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How can God, condemned, be hanging? – the test of all that deserves to be called Christian…

How can God, condemned, be hanging? – the test of all that deserves to be called  Christian… (See Jurgen Moltmann The Crucified God)

How can God, condemned, be hanging?
False messiahs meet such ends, 
and the ones then testifying, 
have no need to make amends.
Educated folk were laughing, 
they foresaw what was to come, 
saw disciples hiding, crying, 
feeling both distraught and numb.
             
But that early Easter morning 
brought another scene to bear, 
Jesus mission had not ended, 
he was risen, standing there.
Still the story, more than foolish 
soon gave rise to talk and doubt. 
‘Surely God could never suffer?’ 
taunting people tease and shout.
             
Signs and wisdom are confounded 
by that stumbling block, the cross. 
Things that we once saw as wisdom 
now dismissed as foolish dross.
God had shown such strength in weakness. 
Those who shared Christ’s dying breath
now at last could claim dominion, 
love defeating hate and death.

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 7 8 7 D Tune: CALON LAN
Created by HymnQuest.com

A mind adrift…

A mind,
it seemed, 
adrift. 
No sea anchor, 
but fronds, or tendrils, 
tangled about thoughts, 
pulling forward through mists, 
or pulling down 
into near forgotten depths. 
Then a ripple would align 
two glimpses of reality, 
momentarily, 
and be gone, 
sliding through fingers 
losing strength, 
a tenuous grip.
                   AEP

God we need your holy wisdom – a hymn – pertinent, I fear?

God we need your holy wisdom – a hymn written nearly 20 years ago…still pertinent, I fear.

1	God we need your holy wisdom, 
	need to know your presence here,
	through audacious, fearless living, 
	and your dying, draw us near.
	
2	We are failing, needing loving, 
	so addicted to despair,
	come with healing, mend the broken,
	with your grace renew, repair.
	
3	Feed our rich imagination,
	let the poets speak again
	words of hope, profound redemption,
	foil this sharp, systemic pain.
	
4	Then unleash our lives to follow
	Christ our leader, yet our friend,
	and through risks of selfless living,
	find through love your goal, our end.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2007Stainer & 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
Tune: CHAPEL BRAE; ALL FOR JESUS