Lent Prep
Thu 16 February 2023
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 …
Dave Hop
Contemporary Bible CommunicatorJesus and The Blind Man (John 9 v 1-16) – a simple drama
Sun 12 February 2023
Cast – Narrator, Jesus, blind person, a couple of friends, two disciples, a couple of locals, two Pharisees This drama needs no rehearsals, just volunteers on the day who are …
Masks
Thu 26 January 2023
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 …
A short interview about my book Man of Joy & Sorrow
Mon 16 January 2023
You can hear a short interview I gave on UCB1 radio recently here. Interview with UCB1’s Helen Price. And you can see this and other features on Helen’s UCB1 page …
Sanctum
Tue 10 January 2023
Reasons to Believe
Wed 4 January 2023
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
Mon 19 December 2022
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
Tue 13 December 2022
“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 …
A short thought inspired by All Quiet on the Western Front
Fri 11 November 2022
The new version of All Quiet on the Western Front highlights once more the incredible courage and bravery of the soldiers on the front lines in WW1. The terrible conditions they endured …
Been working on a new book
Tue 18 October 2022
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
Thu 19 May 2022
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
Fri 8 April 2022
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
Sun 13 February 2022
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
Fri 28 January 2022
#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
Fri 28 January 2022
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
Wed 15 December 2021
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
Thu 9 December 2021
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
Fri 5 November 2021
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
Sun 19 September 2021
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
Sat 4 September 2021
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 …