Sanctuary First

This Labyrinth has been designed to encourage you to make a journey to follow the star like the wise men of old to find the child in the manger who is the Saviour of the world. Make this journey with Mary and Joseph, with the shepherds, with all who came looking for the promised king. There will be different stations to stop at on this journey giving you an opportunity to participate, to think, to pray. Music will accompany your journey, enjoy the experience and allow God to speak to you in this meditation. Join the Christmas Labyrinth Workshop: Christmas Workshops

Introducing Creation and The Creator! Sanctuary First’s Green Christian Network Laura Digan and Laura Miller dive into the first Episode of our Creation & The Creator podcast series talking all about Harvesting the crops from summer ahead of winter, and taking time to compost and cultivate new growth. A new monthly video, blog and podcast series exploring God and the environment and how we as Christians can do our part to care for the natural world. Every month there will be new material diving into a different idea around the enviroment where we will encourage each of you to take part and start your own projects at the end of the month, we will conclude with an online Green Christian Network group where we take time to pray and encourage each other to care for God’s beautiful creation. Read the Laura Millers blog on Harvesting & Composting: Layers of Life Find out more about the end of month group: Green Christian Network

What do we need to do to effect real change in the church and in our communities? This time Neil and Ruth are speaking with Rev Dr Liam Fraser all about ‘Mission & Change’ in the church, and his new book ‘Mission In Contemporary Scotland’. Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy and Steve Aisthorpe 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! Listen to the previous: Episode Nine - Rebuilding from the Ground Up

How do we build the next generation of Christians in our communities? Neil and Ruth are speaking with Graham Duffin and Sheila Notman all about the Growing Young program and how their churches have unleashed a passion of young people in their churches. Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy and Steve Aisthorpe 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! Listen to the previous: Episode Nine - Rebuilding from the Ground Up

Ruth, Neil and Steve explore the story of a church’s lowest point and how it gathered its community around it to rebuild from the ground up! Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy and Steve Aisthorpe 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! Listen to the previous: Episode Eight - Running the Race Together

Emerging Emmaus is back after our Summer break! Join Ruth and Neil as we catch up over all that’s happened over the summer and discuss how we can all Run the Race Together as communities through a love for Jesus. Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy and Steve Aisthorpe 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! Listen to the previous: Episode Seven - Green Shoots

Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. What a month of we have had with the 2023 series of Faith at the Fringe podcasts! We have talked to singers, song writers, artists, performers, comedians and playwrights over 11 episodes. Albert Bogle and Peter Sutton look back on some of the interesting conversations we have had this year as part of the Fringe Festival. You can find all our past episodes our the Faith at the Fringe podcasts for 2023 and 2022 in the Podcast section of both our App and website.

Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. Albert chats with Stephen Callaghan about his new play ‘Oggie! Oggie! Oggie!’ about the life of St Augustine. Playwright and performer Stephen Callaghan returns to the Fringe with his stage adaptation offering a modern energetic twist on the original, without ever compromising the integrity of the tale. Infused with his signature brand of Glasgow humour, Oggie! Oggie! Oggie! charts our hero’s dramatic conversion from a life of hedonism to becoming one of the most inspirational figures in Christian history. Stephen is a prolific playwright and theatre-maker, based in Glasgow. He has written extensively on faith-related subjects, from the lives of Saints to Biblical material in new and challenging ways. Often infused with the humour and style of his native city, his plays have been performed widely in local venues and schools around Scotland and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Find out more about the play: Oggie! Oggie! Oggie! | Thea

Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. Minister of St Cuthbert’s, Rev Pete Sutton has an in-depth conversation with artist and friend Adrian Wiszniewski. One of Adrian’s masterpiece’s, “Lake Tekapo” graces the west wall of the sanctuary of St Cuthbert’s parish church, and is on display of visitors, tourists and festival-goers alike.

Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. In episode nine Albert talks with Jon Lawrence, an author and musician who trekked across five deserts over five contents to raise money for a cancer charity in memory of his father. Their discussion focuses on grief, it’s influence on us, how we approach it, how it evolves and what we can learn from addressing it. Good Grief: Five Deserts in Search of My Father, Jon’s show retelling his story trekking across five deserts can still be seen at the Edinburgh fringe, alongside his other show The Music Man, which features silly songs which encourage the children to sing, dance, laugh and learn. Buy tickets to either of Jon’s shows: the music man or good grief Purchase Jon’s book Good Grief: Five Deserts in Search of My Father and I

Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. In this episode we are speaking with Clara-Nel Haddon the writer of ‘When Kurt Met Thora’ and Kellie Gamble - who portrays Thora - about the show and the themes explored within. BBC Studios, November 1991. Thora Hird, aka Captain Emily Ridley from Hallelujah, encounters Kurt Cobain ahead of Nirvana’s infamous appearance on TOTP. A mutual love of coastal towns, music and family is revealed over tea and custard creams as they reflect on their individual experience of God and wonder if at the final reckoning ‘Jesus will want them for sunbeams’, and whether happiness is ever really a choice or something predetermined for us all. Purchase tickets from the Fringe website, or learn more about the show from the Plush Tiger Productions website and facebook

Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. ‘Tomatoes nearly killed me. but the banjo saved my life’ Keith Alessi a CEO of a large North American Corporation two weeks after quitting his high-flying job, to take up his dream of becoming a banjo player finds out he has a rare cancer with a 50% chance of living for a year. Seven years on he talks with Albert Bogle and Rob Rawson about the power of prayer and music in helping him survive. This is a far reaching podcast in which they touch on topics of healing, forgiveness, music, prayer and the need to live one day at a time. Learn more about Keith, his show, and where you can see it on his website!

Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. This Episode we are speaking to Camp Kirkland and Jeff Shelton all about music, Faith and the Origin Big Band from Orgin Scotland. ONE NIGHT ONLY! 17 August will see the launch event of the all-new 18-piece jazz Origin Big Band. Featuring four trumpets, five saxophones, four trombones, keys, drums, bass, guitar and vocals, and a wide range of music from jazz to funk and blues. The singers will share their testimonies and there will have an interview with Kevin Flynn, Great British Bake-off baker extraordinaire (who will also provide baking you can purchase, and a cake you could win!). Bring a friend to hear how Jesus changes everything. Refreshments available, no tickets required. Unoma Okudo, Scott Rennie and Jonny Russell will be our lead singers, and we will have Steph Macleod joining us, and an all-new Big Band arrangement of one of the first songs he recorded with us. No tickets required: Thu 17th August 2023 - 8:00 pm - Charlote Chapel

Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. Welcome to the Faith at the Fringe podcast series! This Episode we are speaking to Comedian Bec Hill all about comedy, faith and the unexpected humour that can be found in the stories of the bible! Australian-born Bec Hill is an award-winning comedy performer and sought-after television writer. She writes and hosts her own family-friendly CITV series “Makeaway Takeaway”, and is the creator and author of Hachette’s new collection of creep-tastic books called “Horror Heights”. Bec has appeared on multiple comedy and panel shows, including “8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown”, “The Jonathan Ross Show”, “Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club”, and every season of “The Dog Ate My Homework”. When she isn’t performing, writing, or going viral for her paper-puppetry, she co-hosts the podcast “A Problem Squared” with mathematician and YouTuber, Matt Parker. She loves sci-fi, is the self-proclaimed Tooth Fairy for Adults, and owns a dwarf hamster called

Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. This Episode we are speaking to Andy Amour and John Kirk about the work of Street Pastors in Edinburgh, with a particular focus on their work interacting with the visitors to the Edinburgh Festival this year. To find out more about the work of Edinburgh Street Pastors, visit their website.

Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. This Episode we are speaking to Michael Taylorson about the play inspired by the film Chariots of Fire. Set in Paris, during the Olympic Games of 1924, we see the struggles Eric Liddell faces in staying true to his principles. ‘Engaging at all times’ (BroadwayBaby.com). Five shows only, run for a ticket! When given the chance to become the fastest man in the world, will his convictions buckle? Should he stay true to his beliefs? And can he bring back a medal for King and country? ‘Searchlight elevate this from mere biography to an exploration of determination, ambition and faith’. Find the Show: 12 Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, EH12 5AA Buy Tickets

Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. This Episode we are speaking to David Robinson all about his dramatic production of C.S Lewis The Screwtape Letters. The most critically acclaimed production of C.S. Lewis’ masterpiece is back! The Screwtape Letters is an award-winning satirical comedy that is now touring the UK for its 13th year. Nigel Forde’s “sparkling script” and David Robinson’s “impressive Screwtape” (The Stage) bring to life Lewis’ classic book, which has sold millions of copies worldwide. The story is set in Professor Screwtape’s study in the timeless dominion of Hell. The play follows Screwtape’s attempts to train his junior devils, including his protégé Wormwood, in the fine art of temptation. It remains faithful to the original text, characters and themes created by Lewis and holds three Edinburgh Fringe Sell-Out Show Awards. Buy tickets here Next Performances: Thu 10 Aug - 14:30, Fri 11 Aug - 19:30, Sat 12 Aug 16:00, Tue 15 Aug - 19:30, Wed 16 Aug - 19:

Welcome to Faith at the Fringe a Sanctuary First podcast series. For our First Episode of the second season for 2023 we will be Speaking to Faith Sutherland from Green Shoots Youth Theatre. Find the show via the Sacred Arts Festival at St Vincent’s Chapel in Stockbridge. Five Medieval Mystery plays brought to life by Peter Holloway. The newly formed Green Shoots Youth Theatre, under the direction of Faith Sutherland, transform the atmospheric Undercroft of the Chapel into a compelling urban location for drama. Noah, a tale of climate change, the refugees Flight into Egypt, The Whistle-blower’s Jesus’ last days and the Resurrection, with warmth, humour and humanity. Real people in real situations, the reality of life in our world in 2023. The Medieval Mystery Plays were the soaps of their day; they were warm, funny, but with a serious mission – to bring to life Biblical stories. We have reimagined them for our time, making our point about the topics that concern us: climate change, refugees, war,

Welcome to the Emerging Emmaus Podcast, a new biweekly podcast on Sanctuary First. This time we are speaking Sue McKenzie and Erika Pryde from the community of Newton Parish Church, faced with church closure we hear of their journey of turning an unloved and unwelcoming church hall into a space where the community feel welcomed and find help and support, and ultimately find a connection to their faith! Find out more: Newton Parish - Fresh Expressions Together, Neil Urquhart, Ruth Kennedy and Steve Aisthorpe 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! Listen to the previous: Episode Six - Passing the Batton

Sustaining Faith Join Albert Bogle, Laura Digan and Iain Jamieson on the Late Show Podcast for an hour of inspiration and encouragement as they share together their stories of life, and how faith has sustained them through challenging times. This is an opportunity to reflect on the journey of faith each of us take only to discover Jesus has gone ahead of us waiting for the reshaping moment of encounter. The conversation as you might imagine turns to the stories and teaching of Jesus that still speak into our lives. This is an honest and engaging conversation between friends. Follow us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts OR Get the App!