The world is burning, twinkling lights betray a damaged conscience, we have lost our way. Our neighbours drown, we build on solid ground, as Jesus weeps while songs of praise resound. Within this season darkness clouds each mind, consumption numbs the pain we ought to find when hearing news of hunger and of drought, a stable’s birth should soon erase all doubt: the Christ we claim to know, born in the dirt, while at our doors our neighbours starve and hurt. So put aside this carolling and praise until compassion drives our words and ways. Andrew Pratt 19/11/2021 Words © 2021 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England, http://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. Tune: WOODLANDS Metre: 10.10.10.10
Category: Poems
Hymn responding to Greta Thunberg ahead of and following COP 26 – Blue planet, rising, soaring through the cosmos – Now with a new tune by Frances S. Drake
Blue planet, rising, soaring through the cosmos, was lent in trust for us to tend and care while children, young in wisdom, call in anguish, for all they see now fills them with despair. The wonder of the sky has drawn us upwards, our eyes diverted by the moon and stars, and as we dream we lose our moral compass, and in our greed we grasp creation, call it ours. Time runs away, our life on earth is finite, young prophets calling, needing us to act are crying out, lamenting for our planet, while ‘adults’ sleep, denying fear and fact. Still others stand, immune, ignore the future, absolved from fault for all that comes to pass. When will we grasp the need for urgent action, see clearly, not net curtained, or through frosted glass? While sands of time run down, are gone and finished, in fear of change we hanker for the past, but life on earth is threatened by inaction, as lethargy and greed resist and last. Good God forgive us for each fault and faction, unwillingness to change to save this earth. God give us ears to hear the words of wisdom that we might save this planet, cradle of our birth. Andrew Pratt 29/10/2021 – Responding to Greta Thunberg ahead of and following COP 26. Words © 2021 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England, http://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: 11.10.11.10.11.10.11.12 Tune: BLUE PLANET RISING; LONDONDERRY AIR
Hidden Saints – a hymn for All Saints
1 She had sewn her life with sadness Of the thread that joined each part; Now she weaves the song of gladness, Now rejoices in her heart. Though her fingers, bent, were crippled, Though her mind was taught with pain, Now as heaven's ether ripples, She has grasped a greater gain. 2 He had plumbed the shafts of wonder, Dug the coal from earth's dark veins; Now the darkness ripped asunder, Tells that more than life remains. Though his were lungs were torn with crying, Though his flesh was bruised and scarred, Now he soars, to glory climbing, Shares the loud angelic chord. 3 He had worked and toiled and worried At the tasks he undertook, He had hurtled, rushed and hurried Giving life no second look. Now at last the task is finished, Now the day is dead and gone, Urgency has been relinquished, Satisfied he joins the song. 4 We had seen a body lying, One we loved, as still as death; Now by faith, that death defying, Through God's resurrection breath Heaven now is more than story, Love is more than want or gain. Saints are carolling the glory Of the God they know by name. Andrew E Pratt (born 1948) Words © 1997 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England, http://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: 8 7 8 7 D Trochaic Tune: HYFRYDOl
Such a fragment, just a remnant – On hearing John A Bell preaching at Comberbach Harvest
Such a fragment, just a remnant, nothing wasted, nothing lost; all creation has its value, has its purpose, place or cost. Things we count of little value have inestimable worth; every grain of soil we’re tilling, in each land upon this earth. We must treasure earth’s resources and each moment of our time, life and all we have for living, bound in loving’s endless rhyme. On hearing John A Bell preaching at Comberbach Methodist Church Harvest Andrew Pratt 26/9/2021 Words © 2021 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
Tune composed by Frances S. Drake (USA) in the week following the composition of the text. Frances can be contacted by emailing – hymncat@yahoo.com
Hear the tune at –
Hymn of Justice, Harvest and Development – The earth pleads for justice
The earth pleads for justice, the harvest is wanting The earth pleads for justice, the harvest is wanting, in fire, flood or tempest our crops are destroyed; the Spring, once predicted, is desolate, silent, excuses are hollow, we’ve done all we can? The mountains have echoed, or is that God’s whisper, the quiet consternation of one in distress? A prompting, a question that answers our calling, is that your defence, that you’ve done all you can? While continents crumble and ice caps are melting, you sit on your hands, you do nothing at all. Wake up to the danger still growing around you, and do all you can till your passage is through. And now in the present let’s work for the future, still others will follow, they wait in the wings: this planet, its future, its people our neighbours, join hands, sing our anthem: ‘we’ll do All We Can!’ Andrew Pratt 13/9/2021 Written at the request of Margaret Parker for Cheadle Hulme Methodist Church to celebrate All We Can (Methodist Relief and Development) Words © 2021 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: 12.11.12.11 Tune: STREETS OF LAREDO/THE BARD OF ARMAGH (Ancient and Modern 551 - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJPxNjLRhEM ); ST CATHERINE’S COURT (Hymns & Psalms 660 - Hymnary - https://hymnary.org/media/fetch/205294 )
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