i-Llan: connecting faith, life and scripture
Thoughts about life, faith and scripture, often prompted by the Bible readings set for the Sunday but taking a ‘sideways look’ that you might not get in a church sermon.
Why i-Llan? Well, I am based in Wales and a Llan is the enclosure where a group of Welsh Christians would gather in community, living and worshipping together. And i- for the virtual community of the internet.
Episodes
59 episodes
i-Llan: 20th April 2025 – Easter joy in difficult times
Can we sing the Easter Alleluia when we aren't feeling like it?
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Season 2025
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Episode 16
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4:46
i-Llan: 13th April 2025 – a reflection for Palm Sunday
A reflection on welcome and the practice of gladness.The Palm Sunday readings are here.You can read Malcolm Guite’s reflection and sonnet for Palm Sunday, which speaks...
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Season 2025
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Episode 15
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7:33
i-Llan: 6th April 2025 – a Passionate God and a Heart of Suffering
A reflection for Passion Sunday on the meanings of passion.Readings for the Sunday are:Isaiah 43. 16-21Philippians 3. 4b-14John 12. 1-8You can read them here....
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Season 2025
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Episode 14
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7:18
i-Llan 30th March 2025 – The God who Mothers us
Thoughts on Mothering Sunday about God as Mother.The readings for Mothering Sunday are: Exodus 2. 1-10 or 1 Samuel 1. 20-28 Psalm 34. 11-20 or 127. 1-4 2 Corinthians 1. 3-7 or Colossians 3. 12-17 L...
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Season 2025
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Episode 13
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6:45
i-Llan: 23rd March 2025 – God's invitation to a dissatisfied world
Lent's invitation to take a fresh look at ourselves.The checklist for self-examination, referred to in the podcast is from St Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, chapter 13 verses 4 - 7: 14 ways to recognise love.<...
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Season 2025
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Episode 12
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8:06
i-Llan: 16th March 2025 – Trusting God in a Tangled World
Reflection on trusting God prompted by the readings for the second Sunday in Lent.Genesis 15. 1-12, 17, 18Psalm 27Philippians 3.17 -- 4.1Luke 13. 31-35This Sunday’s readings are
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Season 2025
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Episode 11
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6:54
i-Llan: 9th March 2025 – The Temptations of Power
A reflection on Jesus's temptations and two attitudes which can help defend us in times of temptation.The Bible readings which prompted the reflection are:Deuteronomy 26. 1-11Romans 10. 8b-13Luke 4. 1-13You can read them ...
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Season 2025
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Episode 10
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7:08
i-Llan: 2nd March 2025 – Fragments that alter the world
Thoughts on the Sunday before Lent.The links referred to are:From 2022 https://www.alisteningspace.org.uk/illan2022-02-27/From 2023
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Season 2025
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Episode 9
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6:33
i-Llan: 23rd February 2025 – Thoughts on Creation Sunday
At the end of a stormy week, a reflection on the story of Jesus calming a storm and asking, 'where is your faith?'The Sunday readings referred to are:Genesis 2. 4b-9, 15-25Luke 8. 22-25They, and the full text of the collect p...
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Season 2025
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Episode 8
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6:20
i-Llan: 16th February 2025 – A prayer for discipline and discernment
A reflection on the week's collect:Almighty God, who alone can bring order to the unruly wills and passions of sinful humanity: give your people grace so to love what you command and to desire what...
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Season 2025
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Episode 7
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6:53
i-Llan: 9th February 2025 – an traditional prayer for help in troubled times
A reflection on a prayer attributed to Martin LutherO God, you know us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: gra...
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Season 2025
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Episode 6
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5:02
i-Llan: 2nd February 2025 - St Brigid, Candlemas, spring cleaning and the importance of play
The feasts of St Brigid and Candlemas prompt thoughts on spring cleaning and the importance of play.The readings are:Malachi 3. 1-5Hebrews 2. 14 - 18Luke 2. 22 - 40You can find them
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Season 2025
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Episode 5
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7:57
i-Llan: 26th January 2025 – Liberty or law?
In the bible passages which many churches will read this Sunday, we have three snapshots of communities in different places and different eras negotiating their way between liberty and law, and being challenged by love. At the heart of ...
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Season 2025
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Episode 4
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8:03
i-Llan: 12th January 2025 – The Baptism of Jesus
A reflection on the power of God and how, in the season of Epiphany, the church focusses on Jesus revealed as 'God with us' in human life.The readings referred to are:Isaiah 43. 1 - 7Luke 3. 15 - 17, 21 - 22.The words to...
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Season 2025
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Episode 2
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7:24
i-Llan: 5th January 2025 – January pathways – Wisdom for the journey
A reflection on wise ways to plan for the year ahead.You can read the podcast with some additional material on https://www.alisteningspace.org.uk/i-llan-2025-01-05/...
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Season 2025
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Episode 1
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6:42
i-Llan: 22nd December 2024 – a Solstice Magnificat
A call to mark the winter solstice by echoing Mary's song of rejoicing--the Magnificat.The Sunday's bible readings are:Micah 5. 2-5aHebrews 10. 5-10Luke 1. 39-45, [46-55]You can read them
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Season 2024
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Episode 44
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4:21
i-Llan: 15th December 2024 – what does it mean to rejoice?
On the third Sunday of Advent, the theme is Rejoice! What does that mean?The readings for the Sunday are:Zephaniah 3. 14 - 20Philippians 4. 4 - 7John 3. 7 -1 8You can read them
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Season 2024
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Episode 43
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5:42
i-Llan: 1st December 2024 – If I knew you were coming . . .
At the beginning of Advent, I wonder: 'If I knew Jesus was coming, what would I do?'The readings for the fist Sunday of Advent 2024 are:Jeremiah 33. 14-161 Thessalonians 3. 9-13Luke 21. 25-36and you can find them a...
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Season 2024
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Episode 41
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5:15
i-Llan: 24th November 2024 – Is God in Charge?
Reflections on the Feast of Christ the King.The readings referred to are:Daniel 7. 9-10, 13, 14Revelation 1. 4b-8John 18. 33-37You can read them here...
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Season 2024
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Episode 40
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6:17
i-Llan: 17th November 2024 - Can we know the future?
Thoughts about telling the futureThe Sunday readings which prompted these thoughts were:Daniel 12. 1-3Hebrews 10. 11-14, [15-18,] 19-25 Mark 13. 1-8you can find them
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Season 2024
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Episode 39
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9:42
i-Llan: 10th November 2024 – Does God change his mind?
The story of Jonah begs the question, 'does God change his mind?'The Sunday's readings which prompted the reflection were:Jonah 3. 1-5, 10 Hebrews 9. 24-28Mark 1. 14-20and an extract from
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Season 2024
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Episode 38
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7:15
i-Llan: 3rd November 2024 – Listen!
Listening to the two great commandments that Jesus taught.The readings for the Sunday were:Deuteronomy 6. 1-9Hebrews 9. 11-14Mark 12. 28-34
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Season 2024
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Episode 37
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5:13
i-Llan 13th October 2024 – Inner freedom and the captive heart
The first principle and foundation of St Ignatius of Loyola offers helpful advice on how to respond to the story Mark's gospel tells of a man who asks Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life and is told sell everything he owns.T...
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Season 2024
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Episode 34
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8:04
i-Llan 5th October 2024 – a story about the moon prompts thoughts about reciprocity
A story about the moon prompts thoughts about how the universe is interconnected and humans are part of the natural world. In the season of harvest festivals, gratitude prompts the wish to reciprocate by 'paying forward' our blessings ...
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Season 2024
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Episode 33
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7:19