Author: Andrew Pratt

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

A sacramental union – Hymn/Poem Inspired by Mark 10:2-16

A sacramental union - Inspired by Mark 10:2-16

A sacramental union 
that none can put apart, 
and those who sought to fudge the law, 
were challenged from the start. 
The Pharisees were undermined, 
the laws would stay in place, 
with subtle ways of subterfuge 
destroyed without a trace.

Then learning from this interchange 
should we condemn and judge, 
or take a wider view of Christ, 
his spirit and his touch?
When questions of adultery 
were set to catch him out, 
he turned a mirror on the crowd 
and none were left to shout.

Hypocrisy and judgment were 
things that Christ condemned, 
and so we need to judge ourselves 
before we charge a friend.
To love as we would love ourselves
a child can understand, 
and we must unlearn prejudice, 
give grace the upper-hand.

Words Andrew Pratt © 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.Tune: 
Metre: CMD
Tune: ELLACOMBE
Inspired by Mark 10:2-16; May also be used as a poem.

Hard sayings of Jesus- hymn

Hard sayings of Jesus that challenge and test – Inspired by Mark 9: 38 – 50


1 Hard sayings of Jesus that challenge and test,
that bring us to crisis, will not let us rest.
Confronted by holiness, righteousness, light,
our lives are exposed whether wrongful or right.


2 When salt loses savour its purpose is gone,
a life lacking goodness is soon over-run.
Our way is to nurture with God given grace,
to baulk at this calling is soon to lose face.


3 So let us affirm every neighbour with care,
while joining in partnership, willing to share
all gifts God has given, throughout this wide earth,
with those all around and those yet to find birth.


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: 11 11 11 11
Tune: DATCHET