Canterbury Cast

Canterbury Communications
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Welcome to the official podcast of Canterbury United Methodist Church. Located in Birmingham, AL, Canterbury UMC strives to be a church that offers real grace and real love in the midst of real life. Here you'll find a sampling of sermons and conversations that matter to folks from both inside and outside the walls of Canterbury. We're glad you are here!

  1. Hope in Common: A Beautiful Friendship

    MAR 25

    Hope in Common: A Beautiful Friendship

    In this deeply moving episode of Canterbury Cast, host Haley Smith and Outreach Director Rachel Estes sit down with Jim Proctor and Thomas Edwards to share the story of an unexpected friendship formed through Avondale Samaritan Place. Both Jim and Thomas are walking the difficult road of terminal cancer, an experience few can truly understand. Yet in that shared reality, they’ve found something profound: a bond marked not by fear, but by honesty, companionship, and even joy. As Jim reflects, there’s a level of understanding that only comes from “walking the walk,” and in each other, they’ve found someone who truly gets it. Together, they talk about the simple but meaningful moments that have shaped their friendship: conversations about college football, a first-ever trip to the zoo, shared meals, and the quiet gift of just being present. What began as a connection through Rachel has become, in Thomas’s words, something guided by the will of God. This is a story not just about illness, but about friendship, dignity, and the kind of hope that doesn’t ignore hardship, but meets it with grace.

    18 min
  2. Generosity in Action: The Youth Philanthropy Council

    MAR 11

    Generosity in Action: The Youth Philanthropy Council

    In this episode of Canterbury Cast, Haley Smith sits down with Spencer Otto, Clare Austen Blackmon, and Youth Ministry Coordinator Megan Sumrall to talk about Canterbury’s new Youth Philanthropy Council, a program that invites students to explore generosity in a meaningful and hands-on way. Over the course of several Sunday afternoons, the council learned how philanthropy works, visited local nonprofits, asked difficult questions, and ultimately decided how to distribute $12,000 to organizations serving the community. Along the way, they discovered that giving well requires thoughtful listening, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the needs around them. This conversation highlights how young people at Canterbury are learning to connect faith with real-world action, proving that generosity isn’t just something for the future, but something they are already living out today. What if generosity isn’t just about giving money, but about learning how to listen, discern, and care for a community well?

    18 min
  3. Writing a New Chapter: Rebekah and Carol's Story

    FEB 25

    Writing a New Chapter: Rebekah and Carol's Story

    In this heartfelt episode of Canterbury Cast, host Haley Smith and Outreach Director Rachel Estes sit down with Carol Dickinson and Rebekah Wheelis to share a story that began with a journal and a letter inside a women’s work release program. What started as a simple act of encouragement through Canterbury’s outreach efforts grew into a meaningful friendship that carried through incarceration, release, recovery, and new beginnings. From handwritten notes and book club conversations to reunions at the Lovelady Center and a new career in dental assisting, Carol and Rebekah reflect on the moments, and the people, that shaped their journey. This is a story of connection, second chances, and the quiet ways God weaves lives together through small acts of faithfulness.

    26 min
  4. Beginning the Journey: Ash Wednesday at Canterbury

    FEB 11

    Beginning the Journey: Ash Wednesday at Canterbury

    In this episode of Canterbury Cast, Haley Smith sits down with Senior Pastor Keith Thompson, Rick Owen, and Eleanor Christiansen to talk all things Ash Wednesday and Lent. Together, they unpack what Ash Wednesday means in the life of the Methodist church and why this season begins not with guilt, but with honesty, humility, and hope. From the symbolism of ashes to the purpose of Lent’s 40 days, the conversation offers insight into how this season invites us to slow down, reflect, and remember whose we are. You’ll also hear about the multiple ways Canterbury will observe Ash Wednesday this year, including drive-through ashes, a traditional noon chapel service, and a soulful evening Blues Service in the Canterbury Center. Whether you’ve observed Lent for years or are simply curious about its meaning, this episode offers a welcoming and accessible starting point for the journey ahead. Why would the church begin a season with ashes, and call it good news? What if beginning with ashes isn’t about shame, but about grace, honesty, and the chance to begin again?

    25 min
  5. Spring Bible Reading

    JAN 29

    Spring Bible Reading

    In this episode of Canterbury Cast, host Haley Smith is joined by Matthew Montgomery and Natalie Moon to discuss Canterbury’s Spring Reading initiative. Together, they share the heart behind a church-wide Bible reading plan designed to help the congregation encounter God daily through Scripture, reflection, and simple spiritual practices. Centered on the Gospel of Luke and timed with the season of Lent, this plan invites the whole church to grow together, deepening faith, strengthening community, and learning to live more like Jesus in everyday life. What might change in your faith, and in our church, if we committed to reading Scripture together, one day at a time?

    14 min
  6. Books to Prisons

    JAN 7

    Books to Prisons

    On this episode of Canterbury Cast, host Haley Smith sits down with Shannon Wadlington and Celia Smyly to share the inspiring story of Books to Prisons. Starting in August of 2021 and finding a permanent home at Canterbury in 2022, this outreach has been sending books to incarcerated individuals across Texas and Alabama, and currently sends between 1,000 and 1,200 books each month. Their mission is simple yet profound: to affirm each inmate’s enduring worth and promise through books that enlighten, engage, and comfort. In this conversation, Shannon and Celia reflect on the letters they’ve received, the lives that have been touched, and how this ministry continues to transform both those behind bars and the volunteers who serve. It’s a powerful glimpse of “Real Grace and Real Love, in the midst of Real Life.” How can something as simple as a book remind someone that their mind and spirit are not bound by prison walls?

    27 min
  7. Story Book Christmas

    12/17/2025

    Story Book Christmas

    In this special Christmas Eve episode of Canterbury Cast, host Jeff Nix sits down with Eleanor Christiansen and Rev. Tori Hastings to share the heart behind Story Book Christmas, a family-friendly service where the wonder of the Nativity comes to life in a whole new way. Through colorful puppets, creative storytelling, and plenty of laughter, children are invited to experience the Christmas story with fresh eyes and open hearts. Eleanor and Tori walk us through how this playful retelling helps families connect more deeply with the meaning of Jesus’ birth, reminding us that God’s love meets us in joy, imagination, and childlike faith. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or simply young at heart, this episode offers a glimpse into the magic waiting on December 24 at 1:00 PM in Canterbury Center. Come celebrate the story that changed the world, told in a way your family will never forget.

    19 min
  8. Oh Light: Advent Begins

    12/03/2025

    Oh Light: Advent Begins

    In this special Advent episode of Canterbury Cast, Rev. Keith Thompson welcomes us into the season with an invitation to open our hearts to God’s light. As we begin our Advent series, Oh Light, we explore how divine light breaks into our world, transforms our understanding of God’s presence, and guides us toward hope. This week, Rev. Hill Carmichael preached from Isaiah 2:1–5, where the prophet speaks hard truths to God’s people, but also points them toward a promise. Isaiah reminds us that even in seasons of uncertainty or darkness, God’s light cannot be overcome. Hill shares how this ancient vision still speaks today: calling us to walk in God’s ways of hope, peace, joy, and love as we journey into Advent. If God’s light can never be overcome, what might change in us if we chose to walk toward it, especially in the places that feel most like darkness?

    19 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to the official podcast of Canterbury United Methodist Church. Located in Birmingham, AL, Canterbury UMC strives to be a church that offers real grace and real love in the midst of real life. Here you'll find a sampling of sermons and conversations that matter to folks from both inside and outside the walls of Canterbury. We're glad you are here!

Information

  • Creator
    Canterbury Communications
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Canterbury Cast
  • Show Website
    Canterbury Cast

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