Treasures abounding, wonders confounding -inspired by Matthew 13: 44-45
1 Treasures abounding, wonders confounding
limits and concepts humanly held;
pearls of great treasure, love beyond measure,
graciously given, never compelled.
2 Yeast for our baking, loaves we are making,
bread for our breaking, wine for our thirst:
here in communion we find a union,
table of feasting, last shall be first.
3 Seed for the sowing, life for the growing,
Jesus is showing how we can live;
smallest beginnings, richest of winnings,
we are receiving all God can give.
Andrew Pratt (born 1948)
© 2011 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: 10 9 10 9
Tune: BUNESSAN
Category: Bible
Churning waves unsettled Peter – a hymn inspired by Matthew 14: 22-33
Matthew 14: 22-33 - the faith to walk on water – 12 Aug
1 Churning waves unsettled Peter,
startled, he was sinking fast,
he'd been walking on the water,
seemed this moment could not last.
Jesus reached a hand to save him,
lifted him above the swell.
Fainting faith seemed to have left him,
Jesus knew this all too well.
2 In the boat things seemed much safer
but his friends, now overawed,
knew again, the truth was dawning,
this man Jesus was their Lord.
Even wind and waves obeyed him,
here God's nature was betrayed;
when we're sinking God still lifts us,
love and grace are still displayed.
Andrew Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2011 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
Metre8 7 8 7 D
Tune: CALON LAN
The shells which cup such precious pearls – The Pearl of Great Price
The shells which cup such precious pearls – The Pearl of Great Price
The shells which cup such precious pearls
are like our hands that cradle hope,
which reach to others out of love;
we seek assurance, strength to cope.
The pearls that hold a core of grit
are like the grace that we have found,
though life is troubled, sharp and sour,
God folds in love, that’s sure and sound.
And so with hands like open shells
we offer pearls of greatest price,
the spirit's power, the grace of God
and Jesus' loving sacrifice.
Andrew Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2009 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: LM
Tune: BRESLAU
What would God make of this building? – a hymn about welcoming
What would God make of this building? - a hymn about welcoming
1 What would God make of this building,
house of eloquence and praise,
God who walked the earth before us,
Christ of Galilean days?
2 He who left a home and family,
had nowhere to rest his head,
cast his lot with those derided
framed his life with what he said.
3 He who built a human temple
with the ones he sought to lead,
fended off each great temptation:
born of human power and greed.
4 Would he choose a place, more simple,
less ornate, of greater use,
where the hungry and the homeless
could be healed of their abuse?
5 If we follow in his footsteps
then this place must come to be
open to the poor, the homeless
where the richest grace is free;
6 Where our hope will glaze for glory
windows looking on the world,
where the broken will be welcome,
where love's given, never sold.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2001 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 Trochaic
Tunes: GOTT DES HIMMEL; RATHBUN
Matthew 10: 40-42 speaks of how we should welcome people. This hymn questions whether the church mirrors this example, and for ‘church’ you can think of a congregation, a parish, a circuit – buildings or people - or even a denomination…
The earth pleads for justice – hymn
The earth pleads for justice, the harvest is wanting - While Matthew 9: 37 speaks of a harvest of people, perhaps it is also pertinent today if we think of a harvest of the earth and its care?
The earth pleads for justice, the harvest is wanting,
in fire, flood or tempest our crops are destroyed;
the Spring, once predicted, is desolate, silent,
excuses are hollow, we’ve done all we can?
The mountains have echoed, or is that God’s whisper,
the quiet consternation of one in distress?
A prompting, a question that answers our calling,
is that your defence, that you’ve done all you can?
While continents crumble and ice caps are melting,
you sit on your hands, you do nothing at all.
Wake up to the danger still growing around you,
and do all you can till your passage is through.
And now in the present let’s work for the future,
still others will follow, they wait in the wings:
this planet, its future, its people our neighbours,
join hands, sing our anthem: ‘We’ll do All We Can!’
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2021 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: 12 11 12 11
Tunes: LAREDO; ST CATHERINES COURT
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