Category: Song

Making much of clever counsel – a hymn inspired by Luke 20:27-38

Making much of clever counsel – a hymn inspired by Luke 20:27-38

1           Making much of clever counsel
              lawyers sought to trip and flaw.
              Jesus answered with God’s wisdom, 
              offered grace to cut through law.
             
2           God of Jesus, God of Moses, 
              God of Hannah and of Ruth; 
              God of Dorcas, God of Peter, 
              help us understand your truth
             
3           Held by things that do not matter, 
              we can sometimes miss our place,
              nothings fuel our indignation
              still we’re blinded to your grace.
             
4           Open eyes and hearts to kindness, 
              help us see beyond the lies
              that would complicate your goodness, 
              God with grace awake, surprise!

Andrew Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2010 © 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  Tune: ALL FOR JESUS

When evil gathers in the wings – A hymn for Remembrance at a time of international tension

When evil gathers in the wings  - A hymn for Remembrance at a time of international tension

1	When evil gathers in the wings 
	the time of crisis offers choice: 
	to rise with courage and resist 
	or keep our silence, still each voice. 
	What shall we do when chaos reigns, 
	act out God’s love? Submit to chains?

2	As history echoes from the past, 
	while memories can tend to fade, 
	‘lest we forget’ let us recast 
	the hard decisions others made: 
	to live the love that Christ had shown, 
	self-sacrificial, Spirit blown.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2019 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 8 8
Tune: ABINGDON



Hurricane Melissa – hymn-iPad art

Fraught with danger, dark foreboding,

fear is lurking in the wings, 

swirling thund’rous winds uplifting, 

cosmic forces, shattered things. 

Buildings lifted, structures sundered,

lives are broken, swept aside, 

God where is your promised presence

when there is no place to hide?

Take us, hold us, mother, fold us

in the harbour of your love, 

guide us through this present moment, 

quell this torment peaceful dove.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2025 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: ALL FOR JESUS

One day, I dream, our children will not hunger – hymn – inspired by the story of Zacchaeus

One day, I dream, our children will not hunger – inspired by Zacchaeus 

One day, I dream, our children will not hunger:
when I have put aside my grasping greed,
when neighbours are true friends we love and cherish,
when hand in hand we meet each human need.

I long to greet that day when human crying
is heard no more upon this ravaged earth,
when children grow in hope and not in horror, 
not fearful of food’s scarcity or dearth.

I scan the distance, glimpsing heaven’s embers, 
an afterglow of all that might have been, 
reminding of what still might be before us 
if we can act with love within this scene.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2023 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
LORD OF THE YEARS
O PERFECT LOVE
Downloaded from  HymnQuest.com

As shorter days prevail  – a hymn inspired by Luke 18:9-14

As shorter days prevail  – a hymn inspired by Luke 18:9-14

1               As shorter days prevail
                  We know as we are known:
                  We face the truth of our deceit
                  Within God’s judgement zone.

2               We see as we are seen, 
                  As God and truth conspire,
                  A panorama of our lives
                  Confronts each wild desire.

3               Then at the darkest hour
                  A laser sears the night,
                  As sharp as any spirit’s sword
                  That cleaves our wrong and right.

4               As we discern ourselves,
                  Deride, despair, regret,
                  Compassion moves God’s love to us:
                  Love will forgive, forget.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)   

Words © 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: SM

Tune: CAPEL