A series of photos taken from Bridge 196 over the Trent & Mersey Canal at various seasons over a few years. All © Andrew Pratt 2026
Thank you to the Canal & River Trust for maintaining this beautiful place
Montage of views from Photoshop © Andrew Pratt
If we share a common humanity what matters in terms of how language is used is not what we think is affirming or hurtful BUT how those being addressed, or described, receive what is being said.
If I feel affirmed or put down by how I am named or described that is real for me, however the person addressing me feels about what they are saying.
Empathy and listening is needed before we condemn changes in language that we might see as ‘fashionable’ or unnecessary.
All of this ought to apply to our day to day conversation as we recognise the common humanity we share with one another, whatever name, creed, gender, orientation, self-identification or other criteria.
It is equally important in public documents and conversation, politically, in religious worship and in every other sphere
The key word in all of this is simply KINDNESS.
A time to reconsider – inspired by Matthew 4:12-23
1 A time to reconsider,
to pause, to reassess;
when crisis comes with challenge,
how can God come to bless?
And yet a light is shining,
we cannot understand
that at this time of turning
God sharpens what we planned.
2 As Jesus felt the tension,
while John slept in a cell,
the challenge was beginning
and he would sound the knell.
Now in our time the echo
reverberates with fear,
and will we face our challenge
of bringing justice near?
3 To face the grief and sorrow,
to live with scorn and hate,
to live love undiluted
before it is too late?
A time to reconsider,
to pause, to reassess;
when crisis comes with challenge,
how can God come to bless?
Andrew Pratt (born 1948) based on Isaiah 9 vs 1- 4 and Matthew 4 vs 12-23
Words Andrew Pratt © 2010 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.
v.2 l.8 alt by the author 2026
Metre: 7 6 7 6 D
Tune: CRUGER
Created by HymnQuest.com
How can we exacerbate hurt,
when love is human need?
History is prescient…
hate is fed by human greed.
Within the temple's shaking frame – Calling and Vocation – the first disciples
1 Within the temple's shaking frame,
Isaiah heard a call,
that sought commitment through a vow
that he would give his all.
The gospel message that he heard,
apostles heard again
within another time and age.
God's call was not in vain;
2 For Jesus standing by a lake
amazed the men who fished,
then challenged them to move beyond
all that they hoped or wished.
And now we stand before you God,
in our own time and place,
so give us courage and the nerve
to trust surprising grace.
3 To go beyond our place and time,
encompassed in your care,
to know however hard the call
your love will find us there.
Amazed by grace and stunned by awe
that brings us to our knees,
we rise within the hope of God
that strengthens, loves and frees.
Andrew Pratt (born 1948) © 2010 Stainer and Bell Ltd., London, England, www.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 6 8 6 8 6 8 6
Tune: KINGSFOLD
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