A hymn by Marjorie Dobson - A woman in a crowd touches Jesus robe- The touch was so light that it passed by unnoticed …
The touch was so light that it passed by unnoticed.
The crowd was so dense, who could possibly tell
that there in the crush was a desperate woman,
a woman entombed by her personal hell.
The touch was so light and yet someone had noticed –
the man at the centre; the man in demand;
the healer whose presence was urgently sought for
a child who was needing the power from his hand.
The touch turned his head as he wondered who’d done it.
The poor guilty woman was bowed by her shame.
But power had gone from him, he knew he was needed.
With fear she admitted that she was to blame.
The touch of his robe had already proved healing.
The sound of his voice was a blessing at last.
‘My daughter, take courage, your suffering is over.
Your pain and disgrace are a part of your past.’
One touch in a crowd had seemed pointless to others
and many felt agony at the delay.
But one outcast woman could be well for ever
and others would know that same touch on that day.
Marjorie Dobson (born 1940) based on Mark 5 vs 24-34 and Luke 8 vs 42-48
Words © 2017 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: ERISKAY; STREETS OF LAREDO
Published in Hymns of Hope and Healing, Stainer & Bell Ltd
Category: Bible
Reflection for 2025 – Pentecost
Reflection for June 2025 – Pentecost – Andrew Pratt – originally written for the Mid- Cheshire Circuit
An image of fire in darkness
As Pentecost dawns the central image is of tongues of flame. But wait a minute.
To many people fire equates with fear, can be a trigger to post traumatic stress. Think Grenfell Tower, or the plethora of images of recent times of war torn, tumbled towns and cities or ravaged countryside.
How can we use this image of power and destruction for good? As part of our Christian celebration?
Think for a moment of giant redwood trees, apparently decimated by annual infernos. Witness the regrowth which follows – enlivened, fresh new growth, impossible without this devastation.
‘Deep within the trees are stored sugars from photosynthesis. They can use it for growth or metabolism … or they can store it for later. They have these really old, 50-to-100-year old carbon reserves that have accumulated for many decades that they can draw upon to build new leaves and do new photosynthesis.’[1]
Hold that image for a moment.
The prophet Joel looked forward to a time when God’s spirit would be poured out on all people. The expectation was a universal one. It was rooted in the understanding that at creation God’s Spirit moved over the face of the waters, that it had always been present. Joel sought to open people’s minds to this.
And now, at this time of Pentecost, we reflect on dispirited disciples being anointed in such a way that it seemed that flames came down among them, not of destruction, but of renewal, releasing possibilities deep within them which had been dormant, ever-present, and believe it, this same Spirit is within us.
And what was the new growth? A realisation that God’s Spirit was not exclusive, but inclusive as Joel had anticipated, would be poured out through them for all creation.
But all this is metaphor, pictures to open our minds. Our painting moves from darkness to fire and light. And, at best that illuminates the truth of the sacred worth of all humanity, and all creation. Yet to realise this our selfish inclinations must be destroyed to be replaced by the seeds of love such as we see in the person of Jesus which, if we have eyes to see, is there before us in every living person,
God, open our eyes to see with your eyes of love, warm us with the fire of your love, until we love one another as you have always loved us. Amen.
[1] https://www.science.org/content/article/ancient-redwoods-recover-fire-sprouting-1000-year-old-buds (accessed 28/5/2025)
Image © Andrew Pratt 2025
A hymn for Ascension referencing Matthew, Luke and Acts
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
Click here to see a this previous post - toward Ascension
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
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