We understand a lot of life through story, surrounding our most important truths in the beauty of myth and mystery. How might this help us understand the significance of what is probably the most memorable and important story in all of history?

This recording combines the spoken word monologues shared at our service with the talk Kate gave afterwards - so you'll first hear our opening spoken word, followed by dramatic reimaginings of the story of three characters: Mary, Joseph and finally John, the author of the gospel and disciple of the man the baby Jesus became. And finally Kate shares some thoughts as well as some of the theology behind that famous reading so often shared at Christmas services.

This December we're taking time to consider some of the traditional themes for the Advent Sundays, through the lens of some beautiful songs and writing inspired by the promise of the coming of Jesus. On this first Sunday of Advent, Tom thinks about hope, and the song of Zechariah in Luke 1. Zechariah experienced the unexpected birth of hope long after he had given up hoping - and he sang prophetically of a wider hope for all the world. How does this help us today, especially if we're waiting for something - but it feels like in human terms there is little hope in sight?

(please note: there are periods of silence in this recording - do use those as moments to pause and pray before the audio continues)

The conclusion of Ruth’s story shows the impact of grace and kindness when it breaks down barriers and changes the way we think about ourselves and one another, realising how God sees us and reflecting divine love and generosity to one another.

Join Tom as he explores how our understanding of identity and possibility can be stretched by grace in action, bringing change and hope to the world. 

Join Kate and her panel members in the conversation originally recorded live as part of our Live Well evening thinking about burnout.

Burnout is an increasingly common issue discussed in our busy buzzing 21st century world. But is it something we just have to accept as part of adult life, or as necessary should we want to be succesful? Is it possible to be fulfilled, to achieve the things we dream of, to carry all life's responsibilities and NOT burn out? Join Kate as she introduces our evening talking about Burnout.

Naomi and Ruth have been through a season of terrible trauma and tough times. Chapters 3 and 4 mark a change however: the moment when they look up and begin to dare to hope again. But how do we seek breakthrough when we have no power and all we can see is our own vulnerability? What do you do if you know something needs to change but you feel like the wrong person to challenge the way things have been happening? In this talk Kate looks at the three protagonists in Ruth 3 for inspiration.

Belonging is such a powerful human driver, influencing both other people’s perceptions of us but also our own concept of identity and who we are. But how can a story break through walls and divisions that limit us and make people vulnerable or unable to flourish? What does it look like to be the first person to step over a boundary and create the possibility of a better story - and how can Ruth's example inspire us in our own context and time?

Tom kicks off our new series taking a fresh look at the Old Testament book of Ruth.

This first act of Ruth challenges us to recognise how stereotypes and labels limit us and our understanding of others. - and how our willingness to cross borders can stop cycles of harm and conflict, recognise the humanity of the people caught up in them and take hold of the things we can control to change the future.

Join Kate as she rounds up this our series introducing the concept of following and practising the way of Jesus. But what does a life lived in apprenticeship to Jesus look like? How do we balance our hopes, our plans and dreams for becoming more like Jesus with the reality of our flaws, failings and messy reality? What does persevering through the pressured times of our lives look like as we run the race of ciscipleship? Kate takes a look at the example of one of Jesus' disciples to ask how we let ourselves be ordinary whilst setting our eyes on heaven's extraordinary promise for us and the world.

In this deep-dive session, we go beneath the surface of spiritual formation, exploring how our everyday habits, routines, and the “storied” rituals we inhabit shape our hearts and direct our lives. Building on the foundations from our Sunday talks in the Practising The Way series, this session grapples with the unseen influences guiding your desires and choices, the importance of embodied spiritual practices, and the power of intentional and unintentional rhythms in forming who we become.