Podcasts by Category

Pray Tell

Pray Tell

Trevor Smale and Tyler Evans
Religion & Spirituality

A podcast about the Anglican tradition and the value it offers to the modern world, hosted by Parishioners at St. Matthew Anglican Church in Abbotsford.

25 - How Important are the Sacraments? | An Anglican Perspective
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  • 25 - How Important are the Sacraments? | An Anglican Perspective

    Why do Anglicans take sacraments so seriously? In this episode of Pray Tell, we explore Holy Communion, baptism, confirmation, anointing, grace, and Christian worship. 

    What is a sacrament? Why do Anglicans celebrate the Eucharist every week? And how do physical signs like bread, wine, water, and oil communicate the grace of God?


    We also look at the meaning of the sacraments in the Anglican Church, why Holy Communion is central to Anglican worship, how baptism and confirmation fit into Christian life, and why Anglican theology holds together the physical and spiritual rather than separating them.

    If you’ve ever wondered what sacraments are, why Anglicans believe they matter, or what happens in Holy Communion, this episode offers a practical introduction to sacramental theology and Anglican Christian tradition.


    // CHAPTERS //


    00:00 - Introduction

    02:10 - Defining a Sacrament

    06:05 - Baptism Across Traditions

    08:41 - Infant Baptism and Dedication

    10:38 - The Centrality of the Eucharist

    16:39 - Understanding Grace and Faith

    22:26 - Views on Eucharist and Real Presence 

    24:25 - Conclusion


    // JOIN US //

    If you’re in the Fraser Valley, we would love to see you on Sunday at 10am.  YOU are welcome here.


    2010 Guilford Drive

    Abbotsford, BC V2S 5R2


    Learn more about St. Matthew Anglican Church

    Website: https://www.abbotsfordanglican.ca/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbyanglican/profilecard/?igsh=OHp3eTJmZHJxcTZj

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbyanglican


    Anglican Church of Canada

    https://www.anglican.ca/


    Listen to the Podcast

    YouTube: @praytellthepod

    Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pray-tell/id1718881539


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/50P2r7jPZoynx9uCLDWc4J?si=e0d227f7f8d44bdc


    // ABOUT ST. MATTHEW //


    St. Matthew Anglican Church is a small parish located in Abbotsford, BC.


    Far too many people have experienced Christianity as constricting. But it does not have to be this way.


    Rooted in the Anglican tradition, we believe that structure creates freedom. Scripture, tradition, and thoughtful reflection are not barriers to faith but tools that help us grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus.


    #AnglicanSacraments #HolyCommunion #Eucharist #AnglicanChurch #ChristianWorship #ChristianFaith #Sacraments

    Fri, 23 Oct 2026 - 25min
  • 24 - The Church Year: How the Church Calendar Points us to Christ

    What is the Anglican liturgical year, and why does the Church organize its life around seasons like Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost?


    In this episode of Pray Tell, Trevor and Al explore the Christian church calendar, the meaning behind the liturgical seasons, and how following the Church year can shape the way we understand time, worship, and the life of Jesus. They also discuss the colours and vestments used throughout the year, why Advent marks the beginning of a new Christian year, and how these repeated rhythms can continue to form us even when worship begins to feel routine.


    The Church year is more than a collection of feast days and traditions. It invites Christians to repeatedly enter the story of Christ, his birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and the ongoing life of the Church, and to allow that story to reshape our own.


    // CHAPTER //

    00:00 Beyond the Robes: Understanding Liturgical Life

    02:54 - Why the Church uses a second calendar

    09:30 - The Liturgical Year is an invitation into the life of God

    14:54 - Vestment Colors and Symbols Across Seasons

    17:56 - Overview of the Liturgical Seasons & 3-Year Lectionary

    25:41 - Impactful Seasons: Holy Week & Christ the King Sunday

    27:46 - Wrapping up


    // JOIN US //

    If you’re in the Fraser Valley, we would love to see you on Sunday at 10am.  YOU are welcome here.


    2010 Guilford Drive

    Abbotsford, BC V2S 5R2


    Learn more about St. Matthew Anglican Church

    Website: https://www.abbotsfordanglican.ca/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbyanglican/profilecard/?igsh=OHp3eTJmZHJxcTZj

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbyanglican


    Anglican Church of Canada

    https://www.anglican.ca/


    Listen to the Podcast

    YouTube: @praytellthepod

    Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pray-tell/id1718881539


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/50P2r7jPZoynx9uCLDWc4J?si=e0d227f7f8d44bdc


    // ABOUT ST. MATTHEW //


    St. Matthew Anglican Church is a small parish located in Abbotsford, BC.


    Far too many people have experienced Christianity as constricting. But it does not have to be this way.


    Rooted in the Anglican tradition, we believe that structure creates freedom. Scripture, tradition, and thoughtful reflection are not barriers to faith but tools that help us grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus.


    #LiturgicalYear #ChurchCalendar #AnglicanChurch #Anglican #ChristianPodcast #ChristianLiving #Christianity

    Thu, 24 Sep 2026 - 32min
  • 23 - From Henry VIII to King Charles | The English Reformation's Enduring Impact

    Was Henry VIII really the reason for the English Reformation? The English Reformation, Protestant Reformation, Henry VIII, the Church of England, and the Book of Common Prayer are often presented as a straightforward story of a king breaking with Rome. But the story is considerably older, and more complicated, than Henry VIII’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon.


    In this episode of Pray Tell, Trevor and Al explore what was really happening beneath the surface of the English Reformation: the influence of the printing press, the growing availability of Scripture in English, the challenge to centralized religious authority, and the idea of the priesthood of all believers.


    Five hundred years after the English Reformation, Anglicans and Catholics are still wrestling with questions of authority, tradition, unity, and what Christians share in common. From Henry VIII and the Book of Common Prayer to King Charles and Pope Leo, the story of the Reformation may have more to say about the Church today than we expect.


    // CHAPTERS //

    00:00 – Intro

    00:56 – Beyond Henry VIII 

    05:19 – Authority and the Body of Christ 

    09:48 – The Book of Common Prayer and Church Hierarchy

    14:00 – Catholic and Anglican Continuity

    19:13 – Can we learn from our history?

    21:54 – Closing thoughts


    // JOIN US //

    If you’re in the Fraser Valley, we would love to see you on Sunday at 10am.  YOU are welcome here.


    2010 Guilford Drive

    Abbotsford, BC V2S 5R2


    Learn more about St. Matthew Anglican Church

    Website: https://www.abbotsfordanglican.ca/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbyanglican/profilecard/?igsh=OHp3eTJmZHJxcTZj

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbyanglican


    Anglican Church of Canada

    https://www.anglican.ca/


    Listen to the Podcast

    YouTube: @praytellthepod

    Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pray-tell/id1718881539


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/50P2r7jPZoynx9uCLDWc4J?si=e0d227f7f8d44bdc


    // ABOUT ST. MATTHEW //


    St. Matthew Anglican Church is a small parish located in Abbotsford, BC.


    Far too many people have experienced Christianity as constricting. But it does not have to be this way.


    Rooted in the Anglican tradition, we believe that structure creates freedom. Scripture, tradition, and thoughtful reflection are not barriers to faith but tools that help us grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus.


    #EnglishReformation

    #HenryVIII

    #ProtestantReformation

    #ChurchOfEngland

    #BookOfCommonPrayer

    #romancatholic

    #christianhistory 

    #anglican

    Thu, 27 Aug 2026 - 23min
  • 22 - Come on Anglicans, Pick a Lane! | Catholic AND Reformed?

    Trevor and Al explore what makes the Anglican Church unique within broader Christianity. They discuss the concept of the "middle road" (Via Media), how Anglicanism balances both Protestant and Catholic roots, and what it truly means to be a "big tent" faith focused on Jesus.


    From the Book of Common Prayer and liturgy to church authority and historical traditions, Trevor and Al share their personal journeys into the Anglican Parish and reflect on creating a welcoming community for all believers.


    Whether you are exploring Anglicanism for the first time, curious about liturgical worship, or seeking to understand the historical connection between Evangelical and Catholic traditions, join the conversation as we look at faith, unity, and scripture.


    // CHAPTERS //


    00:00 - Intro: Do Anglicans need to pick a lane? 

    03:30 - Henry VIII, the English Reformation, and the Middle Road

    07:31 - The Concept of Authority in Anglicanism 

    10:41 - How Anglicans embrace their Catholic and Reformed Roots

    15:51 - Why we joined the Anglican Church

    21:36 - Closing thoughts


    // JOIN US //

    If you’re in the Fraser Valley, we would love to see you on Sunday at 10am.  YOU are welcome here.


    2010 Guilford Drive

    Abbotsford, BC V2S 5R2


    Learn more about St. Matthew Anglican Church

    Website: https://www.abbotsfordanglican.ca/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbyanglican/profilecard/?igsh=OHp3eTJmZHJxcTZj

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbyanglican


    Anglican Church of Canada

    https://www.anglican.ca/


    Listen to the Podcast

    YouTube: @praytellthepod

    Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pray-tell/id1718881539


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/50P2r7jPZoynx9uCLDWc4J?si=e0d227f7f8d44bdc


    // ABOUT ST. MATTHEW //


    St. Matthew Anglican Church is a small parish located in Abbotsford, BC.


    Far too many people have experienced Christianity as constricting. But it does not have to be this way.


    Rooted in the Anglican tradition, we believe that structure creates freedom. Scripture, tradition, and thoughtful reflection are not barriers to faith but tools that help us grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus


    #AnglicanChurch #Anglicanism #Anglican #Christianity #ViaMedia #BookOfCommonPrayer #Liturgy #ChristianFaith #Protestant #LiturgicalWorship #AnglicanParish #ChristianPodcast

    Thu, 06 Aug 2026 - 25min
  • 21 - Who’s Actually in Charge of the Anglican Church? | Pray Tell Podcast

    Who is actually in charge of the Anglican church? When conflicts arise, theology clashes, or culture shifts, who actually has the final say?


    For many, church hierarchy looks like a rigid, top-down corporate ladder. For others, complete independence seems like the ultimate freedom, until a personality clash splits the congregation apart. Is there a third way?


    In this episode of Pray Tell, Trevor and Al pull back the curtain on Anglican church leadership, authority, and the "impossible" balancing act of keeping a global community together. They tackle the messy, fascinating, and often misunderstood reality of how decisions are actually made when the stakes are high.


    // CHAPTERS //


    00:00 – Introduction

    04:15 – The Priesthood of All Believers

    08:30 – Independent Church Authority vs. Hierarchical Church Authority

    13:45 – Accountability, Discipline, and Governance

    19:17 – Same-Sex Blessings and Ordination of Women

    29:58 – Healthy Leadership

    33:39 – Conclusion and Final Thoughts


    // JOIN US //

    If you’re in the Fraser Valley, we would love to see you on Sunday at 10am.  YOU are welcome here.


    2010 Guilford Drive

    Abbotsford, BC V2S 5R2


    Learn more about St. Matthew Anglican Church

    Website: https://www.abbotsfordanglican.ca/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbyanglican/profilecard/?igsh=OHp3eTJmZHJxcTZj

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbyanglican


    Anglican Church of Canada

    https://www.anglican.ca/


    Listen to the Podcast

    YouTube: @praytellthepod

    Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pray-tell/id1718881539


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/50P2r7jPZoynx9uCLDWc4J?si=e0d227f7f8d44bdc


    // ABOUT ST. MATTHEW //


    St. Matthew Anglican Church is a small parish located in Abbotsford, BC.


    Far too many people have experienced Christianity as constricting. But it does not have to be this way.


    Rooted in the Anglican tradition, we believe that structure creates freedom. Scripture, tradition, and thoughtful reflection are not barriers to faith but tools that help us grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus.


    #anglican  #episcopalian  #theology  #churchhistory  #ecclesiology  #ViaMedia #anglicanchurch #ChurchGovernment #christianfaith  #anglicanism

    Thu, 16 Jul 2026 - 35min
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