Category: Poems

When sense is damaged, limiting perception – hymn – inspired by Mark 9: 30-37

When sense is damaged, limiting perception – inspired by Mark 9: 30-37


1 When sense is damaged, limiting perception,
God’s love will not diminish or betray,
for we are held in grace and loving kindness,
in pain, through grief and hardship, come what may.


2 The love of God defies our understanding,
God reaches to the depths of our despair
absorbing hate, discerning fear and anguish,
enabling, healing, wholeness and repair.


3 Our God is patient with our human frailty,
a strength in weakness when we slip or fall,
and so just as we are we come to worship
to offer back to God our all in all.


Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2012 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.

Metre: 11.10.11.10

Tune: HIGHWOOD

Hymn inspired by Mark 7: 24-30 – She felt just like a ragged dog

She felt just like a ragged dog - inspired by Mark 7: 24-30

1	She felt just like a ragged dog 
	that scratched around for food, 
	denied, despised and kicked aside 
	and never any good.
	
2	Yet now she stood inside the door 
	and pleaded with this man, 
	for each taboo had little weight, 
	her grief had wider span.
	
3	Her child had need of healing help 
	and she would make Christ hear, 
	the urgency of anguished need 
	had overcome her fear.
	
4	And in that moment he would learn, 
	audacity would teach
	that human laws and well worn creeds 
	put no-one out of reach.
	
5	Compassion ruled and love compelled 
	to action on that day, 
	and Jesus' reach was broadened as 
	he learnt that grace held sway.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2012 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: ST PETER (How sweet the name of Jesus sounds)

Christ saw a way so clearly – a hymn inspired by Mark 7: 1-8

Christ saw a way so clearly – inspired by Mark 7: 1-8

1 Christ saw a way so clearly
that others feared to tread;
with those who were discarded
he deigned to rest his head.

2 The poor he suffered gladly,
at hypocrites he’d rant;
his vision was not clouded
by sanctimonious cant.

3 He died, but still those faces
look on with mild disgust;
naivety that’s guileless,
the flaw they could not trust.

4 He’ll whirl and dance before them,
his song will fill the air;
we’ll join the dance he started,
in spite of our despair;

5 For he has spun a rainbow
of singing, shining light;
his leap to love and freedom
defies the darkest night.

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: 7 6 7 6 Iambic
Tune: CHRISTUS DER IST MEIN LEBEN

The crumbs that spoke of broken bread – A hymn inspired by John 6: 51 – 58

The crumbs that spoke of broken bread - inspired by John 6: 51-58

1	The crumbs that spoke of broken bread, 
	remembered words that had been said, 
	the scattered fragments of a meal 
	had left them thinking, 'was this real'.
	His flesh was torn, yes crucified, 
	it left them wond'ring, had he lied, 
	yet in another upper room, 
	he'd share again beyond that tomb.
	
2	They recognised the words he said, 
	they shared again that living bread, 
	and now the metaphor was real 
	within this simple, sacred meal. 
	Then looking in each other's face 
	they recognised a means of grace, 
	the meal they shared had brought Christ near, 
	they cast out one another's fear.
	
3	The love that held them was profound, 
	forever held, forever bound 
	and still today in every place 
	where bread is broken there is grace.
	So take the bread and pour the wine 
	and let this moment form a sign 
	for every human come to birth, 
	that love will never leave this earth.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2012 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: DLM
Tunes: YE BANKS AND BRAES; MERTHYR TYDFIL

For Holocaust Memorial in a broken world – a hymn – The day will come….

The day will come, must come, and soon – Holocaust Remembrance in a broken world

1	The day will come, must come, and soon,
	when we will sing a song of joy
	with sisters, brothers, not like us,
	who share the image of one God.

2	Whatever name, whichever faith,
	at heart we share a common bond,
	a shared humanity in God,
	whose name and character is love.

3	That love will drive us to the day
	when every wall is broken down,
	when love and joy and song are one:
	that day will come, must come, and soon.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2001 © 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: TALLIS’ CANON