Author: Andrew Pratt

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

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

 

Holocaust Memorial Day – Poem

1 As we remember holocaust,
in horror disbelieving
the history of the human race,
we share each other’s grieving;
God purge us of hypocrisy,
of all our self–deceiving.

2 Our language is inadequate,
unfit for the expression
of hatred that we visualise,
humanity’s confession;
we hurry headlong into hell,
we witness love’s regression.

3 The deepest, distant agony
that throbs through all creation,
the silent tears that quietly fall
in every generation,
are signs of our humanity,
our need for re–creation.

4 God give us strength to make a pledge
to move beyond contention,
to see, in each, humanity.
Through greater good intention,
God, move us toward a purer love,
a gracious intervention.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948) Words © 2003 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
8 7 8 7 8 7

A towel and a basin? – Marjorie Dobson’s hymn for Maundy Thursday

1	A towel and a basin?
	This caused them great unease.
	Their Master, now a servant?
	The Christ upon his knees?
	In washing feet made dirty 
	out on the city street, 
	he showed the power of action 
	where love and duty meet.

2	Yet Peter made his protest 
	and missed the point again, 
	till Jesus told him gently 
	that he must share his pain.
	They hardly understood him, 
	although his words were clear 
	and soon his wise example 
	would be wiped out by fear.

3	But later they remembered 
	and took his words to heart: 
	in sacrifice and service 
	they gave the church its start,
	and we who follow after 
	take up the task today, 
	to show, in love and service, 
	we also walk Christ's way.

Marjorie Dobson (born 1940)
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: 7 6 7 6 D
Tune: PASSION CHORALE

This hymn is available in Marjorie's most recent collection of worship items: Unravelling the Mysteries and also Hymns of Hope and Healing, both available from Stainer & Bell Ltd - click here 

More of Marjorie's hymns will follow here.