‘Right here in the presence of loving and grace’ – a hymn inspired by Mary anointing Jesus's feet.
1 Right here in the presence of loving and grace,
see Judas is scowling, a sneer scars his face.
Anointing with perfume is costly and rare;
this gift could be sold, giving substance to care.
2 What need this affection that Jesus received?
It seemed to go counter to all they believed.
The sale of the perfume could go in the purse,
some pieces of silver, not seen as a curse.
3 Yet this would foreshadow for Judas and Christ,
a scene of betrayal, for greed had enticed
this zealot to grasp for much more than his lot,
through misunderstanding, he'd scheme and he'd plot.
4 For Jesus, anointing would speak of his death,
as love of humanity took his last breath,
but now in this moment a woman knelt down,
her wisdom, perception, would lead to a crown.
5 This act of extravagance, worldly yet wise,
offensive to some, was now opening eyes
to love without measure, to infinite grace,
that minds cannot fathom, nor custom displace.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
© 2015 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.
Metre: 11 11 11 11
Tune: ST DENIO
Category: Song
Myanmar earthquake made me remember this hymn…
1 Seeing death and desecration;
natural hazards, human fate,
is this part of God’s creation?
Will the horror soon abate?
Through a feeling, more than reason,
just a glimpse of fleeting grace,
we will hold on, for a season,
to our damaged, limping faith.
2 Making sense of devastation,
human grief and mental pain,
moves us to the age-old question,
makes us plumb the depths again.
Who to blame and who to challenge?
Where is God amid the loss?
Where, when people have to scavenge,
is there meaning in a cross?
3 So we wait, belief in tatters;
struggle to retain our faith.
Every resolution shatters.
Certainties destroyed apace.
Yet we reach to sisters, brothers;
creeds, divisions turn to dust.
Now we feel at one with others;
enmity transformed to trust.
Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948)
© 2006 Stainer and Bell Ltd.
8 7 8 7 D
Come wake the dead- hymn
Come, wake the dead and raise the roof – a hymn with Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 in mind
1 Come, wake the dead and raise the roof,
we’ll picnic in the hills;
the day of God will come to pass,
when fear no longer chills.
2 Good wine is here to slake your thirst,
the hungry feast and rest,
the captives will be free at last,
the foreigner is blessed.
3 God formed us all and made us well
and God will bring us home;
the broken, beaten, lost, are found,
no longer need to roam.
4 So join the throng and raise your voice,
look round, look up, look well,
while all the heavens join our song,
ring every freedom bell.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2015 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: CAPEL
When nations are healed – a hymn for today
1 When nations are healed and all warfare is banished,
the hungry are fed and the poor lifted high,
the vision of glory, God’s presence among us,
will signify love and all hatred will die.
2 The river of life will flow on unpolluted,
the language we share will express common wealth,
all greed and all grasping will vanish forever,
instead of for warfare, we’ll budget for health.
3 The light of God’s love will then shine on forever,
the same light will shine out from each neighbour’s eyes,
this vision need not be set far in the future,
through love, in God’s spirit, we can grasp this prize.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
© 2013 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: 12 11 12 11 Tunes: THE ASH GROVE; SAINT CATHERINE’S COURT
In the silent stillness – A hymn reflecting on Hebrew scriptures
A hymn reflecting on Hebrew scriptures – In the silent stillness
1 In the silent, stillness, listen,
God is calling will we hear?
All too often faith has foundered,
grace is muzzled by our fear.
In our rush and haste and hurry
we have lost the time for prayer;
lost the time for conversation,
then we think God is not there.
2 Yet our forebears grasped a promise
of a covenant of grace;
God is faithful to that promise
in this present time and place.
Limitless in application,
boundless in its scope and span;
grace is wide enough for thousands,
here there is no 'also ran'!
3 Spoken to a chosen people
for the nations of the earth,
see God's love is offered freely,
recognising all have worth.
More than milk, than wine or honey,
God has offered, God will give
bread that all may feast, and freely,
all rejoice, that all may live!
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: 8 7 8 7 D
Tune: ABBOT’S LEIGH
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