Why do people still go to church? There are no shortage of reasons why church might seem like an outdated model for collective Christian worship, so why do they hang around? In this collab episode with the In The Shift podcast, Petra and Michael Frost sit down to talk about the societal and spiritual reasons why churches are still worthwhile, in spite of their spotty history.

If you want to find the full discussion that Petra and Michael had, look for In The Shift wherever you find your podcasts. Find the website here and the Instagram here. An episode of In The Shift we recommend you start with if you're keen to hear more is episode #104 with James Beck, 'Earthiness, Spirituality and Relational Resonance'.

Sacred Texts:

• Quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Excerpt from a Guardian profile of popstar Rosalia

Music:

• Another Scorcher by Christoph El Truento
• Equipoise by Max Roach
• Galvanise by The Chemical Brothers
• FTA by Whitney
• Get Together by The Youngbloods
• Grazing In The Grass by Hugh Masakela
• Just Saying by Jamie xx

In this episode of Sunday Sanctuary, what happens when communities are involved in times of death. Petra Bagust talks to Treza Gallogly, a death doula (think death midwife), about why making plans and involving others helps so much when preparing for death. Producer Sam talks to those involved with the community response to the death of baby Anahera in the Auckland suburb or Onehunga.

Sacred text:

• Late Fragment by Raymond Carver, read by Gabriel Byrne

Music:

• You are the Gold by Terrible Sons
• Sun Rays Like Stilts by Tommy Guerero
• Moonlight on the River by Mac DeMarco
• Last Orders by Richard Hawley
• I Still Hear You by Adrianne Lenker and Buck Meek
• New Grass by Talk Talk
• Tesifa by Laney Tripp

Most of us think we're pretty good at listening. From kids asked to "whakarongo mai" at school, to a one-on-one catch up with a friend, listening can't be that hard, can it? But what changes when the person speaking feels truly heard or understood? And what similarities are there between listening to others, and listening to God?

In this episode, Petra talks to sexologist and relationship coach Meg Cowan about how we can better listen to others. Later on, fan favourite Rev. Spanky Moore returns to share what he has noticed in the years he's spent listening to God, and helping others to do the same. Rev. Frank Ritchie brings a fantastic reflection of Communion, we hear your thoghts during Community Life, and there's top notch waiata/music as always.

Sacred Texts:

- Francis Bebey and the Pygmy Flute

Music:

1. Emotional Intelligence by Chaos in the CBD (played to start Meg's interview)
2. Space 7 by Nala Sinephro (played to end Meg's interview)
3. Man I Need by Olivia Dean
4. Rivers That You Cannot See by North Americans (played during communion)
5. Live for Each Other by Cut Off Your Hands
6. Homeless Wanderer by Emahoy Tsege Maryam Gebru (played at the end)

Bird sound effect: Various_birds_bush_NewZealand_4channel_front.flac by Phistomefel -- https://freesound.org/s/326546/ -- License: Attribution 3.0

Kia ora e te whānau! Petra and producer Sam jump in to say hi after their hiatus. Come for the updates on what they've been up to and the impromtu spelling bee, stay for the wisdom from Nick Cave and Nigel Latta. The first full episode of Sunday Sanctuary will be out on October 19th.

Here is Nick Cave's letter

Here is a link to buy Nigel's book

Songs:

Pray for Me by SAULT (played to end the episode)

While Sunday Sanctuary is on a break, we want to share episodes from podcasts that we think you'll really like. This week: Makers & Mystics.

This episode is from season 13 of Makers and Mystics, "the podcast for the art-driven, spiritually adventurous seekers of truth and lovers of life." In this episode, Stephen Roach and his guest, John Heers, discuss viewing "hospitality as revolution". Big thanks to Stephen for letting us share this episode. If you like what you hear, you can find Makers & Mystics wherever you listen to podcasts.

Makers & Mystics website

Makers & Mystics Instagram

While Sunday Sanctuary is on a break, we want to share episodes from podcasts that we think you'll really like. This week: Ngā Here - The Many Connections.

This episode is the first from season four, of which all the episodes are out now! If you like what you hear, then go and find Ngā Here wherever you listen to podcasts. Big thanks to James for letting us share this episode.

Follow Ngā Here on Instagram

Kia ora! Sunday Sanctuary is on a break until mid-October. Petra's schedule is VERY busy, and so it was decided that Sunday Sanctuary could take a back seat for a little bit. While we are taking a break from releasing normal episodes, we still have different blessings, and episodes of other podcasts that we think are great that we will be sharing with you!

This week, a blessing for what makes us us, from The Lives We Actually Have by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie. Read by Rev Frank Ritchie. The music is Old Peel by Aldous Harding.

Kia tau te rangimārie ki runga i a koutou. As-salamu alaykum. Shalom. Peace is so often something that we wish upon others, and even seek for ourselves. But what do we mean when we talk about peace? Can peace be more than just the absence of conflict, whether that is conflict within us or between people?

In this episode of Sunday Sanctuary, producer Sam talks to spiritual director Shannon Mawdsley, activist Adrian Leason, and the Lead Chaplain of the NZDF, Dave Lacey, to hear how their perspectives on peacemaking align....and how they don't.

Petra then talks to Sunday Sanctuary regular Rev Frank Ritchie. They unpack what St Francis of Assisi meant when he prayed asking God to make him "an instrument of your peace".

Music:

- Mesa Redonda by Hermanos Gutierrez (played between Shannon's and Adrian's interviews)
- Hanoi 6 by Unknown Mortal Orchestra (played between Adrian's and Dave's interviews)
- Nouh Al Hamam by Maryam Saleh (played between Dave's and Shannon's interviews)
- TUMUTUMU MAUNGA by Sanguine (played to end the first half)
- We Got To Have Peace by Curtis Mayfield
- Las Petits Gris by Khruangbin (played during the candle segment)
- Peace Piece by Bill Evans Trio
- Hope by Fat Freddy's Drop (played at the end of the episode)