Reflections on faith and discipleship from Alison, pastor at Sanctuary Warrnambool. Sanctuary is an emerging church with Baptist connections.
A reflection on sin, repentance, forgiveness, and clearing the path for peace.
A reflection on Luke 3:1-8a given to Sanctuary, 9 December 2018 (Year C Advent 2, C02) © Alison Sampson, 2018. Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash.
School students go on #ClimateStrike while adults bury their heads in the sand. What has Jesus to say about this?
A reflection on #ClimateStrike and Luke 21:25-36, given to Sanctuary, 2 December 2018 (Year C Advent 1, C01) © Alison Sampson, 2018.
Stories of Armageddon, Israel, Italy, and Christ the King.
A reflection on John 18:33-37 and Revelation for the Feast of Christ the King, given to Sanctuary, 25 November 2018 (Year B Proper 29, BP29) © Alison Sampson, 2018. Image credit: Alison Sampson, showing layers at Megiddo (and a stone altar for sacrifices).
What might the church of the future look like? Thoughts from an angry prophet given to the Baptist Union of Victoria on the occasion of her ordination, Saturday 20 October 2018, and expanded for Sanctuary, Sunday 28 October 2018. I should add, this angry prophet is often seen laughing! Just in case you're worried.
A fairly short reflection on the very big question of suffering, given to Sanctuary, 14 October 2018 © Alison Sampson, 2018.
The story of Balaam and his donkey reveals just what big asses we tend to be.
A reflection on Numbers 22-24 given to Sanctuary, 7 October 2018 © Alison Sampson, 2018.
Is all gossip bad? Or could there be a gift in gossip?
A reflection on James 3:1-12 given to Sanctuary, 16 September 2018 (BP19; Year B Proper 19) © Alison Sampson, 2018.
Not the usual podcast! This is a recording of me telling folktales at a small local event, totally unpolished, just as is. It's an assessment task, but you are welcome to listen, too 
Barry Lopez writes, "If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive" (Crow and Weasel). May these stories feed and sustain you - and may you be ready to pass them on!
Two stories from Turkey:
- Nasreddin Hodja: The Recipe
- Nasreddin Hodja: The Coat
And a story from Liberia:
- The Cowtail Switch
Image shows a 17th-century miniature of Nasreddin, by Unknown - Topkapi Palace Museum Library Cat. No. 2142. Downloaded from http://www.business-with-turkey.com/hoca/hoca-big.htm, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1331652
Churches and religious organisations regularly exclude people from full participation, but following Jesus means demolishing all boundaries and seeking Christ beyond the walls of the church.
A message for a congregation preparing to commit to the next twelve months, drawing from Mark 7:24-30. Sanctuary, 9 September 2018 (Year B Proper 18, BP18).
What if Jesus's disciples were attacked, not for failing to observe ritual food laws, but for failing to demonstrate "Biblical family values"? A re-telling of Mark 7:1-23 for a region hard-hit by clergy abuse.
Given to Sanctuary, 9 September 2018 (Year B Proper 17, BP17). Image shows a detail from Emmaus (2000) by Emmanuel Garibay, found here.
