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Where James and John had asked to stand – inspired by Mark 10: 35-45

Where James and John had asked to stand – inspired by Mark 10:35-45

1          Where James and John had asked to stand
            two criminals would hang,
            one on the left, one on the right,
            while passing crowds harangue.
           
2          They did not know the consequence
            of what they asked that day,
            that those who sided with this man
            might die the self-same way.
           
3          They sought the honour and the pride
            of being one with Christ,
            yet those acknowledging this plea
            would bear the highest price.
           
4          And when we hear the call of God
            and follow where Christ led,
            let’s recognise a cross is set
            along the path we tread.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)

© 2012 Stainer and 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: CM

Tunes: BELMONT; CONTEMPLATION (Ouseley)

The mingled tears of memory – for now in Florida while remembering Katrina

1 The mingled tears of memory,

of present grief and fear,

reminders for humanity

that death is always near.

2 The hurricane, the tidal wave,

the terrorist attack,

that fracture faith, unsettle hope,

can cause belief to crack.

3 For where is God? And what is love

within this finite frame,

where life is trampled underfoot,

destroyed by winds that maim?

4 Can God be found in broken lives.

where chaos seems to rule?

Forsaken on a cross Christ hung,

made wisdom look a fool.

5 His broken hands reach out to heal,

through human hands today;

compassion sees the need for love

and God still makes a way.

6 And so amid these mingled tears

we cling to those who care,

and in the silence come to feel

the love of God is there.

Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948) 2005 Stainer and Bell Ltd.

Come follow me – hymn inspired by Mark 10: 17-31

Come follow me – inspired by Mark 10:17-31

1	'Come follow me, come follow fast, 
	and leave the rest behind, 
	reach after realms of mystery, 
	yes, seek, and you will find'.
	What holds us in this human realm? 
	What treasures keep us back
	from giving all we have and are? 
	This confidence we lack!
	
2	The call had seemed impossible, 
	the problem was his wealth.         
	And we deflect the word of God
	avoiding it by stealth.
	Our legs are heavy, steps are slow, 
	it seems we cannot move. 
	The call to trusting seems absurd, 
	in things we cannot prove.
	
3	And so we stay with what is sure, 
	we cling to what is known,
	and through our fear we lose our grip 
	on treasure we might own.
	Then like that man we walk away, 
	each with a heavy heart, 
	or turn to follow in the way, 
	to make a brand new start.

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: DCM
Tune: KINGSFOLD