A hymn reflecting on Hebrew scriptures – In the silent stillness
1 In the silent, stillness, listen,
God is calling will we hear?
All too often faith has foundered,
grace is muzzled by our fear.
In our rush and haste and hurry
we have lost the time for prayer;
lost the time for conversation,
then we think God is not there.
2 Yet our forebears grasped a promise
of a covenant of grace;
God is faithful to that promise
in this present time and place.
Limitless in application,
boundless in its scope and span;
grace is wide enough for thousands,
here there is no 'also ran'!
3 Spoken to a chosen people
for the nations of the earth,
see God's love is offered freely,
recognising all have worth.
More than milk, than wine or honey,
God has offered, God will give
bread that all may feast, and freely,
all rejoice, that all may live!
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 D
Tune: ABBOT’S LEIGH
Category: Poems
Jerusalem awaits me – based on – Luke 13.31-35
Jerusalem awaits me
1 'Jerusalem awaits me',
said Jesus to the crowd,
yet they would jeer and taunt him
and curse his name out loud.
'Today I cast out demons,
tomorrow I will heal
The third day I will finish
the things I came to seal’.
2 In childhood he was harassed
and Herod sought his blood;
and now that fox still needed
to fell him where he stood;
but Jesus was as cunning
as those who wished to kill
and later in the garden,
would seek to do God's will.
3 Here comes the man of blessing,
the Christ that they would kill,
and those who seek to worship,
must also seek his will.
God give us strength to follow,
and give us grace to serve,
to follow Jesus' footsteps,
to never lose our nerve.
Andrew Pratt (born 1948) based on Lent 2 - Luke 13.31-35
Words © 2015 © 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: THORNBURY
When justice is impossible – can we sing?
1 When justice is impossible,
beyond our human scope;
when doubt and darkness celebrate
and we no longer cope,
give us, O God, the words to sing,
and faith to trust the end you bring.
2 From thundercloud, through wind and fire,
you act to bring release.
From bonds that we have forged ourselves
you come to bring us peace;
so give us, God, the words to sing,
and strength to trust the end you bring.
3 From our distress we call to you,
but yet we fear your hand,
for where we fail you will prevail
but will we live to stand?
O give us God, the words to sing
whatever end you need to bring.
4 Our mouths are open with the song,
we’re singing for our lives,
bring courage, give us strength, O God,
while human hope survives.
may alleluias fill that song
in spite of all our human wrong.
Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948)
© 2006 Stainer & Bell Ltd
Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior permission from Stainer & Bell Ltd.
Tune: AUCH JETZT MACHT GOTT
He could have walked the easy road – written by Marjorie Dobson – inspired by the temptation of Jesus in the desert
1 He could have walked the easy road
to fortune and to fame.
He knew he could work miracles,
to heal the blind and lame.
He could have fed the starving poor
with fish as well as bread.
But Jesus knew that life held more
and chose God's word instead.
2 He could have trusted angels' wings,
up on that Temple tower.
To save him from a fall to death
was well within God's power.
The people would have marvelled then
and guessed this was God's son.
But Jesus would not take the test
to prove he was that one.
3 He could have taken full control,
the world lay at his feet.
He only had to say the word:
his rule would be complete.
The mountain view had caught his breath..
Power was a word away.
But Jesus turned back from it all
and God had won the day.
Marjorie Dobson (born 1940) based on Matthew 4 vs 1-11
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: 8 6 8 6 8 6 8 6
Tune: KINGSFOLD
A hymn for Jesus’ temptation
Lent 1 – The temptation of Jesus
1 Jesus met supreme temptation,
countered subtlety with skill;
ever faithful to one purpose,
still committed to God's will.
2 With no food he soon was famished,
hunger racked him, filled his mind,
then a voice had come to taunt him,
'bread is there for you to find'.
3 Each illusion he would parry,
each temptation run to ground;
all the world was for the asking,
yet his faith was strong and sound.
4 Every miracle and wonder
he was tempted to perform
he rebutted, held the tension;
he would live beyond this storm.
5 And when we meet with temptation,
save us from each trial and test;
strengthen faith, God, give us courage,
help us strive toward the best.
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: 8 7 8 7
Tune: CROSS OF JESUS
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