Canterbury Cast

Canterbury Cast

By Canterbury CommunicationsReligion & SpiritualityChristianity
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Canterbury Cast episodes

  • Books to Prisons
    On this episode of Canterbury Cast, host Haley Smith sits down with Shannon Wadlington and Celia Smyly to share the inspiring story of Books to Prisons. Starting in August of 2021 and finding a permanent home at Canterbury in 2022, this outreach has been sending books to incarcerated individuals across Texas and Alabama, and currently sends between 1,000 and 1,200 books each month. Their mission is simple yet profound: to affirm each inmate’s enduring worth and promise through books that enlighten, engage, and comfort. In this conversation, Shannon and Celia reflect on the letters they’ve received, the lives that have been touched, and how this ministry continues to transform both those behind bars and the volunteers who serve. It’s a powerful glimpse of “Real Grace and Real Love, in the midst of Real Life.”
    How can something as simple as a book remind someone that their mind and spirit are not bound by prison walls?
    28 min
  • Story Book Christmas

    In this special Christmas Eve episode of Canterbury Cast, host Jeff Nix sits down with Eleanor Christiansen and Rev. Tori Hastings to share the heart behind Story Book Christmas, a family-friendly service where the wonder of the Nativity comes to life in a whole new way.

    Through colorful puppets, creative storytelling, and plenty of laughter, children are invited to experience the Christmas story with fresh eyes and open hearts. Eleanor and Tori walk us through how this playful retelling helps families connect more deeply with the meaning of Jesus’ birth, reminding us that God’s love meets us in joy, imagination, and childlike faith.

    Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or simply young at heart, this episode offers a glimpse into the magic waiting on December 24 at 1:00 PM in Canterbury Center. Come celebrate the story that changed the world, told in a way your family will never forget.

    19 min
  • Oh Light: Advent Begins

    In this special Advent episode of Canterbury Cast, Rev. Keith Thompson welcomes us into the season with an invitation to open our hearts to God’s light. As we begin our Advent series, Oh Light, we explore how divine light breaks into our world, transforms our understanding of God’s presence, and guides us toward hope.

    This week, Rev. Hill Carmichael preached from Isaiah 2:1–5, where the prophet speaks hard truths to God’s people, but also points them toward a promise. Isaiah reminds us that even in seasons of uncertainty or darkness, God’s light cannot be overcome. Hill shares how this ancient vision still speaks today: calling us to walk in God’s ways of hope, peace, joy, and love as we journey into Advent.

    If God’s light can never be overcome, what might change in us if we chose to walk toward it, especially in the places that feel most like darkness?

    20 min
  • The Heart of Christmas Village

    In this special episode of Canterbury Cast, host Haley Smith sits down with Rachel Estes, Rev. Malinda Weaver, and Teresa Evans to share the story behind one of Canterbury’s most meaningful traditions—Christmas Village at Avondale Samaritan Place. More than just a toy giveaway, Christmas Village is about dignity, joy, and community—ensuring every family experiences the love and generosity of the season in a personal way. Hear how this ministry is transforming lives, building connections, and spreading Real Grace and Real Love, in the midst of Real Life.

    Support Christmas Village:

    🎁 Shop from the Amazon Gift List → Amazon Wish List

    21 min
  • James 5: The Power of Prayer
    In this final episode of The Book of James series, Rev. Tori Hastings turns to James 5:13–16 to explore the power and purpose of prayer. She reminds us that prayer isn’t about persuading God to act, but about shaping the heart of the one who prays. Through humility and consistency, prayer becomes a daily rhythm that transforms us, and the world around us.
    What might change in your life, and in the lives of others, if prayer became your first response instead of your last resort?
    26 min
  • James 4: What is Your Life
    In this fourth message from The Book of James, Rev. Tori Hastings preaches from James 4:1, 10–12, asking a question that cuts to the heart: What is your life based on? James calls believers to humility and a faith that’s grounded not in pride or ambition, but in full surrender to God. Tori reminds us that when our foundation shifts away from Christ, our lives start to crack under pressure. But through humility and grace, we’re invited to rebuild; to realign our lives with the way of Jesus and rediscover what it truly means to live in faith.
    If someone looked at the foundation of your life, what, or who, would they find it built upon?
    23 min
  • James 3: "Firestarters"
    In this third message from The Book of James, Senior Pastor Rev. Keith Thompson explores James chapter 3 and the power of the tongue. James writes, “Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small flame.” (James 3:5, CEB). Fire has incredible power, it can warm, illuminate, and refine, but it can also destroy. Keith reminds us that words work the same way. Not every fire begins in a forest or fireplace; some begin at a kitchen table or in a meeting. Our words can build up or burn down, bringing life or leaving scars. The challenge is to let our speech become a holy flame that reflects God’s grace. If words hold the power to start fires, what kind of fire are your words igniting?
    30 min
  • James 2: Mercy Triumphs
    In this second message from The Book of James, Rev. Tori Hastings takes us deeper into the heart of faith in action. Drawing from James chapter 2, she challenges us to consider, “What are you known for?” James reminds us that genuine faith is not just about belief, it’s about how we live that belief out in mercy and compassion. When faced with choices between what we could do and what we should do, mercy must always take the lead. After all, as James declares, “Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
    What would it look like if our faith was recognized not by what we say, but by the mercy we show?
    25 min
  • The Book of James: Chapter 1
    On this episode of Canterbury Cast, we begin a new 5-week series on The Book of James. Rev. Tori Hastings opens with James chapter 1, where the writer calls believers to live with perseverance, humility, and wisdom. James writes to people struggling with trials, temptations, and the challenges of living faithfully in a broken world; people not so different from us today. Drawing from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and the wisdom of Proverbs, James reminds us that true wisdom is more than knowledge; it’s the ability to live faithfully, even when life is hard. As Tori puts it, “People behave poorly, even though most of the time we are trying to do the best that we can.”
    What does it look like to live with wisdom that comes from God, especially when life tests us and our best efforts fall short?
    23 min

About Canterbury Cast

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to the official podcast of Canterbury United Methodist Church. Located in Birmingham, AL, Canterbury UMC strives to be a church that offers real grace and real love in the midst of real life.…