Science hymns/poems – Page 2

Hymns responding to Dr Tim Gordon’s Seminar for Bramhall Methodist Church Climate Change Series

Dr Tim Gordon
Marine Biologist, Exeter University

Pre-meeting text

Like concrete, coral crumbles,
devoid of life and breath,
and lifeless it will signal
our finiteness and death,
until with all creation
we find our common place
and treasure this our planet
and see, in life, God’s face.

The reef can be a model:
a commonwealth of care,
of close cooperation
of all that’s living there:
yet human beings meddle,
bring damage and distress.
We need to learn and listen
if life is to progress.

A deeper understanding
that science can provide
could bring the restoration
our actions have denied;
while prayer can open senses
to things that are obscure,
God’s spirit offers insight
to make the world secure.

Andrew Pratt 23/5/2021
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
Metre: 7.6.7.6.D
Tune: LLANGLOFFAN; AURELIA

Hymn responding to Dr Tim Gordon
Marine Biologist, Exeter University

The song of the sea, once melodious is dying,
that song is essential, the calling of home;
Great God, we lament, yet the sound of our crying
is quieter than breakers, the wash of the foam.

What work must we do to restore what is broken,
how can we encourage the choir of the sea?
The spirit is moving, the waters are wounded,
the oceans are anguished for life to be free.

You enter our suffering and love in our grieving,
you join us in weakness, when frailty is near,
God hold us, enfold us when hell overcomes us,
stand near to the tomb of our folly and fear.

You promise a covenant, both gift and promise.
Creation is groaning, still coming to birth.
Bring newness, renewal, a hope that is living,
from suff’ring bring joy for the whole of the earth.

We treasure the symphony, yet we are grieving,
we long for the chorus, the song of the sea,
bring light in the darkness and sound in the silence,
Great God, co-creator let all life be free.

Andrew Pratt 24/5/2021
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
Metre: 12.11.12.11
Tune: STREETS OF LAREDO YouTube - Sung and played by Gareth Moore

More information click here

Hymns responding to Christopher Walsh’s Seminar for Bramhall Methodist Church Climate Change Series

Pre-meeting text

Is it time to pause the picture,
freeze the frame until we learn.
Listen more to one another,
as we focus to discern
differences of our perspectives,
how our neighbours live and grow,
till in Christian understanding,
Jesus’ love begins to show?

Accidents of birth have placed us
into poverty or wealth,
having access to possessions,
bringing peace? Destroying health?
When will humans learn together
how to meet our common need?
How to live with one another,
nurture love, that precious seed.

God enable us to treasure
those with whom we share this earth,
those whose lives are marked by difference,
yet who share our human birth;
bring a clearer understanding
of the planet that we share,
till we grasp the trust that’s given,
measured out for all to care.

Andrew Pratt 15/5/2021
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.
Metre: 8.7.8.7 D
Tune: BETHANY (Smart)

Hymn responding to Christopher Walsh
PhD Student, Tyndall Centre, University of Manchester

How we trust and work together
with our partners on this earth,
will sustain, or damn our planet,
place of nurture, home of birth.

Yet removed and isolated
we have not been stewards of faith,
as we pray with understanding
may we channel active grace.

May our prayer inspire our actions,
not just words or empty rhyme,
all our lives are interactive,
interwoven threads in time.

With a common understanding
sisters, brothers work as one,
reap the value of creation
as our time on earth is run.

Metre: 8.7.8.7
Tune: ALL FOR JESUS
Andrew Pratt 18/5/2021
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.

More information click here

Hymns responding to Dr Michael Morecroft’s Seminar for Bramhall Methodist Church Climate Change Series

Pre-meeting hymn text

Stewards of creation living in tension,
part of the system, care for the earth,
all of us partners, all are God’s creatures,
sisters and brothers, all bearing worth.

Building resilience, valuing difference,
interdependence; learning to share
all that this planet holds for existence,
senses attuned, alert and aware.

Constantly changing, facing our future,
each ecosystem valued and healed,
knowing as partners, God’s fellow workers,
earth’s re-creation future-proofed, sealed.

Andrew Pratt 10/5/2021
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
Metre: 10.9.10.9
Tune: BUNESSAN
Hymn responding to Dr Michael Morecroft
Principal Climate Scientist, Natural England

Called to be partners with God in creation,
stewards of the biosphere, what can we do?
How can we work with the land as it’s changing,
working more flexibly, alter our view.

Here with a climate that’s moving, evolving,
summers are drier, but winters more wet,
storm, drought and flood, matched with wildfire, erosion,
raising the question how great is our debt?

Help us to learn how to live with each species,
neighbours to share with our planetary store.
Earth has a cycle, a sensitive balance,
ours to care fairly, destroy or restore.

God infuse learning, respect for creation,
give us humility, channel your grace;
all earth’s resources are precious, yet finite,
help us to value all life in this place.

Andrew Pratt 12/5/2021
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
Metre: 11.10.11.10
Tune: STEWARDSHIP(Ruddle); EPIPHANY HYMN; SPEAN

More information click https://www.bramhallmethodists.org.uk/pfop-programmee

Praying for our planet – faith and climate change – Bramhall Methodist Church

Seven scientists through seven seminars offer perspectives on a faithful response to climate change.

A series of free webinars. Beginning 12th May 2021

Find out more here

Climate change song – Crises drive us from our comfort

Crises drive us from our comfort
to the edge of vital choice,
children speak the words we’ve hidden,
simple words we’ve failed to voice.
Will we listen to the judgment
warning us to change our ways,
change essential in this moment
making way for future days?

Cut the greed, this present moment
is a sacrament in time:
calls for change in our perspective,
hearing reason, mending rhyme.
Here we have just finite tenure,
stewards of this planet, earth,
handing each new generation
sacred space to come to birth.

Space and time are lent and trusted
into each receptive hand,
ours to tend, maintain and offer
clean, refreshed: each cherished land.
Yet our science says we’re wanting,
faulted in our craft and care.
May the future be forgiving
of the love we failed to share.

Andrew Pratt 8/12/2019
Inspired by Greta Thunberg

Words © 2019 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: THE CARNIVAL IS OVER