Hymns – hymnsandbooks

Filled with fear may love surround us

Filled with fear may love surround us

Filled with fear may love surround us,

spirit ground us, in that love,

drench us with this expectation

here on, earth not just above.

May each day extend a welcome,

open hands and open hearts,

open homes that offer shelter,

love that never more departs.

God enfold us, always hold us,

may our human love extend

’til all people, every nation

know your love can never end.

Words: Andrew Pratt (born 1948) © 18 August 2026 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England, http://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: 8.7.8.7 Tune: ALL FOR JESUS

A time to reconsider – a hymn inspired by Matthew 4:12-23

A time to reconsider – inspired by Matthew 4:12-23

1	A time to reconsider, 
	to pause, to reassess;
	when crisis comes with challenge, 
	how can God come to bless?
	And yet a light is shining, 
	we cannot understand 
	that at this time of turning 
	God sharpens what we planned.
	
2	As Jesus felt the tension,
	while John slept in a cell, 
	the challenge was beginning 
	and he would sound the knell.
	Now in our time the echo 
	reverberates with fear, 
	and will we face our challenge
	of bringing justice near?
	
3	To face the grief and sorrow, 
	to live with scorn and hate, 
	to live love undiluted 
	before it is too late?
	A time to reconsider, 
	to pause, to reassess;
	when crisis comes with challenge, 
	how can God come to bless?

Andrew Pratt (born 1948) based on Isaiah 9 vs 1- 4 and Matthew 4 vs 12-23
Words Andrew Pratt © 2010 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.
v.2 l.8 alt by the author 2026
Metre: 7 6 7 6 D
Tune: CRUGER

Created by HymnQuest.com

Calling and Vocation – the first disciples- a hymn

Within the temple's shaking frame – Calling and Vocation – the first disciples

1	Within the temple's shaking frame, 
	Isaiah heard a call, 
	that sought commitment through a vow 
	that he would give his all.
	The gospel message that he heard, 
	apostles heard again 
	within another time and age. 
	God's call was not in vain;
	
2	For Jesus standing by a lake 
	amazed the men who fished, 
	then challenged them to move beyond 
	all that they hoped or wished.
	And now we stand before you God,
	in our own time and place, 
	so give us courage and the nerve 
	to trust surprising grace.
	
3	To go beyond our place and time, 
	encompassed in your care, 
	to know however hard the call 
	your love will find us there.
	Amazed by grace and stunned by awe
	that brings us to our knees, 
	we rise within the hope of God
	that strengthens, loves and frees.

Andrew Pratt (born 1948) © 2010 Stainer and 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: 8 6 8 6 8 6 8 6
Tune: KINGSFOLD

Baptised into being, the Lord of creation – hymn inspired by Matthew 3:13-17)

Baptised into being, the Lord of creation (Matthew 3:13-17)

1	Baptised into being, the Lord of creation:
	the dove is descending the Spirit has come, 
	it soars and it swoops on the face of the waters, 
	Christ blessed in that moment, his mission begun.
	
2	Here John the Baptiser will pass on the baton, 
	though harsh and prophetic, his message, refined,
	will gain a new purpose, as Jesus will challenge:
	the powers and authorities now undermined.
	
3	But that will come later, for now for the honing 
	of all his integrity, knowledge and skill, 
	the Christ is cast out to the wilds of the desert, 
	where animals forage and hunger can kill.
	
4	And on his return he will live as God with us, 
	humanity clothed with both loving and grace, 
	to temper all justice with mercy, compassion, 
	a model of life for the whole human race.
	
5	And when will we walk in the steps of this master? 
	And when will we emulate what we see there:
	inclusive and limitless love for creation 
	where all is of value and all deserve care?

Andrew E 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: 12 11 12 11
Tunes: ST CATHERINE’S COURT

New Year – from darkness toward light – As constant as the pulsar’s pulse

New Year – from darkness toward light - As constant as the pulsar's pulse - a hymn for the first Sunday in the New Year or for a Watchnight Service

1 As constant as the pulsar's pulse, 
 as certain as the rising sun; 
 in darkness love will never die, 
 nor horror snuff our human worth. 

2 The sounding of a baby's cry 
 as suckling, taken from her breast, 
 demands a mother's full concern, 
 so you have heard our hoarse lament. 

3 Our cry goes out through all the world, 
 through this and each succeeding age; 
 your glance returns our wanting gaze, 
 and none escape your light or love. 

Metre: LM Tune: HEREFORD (Wesley)

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948) 
Words © 2002 © 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.

Image (c) Andrew Pratt 2025