A hymn for Ascension
1 Doubt and worship, mixed emotions
shimmered through their troubled minds;
gathered near the mountain's summit,
each remembered words and signs.
2 Jesus spoke with calm assurance,
brought to mind all that had past
poignant mem'ries, talk and laughter,
treasured thoughts, yes these would last.
3 All his words held their attention
as they listened to their friend:
they would teach the way of Jesus
to the world's remotest end.
4 Then one final contradiction as
he moved to leave earth's stage:
'I am with you, always ever,
to the limits of this age'.
5 Now we stand and offer worship,
proof that Jesus' words were true:
God is here, will never leave us,
timeless Spirit ever new!
Andrew Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2011 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: 8 7 8 7
Tune: CROSS OF JESUS
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Category: Bible
How soon Palm Sunday prayers and praise – a Palm Sunday hymn
How soon Palm Sunday prayers and praise – a Palm Sunday hymn
1 How soon Palm Sunday prayers and praise,
that could have held love's fusion,
were spun around: the same ones cried
aloud for execution.
2 Such loud hosannas! Yet our praise
has many different faces;
how soon our love is turned around,
we lose our airs and graces.
3 And see how those who waved their palms
with shouts of exaltation
at once had changed both minds and ways
to bless annihilation.
4 How soon commitment melts or fades,
and hope becomes illusion;
and so our love transmutes to hate,
our order to confusion.
5 God help us at this present time
to act without pretension,
to hold on fast to gracious love,
to live out your intention.
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: 8 7 8 7
Tune: DOMINUS REGIT ME
‘Right here in the presence of loving and grace’ – a hymn inspired by Mary anointing Jesus’s feet.
‘Right here in the presence of loving and grace’ – a hymn inspired by Mary anointing Jesus's feet.
1 Right here in the presence of loving and grace,
see Judas is scowling, a sneer scars his face.
Anointing with perfume is costly and rare;
this gift could be sold, giving substance to care.
2 What need this affection that Jesus received?
It seemed to go counter to all they believed.
The sale of the perfume could go in the purse,
some pieces of silver, not seen as a curse.
3 Yet this would foreshadow for Judas and Christ,
a scene of betrayal, for greed had enticed
this zealot to grasp for much more than his lot,
through misunderstanding, he'd scheme and he'd plot.
4 For Jesus, anointing would speak of his death,
as love of humanity took his last breath,
but now in this moment a woman knelt down,
her wisdom, perception, would lead to a crown.
5 This act of extravagance, worldly yet wise,
offensive to some, was now opening eyes
to love without measure, to infinite grace,
that minds cannot fathom, nor custom displace.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
© 2015 Stainer & Bell Ltd., London, England, www.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 11 11 11
Tune: ST DENIO
In the silent stillness – A hymn reflecting on Hebrew scriptures
A hymn reflecting on Hebrew scriptures – In the silent stillness
1 In the silent, stillness, listen,
God is calling will we hear?
All too often faith has foundered,
grace is muzzled by our fear.
In our rush and haste and hurry
we have lost the time for prayer;
lost the time for conversation,
then we think God is not there.
2 Yet our forebears grasped a promise
of a covenant of grace;
God is faithful to that promise
in this present time and place.
Limitless in application,
boundless in its scope and span;
grace is wide enough for thousands,
here there is no 'also ran'!
3 Spoken to a chosen people
for the nations of the earth,
see God's love is offered freely,
recognising all have worth.
More than milk, than wine or honey,
God has offered, God will give
bread that all may feast, and freely,
all rejoice, that all may live!
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2013 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 D
Tune: ABBOT’S LEIGH
He could have walked the easy road – written by Marjorie Dobson – inspired by the temptation of Jesus in the desert
1 He could have walked the easy road
to fortune and to fame.
He knew he could work miracles,
to heal the blind and lame.
He could have fed the starving poor
with fish as well as bread.
But Jesus knew that life held more
and chose God's word instead.
2 He could have trusted angels' wings,
up on that Temple tower.
To save him from a fall to death
was well within God's power.
The people would have marvelled then
and guessed this was God's son.
But Jesus would not take the test
to prove he was that one.
3 He could have taken full control,
the world lay at his feet.
He only had to say the word:
his rule would be complete.
The mountain view had caught his breath..
Power was a word away.
But Jesus turned back from it all
and God had won the day.
Marjorie Dobson (born 1940) based on Matthew 4 vs 1-11
Words © 2019, 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 6 8 6 8 6 8 6
Tune: KINGSFOLD
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