Category: Poems

Water into wine? Hymn

This hymn focusses on the Wedding at Cana in Galilee (John 2: 1 – 11) 

where Jesus turned water into wine.

1 No magic, but a simple need 
was met when Jesus joined a feast, 
a wedding was well underway 
until the wine ran low, then ceased.

2 While Jesus never looked for fame
his mother called him to her side 
to ask that he would help them out,
assuming grace would now provide. 

3 He wasn't such an easy touch
he didn't want to do her will, 
it seemed he wasn't ready yet.
Was this a misuse of his skill?

4 Great jars of water were at hand.
Was this a miracle or sign?
He simply told the stewards to draw. 
This water now had turned to wine

5 The wedding feast was now replete,
and God surprises people still, 
through word or miracle or sign 
God still amazes, always will.

Andrew E Pratt
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: LM
Tune: NIAGARA

The Baptism of Jesus – a different hymn

The Sunday after Epiphany, when we mark the coming of the Magi to Jesus, is traditionally used to remember Jesus’ Baptism by John the Baptist. This hymn tells the story:


God is not partial: 
calls all the people, 
builds up the broken, 
comforts the frail, 
raises the fallen, 
walks with the outcast, 
loves without limits, 
love will not fail.

	
God joined the people: 
crowds John was calling, 
crowds by the river, 
turning around; 
turned by his preaching, 
turned by a conscience, 
turned by a gospel, 
suddenly found.

	
Humbly God joined them:
Jesus John's cousin, 
strange, enigmatic, 
why would he come?
John asked the question, 
Jesus was forthright, 
'You must baptise me.
This must be done'.

	
One with the people,
Jesus was rising, 
out of the water, 
mission begun; 
light to the nations, 
eyes to the blinded, 
prisoners find freedom, 
'this is my son'!


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: 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 4
Tune: BUNESSAN

Harassed, haunted child of Mary – hymn/poem for Epiphany/Holy Innocents

1	Harassed, haunted child of Mary          
       [Haunted, harassed child of Mary]*
	ran before he learned to crawl,
	filled with horror, those who loved him,
	those who gave to him their all,
	tore him from his bed and birth place,
	blown before the sudden squall.

2	Doubt and danger dogged each footfall,
	normal sounds now raised their fear;
	noises in a cobbled courtyard:
	Herod's minions drawing near?
	Or the waking sounds of morning?
	Nothing now is safe or clear.

3	Out of this endangered childhood,
	rootless, no asylum found,
	grew the strength of God to greatness,
	yet with thorns his brow was crowned:
	clothes divided, scourged, derided,
	suffering without a sound.

4	Dare we beautify the image
	when Christ's heirs still walk this earth,
	when our children, harassed, hounded,
	suffer death before their birth,
	while their parents' haunted hunger
	speaks of their discarded worth?

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948) 
*Alternative first line suggested by Alan Gasser via Facebook to enable the rhythm to be better caught. Thanks Andrew. 
Words © 2000 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 8 7 Trochaic
Tune: PICARDY

Hymn in commemoration of Desmond Tutu

This day we have witnessed a man for all people,
a man who was human, held fast what is right,
for this he has lived with profound dedication,
he shone in the world, don't extinguish that light.

And we who are human stand now in remembrance,
frail shadows of all he has shown we can be.
He not only preached, but embodied the values
that showed through his living that all can be free.

The man we remember has died, will be buried,
yet while we live justly his theme will not fall.
His spirit is living, will not be extinguished,
the love he embraced will be ever for all.

Words: Andrew Pratt (born 1948) text originally written for Nelson Mandela alt by the author      © 2013/2021 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.