Finding Harmony: Stories Round the Table 1, written and read by Lily Cathcart.

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.

Restless Sanctuary Episode 4: So what is Communion?

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!

Leaving Room For Hope: Stories Round the Table 1, written and read by Lily Cathcart.

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

The Shed Project

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

Restless Sanctuary Episode 3: Are we collecting wood or are we longing for the sea?

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!

Restless Sanctuary Episode 2: Scallywags and Sharks?

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!

Hearts on Fire

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

Restless Sanctuary Episode 1: What happens when we start with belonging?

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.

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!

A Biggar, Brighter Future

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Mike returned to South East Asia to find the churches he was involved with mushrooming & growing remarkably. Presently he is helping lead Biggar & nearby congregations into a challenging & positive future. In time, he hopes & aspires to return to a similar situation of Christ’s Kingdom multiplying with blessing in Lanarkshire & Scotland. Be encouraged & inspired!

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

`Iwa Collaborative

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