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

Created by HymnQuest.com

The cosmic cries that sound through all creation – inspired by Psalm 33: 1-12 especially v 8-12.

The cosmic cries that sound through all creation  - 
inspired by Psalm 33: 1-12 especially v 8-12.

1	The cosmic cries that sound through all creation,
	the pain of creatures, birth-pangs of the stars,
	the whining of the world upon its axis,
	you craft in ways that nothing stains or mars.
	
2	We cannot fathom each eternal purpose,
	or wrap our minds around what is to be.
	We only know that, earthed here for a season,
	our role is sealing human liberty.
	
3	Half crazy world in which we nurture children,
	where right seems absent, mercy ground to dust;
	O God give courage, foster our intention
	to love our neighbour, resurrect our trust.
	
4	So God, as we would seek to follow Jesus,
	to mine the depths of wisdom he has shown,
	illuminate our task and lead us onward,
	until into his likeness we have grown.

Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948)
© 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: 11 10 11 10
Tune: LORD OF  THE YEARS; HIGHWOOD

Created by HymnQuest.com