After 10 years of experimenting with a monthly multimedia worship service in 2007 we took a year out to reflect and consider how we can best re-engage our experience and expertise in this area.

We’ve come up with a concept that we think could be used my a much wider alliance of Christians to help connect a lost generation to faith in Christ. Let me know what you think. If this concept is something that might inspire you we’d be interested in hearing from you. We’re looking for writers and film makers.
So let me tell you about the Sanctuary First.

The name Sanctuary First is a reminder that we will meet on the first Sunday in the month. However it has deeper meaning, it is a call to put Worship first in our busy lives. Here is a summary of our recently published leaflet. I also include a song specially written by Johnny and myself for the project. I delighted that Iain J amieson has recorded a demo version for us. SANCTUARY FIRST
At Sanctuary First we have already explored and commissioned a pilot scheme where 10 ministers and writers around Scotland contributed to an eight part media based service entitled “On the Street”. Sanctuary First is now building on that experience.
We aim to capture a wider community who don’t attend traditional worship services but who are looking for a faith community that will engage them in creative worship and lead them into deeper discipleship

Sanctuary First is an alternative worship service, designed to challenge all who attend to make worship a priority in their daily lives, by offering a place on the web that will be known as a sanctuary in cyberspace. We ask that they will set aside, time on a daily basis to worship. Then on the first Sunday of the month to Worship with us at “Sanctuary First” in various venues around the country.

At Sanctuary First we see the power of the internet to communicate the message of the Gospel. We will use this medium to keep in touch with each other through emails, texts, blogs and weekly worship podcasts designed to promote Christian discipleship.

At Sanctuary First in everything we do we will aim for excellence.

At Sanctuary First we welcome anyone who comes. No one will ever be turned away.

At Sanctuary First we aim to celebrate the ancient truths of the Christian faith by honouring the Holy Scripture and interpreting it for our time.

At Sanctuary First we have a world vision to help in small ways to bring about peace and justice in our sphere of influence and bring relief to the poor and the needy. We will actively involve each other in practical ways to bring about this vision.

At Sanctuary First we will aim to share a passion for worship with all who attend. However, all who attend must be free to worship with integrity.

At Sanctuary First we believe that everyone has a longing to know God. There is no one too young or too old, too cool or too sad to worship with passion. All of us come empty looking to be filled.

At Sanctuary First we want to live out creative worship. This means we write our own worship material and sing our own worship songs as well as embracing the worship styles of other Christian Communities. (We wish to continue to engage with writers and and creative worship leaders)

At Sanctuary First there will always be a variety of worship styles, we will integrate the ancient with the post-modern. We will worship with multimedia and with non- technological media.

At Sanctuary First we want to be a Community of radical compassionate Christian disciples who seek to inspire each other to live holy lives.