The Beloved podcast

In this fourth episode of season 4, Iffa is joined by Lisa and Lizzie, to discuss being people of faith in a context of working with government.

During the conversation Lizzie referred to James 4:13-15 and Lisa referred to Mark 11:15-17.

Journaling prompts

How are you using the talents God has blessed you with? Do you feel that you can trust in God to make use of your talents in the place you are in?

Can you reflect on the crossover of what you are passionate about, the things that you’re good at, the things that can be funded and the things that the world needs?

Do you find yourself representing people of faith in secular contexts? How would people know you are a Christian?

Do you have a story to tell about how you live your faith in the places where you spend your time? Or is there an area that you feel would be great to have an episode focussing on? We would love to hear from you! Please send any feedback or questions to [email protected]. This is also the address to contact if you would like to join our mailing list, to keep abreast of all things Beloved.

If you have enjoyed the podcast, we invite you to prayerfully consider donating to the work of Sion Community, by going to https://www.sioncommunity.org.uk/ and clicking the donate button.

Social media

We have an Instagram and a Facebook group. It’s a great way to find others who are listening to the podcast and to share the experience, the challenges and the blessings that come from it. https://www.facebook.com/groups/belovedministry/?ref=share

Retreats

The next Beloved retreat takes place from 10th-12th February 2023, and bookings are now open. https://sioncommunity.org.uk/beloved/. If you have already attended a Beloved weekend, you are eligible to come to the follow up retreat: Desired. The next Desired weekend will take place 9th-11th June 2023.

In this third episode of season 4, Alice is joined by Nana-Adwoa and Laurelle, to discuss being people of faith in the media.

St Therese of Lisieux is Nana-Adwoa’s favourite saint because she was a fan of the small things and Nana-Adwoa doesn’t feel she can do great big things, but if we all do small things we will be able to share God’s love. You can find more about her most recent project and podcast here: https://www.blackmumsupfront.com/podcast

Laurelle recommends this song https://youtu.be/WDlTm3XiGn8 New, by Tye Tribbett.

Journaling prompts

How do you find you are different as you move between faith-based and non-faith-based contexts?

Are you at a stage in your faith, your career, your life, like Laurelle, where you can prayerfully discern what you say yes to?

Like Nana-Adwoa, do you have someone to check in with, to hold you accountable to staying true to your values?

Do you have a story to tell about how you live your faith in the places where you spend your time? Or is there an area that you feel would be great to have an episode focussing on? We would love to hear from you! Please send any feedback or questions to [email protected]. This is also the address to contact if you would like to join our mailing list, to keep abreast of all things Beloved.

If you have enjoyed the podcast, we invite you to prayerfully consider donating to the work of Sion Community, by going to https://www.sioncommunity.org.uk/ and clicking the donate button.

Social media

We have an Instagram and a Facebook group. It’s a great way to find others who are listening to the podcast and to share the experience, the challenges and the blessings that come from it. https://www.facebook.com/groups/belovedministry/?ref=share

Retreats

The next Beloved retreat takes place from 10th-12th February 2023, and bookings are now open. https://sioncommunity.org.uk/beloved/. If you have already attended a Beloved weekend, you are eligible to come to the follow up retreat: Desired. The next Desired weekend will take place 9th-11th June 2023.

In this first full episode of season 4, Iffa Willis is joined by Rachel and Sarah, to discuss being people of faith in educational contexts.

Sarah recommends this documentary https://youtu.be/-0LKZm2BqZo about Sr Clare Crockett.

Rachel is often inspired by the words of St John Bosco.

Journaling prompts

What is your experience of education, past or present?

How did/does your time in school influence your faith?

Like Rachel and Sarah, do you have opportunities to share your faith with those around you?

Do you have a story to tell about how you live your faith in the places where you spend your time? Or is there an area that you feel would be great to have an episode focussing on? We would love to hear from you! Please send any feedback or questions to [email protected]. This is also the address to contact if you would like to join our mailing list, to keep abreast of all things Beloved.

If you have enjoyed the podcast, we invite you to prayerfully consider donating to the work of Sion Community, by going to https://www.sioncommunity.org.uk/ and clicking the donate button.

Social media

We have an Instagram and a Facebook group. It’s a great way to find others who are listening to the podcast and to share the experience, the challenges and the blessings that come from it. https://www.facebook.com/groups/belovedministry/?ref=share

Retreats

The next Beloved retreat takes place from 11th-15th February 2023, and bookings are now open. https://sioncommunity.org.uk/beloved/. If you have already attended a Beloved weekend, you are eligible to come to the follow up retreat: Desired. The next Desired weekend will take place 10th-12th June 2023.

Beginning a new season for the Beloved Podcast, Alice Hall and Iffa Willis begin unpacking what it means to live in the world but not of the world. We begin with a quote from Pope Francis from World Youth Day 2013 in Brazil. The full quote is available here. http://ylcatholic.blogspot.com/2013/07/pope-francis-speaks-about-young-life-at.html

We also considered the following scriptures:

John 15:18-19

John 17:14-16

Colossians 1:13-14

Journaling prompts

What does it mean to you to be in the world but not of the world?

Can you identify anyone with the potential to be a saint of the new millennium? How about yourself?

Do you have a story to tell about how you live your faith in the places where you spend your time?

We’d love to hear from you! Please send any feedback or questions to [email protected]

If you have enjoyed the podcast, we invite you to prayerfully consider donating to the work of Sion Community, by going to https://www.sioncommunity.org.uk/ and clicking the donate button.

Social media

We have an Instagram and a Facebook group. It’s a great way to find others who are listening to the podcast and to share the experience, the challenges and the blessings that come from it. https://www.facebook.com/groups/belovedministry/?ref=share

Retreats

The next Beloved retreat takes place from 11th-13th February 2023, and bookings are now open. https://sioncommunity.org.uk/beloved/. If you have already attended a Beloved weekend, you are eligible to come to the follow up retreat: Desired. The next Desired weekend will take place 10th-12th June 2023.

In this special bonus episode, Iffa Willis chats with Anna Bailey and Alice Hall about all things St Bernadette, to coincide with the tour in the UK of the relics of St Bernadette. The scriptures we refer to include Acts 19:12.

If you would like to find out more about the tour and when St Bernadette will be near you go to https://stbernadette.org.uk

To book into the Beloved retreat happening from 21st-23rd October please go to https://sioncommunity.churchsuite.com/events/jigpwtqd

To find out more about the work of the Sion Community, including if you feel called to make a financial contribution towards this work, please go to https://sioncommunity.org.uk

In this episode Anna is joined by Alice and Iffa as we ask: “who helps me to live in the Gaze of God?”

Scriptures

John 20: 11-18

1 Corinthians 13:12

1 John 3:2

Journaling Prompts

PAUSE to GAZE

Have a look at the image linked in today’s show notes. Imagine that you are stood with the women and Jesus. How would you feel knowing that you are seen and known by the Lord Jesus? How does it feel to be in His company?

GAZED UPON

Who, in your life, helps you to live in the gaze of God?

GAZING ON THE WORD Spend some time reflecting on the Scripture that you heard in the podcast today (John 20:11-18). What word or phrase stands out to you in particular? What might God be trying to say to you through this word or phrase or these Scriptures as a whole?

Image

In our conversation we reflected on this image from the TV show The Chosen. https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https://www.amfm-magazine.tv/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021_JULY_THE_CHOSEN_972x510.png&imgrefurl=https://www.amfm-magazine.tv/the-chosen-jonathan-roumie-jesus-and-elizabeth-tabish-mary-magdalene-give-us-an-idea-why-this-record-breaking-crowdfunded-series-is-a-runaway-success/&tbnid=xOCKbWyi1Pj31M&vet=1&docid=RYFwPycbddZmcM&w=972&h=510&hl=en-gb&source=sh/x/im

Find out more about this amazing TV show here https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen

We also considered this quote from Jaques Philipe

"Only under the gaze of God can we fully and truly accept ourselves. We need to be looked upon by someone who says, as God did through the prophet Isaiah: “You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you.” .... We urgently need the mediation of another’s eyes to love ourselves and accept ourselves. The eyes may be those of a parent, a friend, a spiritual director; but above all they are those of God our Father. The look in his eyes is the purest, truest, tenderest, most loving, and most hope-filled in this world. The greatest gift given those who seek God’s face by persevering in prayer may be that one day they will perceive something of this divine look upon themselves; they will feel themselves loved so tenderly that they will receive the grace of accepting themselves in depth."

Get in touch

We’d love to hear from you! Please send any feedback or questions to [email protected]

We have an Instagram and a Facebook group. It’s a way to find others who are listening to the podcast and to share the experience, the challenges and the blessings that come from it. https://instagram.com/i_am.he_is.beloved?utm_medium=copy_link https://www.facebook.com/groups/belovedministry/?ref=share

Support

If you have enjoyed the podcast, we invite you to prayerfully consider donating to the work of Sion Community, by going to https://www.sioncommunity.org.uk and clicking the donate button.

Retreats

Bookings for the next Beloved retreat (21-23 October) are now open. Go to https://sioncommunity.churchsuite.com/events/jigpwtqd for more information and to register.

In this episode Iffa is joined by Alice and Fiona as we ask: “how am I transformed by His gaze?”

Scripture

2 Corinthians 3:7-8, 12-13, 15-19

Image

In our conversation we reflected on this image called Show me your Glory, Lord by Lydia https://pin.it/63zepZP

We also discussed this teaching from Pope Francis https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/44626

For more information on Fiona’s work in Tanzania visit: http://karibunyumbani.org

Journaling Prompts

PAUSE to GAZE

Have a look at the image linked in today’s show notes. Moses’ gaze is transfixed on the Lord. His face is lit up with God’s glory. Can you think of a time when you have been amazed by seeing what God has been doing in your life or the life of someone you know?

GAZED UPON

How have I been transformed by my encounter(s) with the Lord?

Have you had an experience of others noticing that there’s something changed about you because of your encounter with the Lord?

GAZING ON THE WORD

Spend some time reflecting on the Scripture that you heard in the podcast today (2 Corinthians 3:7-19). What word or phrase stands out to you in particular? What might God be trying to say to you through this word or phrase or these Scriptures as a whole?

Get in touch

We’d love to hear from you! Please send any feedback or questions to [email protected]

We have an Instagram and a Facebook group. It’s a way to find others who are listening to the podcast and to share the experience, the challenges and the blessings that come from it. https://instagram.com/i_am.he_is.beloved?utm_medium=copy_link https://www.facebook.com/groups/belovedministry/?ref=share

Support

If you have enjoyed the podcast, we invite you to prayerfully consider donating to the work of Sion Community, by going to https://www.sioncommunity.org.uk and clicking the donate button.

Retreats

The Desired retreat, for those who have already attended a Beloved retreat, is taking place 10th-12th June. At the time of writing places are still available. Bookings for the next Beloved retreat (21-23 October) are now open too, Visit https://sioncommunity.org.uk/adults/ for more information and to register.

In this episode Alice Hall, Anna Bailey, and Begoña Ruiz Pereda continue exploring what it means to live in the merciful gaze of God, sharing on the question of how we might respond to God’s merciful gaze.

Scripture

Acts 9:1-22 Conversion of St Paul from the Passion Translation

Image

In our conversation we looked at the first painting that we know there is of Jesus

https://legacyicons.com/christ-the-good-shepherd-catacombs-icon-x101/

Which was painted in the Catacombs of San Callisto in Rome

https://www.catacombesancallisto.it/en/simboli-cristiani.php

Music

We have a a Spotify playlist to accompany the podcast. This will grow with each episode.

Check it out here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/46HvR2rtPn1TwP6QPvDc8o?dl_branch=1&si=PIZ_r5jyQMup6Ril5h8O-A

Journaling Prompts

PAUSE to GAZE

Have a look at the image linked in today’s show notes? The lamb is safe in the arms of Jesus. How does Jesus the merciful Good Shepherd accompany you, carry you, lead you out of danger to safety?

GAZED UPON

When have you experienced the merciful and forgiving gaze of Jesus? How did that feel? What words of encouragement might you share with someone who was anxious or doubtful about being forgiven by God

GAZING ON THE WORD

Spend some time reflecting on the Scripture that you heard in the podcast today (Acts 9:1-22). What word or phrase stands out to you in particular? What might God be trying to say to you through this word or phrase or these Scriptures as a whole?

Get in touch

We’d love to hear from you! Please send any feedback or questions to [email protected]

We have an Instagram and a Facebook group. We will be sharing the images for each episode on our social media. It’s also a way to find others who are listening to the podcast and to share the experience, the challenges and the blessings that come from it.

https://instagram.com/i_am.he_is.beloved?utm_medium=copy_link

https://www.facebook.com/groups/belovedministry/?ref=share

Support Us

If you have enjoyed the podcast, we invite you to prayerfully consider donating to the work of Sion Community, by going to https://www.sioncommunity.org.uk/ and clicking the donate button.

The Desired Retreat

The next Beloved ministry retreat is the Desired Retreat for women who have already come to our Beloved weekend taking place 10-12th June 2022.

Bookings are now open so please visit https://sioncommunity.org.uk/adults/ for more information and to register.

During Holy Week we follow Jesus' passion through the eyes of the women who were there at the time in Jerusalem. Today we are with Mary Magdalene.

Invitation to Prayer

As you reflect on this episode, we invite you to pray with the following scripture. 

John 20: 1 - 18

Let the Spirit lead you.

During Holy Week we follow Jesus' passion through the eyes of the women who were there at the time in Jerusalem. Today we are with Mary the mother of Jesus.

Invitation to Prayer

As you reflect on this episode, we invite you to pray with the following scriptures. 

Deuteronomy 6: 4a

Luke 1: 38

Luke 2: 34-35

Luke 2: 48

Psalm 22; 1, 29-31

John 19: 30

As for Mary, she treasured all these things, and pondered in her heart. (Luke 2:19)

Let the Spirit lead you.