What news is good? A hymn inspired by: Luke 5: 1-11
1 What news is good? What words give hope?
What sense of value do we feel
when meeting with our God in Christ,
what gives the sense, provides the seal?
2 This seal of perfect love and faith,
this hope of holiness and grace,
the knowledge that our path is right,
is given in our saviour's face.
3 A face seen in a neighbour there,
in one who calls across the street,
a foreign tongue may frame Christ's call
to honour him in all we meet.
4 And as the first disciples heard
a challenge they could not resist,
may we respond and give our lives,
the call of love must not be missed.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2012 © 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 8 8 8
Tune: FULDA
Category: Bible
Candlemass Hymn
Candlemass – the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Singing the Faith 229)
1 Mary and Joseph
Came to the temple
Brought the boy Jesus,
Offered him there.
People were waiting
Wanting to greet him,
Long had they sought him,
Solace for care.
2 Anna had prayed there,
Widowed, long waiting;
Worshipping God by
Day and by night.
Now she is praising,
Filled with elation;
Here is God’s promise,
Christ is her light.
3 Simeon sings now
God proffers blessing,
Brilliantly gilding
Dawn of his day;
Light in the darkness,
Never extinguished,
Light of all nations,
Light up our way.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 1997 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: 5 5 5 4 D
Tune: BUNESSAN
How can we look, and not be moved by lives
4:18″The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed…
1 How can we look, and not be moved
by lives that end and eyes that plead,
where parents cry while families part
amid their last despairing need.
2 Once we were distanced from the ones
that suffered while we stood to stare.
God give the gift of empathy
that we might offer more than prayer.
3 If all the world could live as one
then we would feel another’s pain,
we’d feel each death as if our own
like links within a human chain.
4 When death and misery abound,
when illness strikes the human race,
God strengthen, fill us, with your hope
and bind us with your love and grace.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2014 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 8 8 8
Tunes: BRESLAU; ABENDS
Advent 4 ANNUNCIATION – MAGNIFICAT
ANNUNCIATION – MAGNIFICAT – 22 December 2024
1 Here a messenger was standing
waiting outside Mary's door,
not a face at all familiar
or that she had seen before.
Was there some anticipation,
or some other grave concern?
Could the stranger have a message,
what was there that she must learn?
2 First there came a welcome greeting,
Gabriel was now made known:
Mary was to be most favoured,
here God's love was being shown.
More of love, and greater kindness,
these were waiting in the wings.
News the messenger was bringing
pointed on to higher things.
3 God was coming as a person,
meeting every human need.
Mary had a role and purpose:
first give birth, then nurse and feed.
Shock, surprise and some resistance
underlined her every word
as young Mary sought to answer,
for the scheme seemed so absurd.
4 But there was much more for sharing
just to make the message clear;
more was needed from her Godhead
to dispel her natural fear.
Fire and love, the Spirit's power
would enfold her in God's care,
all at once she sensed God's comfort,
felt at last her Lord was there.
5 Now she magnified her praising,
thanks for all her God had done,
gift of life, God's gracious saving,
now the promise of a son.
We will go on in her footsteps:
latent servants of the Lord,
join our praise through all our giving,
all the love we can afford.
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 8 7 8 7
Tune: DIM OND IES
John the Baptist – a hymn
Related to Luke 3:7-18 – John the Baptist – The Third Sunday in Advent
1 This is the Baptist, unkempt and yet ready,
calling the people to listen and act;
calling them down to the water for washing,
talking of holiness, Godliness, fact.
2 This is the man who will call to repentance
fisherman, Pharisee, zealot and priest;
here in the river the sinners will gather,
taking God's blessing and sharing God's peace.
3 This is the prophet announcing the crisis,
moment for turning for challenge and choice;
quenching of hatred, demanding repentance,
giving a reason to praise and rejoice.
4 This is the man, in humility pointing
others to one who would soon take his place.
Jesus is coming, the Spirit confirming,
this is my Son who will channel my grace.
5 Up from the waters the Christ is arising,
up from our slumbering we will rise too;
waking to love and to work every dawning,
each a disciple with Christ's work to do.
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: 11 10 11 10
Tune: STEWARDSHIP
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