Author: Andrew Pratt

Andrew Pratt was born in Paignton, Devon, England in 1948.

The rubble and the language – words for our time, for Gaza

The rubble and the language – words for our time, for Gaza

The rubble and the language, 
discarded, damaged lives, 
are things that evil scatters;
no hope of love survives 
when narcissistic grasping 
eradicates all grace, 
if protest sinks in silence 
love leaves our human race.

Bereft of all compassion, 
with empathy stripped bare, 
humanity extinguished, 
while people suffer there; 
this world is desecrated 
can we not find a way 
to heal and mend relations 
to counter this decay.

With hatred running rampant, 
while sinking in despair, 
is there no other option 
to clear this rancid air, 
to open doors to trusting, 
to take the risk to dare 
to find a new beginning, 
through action, kindness, prayer.

Alternative last 4 lines:

From warring words and venom 
could we at last relent, 
or still continue headlong 
to hell to which we’re bent?

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2025 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.

Notes
This is probably best used as a reading. No tune is offered, though, being metrical it could be sung – as a protest song (or a hymn?).



Another hymn for Maundy Thursday from Marjorie Dobson

Another hymn for Maundy Thursday from Marjorie Dobson (see also 'A towel and a basin')

1	At the table of communion 
	Jesus spoke with heavy heart 
	of the pain of separation, 
	soon to tear them all apart.
	Listening without understanding, 
	too absorbed with food and wine, 
	carefree friends could read no meaning 
	in his simple words and sign.
	
2	Bread was broken, as his body:  
	wine, a symbol of his blood. 
	Yet his call to keep that memory 
	was not clearly understood.
	Judas left, but no one noticed, 
	thought his business was his own.
	Jesus, looking round the table, 
	knew himself to be alone.
	
3	As they sang their psalm that evening, 
	then went out into the night 
	innocent of apprehension, 
	unprepared for fear or flight, 
	how their hopes and dreams were shattered, 
	confidence was turned to dread 
	and as chaos ruled around them, 
	one by one they turned and fled.
	
4	As they witnessed pain and horror-
	trial, cross and guarded tomb-
	they remembered Jesus' warning 
	given in that upper room.
	Struggling hard to find the meaning, 
	in symbolic word and sign. 
	they would find that same communion 
	we still share in bread and wine.

Marjorie Dobson (born 1940)
Words © 2019 © 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 8 7 8 7
Tunes: DIM OND IESU; LEWIS FOLK MELODY
From UNRAVELLING THE MYSTERIES, along with poems and other readings.

What news is good? A hymn inspired by: Luke 5: 1-11

What news is good? A hymn inspired by: Luke 5: 1-11

1	What news is good? What words give hope? 
	What sense of value do we feel 
	when meeting with our God in Christ, 
	what gives the sense, provides the seal?
	
2	This seal of perfect love and faith, 
	this hope of holiness and grace, 
	the knowledge that our path is right, 
	is given in our saviour's face.
	
3	A face seen in a neighbour there, 
	in one who calls across the street, 
	a foreign tongue may frame Christ's call 
	to honour him in all we meet.
	
4	And as the first disciples heard 
	a challenge they could not resist, 
	may we respond and give our lives,
	the call of love must not be missed. 

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2012 © 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
Tune: FULDA

Candlemass Hymn

Candlemass – the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Singing the Faith 229)

 

1             Mary and Joseph
                Came to the temple
                Brought the boy Jesus,
                Offered him there.
                People were waiting
                Wanting to greet him,
                Long had they sought him,
                Solace for care.

2             Anna had prayed there,
                Widowed, long waiting;
                Worshipping God by
                Day and by night.
                Now she is praising,
                Filled with elation;
                Here is God’s promise,
                Christ is her light.

3             Simeon sings now
                God proffers blessing,
                Brilliantly gilding
                Dawn of his day;
                Light in the darkness,
                Never extinguished,
                Light of all nations,
                Light up our way.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 1997 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: 5 5 5 4 D

Tune: BUNESSAN