Jesus' open love would lead him
The unexpected healing by Jesus on a Sabbath of a crippled, and hence alienated, woman inspired these words:
1 Jesus' open love would lead him
into conflict with the law.
People then, and now, believing,
they know wrong, of this they're sure.
2 Such aggressive condemnation:
not the way we should behave,
we have rules and regulations
plotting how our God can save.
3 These are rules that God has given,
rules that we must strive to keep,
yet it seems that Jesus challenged
norms that made the path too steep.
4 Rules he offered changed perceptions,
moved from punishment to grace,
showed a way of loving, living,
we might risk within this place.
5 Love beyond imagination,
love to heed and to enthral,
love not bounded by rejection,
love that reaches out to all.
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 Trochaic
Tune: ST CATHERINE (Jones)
Category: Hymns
The Song of the Sea – a hymn related to Global Warming – reposting
The Song of the Sea – a hymn related to Global Warming
I usually post a hymn on a Monday or Tuesday each week. On Monday morning 11th August, the Today Programme on radio 4 announced that The UK's seas have had their warmest start to the year since records began, helping to drive some dramatic changes in marine life and for its fishing communities. Read more…
In 2021 Dr Tim Gordon Marine Biologist, Exeter University spoke to Bramhall Methodist Church about the death of coral reefs around Australia. Again, today there are reports of the deterioration of the Great Barrier Reef. During his seminar, in response, I wrote these words…
The song of the sea, once melodious, is dying,
that song is essential, the calling of home;
Great God, we lament, yet the sound of our crying
is quieter than breakers, the wash of the foam.
What work must we do to restore what is broken,
how can we encourage the choir of the sea?
The spirit is moving, the waters are wounded,
the oceans are anguished for life to be free.
You enter our suffering and love in our grieving,
you join us in weakness, when frailty is near,
God holds us, enfold us when hell overcomes us,
stand near to the tomb of our folly and fear.
You promise a covenant, both gift and promise.
Creation is groaning, still coming to birth.
Bring newness, renewal, a hope that is living,
from suffering bring joy for the whole of the earth.
We treasure the symphony, yet we are grieving,
we long for the chorus, the song of the sea,
bring light in the darkness and sound in the silence,
Great God, co-creator, let all life be free.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2021 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
Tune: STREETS OF LAREDO
You can read more about this at Tim Gordon
Hear this sung by Gareth Moore here
Good God what are we doing? – a hymn in a time of war and remembrance of Hiroshima
Good God what are we doing? – a hymn in a time of war and remembrance of Hiroshima
Good God what are we doing
upon this harrowed earth,
with children starved, or banished,
a hell has to come to birth?
And even now the mid-wives
see nurtured babies die,
while politicians hunker
and hide behind a lie.
If God is good the image
that we uphold and bear
is marred beyond cognition,
humanity lacks care.
A spark of holy presence
becomes a fading shard
while hopeful grace is damaged,
love’s clarity is barred.
Good God forgive indifference
that lets our children die,
raise up again a spirit
of grace beyond a sigh,
until we cradle babies
and nurture them with love,
until war’s hawks are banished,
peace settling like dove.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2026 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: 7.6.7.6 D
Tune: PASSION CHORALE
We stand to sing – a hymn inspired by Luke12: 32-40
We stand to sing, the fearful lose their chains inspired by Luke 12: 32-40
1 We stand to sing, the fearful lose their chains,
the key might change, yet harmony remains,
for here is love and loving grace will blend
with grace to comfort, strengthen and to mend.
2 What once we were, now damaged and worn down,
contains the essence of a seed once sown,
a seed, that nurtured, still might rise to life
beyond this hurt and harrowed, faulted strife.
3 God values every bruised and bending reed;
God sees a nascent flower and not a weed;
and so will raise us up from where we are,
the faintest, feeble spark becomes a star.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2017 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: 10 10 10 10
Tune: HIGHLAND CATHEDRAL
The sunlight on the water – Hymn
The sunlight on the water – inspired by Luke 12: 13-21
1 The sunlight on the water
Sets singing in our eyes
A single glance of wonder,
A shimmering first surprise;
But dusty practicalities,
The thorn within our flesh,
That recommend obedience
Just will not let us rest.
2 The landfall at a haven,
Our solitude replete,
A foretaste of God’s heaven,
Serenity complete,
Is tempered by reality
With feet firm on the ground.
We recognise a call to live
In this world’s sight and sound.
3 We turn again from wonder,
From spiritual surprise,
From laser light and thunder,
Through dazzled, dancing eyes
We see the grinding poverty,
We smell the stench of death,
And only sacrificial love
Will lead through hell to rest.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2000 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: 7 6 7 6 8 6 8 6 Tune: CHRYSOSTOM Published in Whatever Name or Creed
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