Subscribe to this blog's RSS feed
Dave Hop

Dave Hop

Contemporary Bible Communicator

Once More

(Also called The Magic of Belle Isle) Monte is a washed up, angry writer, who moves to a house next door to Charlotte and her three daughters. The middle child, …

Jesus

Jesus made God visible and approachable, he was there when there was nothing, he was the beginning of all life. He was the spark of the big bang, the one …

Imagine That

If you look up Paint. A Short Lego Film by Jon Rolph on YouTube, you will find a remarkable short movie. Jon recreates a painting by Mondrian, without any paint. …

Resurrection People

Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She glanced over her shoulder and saw someone standing behind her. It was Jesus, …

Easter Day by James Clarke

It is the evening of the Day of Resurrection. “We left too soon! Let us in! It’s Cleopas! Let us in! We have seen him! He is alive! “Quiet, Cleopas.. …

Palm Sunday Interactive Story

With Palm Sunday coming soon, here’s an interactive version of the happening that day. Teach the congregation the following responses and invite them to join in, as you tell this version of …

Four Stories by James Clarke

Mary’s mother tells the Rabbi the most amazing tale: (for The Annunciation) “Rabbi, it had been a lovely spring day, good to be able to work outside with the other …

Ecclesiastes Way

I keep seeing an old rugged cross, Something about gain, something about loss, Sometimes it shimmers with diamond glory, Sometimes there is blood, and another story. It keeps showing up, …

Lent Prep

His last few days, his last few jobs. That chair, and the damaged roof across the way. Maybe one or two unexpected walk-ins, folk discovering sudden emergencies. And then he’ll by up …

Masks

We play hide and seek with others, But there is no hiding with you. And what if that’s a good thing, Something kind and honest, accepting and new. To be …

Reasons to Believe

That sacred space within us, That gentle humming reverence inside, That warm smile offered, That longing for a better world. That glimpse of winter sun, That sense that we were …

Two More Christmas Monologues by James Clarke

The Centurion “Now, Centurion, I want you to take your Cohort into Bethlehem tonight.  Right into the heart of the town, they’re a rebellious lot anyway, and with this Imperial …

The Village Rabbi Worries by James Clarke

“I really wish I could have gone with them. I know I could have helped them. I can’t, I have to register here for this awful Roman census, unlike Joseph …

Been working on a new book

Out now – Man of Joy & Sorrow. A new book full of thoughts, rewritten Bible bits, and creative pieces for reflecting on the life of Jesus. How grounded and …

Latest News

Hello, and thanks for visiting my site. There are loads of creative thoughts and pieces here, please feel free to draw on them, share them, make use of them if …

Film Friday: Blinded by the Light

There is a moment in this movie when Javed gives a heartfelt speech about his passion for writing and for the music of Bruce Springsteen, and for the love he …

A story with responses: Love is patient

A responsive reading. Ideal for assemblies, all-age worship and Sunday schools. A single narrator reads the following piece while the audience joins in with the responses whenever they hear the …

#Signs

#Shelter Be our shelter please, our comfort and calm. Be our shield, our place of strength and safety, our source of help and inspiration. Our means of going on, and …

A Story for Candlemas

by James Clarke ‘Hello I’m Jacob, one of the volunteers here in Jerusalem’s great Temple.  I guide people to the right places, stop some going where they shouldn’t, only a …

Jimmy and the White Christmas

Jimmy Deal looked at the chalk in his hand, twisted it in his fingers, almost dropped it as he did so. Outside the rain was tapping at him on the …

Nativity Drama

A simple Nativity Drama in various scenes which could be acted live, presented as a reading using a group of voices, or presented to camera and filmed for sharing. You …

A Penny for Them

Penny for the guy, we used to cry, Though we had no idea why. It was just a night to set things alight, Without knowing much about Guy.   His …

A Thought on Unexpected Encounters

I look out on our back garden and see a pink slide, a half-open, poo-strewn guinea pig hutch, a deflating beach ball, and a grubby upended paddling pool. It’s all …

On Music and Musicians

It’s been a week of news on music and musicians. Just today I’ve been reading about a new album by Gerry Rafferty, compiled and produced by his daughter Martha, 10 …

For Pentecost: A Very Special Festival

Pentecost 2021 A Very Special Festival by Rev H James Clarke We had come down from Damascus for the Festival of Weeks…. we went into the city early because we …

Barbed Wire Faith

There’s a figure here in no man’s land, Always present, and forever at hand, Unafraid of the cratered haze, Understands our difficult days. Knows riots and howls and the lives …

Knockin’

Father take this cup from me, Yet not my will be done but yours, This sacrifice – it weighs on me, This call to open heaven’s door. They’ll nail me …

Nine Witness Stories for Holy Week

Nine Witness Stories for the days of Holy Week, 2021 By James Clarke These stories were commissioned by Hereford Diocese for their Holy Week Internet project. Shared with permission. + …

For Easter: The Son

Heat, bugs, and temptation, 40 days, the pressure on, then Starts his mission, jampacked, A rollercoaster that’s a fact. Stories, wisdom, healing… A man down through the ceiling, Meets a …

Monday Rewrite: About Monsters

There are monsters, often small, but they cast a large shadow. Outlines that stalk us through the hours, down the corridors of the years. Wearing us down, eating into our …

Christmas Story: A Snowy Night

There was a chilly bite in the air as I walked further up the hill. As if I was being wrapped in a blanket that had come straight out of …

Tuesday Extra: A Tale of the Unexpected

It’s hard to concentrate at the moment, half the time I don’t know if I’m hammering or chiselling. My head’s like a maze of endless corridors, the thoughts going round …

A new reflection: Trust

A new video from Simeon Wood and myself. A reflection on the theme of Trust…   To know peace for the day’s travelling, For the mountains we must climb, And …

I believe, help me…

Taking some time out from my usual creative posts this week I read a little of Pete Greig’s book God on Mute, and it led me to reflect again on the …

Jaws for Thought

A lighthearted tail of something or nothing. Barely an anecdote really, yet also about fears we hold and the way talking with another can sometimes help… The great fish moved …

A Few Thoughts on Pentecost

A talk given in this recent online service for Roundswell church – to see the whole service click here.

Ascension Reflection

A reflection on the moment when Jesus says goodbye to his friends, affirms them and promises the help of God’s Holy Spirit, by Simeon Wood and myself…

This Easter

A new telling of the Easter account. Music by Simeon Wood. This Easter (The narrative) They gather, talk, eat, squabble, the usual things. Have no idea what’s around the corner. …