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A hymn for a seeking faith inspired by Psalm 19 – The cosmic pulse

A hymn for  a seeking faith inspired by Psalm 19 - The cosmic pulse

1	The cosmic pulse that beats through all creation,
	two spinning stars, the pulsar's throbbing light;
	these wing beats, not a passing aberration,
	but angels thronging through the mists of night;

2	The whirling, dancing, trance that brings relation
	with all that is and all that is to be;
	the mystic, magic prayer, this wild elation
	you say will bring the love to set us free;

3	Our language cannot offer a description:
	Nirvana, heaven, call it what you will;
	this other world that fires our inspiration
	is all that conjures up the power to thrill.

4	The God we hymn, through praise and acclamation,
	we seek to meet through words or bread and wine;
	yet all the world inspires your incantation;
	together let us fathom truth's design.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2002 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 10 11 10 Iambic
Tunes: HIGHWOOD; INTERCESSOR
From Whatever name or creed

Hymn inspired by Mark 7: 24-30 – She felt just like a ragged dog

She felt just like a ragged dog - inspired by Mark 7: 24-30

1	She felt just like a ragged dog 
	that scratched around for food, 
	denied, despised and kicked aside 
	and never any good.
	
2	Yet now she stood inside the door 
	and pleaded with this man, 
	for each taboo had little weight, 
	her grief had wider span.
	
3	Her child had need of healing help 
	and she would make Christ hear, 
	the urgency of anguished need 
	had overcome her fear.
	
4	And in that moment he would learn, 
	audacity would teach
	that human laws and well worn creeds 
	put no-one out of reach.
	
5	Compassion ruled and love compelled 
	to action on that day, 
	and Jesus' reach was broadened as 
	he learnt that grace held sway.

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: CM
Tune: ST PETER (How sweet the name of Jesus sounds)

Christ saw a way so clearly – a hymn inspired by Mark 7: 1-8

Christ saw a way so clearly – inspired by Mark 7: 1-8

1 Christ saw a way so clearly
that others feared to tread;
with those who were discarded
he deigned to rest his head.

2 The poor he suffered gladly,
at hypocrites he’d rant;
his vision was not clouded
by sanctimonious cant.

3 He died, but still those faces
look on with mild disgust;
naivety that’s guileless,
the flaw they could not trust.

4 He’ll whirl and dance before them,
his song will fill the air;
we’ll join the dance he started,
in spite of our despair;

5 For he has spun a rainbow
of singing, shining light;
his leap to love and freedom
defies the darkest night.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2002 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: 7 6 7 6 Iambic
Tune: CHRISTUS DER IST MEIN LEBEN