Bible – Page 10 – hymnsandbooks

Genesis Week 4 – Joseph and his brothers

When we bear a grudge that's lasting - Genesis Week 4

1	When we bear a grudge that's lasting, 
	eating us from deep within, 
	it can cripple solid friendships, 
	losing where love ought to win.
	
2	When his brothers came to see him 
	it was hard to read his mind 
	would a cancer eat his kindness,
	would his sight of love be blind?
	
3	Joseph disabused his brothers, 
	restitution was his aim;
	would that we could be as humble, 
	putting peace ahead of gain.

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.
Metre: 8 7 8 7
Tune: LAUS DEO (Redhead)

Genesis Week 3 – Jacob and Esau

Jacob tricked his brother Esau - Genesis week 3

1	Jacob tricked his brother Esau, 
	strange how God deals with this act; 
	Jacob seems to go unpunished, 
	discord sown by this one fact.
	
2	Tasty stew had bought a birthright, 
	hunger had the upper hand, 
	brothers once, two nations forming, 
	bitterness within the land.
	
3	Rancour sometimes deeply rooted 
	acts like cancer in our lives, 
	rifted, riven, torn and twisted,  
	love is lost or scarce survives.
	
4	Youthful envy, words unspoken, 
	rend a nation at its heart, 
	generations pass unnoticed, 
	wonder what had made this start.

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.
Metre: 8 7 8 7
Tune: ST CATHERINE (Jones)

Abram set out on a journey – the call of Abram/Abraham – Genesis 12 and onward…

Abram set out on a journey – Inspired by the call of Abram

1	Abram set out on a journey, 
	joined this new, uncertain, game.
	Challenges bring new excitement,  
	no two days will be the same. 
	Life was settled, now it's shaken, 
	preconceptions turned around, 
	every day a new beginning, 
	every place uncommon ground.
	
2	Now it felt God moved the goal-posts, 
	playing by some other rules,  
	life and work had been uprooted, 
	staying home seemed just for fools.
	Still today God calls the dreamers, 
	those with visions charged by grace, 
	those who move and travel onward, 
	bringing hope to each new place.

3	Will you join this pilgrim people, 
	finding new and different ways;
	trusting God will walk beside you
	now and in your future days?
	Will you walk into the darkness, 
	trusting God and trav'ling light, 
	setting out to live the gospel, 
	always keeping God in sight?

Andrew Pratt (born 1948) based on Genesis 12 vs 1-4 
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.
8 7 8 7D
Tune: BETHANY

A hymn inspired by 1 Samuel 8: 4 – 11, 16 – 20 for Second Sunday after Pentecost perhaps still pertinent? – The warning went unheeded…

A hymn inspired by 1 Samuel 8: 4 – 11, 16 – 20 
for Second Sunday after Pentecost perhaps still pertinent?

1	The warning went unheeded, 
	that power corrupts and fires 
	a need for domination, 
	that wealth and fear conspires 
	to elevate the powerful,
	to subjugate the poor, 
	that those who have most riches 
	will always look for more.
	
2	The people pleaded loudly, 
	'most nations have a king', 
	and reason would not change them 
	from wanting such a thing. 
	As history unfolded 
	they learnt, as if in youth,
	that kings are only human, 
	a long-forgotten truth.		
	
3	So Saul was soon anointed 
	and feted by his peers, 
	his reign was sometimes blighted, 
	brought hurt and pain and tears.
	That lesson we're still learning:
	that power blinds to need, 
	and wealth is hoarded, hidden,
	and selfishness a creed.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2015 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 D
Tune: AURELIA

Toward Ascension

The 9th May, 2024 is Ascension Day. That takes my memory back to school days going to, what would now be seen as, a very old-fashioned boys grammar school. On this day we were marched in the morning to a local church for a service. Other than having a morning off from lessons, I remember little of this and grasped nothing of its significance. It makes me wonder what we make of this today, if anything.

Easter was early this year. Then it was over. What then? Actually, in terms of the church calendar, it’s not over until Ascension. So what do we do in these weeks?

Over recent Sundays we have been recounting stories of resurrection. Outside the world moves toward the next commercial opportunity for retailers and hospitality. As to Ascension, what’s that? Good question.

Let’s take it literally from the point of view of the disciples. They had witnessed crucifixion. Then Jesus was back with them. Forgiveness was given, peace proffered. Back to normal. Remember when the lockdown of Covid was lifted. Back to normal, yes. But I’ve recently had another vaccination. Not all is ‘normal’. We have adjusted. I think the disciples experienced a similar rhythm. Jesus death left them orphaned. But Jesus was back. Then this ascension took him away again – ‘Handed over to orphaned, comforted, now comfort less…lost, bereft, as now he leaves them, homeless, friendless, scarred, unblessed’…as a hymn puts it. The gospel according to Matthew says, ‘and some doubted’.

Once beyond this moment what was the new normal for them? Perhaps it can teach us something. Firstly, they had to recognise that Jesus really was dead, not there. Gradually the way beyond this realisation was that the old normal was not coming back. They had to think and act for themselves. This was not just trusting for life after death, but for living life before death.

Without the Ascension they would never have reached this point. Realising this they needed a real new normal. This involved repentance for real. A total and complete change of mind. Following Covid the so called ‘new normal’ drifted back to business as usual. If we have grasped the intention of Ascension there are choices to be made, a new mindset to be adopted and a new life to be lived for real, no drifting back. That new life, for the disciples, began to express the very spirit of Jesus.

So this time coming up to Ascension what are we going to do? A time for reflection? What real new normal do we need to embody that we, you and I, might see Christ in others and they might see Christ in us – that same Spirit of Jesus?