Good God what are we doing? – a hymn in a time of war and remembrance of Hiroshima
Good God what are we doing
upon this harrowed earth,
with children starved, or banished,
a hell has to come to birth?
And even now the mid-wives
see nurtured babies die,
while politicians hunker
and hide behind a lie.
If God is good the image
that we uphold and bear
is marred beyond cognition,
humanity lacks care.
A spark of holy presence
becomes a fading shard
while hopeful grace is damaged,
love’s clarity is barred.
Good God forgive indifference
that lets our children die,
raise up again a spirit
of grace beyond a sigh,
until we cradle babies
and nurture them with love,
until war’s hawks are banished,
peace settling like dove.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 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: 7.6.7.6 D
Tune: PASSION CHORALE
Category: Poems
We stand to sing – a hymn inspired by Luke12: 32-40
We stand to sing, the fearful lose their chains inspired by Luke 12: 32-40
1 We stand to sing, the fearful lose their chains,
the key might change, yet harmony remains,
for here is love and loving grace will blend
with grace to comfort, strengthen and to mend.
2 What once we were, now damaged and worn down,
contains the essence of a seed once sown,
a seed, that nurtured, still might rise to life
beyond this hurt and harrowed, faulted strife.
3 God values every bruised and bending reed;
God sees a nascent flower and not a weed;
and so will raise us up from where we are,
the faintest, feeble spark becomes a star.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2017 Stainer and 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: HIGHLAND CATHEDRAL
The sunlight on the water – Hymn
The sunlight on the water – inspired by Luke 12: 13-21
1 The sunlight on the water
Sets singing in our eyes
A single glance of wonder,
A shimmering first surprise;
But dusty practicalities,
The thorn within our flesh,
That recommend obedience
Just will not let us rest.
2 The landfall at a haven,
Our solitude replete,
A foretaste of God’s heaven,
Serenity complete,
Is tempered by reality
With feet firm on the ground.
We recognise a call to live
In this world’s sight and sound.
3 We turn again from wonder,
From spiritual surprise,
From laser light and thunder,
Through dazzled, dancing eyes
We see the grinding poverty,
We smell the stench of death,
And only sacrificial love
Will lead through hell to rest.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
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: 7 6 7 6 8 6 8 6 Tune: CHRYSOSTOM Published in Whatever Name or Creed
If love could be the centre of the lives we seek to live – a hymn inspired by Luke 11: 4 (The Lord’s Prayer)
If love could be the centre of the lives we seek to live – inspired by Luke 11: 4 (The Lord’s Prayer) - 'forgive us our debts' Lectionary 26-7-2025
1 If love could be the centre of
the lives we seek to live,
if we could learn to measure wealth
by debts that we forgive;
then Christ would be incarnate in
all love that we could give
2 Our lives would then be measured by
our depth of love and grace,
the way in which we looked on Christ
in one another’s face.
Then Love would come to live again
within this time and place.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2014 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
Tune: SHELTERED DALE (used in the Methodist Hymn Book[1933] to set 'Awake, awake to love and work')
A hymn inspired by the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)
Hymn: inspired by the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) - Sometimes when all our busyness
1 Sometimes when all our busyness
is just too much bear
remember Jesus kindly words
with Mary sitting there.
2 The words that Martha felt unfair
gave leave to stop and be,
and those who need the peace of God
have reason to feel free.
3 So when for any one of us
the pressure is too great,
then stop, take stock, and rest awhile,
it never is too late.
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: CM
Tune: BELMONT
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