Beware of what you think or say – Jesus and a Samaritan woman – a hymn

John 4: 5-42  v.7  A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’.

1           Beware of what you think or say,
              our actions give the lie,
              or offer evidence of faith
              for which we sing, or cry.
               
2           When challenged by a foreigner,
              a woman in her need,
              see Jesus shamed to change and act,
              her challenge sowed a seed.
               
3           Yes, Jesus heard her call for help
              and recognised her prayer,
              her faith was evident to him,
              as was his need to care.                         
               
4           If even Jesus changed his mind,
              when will we grasp the fact
              that scruples that we hold and guard
              mean less than how we act.
               
5           But faith depends on depths of love,
              compassion, care and grace;
              to see in those we disregard
              a sister’s, brother’s face.

© 2011 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  Tune: ABRIDGE; BELMON

There are no strangers to God’s love

1 There are no strangers to God’s love, 
yet we have privatised God’s grace. 
Bounded by nationhood and lies, 
in fear we shrouded love’s own face. 
Acknowledging our sin and greed 
we come confessing common need.

2 These are our neighbours and our friends,
the ones who run in fear from war,
who dread abuse by power or state,
or seek the means to be less poor;
these are the ones we have denied,
as in each one the Christ has cried.

3 When people seeking sanctuary 
come to our shores and need our aid, 
then in Christ’s name let’s offer care;
through this our debt of love is paid.
God’s grace is free, this grace receive,
let actions show what we believe.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
© 2010 Stainer & Bell Ltd 
8 8 8 8 8 8


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