Rev. Dave: From Wensleydale

'Building Church Together' Part 2 Working in Unity As the Benefice prepares for moving into a vacancy, Rev Dave & Sarah reflect upon what Paul and Jesus teach us about successful team work. Romans 12:3-18, Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) This recording was made at the 10:30 Benefice Family Communion service 'The Gathering' at St Oswald's Church in Askrigg on Sunday July 5th, 2026 Fi...

Rev Dave considers the topic every human on the planet has to deal with and teaches some simple strategies to help do so. Romans 6: 12-end, Ps.89, Mtt.10:40-end This recording was made at the 10:30 Communion service in St Oswald's Church, Askrigg on June 28th, 2026 Find out more about us: ⁠⁠⁠http://upperwensleydalechurch.org/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/upperwensleydalechurch⁠⁠⁠ Upper Wensl...

Fathers Day: Jesus reveals what a real Father looks like through the Parable of the Prodigal Son and throws us the question ... which of the two brothers are you most like? Luke 15:11-32 This recording was made at the 9am Communion service at St Mary and St John's Church in Hardraw on Sunday June 21st, 2026 Find out more about us: ⁠⁠⁠http://upperwensleydalechurch.org/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.faceboo...

In a world where so many feel empty and lonely and search for meaning and hope, Jesus calls us to the work of sharing God's love to everyone who crosses our path. He tells us that 'The Harvest is Plentiful' .. in other words: "There's allus sommat to be doing!" Rev Dave reflects on the words of Jesus and of Pope Benedict XVIth Matthew 9:35-10:8-23 This recording was made...

The 'Askrigg Friendly and Benevolent Society' celebrate their 217th anniversary with Rev Dave in St Oswald's Church, Askrigg. This is the full recording of the service. A recording of the reflection on its own, 'Dictum Meum Pactum', can be found separately. Entry Music, Welcome, Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer, Reading, Reflection, Prayers, Jerusalem, Blessing, Exit Music Organi...

'Building Church Together' Part 1 We're all called to be involved. Rev Dave reflects on what's been taking place in Upper Wensleydale and what we can learn from Nehemiah's experience of team work. Nehemiah 2&3 This recording was made at the 10:30 Family Communion service 'The Gathering' at St Oswald's Church in Askrigg on Sunday June 7th, 2026 Find out more abou...

Truth and Trust in our modern world - Who and What? Rev Dave shares some thoughts with the men of the 'Askrigg Friendly and Benevolent Society' at their 217th annual service of Thanksgiving in St Oswald's church in Askrigg. Psalm 34:8-14 The recording was made on Thursday June 4th, 2026 Find out more about us: ⁠⁠⁠http://upperwensleydalechurch.org/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/upperwe...

Rev Dave reflects on the meeting between the Jewish religious leader Nicodemus and how it speaks to us today. This recording was made on Sunday May 31st, 2026 (Trinity Sunday) at the 9am BCP Communion Service in St Margaret's Church in Hawes. Find out more about us: ⁠⁠⁠http://upperwensleydalechurch.org/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/upperwensleydalechurch⁠⁠⁠ Upper Wensleydale Church - CofE

Pentecost Sunday: When the promised Holy Spirit of God filled the disciples with power and supernatural gifts, the crowds responded: "What does this mean?" Considering the Old Testament prophecy of Joel, Rev Dave reflects on what it means for us to have the power of Heaven available to us, Today! Acts2:1-21, John20:19-23 This recording was made at the 10:30 Communion service in St Oswald...

What are you like at waiting? For Christians, waiting is never meant to be passive but full of activity ... full of prayer! Rev Dave reflects upon what this waiting might look like and shares a powerful testimony from personal experience. 'Prayer is where the action is!' Acts 1:6-14, John 17:1-11 This recording was made at the 9am Communion service in the church of St Mary & St John in...

In 2002 the Secretary of Defence for the USA, Donald Rumsfeld famously said that there are: "Known knowns; known unknowns and unknown unknowns".   Which of these statements reflects your understanding of Jesus? You know Him personally, you know of Him or you don't know Him at all?                                                  Rev Dave reflects upon how the words and actions of St...

We all build our lives on something ... the Bible speaks to us about building our life on Someone. Rev Dave reflects on the importance of the 'Cornerstone' in a building and the invitation to make Jesus the 'Cornerstone' in our lives. What happens when we do? What happens when we don't? Isaiah 28:14-18, 1 Peter2:4-8 This recording was made at the 10:30 Benefice Communion (The G...

We've known him for millennia as 'Doubting Thomas' but is that fair? Rev Dave explores how we might benefit from being more like Thomas and allow doubt to lead us into freedom! John 20:19-end. This recording was made at the 10:30 Communion service in St Margaret's Church, Hawes on Sunday April 12th, 2026. Find out more about us: ⁠⁠⁠http://upperwensleydalechurch.org/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://w...

Easter Sunday Matthew 28:1-10 Easter Sunday is the very focal point of the Christian faith - 'He is not here ... He is Risen! ... just as He said He would' said the Angel to the two astonished Mary's - God keeps His word. Because God keeps His word we can have and receive HOPE. Rev Dave reflects upon the events of that very first Easter morning; what happened and what does it mean for...

Palm Sunday The crowd cheered Jesus into Jerusalem with a feverish expectation - 5 days later they screamed for his execution. Crowds change us. Rev Dave reflects upon the events of Palm Sunday - what do we expect from Jesus? What are we hiding from Him? What needs turning the right way up in our lives? ... Where are we in the crowd? Matthew 21:1-13 This recording was made at the 10:30am Benefice...

Have you ever felt disappointed with God's Timing ? Have you ever felt Overwhelmed by Grief and Confusion and wanting to be led back into the light? Have you ever felt Trapped by something that seems to be impossible to escape and break free from? Then this message is for you. Rev Dave reflects on the raising of Lazarus from the dead and what it teaches us about Timing, Grief, Faith and Freedo...

Mothering Sunday. Rev Dave reflects on the faith and courage of Jochabed - the mother of three type 'A' personalities that gave birth to a nation. The situation she found herself in has very contemporary overtones. What can we learn from her today? Exodus 2: 1-10This recording was made at the 9am Communion service in the church of St Mary and St John, Hardraw. Find out more about us: ⁠⁠⁠ht...

What might be blocking you receiving all the God has for you? Rev Dave explores how Jesus' meeting with the Samaritan woman at the well changed her life and the questions we can ask of ourselves to experience the same. John 4: 1-42 This recording was made at the 10:30am Communion service in St Margaret's Church, Hawes on Sunday March 8th, 2026 Find out more about us: ⁠⁠⁠http://upperwensley...

Fear is a feeling that has the power to debilitate us - Rev Dave explains how to handle fear through the application of God's word - no matter what it is, where or when we feel it ... God's word has the answer. Listen in and try it! Phil.4:4-9, 2Cor.10:3-5 and several other key scriptures. This recording was made at the Benefice 10:30am all age Communion service 'The Gathering' in...

Like it or not, we all face the same kinds of temptation; so: Where does it come from? How do we deal with it? Rev Dave takes a fresh look at the auto-biographical account of Jesus in the wilderness and unwraps some life changing truths. Matthew 4:1-11, Genesis 3:1-7 This recording was made at the 10:30 Communion service at St Oswald's Church, Askrigg on February 22nd, 2026 Find out more about...

"We all need Affirming!" - Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell. Our greatest affirmation comes from the Lord God Almighty. Spending time with God changes us - Spending time away from God changes us. Rev Dave reflects on the 'Transfiguration' of Jesus , the personal affirmation Jesus received from His Heavenly Father when He sought after His will and why we all need to find space...

Stephanie Durrant of the Benefice Shared Leadership Team speaks on our theme for the year ahead - 'God Equips in 2026' This recording was made at the Benefice 10:30am Communion service 'The Gathering' in St Oswald's Church, Askrigg on Sunday February 1st, 2026 Find out more about us: ⁠⁠⁠http://upperwensleydalechurch.org/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/upperwensleydalechurch⁠⁠⁠...

“The greatest single service one person can do for another is to point them towards Jesus” Archbishop William Temple (1881-1944) What are you like at giving directions? How might our lives be 'read' by others as a signpost to Jesus? Rev Dave reflects upon how this might be done - what we say, do, walk away from, engage with .. John 1:29-42, Psalm 40:9-10, Isaiah 49:1-7 This recording was m...

Reading the 'Signs' How good are you at 'reading the signs' of a moment in your life? Are you able to respond? The Baptism of Jesus has caused Christian thinkers challenge across the millennia - Why did He seek John out and ask for it? Rev Dave explores the theme of Obedience - responding to God's call and developing our ability to hear and respond when we get a 'Heavenly N...

Where have You come from? Where are You going? Two great questions to ask of ourselves as we stand on the edge of a New Year. They are also two questions asked of Sarai's maidservant Hagar by the Angel of the Lord. Hagar has become pregnant by Abram, Sarai's husband, and has run away to avoid domestic abuse. What might the New Year bring? How might we navigate it successfully? This recordi...