Category: Photos

Prophets once challenged our human indifference calling us to open our hearts to our neighbours

Prophets once challenged our human indifference

1           Prophets once challenged our human indifference,
              bringing hypocrisy into the light.
              Shone through our prejudice, challenging, searching,
              opening eyes in the darkness of night.

2           Into this moment of crisis, of worship,
              when we will offer our prayers and our praise,
              lead us to promises, quell our indifference,
              help us commit to your life and your ways.

3           Open our hearts to each friend and each neighbour,
              quench any hatred or fear at its source.
              When we might wander away from your loving,
              take us, and lead us, and keep us on course.

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: 11 10 11 10 – A challenge this week – what tune would you use?

Photo Copyright Andrew Pratt 2026

Churning waves unsettled Peter – a hymn inspired by Matthew 14: 22-33

Matthew 14: 22-33 - the faith to walk on water – 12 Aug

1	Churning waves unsettled Peter, 
	startled, he was sinking fast, 
	he'd been walking on the water, 
	seemed this moment could not last.
	Jesus reached a hand to save him, 
	lifted him above the swell.
	Fainting faith seemed to have left him, 
	Jesus knew this all too well.
	
2	In the boat things seemed much safer 
	but his friends, now overawed, 
	knew again, the truth was dawning, 
	this man Jesus was their Lord. 
	Even wind and waves obeyed him, 
	here God's nature was betrayed;
	when we're sinking God still lifts us, 
	love and grace are still displayed.

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
Metre8 7 8 7 D
Tune: CALON LAN

God is your source of strength and help – based on Psalm 121

God is your source of strength and help – based on Psalm 121

God is your source of strength and help,
ground of this changing, cosmic scheme;
you need not look beyond the hills,
God folds you close in love unseen.
	
God never sleeps by day or night,
God's love will never lose its grip;
your God will never let you down,
your foot will never slide or slip.
	
The hottest sun will bring no harm,
nor will the moon bring hurt or fear
for God has guarded you with care,
and love will always hold you near.
	
Each journey that you make in life,
your coming in, your going out,
will show how much God loves you still,
through every danger, fear or doubt.

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
Metre: LM
Tune: NIAGARA

Windermere – copyright Andrew Pratt 2026

With daring we enter the future that beckons – a hymn for new beginnings (Matthew 28: 16-20)

With daring we enter the future that beckons – 
a hymn for new beginnings (Matthew 28: 16-20)

With daring we enter the future that beckons,
our feelings in tension - excitement and fear.
Wherever we're walking we know God walks with us,
before and behind, God's protection is near.

Alone in the desert God's people felt empty,
the land that was promised of honey and milk
seemed distant, reality made hope distorted,
clothed them with despairing, more sackcloth than silk.

And sometimes the way that we find in the present
has troubles and heartaches enough of its own;
but still God walks with us through valleys of darkness,
encompassed with loving, we're never alone.

So welcome the future and enter it boldly,
look back, God was with you wherever you trod.
This God is your lover through life and forever,
take hold of the certainty: this is your God.

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: 12 11 12 11
Tunes: WAS LEBET, WAS SCHWEBET
Created by HymnQuest.com

He stood with scarred and open hands – a hymn of resurrection

He stood with scarred and open hands - a hymn of resurrection inspired by John 20: 19-31

1	He stood with scarred and open hands, 
	their bloodied, but now risen, Lord, 
	incomprehension met his words, 
	their fear had tightened like a cord.
	
2	His word of peace rang in their ears, 
	yet they could hardly understand. 
	Bemused, unsettled, disbelief 
	meant that the fear they felt was fanned.
	
3	Yet here he stood, as flesh and blood, 
	a word of peace upon his lips, 
	but as they try to grasp at facts 
	their sense of meaning slides and slips.
	
4	He knew their need, for doubt and awe 
	was clouding each and every mind 
	but here was fish, he took and ate, 
	his human life was sealed and signed.
	
5	The path of pain that he had known 
	was grounded in necessity, 
	for perfect love was bound to face 
	self interest and hypocrisy.
	
6	And now they understood his words, 
	'come follow' echoed in their ears. 
	That self-same grace will call us all  
	and love will cancel out our fears.

Words: Andrew Pratt (born 1948) © 2012 Stainer & 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: LM Tune: BRESLAU