... We give thanks for those things which God does offstage. The almost unnoticed intrusions into our daily lives, which we may realise in time, change everything.

And we give thanks for those eccentric and stubborn enough to hold on to their hopes in a world which has forgotten how to imagine a different future. 

We give thanks for the old ones who stubbornly insist that despite all evidence to the contrary, God is coming to make things well again… and so spend their days in faithful prayer.

And we give thanks for the young ones who, despite living in a world whose future seems to have been cancelled, a world of extinguished dreams, nevertheless insist on bringing their newborns to their Temples as a sign of hope in the persistence of God. ...

A talk for The Presentation of Christ in the Temple,  Sunday 31 January 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: 31 January 2021, The Presentation of Christ in the Temple.

Featuring 'Like a candle flame' (Graham Kendrick) Performed by Graham Kendrick from the collection ‘The Gift (Make Way for Christmas)’ (1988), and Christ, be our light! ( Bernadette Farrell) Performed by Bernadette Farrell, Frank Brownstead and the Frank Brownstead Choir from the collection ‘Christ, Be Our Light’ (1994).

Including my talk for the day, 'Fresh imaginings: giving thanks for what God does offstage', also available here as a stand-alone podcast.

What happens when we notice that our wine is running out? When, with our glasses quarter-full, we find ourselves shaking the last drops from our bottles, looking around for fresh supplies but seeing only other glasses emptying, every other bottle being drained? And it dawning on us that there is no more wine to be found….? A metaphor for us, ageing, for our religion, failing, or our world, hitting the limits of our excessive consumption? And Jesus not rejecting the old ways but filling them with something new... That's what can happen when our wine runs out...

A talk for The Third Sunday of Epiphany,  Sunday 24 January 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: 24 January 2021, The Third Sunday of Epiphany.

Featuring 'The King of Love my Shepherd is' (Henry Williams Baker, John Bacchus Dykes) performed by Utah State University Chorale, Cory Evans, Ellie Evans, Amelia Merkley & Jeremy Adriano (single, 2019), and 'As man and woman we were made' (Brian Wren) performed by Wendy McLean from the collection ‘Sing Together Alleluia’, 2004.

Including my talk for the day, 'What happens when our wine runs out?', also available here as a stand-alone podcast.

‘Follow me’, says Jesus. ‘Come and see’, say his followers to their friends. That’s the way the Christian faith grows. And, if you look deep into the well of your own faith you may be able to identify who it was who first invited you to ‘Come and see’; and you may be able to recall a moment or moments in your life when you heard Jesus saying ‘Follow me’. ... Who is it that we follow? What are we inviting people to open their eyes to when we tell them, ‘Come and see’? 

A talk for The Second Sunday of Epiphany,  Sunday 17 January 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: 17 January 2021, The Second Sunday of Epiphany.

Featuring 'A Touching Place' and 'The Summons (Will You Come and Follow Me)' both by John L. Bell and Graham Maule of the Iona Community Wild Goose Worship Group, performed by John L. Bell & The Cathedral Singers from the collection 'God Never Sleeps'.

Including my talk for the day, "'Follow Me' ... 'Come and See'", also available here as a stand-alone podcast.

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: 10 January 2021, The Baptism of Christ.

Featuring 'I heard the voice of Jesus Say' (Horatius Bonar) performed by Kathryn Crosweller from her collection 'How Deep the Father's Love for Us' and 'How Firm a Foundation' (Robert Keen) performed by Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band from their collection 'Sing Lustily & With Good Courage'.

Including my talk for the day, 'We draw from deep wells (Come on, Marine!)', also available here as a stand-alone podcast.

An extraordinary FA Cup tie - between the team I supported from childhood, non-league Marine, and the mighty glamorous Tottenham Hotspur, prompts this reflection on the 'deep wells' from which we can draw - and in particular the 'deep wells' of our faith tradition from which the baptised can draw to sustain us in challenging times.

A talk for The Baptism of Christ,  Sunday 10 January 2021.

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

"It feels like the last days of Herod over again. Even down to the greatest threat to the kingdom coming in the form of the smallest, most vulnerable child. Greta Thunberg, who turns 18 years old today, once said of her diagnosis with Asperger's syndrome, OCD and selective mutism, 'That basically means I only speak when I think it's necessary. Now is one of those moments.’ I am so grateful to her for giving up the security of an ordered childhood to expose herself to a disarranged world for the sake of urging our leaders into action."

In the last days of Herod's failing kingdom, the magi risked giving up their security and position to protect the newborn Christ-child. Now in what look to be the last days of our own world-system, we celebrate those who give up so much in the cause of the earth and of human goodwill. 

A talk for The Epiphany,  Sunday 3 January 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: 3 January 2021, The Epiphany.

Featuring 'We Three Kings of Orient Are', 'In Dulci Jubilo' and 'In the Bleak Midwinter' - each performed by  The English Chorale from their album 'Christmas Carols' (2011)

Including my talk for the day, 'Singing new songs at the king's court', also available here as a stand-alone podcast.