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God’s grace extends beyond our comprehension – a hymn of forgiveness and reconciliation

God’s grace extends beyond our comprehension – a hymn of forgiveness and reconciliation

God’s grace extends beyond our comprehension,
beyond the limits that we put on love.
God calls us to forgiveness and redemption,
sometimes the bar is just too high above.

When we are wronged God feels the hurt we suffer
and enters into every human pain;
yet when our hatred flames, God makes a buffer,
absorbing venom time and time again.

We are not called beyond what we can offer
in giving someone back the peace we prize;
and yet when we are numb our God can proffer
the gift and grace to help us to arise.

And then once in a while perhaps we’ll manage,
through grace and not within our strength alone,
to show forgiveness that may help us salvage
relationships that once we would disown.

Andrew Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 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
Metre: 11 10 11 10 Tune: INTERCESSOR
Created by HymnQuest.com

Great Budworth © Andrew Pratt

At the rising and the setting – a hymn

At the rising and the setting – a hymn. Matthew 18:20 At a time of a Methodist New Year, a time of meetings and decisions this text reminds us that, ‘…where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’

1         At the rising and the setting
           of a thousand golden suns,
           life is turning on a pivot,
           birth to death each journey runs.

2         Through our morning’s contemplation,
           God is present in the mist
           of a thousand conversations,
           speaking words we might resist.

3         Speaking words that urge us forward,
           words to hasten or restrain,
           words to energise our gladness,
           words to comfort in our pain.

4         In the reading of the scripture,
           in our prayer and in our praise,
           in mundane and daily actions,
           God be with us through all days.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)

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

Tunes: SUSSEX; WRAYSBURY

An evening walk

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?

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