Sunday Sanctuary with Petra Bagust – Details, episodes & analysis

Prayer is something found is almost every culture and society in the world. It's so ubiquitous that even some of those who descibe themselves as non-religious or atheist have resorted to prayer at times. In this episode of Sunday Sanctuary, Petra goes looking for answers about the different forms that prayer can take, and what role it can play in our lives. Along the way, she talks to broadcaster and champion of the Māori language, Stacey Morrison, about karakia and inoi. After a short chat with producer Sam, Petra ropes in Strahan Coleman to ask about the role of prayer in deepening our relationship with God.

Haere mai (come along)!!

Sacred Text:

• This scene from the film It's a Wonderful Life

Music:

• A Calf Born in Winter by Khraugbin (played at the end of the intro)
• Instrumental by The Fuzzy Robes (Played at the end of Stacey's interview)
• 2516 by Luna Li (Played just before the ad break)
• I Say a Little Prayer For You by Aretha Franklin
• Wichita Lineman (Instrumental) by   Fatback Band (Played during community life)
• Solar Gap by Hinds (Played during communion)
• Come Ye by Nina Simone
• The Guitar is Dead 3 by Horsegirl (Played to bridge the conversations with Sam and Strahan)
• Just Saying by Jamie xx (Played to end Strahan's interview)
• Those Days by Dal (Played at the end of the episode)

Big thanks to St Paul's here in Auckland for letting producer Sam book a spot in their 24/7 prayer room!

What goals or ambitions do you have? Have you ever thought about the way you're working towards them? In this episode of Sunday Sanctuary, Petra Bagust explores what it might look like to re-define our idea of success. Along the way, she talks to Emily Looker, one half of the band Aro. Producer Sam also introduces Petra to some crazy runners and to Taufa Lavemaau, a boxer who shares his journey towards the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Sacred Texts:

• A clip from an interview with actor Ethan Hawke on the podcast Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
• Prayer Vol. 2 by Strahan Coleman (pages 30 and 31)

Music:

• Actually by Dan Kye (played during the vox pops of Riverhead ReLaps runners)
• Home by @Peace (played to end interview with Taufa)
• Soulful Strut by Young-Holt Unlimited (played just before the ad break)
• A Hero's Death by Fontaines D.C. - Soulwax Remix
• Tezeta by Hailu Mergia (played during the contemplative practice)
• FTA by Whitney (Played to end communion)
• Te Karanga by Aro
• Statue Of A Woman by Novo Amor (played during the benediction)

Sunday Sanctuary is back for 2025! It is such a privilege to make this show and we are stoked to be returning for another year. This episode is just a small one to say hi, check in, and to be a moment for reflecting on 2024 and think ahead about the year to come.

If you like the show, we would love it if you could tell your friends  and family. One way to do this is by recommending a specific episode that you think someone you know might appreciate. 

Music:

• Stormy by Gábor Szabó (played during community life)
• Big Old Blue by Mess Esque (played during contemplative practice)
• Space is the Place by Ezra Collective (played during benediction)

The benediction in this episode is called A Blessing for the Summer We Actually Had by Kate Bowler

In what is becoming something of an annual tradition, join Petra Bagust for a mini Sunday Sanctuary episode made specially for Christmas Eve. Petra is joined in this episode by Michael Frost (church leader and host of the podcast In The Shift). The two talk about how Michael has changed from being "an Easter guy" to being able to embrace Christmas again, in amongst whatever life might be like at the time. Michael also wrote the benediction for the episode, which he shares at the end.

Music:

• O Tannenbaum by The Vince Guaraldi Trio (played during the candle lighting)
• Meri Kirihimete by Erny Belle (played at the end)

You've made it to the end of the year! However you are feeling about the current Advent season and the coming of Christmas, you are welcome to join Petra and producer Sam to reflect on and wrap up Sunday Sanctuary for 2024. Petra and Sam create a mixtape of interview clips that have stuck with them this year, as well as music for your Christmas and summer. There is some space for reflecting on this year and Petra and Sam hear what episodes stuck with listeners this year. Haere mai (come along)!

Music:

• Unforgettable Memories by Mei Dai (first song of the sacred text) 
• House of the Rising Sun by The Animals (second song of the sacred text)
• Something on Your Mind by Karen Dalton (played to end Belle's clip)
• Cruisin' to the Park by Durand Jones & The Indications (played to end Jenny's clip)
• Christmas Time is Here by Khruangbin (played to end Malcolm's clip)
• Muramura by Aro (played just after the ad break)
• Christmas Time is Here by The Vince Guaraldi Trio (played during the time for contemplation)
• Love Will Work it Out by Durand Jones & The Indications (played to end Glenn's clip)
• Take Your Time (Do It Right) by The S.O.S Band (played to end James' clip)
• Marilyn by Mount Kimbie (played to end Te Karere's clip)
• Follow My Voice by Julie Byrne (played to end Peter's clip)
• Magic Spell by This is The Kit (played to end Spanky's clip)
• The Light by Group Listening and Cate Le Bon (played to end Ann's clip)
• O Come O Come Emmanuel by Sufjan Stevens (played during the benediction)

Petra and Sam's recommendations:

Books - The Mermaid Chronicles by Megan Dunn and Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Albums - Blue Dreams by Holly Arrowsmith and Midday Prayers by The Fuzzy Robes

Films - Never Look Away by Lucy Lawless and Calypte: A Sailing and Surfing Voyage by Torren Martin and Ishka Folkwell

Places to explore - the North Island town of Waipu and Dublin Bay outside of Wānaka

How would you describe your sense of connection with nature? Is it something you think about very often? One way or another, we are all part of the larger eco-system on this planet, and as such, we have a role to play within it. 

In this episode of Sunday Sanctuary with Petra Bagust, dive into the beginning of an exploration into how we connect with nature. Up first, Petra sends producer Sam to meet his friend Nat Duchesne, National Youth Camps Director for Scripture Union New Zealand, to ask about her special connection with nature and how she introduces groups of teens to the outdoors. Kerry Manders is the second guest in this episode, telling the story of the intentional choices she made to more closely intertwine her everday life with nature. Stick around for a poem by Wendell Berry, voice memos from people around Aotearoa/New Zealand and a liturgy for sunsets. Our hope is that this episode helps with your own thinking on your relationship with nature and how that then plays out in your life.

Sacred Texts:

Before Dark by Wendell Berry

Music:

The Homeless Wanderer by Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru (Played during Wendell Berry's poem)
Space is the Place by Ezra Collective (Played at the end of Nat's interview)
Beautiful Day by Voom
Low Tides by Christoph El Truento (Played during Community Life)
Cinquante Six by Ali Farka Toure (Played during Communion)
Mother Nature's Son by The Beatles
Climb by Laura Misch (Played at the end of Kerry's interview)
Space 1 by Nala Sinephro (Played during the Liturgy for Sunsets)

Sound Effects credits:

Woodland Stream March 2016.wav by plantmonkey -- https://freesound.org/s/376709/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

woodland_kingfisher.wav by soundbytez -- https://freesound.org/s/114450/ -- License: Attribution 3.0

White throated Kingfisher.wav by genghisattenborough -- https://freesound.org/s/28110/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

tui carnival.aif by tollbooth -- https://freesound.org/s/124935/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bush Atmos 04 - Walking.flac by GammaScorpii -- https://freesound.org/s/252802/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Sunday Sanctuary has teamed up with the Makers and Mystics podcast to bring you this episode on reclaiming wonder! Stephen Roach from Makers and Mystics is Petra's guest on this episode of Sunday Sanctuary as they explore the different ways that noticing the small wonders of the world can re-open, restore and change lives. Petra and Stephen look at finding wonder largely through the lens of creativity, but no matter how creative you're feeling today, this episode is a calm, wonder-chasing sanctuary for you. 

For those of you who want to delve deeper into Petra and Stephen's conversation, an extended cut will appear in the Makers and Mystics podcast feed on November 13th. For any Makers and Mystics listeners who have come to Sunday Sanctuary, kia ora/hello! It's great to have you here.

Haere mai! (Welcome/Come along!)

Sacred texts:

• 'The mystery of tea' scene from the film After Yang (a great film, especially for fans of cosy sci-fi which looks at themes of memory and family)
• 'The Summer Day' poem by Mary Oliver (read by Mary Oliver at The 92nd St Y)

Music:

• Weird Little Birthday Girl by Happyness (played during intro)
• Stormy by Gabor Szabo (played to end the first part of Stephen's conversation)
• Red Lit Room by Holly Arrowsmith
• Space is the Place by Ezra Collective (played during Community Life)
• The Sea Has Spoken by Songs of Water (This is Stephen's band! Played during the contemplative moment)
• Summer's End by Julie Byrne (played during communion)
• Movement 6 and Movement 7 by Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra
• Slider (Lorenzo Saxophone Dub) by This Is The Kit (played at the end of Stephen's conversation)
• Vanity by Mica Levi (played during the benediction)

Considering the number of people who are constantly chasing after contentment, you'd think someone would have found a tried and true formula by now, right? Unfortunately, it seems we need to keep looking, if such a formula even exists (which after making this episode of Sunday Sanctuary seems increasingly unlikely).

Trusting in a comment he once heard that it's more interesting to hear from someone still working it out as opposed to someone on the other side, producer Sam steps forward to share some of his wrestle with contentment. Sam introduces Petra to his friend Cole and the two have a conversation about finding contentment in the midst of their very different lives.

Later on, Petra talks with Rev. Spanky Moore about what he has learnt and noticed about contentment. Spanky charts his journey from playing in a punk band and through his radio career before landing up as an Anglican priest and tells Petra about one life-changing conversation he had at age 25. 

Haere mai!

Sacred texts:

• 'The Dude abides' scene from The Big Lebowski
• 'Alleyway conversation' scene from Before Sunrise (an incredible film!)

Music:

• Take Five by Dave Brubeck (played during Sam's boat story)
• East Cape by Headland (played during Sam's boat story)
• Le Petits Gris by Khruangbin (played during Sam and Cole's conversation)
• Sun Rays Like Stilits by Tommy Geurrero (played at the end of Cole's conversation)
• Actually by Rozi Plain
• (Can't Get No) Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones (played during communion)
• Getting to Me by Caroline Rose
• Anchin Kfu Ayinkash by Hailu Mergia and the Dhalak Band (played at the end of Spanky's conversation)
• memory as miniatures by Rachika Nayar (played during the benediction)

For a practice with a long history in legal and religious settings, on this episode of Sunday Sanctuary, Petra Bagust goes looking for the benefits of bringing confession into more regular, everyday use. What difference would it make to more regularly put words to what is actually going on for us? Or as Petra puts it, "making our insides match our outsides."

Come along as Petra talks to Grace McArthur for our reccuring segment, Atlas of the Heart. Grace and Petra unpack the wisdom from Brené Brown's book of the same name, this time having a look at the chapter on vulnerability

Later on in the episode, Petra talks to Dr Michael Frost. Michael started out in the field of biomedical science before he change tack to get a PhD in theology. Michael also leads a small church in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland called Edge and hosts the podcast In the Shift.

Sacred texts:

• 20 priests clip from the film Spotlight (not always an easy watch but highly recommended viewing)

Music:

• I Think I Love You by The Partridge Family (played during the intro)
• Come Live with Me by Dorothy Ashby (played at the end of Grace's interview)
• Confessions by Usher
• Doing the Wrong Thing by Kaki King (played during communion. You might recognise this song from the movie Into the Wild)
• Sensory Memory by Jen Cloher
• Just Saying by Jamie xx (played during Michael's interview)
• Instrumental by The Fuzzy Robes (played during the benediction)

What do you do to feel most connected with God? One way that many of us grew up with is the idea of 'quiet time' where you physically sit still and quiet. While there is still value in this practice (just ask friend of the show Strahan Coleman), this is something that many struggled with growing up and, in actual fact, there are many ways to connect with God.

Join Petra Bagust in this special episode recorded live in the Coromadel at the Love It Media staff retreat. Petra first talks to senior producer, Josh Couch, who breaks down the nine different paths of connection as identified by Gary Thomas in his book Sacred Pathways.

After some time to think, Petra then hears from different members of the Love It Media staff team, who offer a mix of funny and poignant stories about the different ways they feel connected to God. To wrap it all up, Sunday Sanctuary's very own Rev Frank Ritchie leads communion (which you're welcome to join in with from home) and Petra finishes off with another benediction from Kate Bowler and Jessica Ritchie. Join us!

Sacred Texts:

• Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas
• C. S. Lewis quote from his book Miracles

Music:

• Pine Trees by Mary Lattimore (played at end of Josh's interview)
• Make that Connection by Tom Petty
• Frolic by Jake Xerxes Fussell (played during the time for contemplation)
• Blue in Green by Miles Davis (played during communion)
• Collect for Midday by The Fuzzy Robes
• Summer's End by Julie Byrne (played to end the episode)