Category: Other People’s Words

The tentacles of wealth and domination words responding to David Olusoga’s ‘Empire’

The tentacles of wealth and domination

On the 9th November 2025 at 00:33 I wrote these words in response to David Olusoga’s first episode of his series on BBC television – Empire – where he  tells the story of the British Empire, from its origins under Elizabeth I to the establishment of colonies in America, the Caribbean and India.*

The tentacles of wealth and domination
exploit the poor and elevate the rich, 
the seats of power are turning in an instant
are sliding, twisting, now about to switch.

We mirror history in each word and action, 
again we turn our values upside down.
If this is love we're cynical and empty, 
the face of God is creased into a frown.

God's people what has happened to the gospel, 
the grace that we accepted, now refused, 
the love in which God holds us lies polluted, 
the neighbours with Christ's face we have abused.

When will we turn again toward the beauty, 
accept the loving kindness of God's care, 
before us lies the world and all its riches, 
sufficient for our needs if we would share.

© Andrew Pratt 9/11/2025
*https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002hytj 

Christians may compare what Olusoga has depicted with the 
Magnificat - 

Luke 1: 51-53
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
    and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and sent the rich away empty.

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

‘Trust in God we cannot see’ – a hymn of faith by Marjorie Dobson

‘Trust in God we cannot see' – a hymn of faith by Marjorie Dobson

1	Trust in a God we cannot see
	turns reason inside out.
	Faith is a rough and winding road
	with stumbling blocks of doubt.

2	We follow where we think God leads,
	although the road seems strange:
	but faith demands an open mind
	and willingness to change.

3	When crisis clouds of doubt disturb
	and shake our faith with fear,
	it can be hard to trust that God
	will, one day, make things clear.

4	Yet when God’s call breaks through again,
	persistent as before,
	the choice is plain: ignore, stagnate,
	or fire our faith once more.

Marjorie Dobson (born 1940)
Words © 2019 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: CM
Tune: LONDON NEW
Published in Unravelling the Mysteries