A mind,
it seemed,
adrift.
No sea anchor,
but fronds, or tendrils,
tangled about thoughts,
pulling forward through mists,
or pulling down
into near forgotten depths.
Then a ripple would align
two glimpses of reality,
momentarily,
and be gone,
sliding through fingers
losing strength,
a tenuous grip.
AEP
God we need your holy wisdom – a hymn written nearly 20 years ago…still pertinent, I fear.
1 God we need your holy wisdom,
need to know your presence here,
through audacious, fearless living,
and your dying, draw us near.
2 We are failing, needing loving,
so addicted to despair,
come with healing, mend the broken,
with your grace renew, repair.
3 Feed our rich imagination,
let the poets speak again
words of hope, profound redemption,
foil this sharp, systemic pain.
4 Then unleash our lives to follow
Christ our leader, yet our friend,
and through risks of selfless living,
find through love your goal, our end.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2007Stainer & 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
Tune: CHAPEL BRAE; ALL FOR JESUS
A hymn reflecting on story of the road to Emmaus
This is the day when we confess our faith,
dependant on our God and God’s good grace,
we seek to take our cross, to follow Christ,
while seeing Christ in one another’s face.
This is the time, there is no turning back,
companion God you stand beside us still,
walk with us through life’s twisting, winding way,
and keep us always faithful to your will.
Help us to break your bread of life, then share;
lift up the cup of blessing, drink your wine;
when rising from this table go in peace,
our life and living be a gracious sign.
And so we stand to offer up our lives,
not just a verbal sacrifice of praise,
we offer freely all we have to give
until your spirit sets the world ablaze.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © [pre-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: 10 10 10 10
Tune: WOODLANDS
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
Easter Resurrection hymn: In the garden, walking, weeping
1 In the garden, walking, weeping,
Mary came at break of dawn.
All the sorrow, all the anguish
made her figure lost, forlorn.
2 All the fragrance of that garden
couldn't take away her fear;
coming through the dancing shadows
sunshine could not calm or cheer.
3 In the corner of the garden
was the tomb where he'd been laid.
Her intention was to hold him,
feel again the love he gave.
4 Now she saw the tomb was empty,
heard a gardener call her name,
turning round she saw him, Jesus,
one who'd reached her through her shame.
5 Sunshine cut through clouds of mourning,
for his death had come and gone,
silencing the dirge of sorrow,
now she'd sing a sweeter song.
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: 8 7 8 7
Tune: OMNI DIE
Used By Permission. CCLI Licence No. 1111
Created by HymnQuest.com - HymnQuest ID: 77131
hymnsandbooks 