St Paul's Cathedral

Part of the 2018 Lent Sermon Series: Reel Spirituality - Faith and Film. The Reverend James Milne, Minor Canon and Sacrist, explores the film 'The Shawshank Redemption' directed by Frank Darabont (1994) and the ways in which it might open up our understanding of God, the world and the life of faith. Sermon recorded at Evensong on Sunday 4 March 2018.

A conversation in which Andrew Carwood, Director of Music, and Canon Mark Oakley, Chancellor, discuss Bach’s St Matthew Passion. The conversation refers to two upcoming events - a reflective day about Bach’s St Matthew Passion taking place on 17 March and a performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion taking place at the Cathedral on 21 March. Bach's intense masterpiece narrates the events leading to the crucifixion of Christ and will be sung by St Paul's Cathedral Choir and Chorus, with the City of London Sinfonia. Further details on how to book tickets can be found at https://www.stpauls.co.uk/easter (Conversation recorded on Wednesday 28 February 2018).

Part of the 2018 Lent Sermon Series: Reel Spirituality - Faith and Film. The Reverend Canon Jonathan Brewster, Canon Treasurer, explores the film 'Lion' directed by Garth Davis (2016) and the ways in which it might open up our understanding of God, the world and the life of faith. Sermon recorded at Evensong on Sunday 25 February 2018.

Part of the 2018 Lent Sermon Series: Reel Spirituality - Faith and Film. The Reverend Canon Tricia Hillas, Canon Pastor, explores the film 'Silence' directed by Martin Scorsese (2016) and the ways in which it might open up our understanding of God, the world and the life of faith. Sermon recorded at Evensong on Sunday 18 February 2018.

Sermon from the Ash Wednesday Sung Eucharist with the Imposition of the Ashes by Canon Mark Oakley. Recorded Wednesday 14 February 2018.

Recording of Session 2 - Please note that this podcast has been edited to remove some inaudible audience questions. Around the year 30 AD, in an insignificant province of the Roman Empire, a Jewish prophet, teacher and healer met with a shameful and brutal end on a Roman cross. 2,000 years later, this obscure figure has over two billion followers and is acknowledged as the most influential person ever to have walked the earth. As people of faith, we know Jesus through the Gospels. But scholarly enquiry into the historical figure of Jesus has brought new insight and illumination. In this study afternoon we will look at Jesus in his historical context: his Jewish heritage, his message, friends and enemies, his execution, and ask what difference this understanding makes to us as Christians in the 21st century. Professor Helen Bond is Professor of Christian Origins at the University of Edinburgh. She has contributed to a number of BBC TV documentaries, and her books include Jesus: A Very Brief History (SPCK 2017) and The Historical Jesus: A Guide for the Perplexed (T&T Clark 2012). Recorded 10 February 2018.

Recording of Session 1 - Please note that this podcast has been edited to remove some inaudible audience questions. Around the year 30 AD, in an insignificant province of the Roman Empire, a Jewish prophet, teacher and healer met with a shameful and brutal end on a Roman cross. 2,000 years later, this obscure figure has over two billion followers and is acknowledged as the most influential person ever to have walked the earth. As people of faith, we know Jesus through the Gospels. But scholarly enquiry into the historical figure of Jesus has brought new insight and illumination. In this study afternoon we will look at Jesus in his historical context: his Jewish heritage, his message, friends and enemies, his execution, and ask what difference this understanding makes to us as Christians in the 21st century. Professor Helen Bond is Professor of Christian Origins at the University of Edinburgh. She has contributed to a number of BBC TV documentaries, and her books include Jesus: A Very Brief History (SPCK 2017) and The Historical Jesus: A Guide for the Perplexed (T&T Clark 2012). Recorded 10 February 2018.

Why do pilgrims walk so much? What do they learn? And does it do them any lasting good? Sally Welch has been going on pilgrimage for over 20 years and her new book is a guide to the art and practice of pilgrimage through some of the most beautiful and ancient pilgrim routes in the UK and abroad. She will share her experiences and some of what she has learnt about how to go on pilgrimage well including what it has taught her about, among other things, trust, travelling lightly and the joys of companionship. She will also reflect on how insights gained on the journey can be incorporated into the spirituality of everyday life. The Revd Dr Sally Welch is the Vicar of Charlbury in the Diocese of Oxford. Her books include Walking the Labyrinth (Canterbury Press 2013), How to be a Mindful Christian (Canterbury Press 2016), and Pilgrim Journeys: Pilgrimage for walkers and armchair travellers (BRF 2017). Part of St Paul's Adult Learning Department's Sunday Forum series, chaired by the Revd Rosemary Morton, Succentor at St Paul's Cathedral. Recorded 4 February 2018.

Sermon from Sung Eucharist on Friday 2 February 2018, The Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas), by the Reverend Canon Mark Oakley.

The Place Mothers Call Home by Tice Cin - the sixth and final in a series of new poetry for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. For each Sunday from Advent 2017 to Epiphany 2018, six exciting young poetic voices and one emerging digital artist reimagine the story of Christmas. Taking the Biblical text as a starting point, they each retell a story that is both personal and universal, layering it with meaning and peppering it with insight. They bring to life the humans behind a familiar narrative, and enable us to see them, and hopefully ourselves, in a new way.