Sanctuary First

James Cathcart from the team shares a poem entitled: ‘Cardboard Stars’. It’s about the original nativity story and the retellings that have come after that invite us to join the mystery.

This is the second in a series of podcasts where Albert chats to ministers as they move around their parishes. In this podcast Albert reflects with Elspeth MCKay the minister of Cumbernauld Old about the opportunities and challenges her Kirk Session face as they begin to re-imagine the future of their ministry in a changing culture.

Albert in conversation with Rev Gordon Reid former minister of Gillespie Memorial in Dunfermline. Albert and Gordon discuss the place of small groups in bringing renewal to the church

Enjoy live music, reflection, poetry, interview, discussion? Join our recording of our recent live ‘radio show’ at the Royal Hotel, Bridge of Allan. Featuring James Cathcart, Amanda MacQuarrie, Albert Bogle, Dan Harper and guest musicians Those Scottish Campers. The Bible is a book but it is also much older, stranger and wilder than the category ‘book’. It is more of a library than a b...

From 1949 to 1953, thousands of young people participated in the construction of the first buildings of Crêt-Bérard under the leadership of Pastor Albert Girardeau. He made an appeal to the Waldensian youth to help him build a place of retreat in order to help Christians grow in their faith. Today Crêt-Bérard continues to do this but is also open to many other groups and individuals to use their f...

From 1949 to 1953, thousands of young people participated in the construction of the first buildings of Crêt-Bérard under the leadership of Pastor Albert Girardeau. He made an appeal to the Waldensian youth to help him build a place of retreat in order to help Christians grow in their faith. Today Crêt-Bérard continues to do this but is also open to many other groups and individuals to use their f...

In this episode James from the team spoke to Lorna and Barry a few days before our minister Albert married them at a recent ceremony. Find out how they met, get some advice for planning your own wedding, hear of the importance of ‘maverick mums’, and discover why weddings should be #Epic…

James from the SF team goes for a run with Rev Dave Slater of Gartcosh and Glenboig parish churches - they chat pilgrimage, fitness apps, prayer, C25k, ParkRun, ducks and great crested newts! Their conversation ties in to the ‘Ready Pilgrim?’ theme.

In this episode James Cathcart from the team leads a ‘Tin Can Meditation’. So before you listen we invite you to go get a tin. Dig around in the back of the cupboard, or nip down to the shops, so that you can use the tin for the mindfulness reflection and can then donate it. In the reflection we will think about where the tins are from and where they are going. You will then be invited...

In this podcast Albert talks to Iain Campbell the resident artist in St George’s Tron Church of Scotland, about his work and together they reflect upon the theme ‘Heaven Touching Earth’.

James found himself in a furniture shop the other day and found himself thinking about others who find themselves furniture shopping… You see all stages and phases of life in a furniture shop. Listen for an immersive soundscape prayer to find out what he found… Thanks to Lily Cathcart for production support for this episode. For more on the cycles of life see Norah Summers’ Encou...

Catch up with Albert and James as they talk Holy Endings, Heaven Touching Earth, cold pews and warm soup!

James speaks to artists Gardner and Gardner of a pioneer ministry in Glasgow about drawing the interactive art piece to a close. They discuss how the idea was developed, how it grew, how it surprised them, and the importance of ending well.

Albert joined over 8,000 others overnight, sleeping outdoors in Princes Street Gardens for ‘Sleep in the Park’ to highlight the issues of homelessness in Scotland

Albert and Alec discuss Sanctuary First’s new radio adverts, as part of the next phase in connecting with wider groups of people.

What has Jesus got to do with blue M&Ms? James looks back at our recent service and considers how 3 everyday objects we take for granted: toast, keys and your mobile phone can help us think about God and community.

Albert and James discuss “Broken Lives — Worth Mending”

Albert and James discuss our current theme: ‘Writing in the Dust’ and look ahead to future themes.

For many people Summer is the time for romance. So perhaps a romantic story in the right zone. This story may feel a bit off to those of who in the West but in many culture arranged marriages have worked for centuries. Abraham and Sarah are reaching the end of their lives and Abraham calls his faithful servant and instructs him to go back to the land of his ancestors in search of a wife for his so...

Genesis is all about personal and family relationships. Genesis 22.1-14 is an interesting passage to reflect on. You could say it’s about a father and son relationship that has the potential to go wrong. At a superficial level it appears God is testing Abraham to see if his loyalty to his long awaited son Isaac outstrips his love and devotion to him. In some ways it’s a difficult story because at...

Albert chats to Donald Scott about complex characters, especially those who are in prison. Donald is the chaplain at HMYOI Polmont.

Albert and Alec talk about the prayers Alec has written this week. The theme is the campfire. After a long day walking or trekking there’s nothing better than sitting round a campfire. For thousands of years human beings have found contentment by gathering around a fire and spending time together, in song, story or comfortable silence. Each daily worship is about a moment of profound peace or cont...

Albert speaks with Jane Denniston, minister at Campsie Parish Church. Jane has been our prayer writer this week and has been writing about the belayer relationships. Out of all our relationships the one we sometimes value the most is the belayer relationship. Belaying is a technique climbers use. One person holds tension on the rope while the climber isn’t moving and then releases some slack when...