Holy Innocents’ Sunday – 28th December – A hymn of lament recollecting Herod’s intention to kill all the young children to rid himself of his perception that Jesus, ‘King of the Jews’ was a threat to his rule.
1 The Prince of Peace has come to earth,
we celebrate Messiah’s birth,
and yet the news is hung with fears,
and all the world is wrung with tears.
How long, O Lord, must children cry?
How long, O Lord, must children die?
2 In Ramah voices once had wept,
in quiet children died, not slept,
and Rachel wandered comfortless
consumed by death and deep distress.
How long, O Lord, must children cry?
How long, O Lord, must children die?
3 And in a later time a place,
a squalid stable formed the space
in which a little boy was born
that all the powers of earth would scorn.
How long, O Lord, must children cry?
How long, O Lord, must children die?
4 The Prince of Peace has come to earth,
we celebrate Messiah’s birth,
and yet we slaughter once again,
will death and carnage still remain.
How long, O Lord, must children cry?
How long, O Lord, must children die?
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2014 © Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd.
Metre: 8 8 8 8 8 8
Tune: MOZART
Author: Andrew Pratt
Andrew Pratt was born in Paignton, Devon, England in 1948.
A hymn for the reality of Jesus’ birth – Christmas Day
1 Bloodied baby, cradled gently
at a manger birth.
Bloodied saviour, injured, dying,
taking leave of earth.
Love incarnate demonstrating
all the depth of human worth.
2 In each death a resurrection
hidden yet from sight;
in our life’s humiliation,
healing, softened light.
Hope has risen, death no prison,
love has banished endless night.
3 Slightest light then burning glory
sets the earth ablaze,
morning light of love’s own story,
kindles all our praise;
in the garden, quietly waking,
see the Lord of years and days.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2015 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd
Metre: 8 5 8 5 8 7 Tune: ANGEL VOICES
A hymn for Christmas Day - Bloodied baby, cradled gently at a manger birth
1 Bloodied baby, cradled gently
at a manger birth.
Bloodied saviour, injured, dying,
taking leave of earth.
Love incarnate demonstrating
all the depth of human worth.
2 In each death a resurrection
hidden yet from sight;
in our life’s humiliation,
healing, softened light.
Hope has risen, death no prison,
love has banished endless night.
3 Slightest light then burning glory
sets the earth ablaze,
morning light of love’s own story,
kindles all our praise;
in the garden, quietly waking,
see the Lord of years and days.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2015 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd
Metre: 8 5 8 5 8 7
Tune: ANGEL VOICES
God is with us – Mary and Joseph becoming parents of Jesus
God is with us – Mary and Joseph becoming parents of Jesus
1 God is with us, Joseph heard it,
in a dream in deepest sleep:
Mary's child, they'd call him Jesus,
now he had a vow to keep;
bound together in God's purpose,
he and Mary made their way
to the census in the city,
waiting for God's chosen day.
2 So they pause within the tension;
fallow moment, time to pray;
parents looking for protection,
what would follow day on day?
Tiny fingers, gurgles, crying,
Mary feeding as they go,
God is with them in this baby,
God would learn and God would grow.
3 Enigmatic gift and promise,
Mary pondered in her heart,
Joseph just as challenged, puzzled,
had to learn a father's part.
Now we look back on the story,
time contracted, one life's span,
Jesus human, here among us,
terror waits as life began.
Andrew Pratt (born 1948) based on Matthew 1:18-25
Words © 2015 © Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd.
Metre: 8 7 8 7 D
Tune: AUSTRIA
It is well with my soul –
You will probably know this hymn. Hugh Bonneville tells story of its composition and the Spafford family’s ministry which followed.
Magnificat challenges the status quo in a topsy–turvy, upturned world
Magnificat challenges the status quo in a topsy–turvy, upturned world
A topsy–turvy, upturned world,
where values are distorted,
the first is last and last is first
with everything contorted.
The rich are begging at the door
while ones they were despising
are given charge of Godly wealth,
in stature they are rising.
Magnificat has come to stay,
the proud have been extinguished;
the humble poor are lifted high,
their poverty relinquished.
The reign of God has come to pass
rebutting our world’s choices,
each one that we would count as last
within this time rejoices.
And will we ever find a place
with pride and wealth rejected,
or will hypocrisy deny
our need to be accepted?
The choice is ours, the crisis dawns,
the time to make decisions,
to stand with God or walk alone
within this world’s divisions.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2015 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd
Metre: 8 7 8 7 D Tune: CONSTANCE (Sullivan)
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