1 O River Mother, spirit of creation,
flowing so freely since the dawn of time,
source of all life and onward propagation,
summer’s bright warmth and winter’s frozen rime.
2 Once from a riven altar, out through history,
your source of life flowed on to all the earth;
then cosmic letters formed the timeless story,
charged with your passion, grace and love and worth.
3 Now at the point in time of our existence,
through faith and science we discern our place.
We understand your gentle, calm persistence
folding around us with your love and grace.
4 O River Mother, flowing to the future,
on past the present that we see and feel,
take us, flow with us, kindly love and nurture,
virtues that make your presence strong and real.
Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2006 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: O PERFECT LOVE
Genesis 1:26-28; 2:22-23; Revelation 21; 1-5
Category: Song
Beware of what you think or say – Jesus and a Samaritan woman – a hymn
John 4: 5-42 v.7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’.
1 Beware of what you think or say,
our actions give the lie,
or offer evidence of faith
for which we sing, or cry.
2 When challenged by a foreigner,
a woman in her need,
see Jesus shamed to change and act,
her challenge sowed a seed.
3 Yes, Jesus heard her call for help
and recognised her prayer,
her faith was evident to him,
as was his need to care.
4 If even Jesus changed his mind,
when will we grasp the fact
that scruples that we hold and guard
mean less than how we act.
5 But faith depends on depths of love,
compassion, care and grace;
to see in those we disregard
a sister’s, brother’s face.
© 2011 Stainer and 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
Metre: 8 6 8 6 Tune: ABRIDGE; BELMON
A hymn for when our certainty is shaken: Sometimes our grasp of life is frail
A hymn for when our certainty is shaken: Sometimes our grasp of life is frail
Prior to one of the Gospel readings for this Sunday (Matthew 17:1-9) Jesus had spoken to his disciples:
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? (Matthew 16)
Every so often our faith can be shaken and we need something to reassure us…hence this hymn which also reflects on what life today is like when our certainties are challenge:
1 Sometimes our grasp of life is frail,
yet through it all love will prevail.
And when it seems things can't get worse,
we feel that every step is cursed.
2 In spite of all, we keep our faith,
held, more than holding onto grace,
we whisper prayer and hope for praise,
we live through grey exhausting days.
3 God's word reminds of how we're held,
when love is hidden, faith is felled;
retelling narratives of pain
from which God's people rose again.
4 This is the hope to which we cling,
when life is raw, we sense death's sting;
yet on beyond this time and place
may we be kept within your grace. Amen
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2011, 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 8 8 8
Tune: GONFALON ROYAL
Created by HymnQuest.com
God disarm us from the language – pertinent in a time when language and how it is being used can be utterly damaging
God disarm us from the language
God disarm us from the language
that will harm, or dispossess,
that disparages our neighbour
words that hurt, or bring distress.
God bring love instead of hatred,
tear down barriers we have built,
bring your grace among all nations,
takeaway our fear and guilt.
Take us, use us, in this purpose,
so our actions emulate,
all that brings us peaceful living,
not just tools of chance or fate.
Build between us bonds of friendship,
bridges in the place of lies,
till we’re bound with one another:
held by love that none denies.
Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948)
© 2026 Stainer and 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
Tune: SHIPSTON
God surprises us by kindness – a hymn of caring
1 God surprises us by kindness,
by another’s healing touch,
words that speak with understanding,
soothe where once we hurt so much.
2 We can never lose the tether
tying us to Godly grace,
yet through human hands we’re lifted,
as we’re meeting face to face.
3 Simple acts of loving kindness,
bring us back to life again,
ease the burden of each moment,
share our sorrow, ease our pain.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
© 2016 Stainer and 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.
Metre: 8 7 8 7
Tune: ST OSWALD
As published in http://www.theworshipcloud.com
Created by HymnQuest.com – HymnQuest links this text with Matthew 4:4
God surprises us by kindness – a hymn of caring with assurance and, perhaps, challenge
1 God surprises us by kindness,
by another’s healing touch,
words that speak with understanding,
soothe where once we hurt so much.
2 We can never lose the tether
tying us to Godly grace,
yet through human hands we’re lifted,
as we’re meeting face to face.
3 Simple acts of loving kindness,
bring us back to life again,
ease the burden of each moment,
share our sorrow, ease our pain.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
© 2016 Stainer and 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.
Metre: 8 7 8 7
Tune: ST OSWALD
As published in http://www.theworshipcloud.com
Created by HymnQuest.com – HymnQuest links this text with Matthew 4:4
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