delighted to feature: ‘Stories Round the Table; a series of five specially commissioned short stories by Lily Cathcart which explore how subtle moments around shared tables can change our lives forever. Each story will be published in text and audio on the Sanctuary First Blog.

Lily will take us to a disheveled car, a crowded kitchen table, a busy train compartment, a bustling cafe, a cosy dining room, and a long conference table as we travel with her through each week of Advent (and even a bonus story for Hogmanay!)

Music is ‘Silent Night’ by Jonas Kolberg and ‘Chasing the Light’ by Northern Heart, both licensed by Sanctus Media from www.Artist.io.

To read rather than listen to this story you can go to our Sanctuary First blog post.

We are delighted to feature: ‘Stories Round the Table; a series of five specially commissioned short stories by Lily Cathcart which explore how subtle moments around shared tables can change our lives forever. Each story will be published in text and audio on the Sanctuary First Blog.

Lily will take us to a disheveled car, a crowded kitchen table, a busy train compartment, a bustling cafe, a cosy dining room, and a long conference table as we travel with her through each week of Advent (and even a bonus story for Hogmanay!)

The music is ‘Cold’ by Borrtex and ‘Chasing the Light’ by Northern Heart, both licensed by Sanctus Media from www.Artist.io.

Listen to our new podcast about faith, restlessness and the search for meaning! In each episode James Cathcart and Albert Bogle from Sanctuary First share what it’s like to be restless Christians, wrestling with the Bible and spirituality as they try and live it out today.

This week they ask: So what is Communion? Why do we do it? And how can it shape how we see the world? On the way they discuss cheering from the terraces, Tunnocks Teacakes, and banana molecules!

Right now our world is very restless — politically, economically, culturally, technologically and environmentally. We are living through an age of disruption and upheaval. Many of us are longing for a sense of sanctuary, for belonging, and direction to help us face new and unprecedented challenges.

At the root of Christianity James and Albert uncover a restlessness in God’s heart that mirrors our own. A deep longing and restless love that searches out for each one of us. We glimpse God in the faces of one another in need and in God we glimpse our own human yearning for wholeness and love.

James and Albert reckon Jesus offers sanctuary and respite for our restless souls, but that it is often a restless sanctuary, a temporary makeshift shelter in a world that we are called in turn to go out and love. The ship in their logo, designed by Jack Steel, is itself a restless sanctuary on the open water — not a shelter from the storm but a shelter through the storm.

Join them every fortnight for fascinating discussions about being restless Christians in a restless world!

The series is a collaboration between James Cathcart and Albert Bogle and features the track ‘Symphony of Lies’ by The Bogle Band.

In this episode you will also hear a clip of Maggie Lane introducing the Advent Labyrinth and the Bogle Band performing ‘Room at the table.’

The book James quotes from is ‘Being Consumed, Economics and Christian Desire’ by William T. Cavanaugh. Read Albert writing about online communion and ‘the internet as a parable’ on this post from 2020 on our blog.

Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and most other podcasting platforms!

To read rather than listen to this story you can go to our Sanctuary First blog post.

We are delighted to feature: ‘Stories Round the Table; a series of five specially commissioned short stories by Lily Cathcart which explore how subtle moments around shared tables can change our lives forever. Each story will be published in text and audio on the Sanctuary First Blog.

Lily will take us to a disheveled car, a crowded kitchen table, a busy train compartment, a bustling cafe, a cosy dining room, and a long conference table as we travel with her through each week of Advent (and even a bonus story for Hogmanay!)

The music is ‘Chasing the Light’ by Northern Heart licensed by Sanctus Media from www.Artist.io

Find more episodes on Sanctuary First

This week on the Emerging Emmaus Podcast we spoke to Matthew MacNeil. Matthew describes the dependency upon God which allows Jesus’ Spirit to transform.

Matthew, Youth & Schools Manager in Stornaway’s Shed Project, wants every young person he comes into contact with to know how special they are. Regularly in the secondary school he, and his team, provide space for young people to hang, chat, and find life in its fulness. Serving around Scotland too, Matthew is able to recognise a significant shift in the openness of people to the life-transforming power of Jesus.

Be encouraged & inspired!

Find all past episodes of the podcast on the Sanctuary First website, via our App and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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!

#podcast #onlinechurch #sanctuaryfirst #emergingemmauspodcast

Listen to our new podcast about faith, restlessness and the search for meaning! In each episode James Cathcart and Albert Bogle from Sanctuary First share what it’s like to be restless Christians, wrestling with the Bible and spirituality as they try and live it out today.

This week they preview our theme for Advent ‘Room at the Table’ discussing the resources we have been working on and the life-changing, world-changing implications of God’s invitation to the table. God doesn’t ignore our restlessness - God’s responds to it and offers us an adventure on the wide open sea.

Right now our world is very restless — politically, economically, culturally, technologically and environmentally. We are living through an age of disruption and upheaval. Many of us are longing for a sense of sanctuary, for belonging, and direction to help us face new and unprecedented challenges.

At the root of Christianity James and Albert uncover a restlessness in God’s heart that mirrors our own. A deep longing and restless love that searches out for each one of us. We glimpse God in the faces of one another in need and in God we glimpse our own human yearning for wholeness and love.

James and Albert reckon Jesus offers sanctuary and respite for our restless souls, but that it is often a restless sanctuary, a temporary makeshift shelter in a world that we are called in turn to go out and love. The ship in their logo, designed by Jack Steel, is itself a restless sanctuary on the open water — not a shelter from the storm but a shelter through the storm.

Join them every fortnight for fascinating discussions about being restless Christians in a restless world!

The series is a collaboration between James Cathcart and Albert Bogle and features the track ‘Symphony of Lies’ by The Bogle Band.

In this episode you will also hear a clip of Derek Munn talking about Connect Groups, Maggie Lane introducing the Advent Labyrinth and the Bogle Band performing ‘Room at the table.’

Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and most other podcasting platforms!

Listen to our new podcast about faith, restlessness and the search for meaning! In each episode James Cathcart and Albert Bogle from Sanctuary First share what it’s like to be restless Christians, wrestling with the Bible and spirituality as they try and live it out today.

This week they explore the call to adventure, the pressure we put on ourselves, the restlessness of God, Rembrandt, scallywags, sharks, and even a sheep called Alan!

Right now our world is very restless — politically, economically, culturally, technologically and environmentally. We are living through an age of disruption and upheaval. Many of us are longing for a sense of sanctuary, for belonging, and direction to help us face new and unprecedented challenges.

At the root of Christianity James and Albert uncover a restlessness in God’s heart that mirrors our own. A deep longing and restless love that searches out for each one of us. We glimpse God in the faces of one another in need and in God we glimpse our own human yearning for wholeness and love.

James and Albert reckon Jesus offers sanctuary and respite for our restless souls, but that it is often a restless sanctuary, a temporary makeshift shelter in a world that we are called in turn to go out and love. The ship in their logo, designed by Jack Steel, is itself a restless sanctuary on the open water — not a shelter from the storm but a shelter through the storm.

Join them every fortnight for fascinating discussions about being restless Christians in a restless world!

The series is a collaboration between James Cathcart and Albert Bogle and features the track ‘Symphony of Lies’ by The Bogle Band.

Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and most other podcasting platforms!

Find more episodes on Sanctuary First

This week on the Emerging Emmaus Podcast we spoke to Katie Hart about reaching the Next Generation.

How do we help young people not just attend church, but love Jesus deeply and live out their faith boldly? In this inspiring conversation, young elder Katie Hart joins Emerging Emmaus to talk about her passion for mission, moments where she’s seen God at work, and what it takes to help a generation find authentic faith. From Practising the Way to the Growing Young movement, this episode is full of encouragement, honesty, and hope for any Church that’s learning to walk the road together. Be encouraged & inspired!

Find all past episodes of the podcast on the Sanctuary First website, via our App and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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!

#podcast #onlinechurch #sanctuaryfirst #emergingemmauspodcast

Listen to our new podcast about faith, restlessness and the search for meaning! In each episode James Cathcart and Albert Bogle from Sanctuary First share what it’s like to be restless Christians, wrestling with the Bible and spirituality as they try and live it out today.

Right now our world is very restless — politically, economically, culturally, technologically and environmentally. We are living through an age of disruption and upheaval. Many of us are longing for a sense of sanctuary, for belonging, and direction to help us face new and unprecedented challenges.

At the root of Christianity James and Albert uncover a restlessness in God’s heart that mirrors our own. A deep longing and restless love that searches out for each one of us. We glimpse God in the faces of one another in need and in God we glimpse our own human yearning for wholeness and love.

James and Albert reckon Jesus offers sanctuary and respite for our restless souls, but that it is often a restless sanctuary, a temporary makeshift shelter in a world that we are called in turn to go out and love. The ship in their logo, designed by Jack Steel, is itself a restless sanctuary on the open water — not a shelter from the storm but a shelter through the storm.

Join them every fortnight for fascinating discussions about being restless Christians in a restless world!

This week we explore what it means to start with belonging, and look at a story Jesus told about a man with two sons…

The series is a collaboration between James Cathcart and Albert Bogle and features the track ‘Symphony of Lies’ by The Bogle Band.

Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and most other podcasting platforms!

Find more episodes on Sanctuary First

Neil Urquhart explores 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!

#emergingemmauspodcast #podcast #church #faith #bible #community

Find more episodes on Sanctuary First: www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/podcast/series/emerging-emmaus

‘Iwa’ - Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, It’s a super helpful way to re-think & do mission today.

The ʻiwa’ (ee-vah) bird flies high to search for food and suss its surroundings, eats with other birds, and nests low to the ground. The `Iwa Collaborative’ exists to help church leaders & congregations ‘see the wood for the trees’ & ground them in ‘down-to-earth’ Father, Son & Holy Spirit work. Revs Lynsey Brennan (Baldernock lw Milngavie St Paul’s) & Scott Burton (Upper Braes, Falkirk) share how helpful they, & their congregations, have found Iwa in re-missioning.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leaders-day-in-edinburgh-tickets-1413042140079

https://www.iwacollaborative.com/church-remissioning-collectives

https://www.iwacollaborative.com/books - especially Remissioning Church and Centering Discipleship

Together, Neil Urquhart and Lynsey Brennan 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!

#emergingemmauspodcast #podcast #church #faith #bible #community

It is time to hear loud and clear about some of God’s incredible work going on - almost quietly. Almost! Join Ruth and Neil with Elaine Duncan and Adrian Armstrong from the Scottish Bible Society to hear a roar of revival in the UK. It’s a little bit noisy, all over the country, and with all ages. God turning statistics and thinking upside down. God’s Kingdom coming in surprising ways! Hear the roar!

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 28

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 27

“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 during 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

“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 during 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

“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 during 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

“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 during 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

Listen to Episode 2: Sweet

Listen to Episode 3: Sour

Listen to Episode 4: Umami

“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 during 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

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 26

Angie Mutch has been utterly committed to serving God and others for decades. Angie has traveled with her volunteering and work to some intriguing, challenging places (with very interesting cuisines!), not looking for public applause, just doing what she knows to do with God. Her perseverance to serve has not gone unnoticed and she was recently honoured as a ‘Woman of the Year 2024’ for her volunteering. Angie’s jokes, however, haven’t yet won any awards! Be encouraged and inspired with her endurance, heart, and faith with a dollop of good humour!

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 25

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

Find out more about our Lent theme: Beginning To Flourish

Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Listen to Next Episode: 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

Find out more about our Lent theme: Beginning To Flourish

Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Listen to the next episode: 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

Find out more about our Lent theme: Beginning To Flourish

Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Listen to next episode: 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

Find out more about our Lent theme: Beginning To Flourish

Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Listen to next episode: 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

Find out more about our Lent theme: Beginning To Flourish

Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Listen to the next episode: 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

Find out more about our Lent theme: Beginning To Flourish

Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Listen to the first episode: What actually happens when we read the Bible?

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

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

Next Episode: The Unexpected Gift

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!

This Podcast was originally published on: December 11, 2021

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.

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.

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

Next Episode: Working with the Grain

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 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

Next Episode: Anna the Prophetess

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 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

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

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

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

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

Follow the rest of the podcast series on the Sanctuary First website and app/

https://sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/podcast/fatf

Follow the rest of the podcast series on the Sanctuary First website and app/

https://sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/podcast/fatf

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

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.

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.

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 - co-editor of ‘Scottish Religious Poetry’ - and Gordon Graham, director of the Edinburgh Festival of the 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.

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

Sanctuary First’s Green Christian Network

This 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

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 19 - Listening to God in the Quiet Places

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What a month of we have had with the 2023 series of Faith at the Fringe podcasts! We have talked to singers, song writers, artists, performers, comedians and playwrights over 11 episodes. Albert Bogle and Peter Sutton look back on some of the interesting conversations we have had this year as part of the Fringe Festival.

You can find all our past episodes our the Faith at the Fringe podcasts for 2023 and 2022 in the Podcast section of both our App and website.

Albert chats with Stephen Callaghan about his new play ‘Oggie! Oggie! Oggie!’ about the life of St Augustine.

Playwright and performer Stephen Callaghan returns to the Fringe with his stage adaptation offering a modern energetic twist on the original, without ever compromising the integrity of the tale. Infused with his signature brand of Glasgow humour, Oggie! Oggie! Oggie! charts our hero’s dramatic conversion from a life of hedonism to becoming one of the most inspirational figures in Christian history.

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.

Find out more about the play: Oggie! Oggie! Oggie! | Theatre | Edinburgh Festival Fringe

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.

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

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

‘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!

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 the Faith at the Fringe podcast series!

This Episode we are speaking to Comedian Bec Hill all about comedy, faith and the unexpected humour that can be found in the stories of the bible!

Australian-born Bec Hill is an award-winning comedy performer and sought-after television writer. She writes and hosts her own family-friendly CITV series “Makeaway Takeaway”, and is the creator and author of Hachette’s new collection of creep-tastic books called “Horror Heights”. Bec has appeared on multiple comedy and panel shows, including “8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown”, “The Jonathan Ross Show”, “Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club”, and every season of “The Dog Ate My Homework”. When she isn’t performing, writing, or going viral for her paper-puppetry, she co-hosts the podcast “A Problem Squared” with mathematician and YouTuber, Matt Parker. She loves sci-fi, is the self-proclaimed Tooth Fairy for Adults, and owns a dwarf hamster called Pudding.

Find out more about Bec

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.

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

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

For our First Episode of the second season for 2023 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.

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

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!

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

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.

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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

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

An 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.

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

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

This 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!

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

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

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In 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 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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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. We look at the poetry and social conscience of our national poet Robert Burns, and chat with John Lowrie Morrison, the well known Scottish landscape painter, and seek to understand 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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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

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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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.

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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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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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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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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/
  

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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.

Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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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.

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!

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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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

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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!

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!

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!

‘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!

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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Listen to last months - The Daughter of Jephthah

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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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Listen to last months - Episode 6: Lydia and Laws

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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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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.

Listen to - Episode 5: Esther and Objectification

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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.

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.

Find the podcast here on Sanctuary First, in our Sanctuary First App, and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts:

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

Rhythm, A Christian Spirituality for Our 21st Century Work Lives’.

Listen to Andy’s song and more: Secret Chord Sessions

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

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.

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?

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?

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

Albert, Laura and James go deep discussing awakening, faith and the Holy Spirit…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Joining us is this week’s Daily Worship writer John Povey Parish Minister of Kirk of Calder, Mid Calder.

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.

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.”

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.

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.”

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!

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!”

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.

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.

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.

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? 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.

Listen to ‘Simon Says’ HERE

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.