Nancy Eiesland was born with a congenital bone defect in her hips. By the time she was 13 years old, she had had eleven operations, and realised that pain was always going to be with her. She was a Christian; and as she matured she developed a remarkable ‘take’ on her faith and destiny. She said that she hoped that when she went to heaven she would still be disabled. Her conception of the risen, wounded Jesus as being 'The Disabled God' opens up new opportunities for our understanding of the divine, and our own human condition.

A talk for The Third Sunday of Easter, 18 April 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: 18 April 2021, The Third Sunday of Easter.

Featuring 'My song is love unknown' (Samuel Crossman, 1664), performed by the Easter Hymns Band from ‘20 Favourite Easter Hymns’ (2005), and 'The Servant King' (Graham Kendrick, 1983), performed by The London Fox Choir from ‘Mother's 50 Favourite Hymns’ (2016).

Including my reflection for the day 'The disabled God, living into the resurrection', also available with all my talks at bit.ly/johndavies-talks.

Today let us give thanks for those who ask questions. For those whose curiosity is unbounded by decorum; who follow hunches to reveal wonders; who dare to bridge the gap between their doubts and a truth they are keen to uncover. 

A talk dedicated to the late John Polkinghorne, 'one of the most influential figures in the field of science and religion' who recently died, to the young woman whose question to the Archbishop of York in a station coffee queue inspired Stephen Cottrell's book 'Dear England', and informed by Caravaggio's 'The Incredulity of Saint Thomas'.

A talk for The Second Sunday of Easter, 11 April 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: 11 April 2021, The Second Sunday of Easter.

Featuring 'Morning has broken' (Eleanor Farjeon) performed by Aled Jones from ‘One Voice: Believe’ (2017) and 'Blessed Thomas, doubt no longer' (G.B. Timms) performed by York Minster Choir from ‘Complete New English Hymnal Vol. 1’ (2001).

Including my reflection for the day 'A day to give thanks for the questioners', also available with all my talks at bit.ly/johndavies-talks.

A reflection for Easter Day 2021.

The resurrection of Jesus introduces into the world a new power which opens for us the possibility to imagine new ways, a new life, for ourselves and the world. 'There will be a day of resurrection' is a vision reimagining North West England from the vantage point of Ingleborough's peak. My reworking of 'The Prophet's Speech', in ‘Words From The Late Late Service’, Glasgow 1993 (author uncredited, likely Doug Gay or Andy Thornton). Words: https://johndavies.typepad.com/blog/2021/03/there-will-be-a-day-of-resurrection.html.

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: 4 April 2021, Easter Day.

Featuring 'Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son' (Edmond Budry), performed by the Daily Service Singers from The Best Hymns Album In the World… Ever! (2010), and 'The day of resurrection!' (St. John of Damascus, translator: J. M. Neale), performed by Saint Michael's Singers, Coventry Cathedral from Christ Triumphant (2008).

Including my reflection for the day 'There will be a day of resurrection', also available with all my talks at bit.ly/johndavies-talks.

Palm Sunday is perhaps Jesus’ finest moment of comic genius. It is pure political pantomime, in which Jesus on his donkey poked fun at the pomp of Pilate who was entering Jerusalem himself that same day in all the ostentation of a full military ceremony. Jesus’ burlesque backstreet performance made a very clear statement about his very different take on power and leadership. It’s joyful to see how the spirit of Palm Sunday is alive and well today....

A talk for Palm Sunday, 28 March 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: 28 March 2021, Palm Sunday.

Featuring 'Ride on, ride on in majesty!' (Henry Hart Milman, 1827) performed by Harry Secombe from the collection ‘Titanium Hits’, 2014, and 'The King of glory comes' (Willard F. Jabusch, 1966) written to correspond to PROMISED ONE, an Israeli folk tune, performed by OCP Session Choir from the collection ‘Journeysongs Third Edition: Volume 15’ (2012).

Including my talk for the day, "He put on a panto for Pilate”, available with all my talks at bit.ly/johndavies-talks.

Jesus is teaching how the cross heralds the judgement of the world. At Calvary, the light of the crucified Christ shines brightly on the powers of darkness in the world. This event opens the eyes of more and more people to see the weakness and emptiness of evil in comparison to the strength and completeness of good, and in this way the Crucified One gradually draws all of humanity to himself. As Rudolf Schnackenburg put it, at Calvary, "The ruler of the world encounters the final rejection, loses his sphere of influence, becomes powerless - over those who look up in faith to the crucified Jesus and let themselves be 'drawn' to him.”

A talk for The Fifth Sunday of Lent, 21 March 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: 21 March 2021, The Fifth Sunday of Lent.

Featuring 'Lord of the Dance' (Sydney Carter © 1963 Stainer & Bell). Performed by Shusha, Maddy Prior, Melanie Harrold, John Kirkpatrick, Robert Johnson, Sydney Carter in the collection ‘Lovely In The Dances: Songs Of Sydney Carter’, 1981, and 'When Christ was lifted from the earth' (Brian A. Wren, 2003), performed by song leaders from Granite Bay and Sacramento Central Seventh-Day Adventist Churches,from their online collection ‘Daily Hymns’: https://youtu.be/gkxkF6Hf9Kk.

Including my talk for the day, "I will draw all people to myself”, available with all my talks at bit.ly/johndavies-talks.