Here we're watching from the side-lines – a hymn for Palm Sunday
1 Here we're watching from the sidelines,
yet we bring ourselves to bear
on the picture, on the action:
now it feels as though we're there.
Deep within the crowd we're cheering,
yet our doubt is all too near.
Is it safe to follow Jesus?
Then this doubt is fuel to fear.
2 Now the crowds shout out hosanna!
Feeling one, we join their call.
Carried by the celebration,
know that we could give our all.
Doubt has been repressed, and hidden,
for a time our fear is small.
Yet, if we could only know it,
Christ is heading for a fall.
3 On beyond this acclamation,
crowds would find a reason why
they could change these glad hosannas
to a raucous, angry cry.
And are we as faulted, fickle,
just as likely to deny
all the things we once held firmly,
call for God to hang and die?
4 We are human, if we're honest
we will own that we can fail,
change and spin our understanding,
recognise that we are frail.
God we need your gracious loving,
deep forgiveness to assail
things that hurt and leave us broken.
God enable and prevail.
Andrew Pratt (born 1948)
© 2011 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 7 8 7 D
Tune: CONVERSE
Created by HymnQuest.com
Here terror stripped our Lord of hope – a hymn of the Passion
1 Here terror stripped our Lord of hope,
the sweat of blood, the fear of death,
the shadow of that fearful cross,
that dries the throat, that quickens breath.
2 Alone and desolate he waits
and prays that God might take away
the cup that signals human dread,
while friends have slept, or left the fray.
3 And, strange enigma, this is God
and here God shares mortality,
within the garden, on the cross,
at one with our humanity.
4 And now our deepest fear and loss,
condensed to pain of mind and heart,
are met within God's human frame,
within God's science and God's art.
5 And in our lost humanity
when hope is drained and faith has gone,
when desolation dwells within,
God holds our hurt and love goes on.
Andrew Pratt (born 1948)
© 2015 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 8 8 8
Tune: FULDA
Created by HymnQuest.com
Category: Hymns
Such blasphemous extravagance – a hymn inspired by the raising of Lazarus but pertinent at this time
John 11:1-45 – The raising of Lazarus - Jesus’ assertions that his actions would demonstrate who he was were, to those around him, blasphemous in the extreme…and all this in the context that he was moving nearer to Jerusalem where he would be crucified.
This lyrical poem seems pertinent in the world at this time…
1 Such blasphemous extravagance
as limb is torn from limb;
expense is unaccountable,
is this the final sin?
2 There is no god, yet pain is god,
and God is very real,
amid the carnage and the fear,
the hatred that we feel
3 And did God look through human eyes
and touch with human hands,
and did a human mind discern
love's seed sown in these lands?
4 Yes, Christ is God, incarnate God,
and still his flesh is torn;
and eyes that look on all the world
with tears and cares are worn.
5 And still God hangs with wondering eyes
and all the world seems lost,
and no one dares to face the facts,
while parents count the cost.
6 When will we learn, O can we learn,
the lesson that Christ taught:
that wood and nails can never end
the love for which he fought.
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
Tune: BRISTOL Ravenscroft – ‘Hark the glad sound’
Created by HymnQuest.com
O River Mother, spirit of creation – hymn – the motherhood of God
1 O River Mother, spirit of creation,
flowing so freely since the dawn of time,
source of all life and onward propagation,
summer’s bright warmth and winter’s frozen rime.
2 Once from a riven altar, out through history,
your source of life flowed on to all the earth;
then cosmic letters formed the timeless story,
charged with your passion, grace and love and worth.
3 Now at the point in time of our existence,
through faith and science we discern our place.
We understand your gentle, calm persistence
folding around us with your love and grace.
4 O River Mother, flowing to the future,
on past the present that we see and feel,
take us, flow with us, kindly love and nurture,
virtues that make your presence strong and real.
Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2006 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: O PERFECT LOVE
Genesis 1:26-28; 2:22-23; Revelation 21; 1-5
Best of all is God is with us – Hymn for Wesley Day – 24th May
1 Best of all is God is with us,
God will hold and never fail.
Keep that truth when storms are raging,
God remains though faith is frail.
2 Best of all is God is with us,
life goes on and needs are met,
God is strongest in our weakness.
Love renews, will not forget.
3 Best of all is God is with us,
hearts are challenged, strangely warmed,
faith is deepened, courage strengthened,
grace received and hope reformed.
4 Best of all is God is with us,
in our joy and through our pain,
till that final acclamation:
‘life is Christ, but death is gain’.
5 Best of all is God is with us
as we scale eternal heights,
love grows stronger, undiminished;
earth grows dim by heaven’s lights.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2008 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: CHAPEL BRAE
Words based on those attributed to John Wesley on his death bed: ‘Best of all is God is with us’. First published in Poppies and Snowdrops available from the author.
Beware of what you think or say – Jesus and a Samaritan woman – a hymn
John 4: 5-42 v.7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’.
1 Beware of what you think or say,
our actions give the lie,
or offer evidence of faith
for which we sing, or cry.
2 When challenged by a foreigner,
a woman in her need,
see Jesus shamed to change and act,
her challenge sowed a seed.
3 Yes, Jesus heard her call for help
and recognised her prayer,
her faith was evident to him,
as was his need to care.
4 If even Jesus changed his mind,
when will we grasp the fact
that scruples that we hold and guard
mean less than how we act.
5 But faith depends on depths of love,
compassion, care and grace;
to see in those we disregard
a sister’s, brother’s face.
© 2011 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 Tune: ABRIDGE; BELMON
hymnsandbooks 