
Copyright Andrew Pratt 2026

Copyright Andrew Pratt 2026
1 God, we lose our moral compass,
stagger blindly, miss the mark,
wander deep in self-deception,
finding life is cold and stark;
in our darkness, in our hunger,
in the shadows bring your spark.
2 Fire us with the recollection
of the love that we have spurned,
startle us with gracious kindness
that we never sought or earned,
bring us back into your presence,
to the love from which we turned.
3 We will worship, seek your blessing:
humbled, chastened, we will dare,
seek forgiveness prophets promised;
give us peace in our despair.
God, O God, amazed, forgiven,
hesitant we breathe our prayer.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
© 2015 Stainer & Bell Ltd.
http://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 7 8 7 8 7
MANHEIM
As published in The Seed – http://www.seedresources.com <http://www.seedresources.com>
Created by HymnQuest.com – HymnQuest ID: 48102
The tangent, the touching, where God warms each heart -
Inspired by Matthew 5: 13-20
The tangent, the touching, where God warms each heart
provides re-creation, we make a new start
for here love is grounded and grace can be found;
for here God speaks quietly and whispers resound.
The cusp of the matter, yes, where God is found,
where questions are answered and sense is profound;
is here at the centre of children at play,
in work and in worship, or where people pray.
The spirit is dancing, philosophers play,
as hypocrites hide from the cold light of day,
a light that exposes each choice and each grudge
to God who through kindness, with mercy, will judge.
So answer each neighbour extinguish each grudge,
take Christ as your model and try not to smudge
the image of God that is found in your heart;
yes, join us in concert and each play your part.
Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948)
© 2004 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: 11 11 11 11
Tune: SAINT DEINIO
Our words…the hushed silence of a library whisper
…lest God might hear our prayer?
No alleluia breaks the silence,
no footstep on the stair.

Copyright Andrew Pratt 2026