The tongue is a fire. And it burns to be on the receiving end of people’s enflamed opinions, particularly when they are lazily formed and poorly-informed. An encounter between the son of a gorse-burning farmer and his incomer neighbour illustrates this commonplace countryside occurrence; but also points towards how the tongue, well used, can help put out fires.

A talk for the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity, 5 September 2021.

Find the text to this and all my talks at bit.ly/johndavies-talks.

"How extremely fragile we are. When everything is connected to everything else, problems over there — whether in Suez, Ningbo-Zhoushan, or Wuhan — became problems over here. We really are all in it together, for good or ill. This would not be a problem if we trusted one another, had reasonably aligned values, or had a robust sense of solidarity which could weather the everyday tribulations that come with trade. But we don’t. The paradox of the past 30 years is that, as the world has grown economically closer, it has grown politically apart" - Nick Spencer. 

But that’s not the end of the story; for the good news is that throughout the world there are many people of faith and goodwill who are working hard to feed people in need today - and to point us towards a future when we may not be so dependent on the present global food supply system with its fragility and vulnerability.

A talk for the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity, 5 September 2021.

Find the text to this and all my talks at bit.ly/johndavies-talks.

From Revd John Davies, vicar of Clapham with Keasden and Austwick with Eldroth in the Diocese of Leeds. Prayers and reflections from the Churches Weekly Newsletter in a time of the coronavirus: 5 September 2021, The Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity.

Featuring 'In Christ there is no east or west', John Oxenham, 1908. Performed by the William Appling Singers from Shall We Gather - American Hymns & Spirituals, 2001, and 'Oh the life of the world is a joy and a treasure', Ian Galloway, Kathy Galloway. Performed by St Mary's Cathedral Choir, Glasgow from Coming To Our Senses, 1997.

Including my reflection for the day 'Have faith and sow some seeds', also available with all my talks at bit.ly/johndavies-talks.

From Revd John Davies, vicar of Clapham with Keasden and Austwick with Eldroth in the Diocese of Leeds. Prayers and reflections from the Churches Weekly Newsletter in a time of the coronavirus: 29 August 2021, The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity.

How the founders of the Salvation Army, William and Catherine Booth, exemplified and triumphed in the ‘struggle ... not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.’ (Ephesians 6)

A talk for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, 22 August 2021.

Find the text to this and all my talks at bit.ly/johndavies-talks.

From Revd John Davies, vicar of Clapham with Keasden and Austwick with Eldroth in the Diocese of Leeds. Prayers and reflections from the Churches Weekly Newsletter in a time of the coronavirus: 22 August 2021, The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity.

Featuring 'Amazing Grace', John Newton, 1779, performed by Hayley Westenra from Pure, 2003; 'Goodness is stronger than evil' Words: Desmond Tutu. Arranged by John L. Bell, performed by St Mary’s Cathedral Choir, Glasgow from Coming to our Senses, 1997; and 'Fight the good fight with all thy might', J.S.B Monsell. performed by The Jubilate Singers from How Great Thou Art - Hymns of Praise, 2011. 

Including my reflection for the day 'The Booths and their struggle with the powers', also available with all my talks at bit.ly/johndavies-talks.

In a rapidly-warming world, Wisdom has built her house. Tired of the clamorous conflict between the deniers and the doomsters, people are seeking wisdom in a time of climate change from the indigenous peoples of the earth, who against all odds have maintained their deep, ancient relationships with their historic lands and waters; from the global poor in their practical knowledge of the way the world works; and from the human ecologists making deep connections between flora, fauna and humankind. Scripture's Wisdom literature also helps; as does the wisdom of our own people and place - our own ‘indigenous’ ways, old ways in which we have related to our own soil and each other, those traditional practices on the land and in the home which may have been eclipsed in recent decades by industrial agricultural practices and all the fripperies and distractions of the consumer boom, but which we still value. Making do and mending as an antidote to consuming and discarding. Collaborating as community as an antidote to ploughing on alone. 

A talk for the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity, 15 August 2021.

Find the text to this and all my talks at bit.ly/johndavies-talks.

From Revd John Davies, vicar of Clapham with Keasden and Austwick with Eldroth in the Diocese of Leeds. Prayers and reflections from the Churches Weekly Newsletter in a time of the coronavirus: 15 August 2021, The Eleventh Sunday after Trinity.

Featuring 'Let us with a gladsome mind', John Milton, 1623, performed by the Christmas Choral Society from Christmas Carols - Traditional Favourites, Vol. 4, 2012; 'Take this moment, sign and space', John L. Bell, 1989, performed by John Bell and The Cathedral Singers from Take This Moment, 2000; and 'O Worship the King All Glorious Above ' Robert Grant, 1833, performed by The Cambridge University Brass Ensemble & The Choir of Queens' College, Cambridge from Wedding Hymns, 1999. 

Including my reflection for the day 'In a rapidly-warming world, Wisdom has built her house', also available with all my talks at bit.ly/johndavies-talks.

Being kind to one another is human nature. Contrary to the belief sunk deep into Western thought, that human beings are by nature selfish and governed by self-interest, it is realistic, as well as revolutionary, to assume that people are good. The instinct to cooperate rather than compete, trust rather than distrust, goes right back to the beginning of Homo sapiens. There’s a toughness about kindness just as there is a toughness about love, and about speaking truth in love. To cultivate it requires a prayerful self-awareness and self-discipline. To practice it can transform our world.

A talk for the Tenth Sunday after Trinity, 1 August 2021.

Find the text to this and all my talks at bit.ly/johndavies-talks.

From Revd John Davies, vicar of Clapham with Keasden and Austwick with Eldroth in the Diocese of Leeds. Prayers and reflections from the Churches Weekly Newsletter in a time of the coronavirus: 8 August 2021, The Tenth Sunday after Trinity.

Featuring 'At the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow', Caroline M. Noel, 1870, performed by Swansea Gospel Male Voice Choir from Various Artists: Hymn Makers Gold, 2019; 'To Mercy, Pity, Peace and Love (The Divine Image)', William Blake, performed by Mark Padmore & Nicholas Daniel from Ralph Vaughan Williams: Ten Blake Songs & On Wenlock Edge, 2013; and 'I am the bread of life', written and performed by Suzanne Toolan from Various Artists: Celebrating Our Faith, 1998.

Including my reflection for the day 'Tough kindness: a prayerful practice that can transform our world', also available with all my talks at bit.ly/johndavies-talks.