All of us are valued by God – Matthew records these words of Jesus: 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31 So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. And a hymn… This goal of equality laid out before us, where each one is valued and no-one denied, is given, through loving, to those who will listen, yet, while we should welcome, we often deride. We look at our neighbours and judge by appearance: the colour of skin or the cadence of voice, the cut of a jacket or youthful confusion, while prejudice beckons our ultimate choice. Yet love would compel to see Christ clothe our neighbour, the ragged and ugly gain elegant grace; enabling discernment, refined understanding: the future is present and all have a place. Andrew Pratt Words © 2001 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: ST CATHERINE’S COURT
Category: Song
We are a pilgrim people – a hymn
Methodists in the area in which I live are part of the way through the Methodist Bible Month. Some of our preachers are modelling worship on a sequence of passages from the Book of Revelation. Many of these verses are obscure and difficult to penetrate. Jewish and Christian history has been built on a sequence of revelations. The Book of Revelation is one of those. Meanwhile, as a nation, a world even, we are living in a time of change. As such we are a pilgrim people, moving forward, guided by the Spirit, reliant on God, dependent on our understanding of what is revealed to us now of how our Christianity can be expressed in our days and time. We are a pilgrim people, forever moving on, each day a new creation, each dawn a brand new song. And when our hearts are rooted into one place and time, we lose God's moving Spirit, that singing, dancing rhyme. The Hebrews came from Egypt, each turn along the way another revelation, another dawning day; and through this God would teach them to always travel light, to trust grace for the future, to calm them or excite. The shepherd of our future, calls us to something new, and this may twist and turn us before it can renew. But trust and God will take us, will help us realise beyond imagination the hope that can arise. We must not cage the Spirit, we must not quench the flame, we move with God together, are ready for the game. Each day a new creation, each dawn a brand new song, we are a pilgrim people, forever moving on. Andrew Pratt 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: 13 13 13 13 Tune: THORNBURY
Incendiary God – hymn for Pentecost and Wesley Day
Incendiary God, your fire of love, ignites our hope, within this place when we allow the sparks to spread we know your presence, sense your grace. On through the stubble of our lives, love burns out hatred, kindles faith, beyond the fire-breaks of our doubt you sign our path, you mark and trace. Great conflagration fire our hearts until the world warmed by your breath, is spirit filled, infused with love that lasts beyond each human death. Andrew E Pratt 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.
Up! Up and away – Ascension hymn
Up! Up and away! - Ascension hymn Up! Up and away! Was it really that crazy? Seems too much like magic, so hard to believe. His ministry ended. The cross was behind him. Disciples commissioned, so much to receive. The Spirit was coming, the mission beginning, the world was their parish to love and to hold. Disciples went on in the strength of that Spirit, a Spirit of power to inspire and enfold. But that would come later, for now they were waiting, in hiding, reflecting on all they had seen; on all Jesus taught them, in words and through wonders, in all they had heard, of whom Jesus had been. This Jesus had promised, had challenged, encouraged, had offered them peace that the world could not give. And soon all the earth would be spun on its axis, and we share that Spirit, in Christ we will live! Andrew 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. 12 11 12 11 Tune: STREETS OF LAREDO
Image extract from iPad art Andrew Pratt
Within the Areopagus – A hymn inspired by Paul’s meeting at the altar to an unknown God
A hymn inspired by Paul’s meeting at the altar to an unknown God within the Areopagus 1 Within the Areopagus debate was heated, talk was fast, Paul joined this lively interchange: debate goes on, the questions last. 2 It was not easy to believe: the 'god' they worshipped was unknown. They harboured an uncertainty, another 'god' might still be shown? 3 What was the nature of this 'god'? They argued, logic made them strain beyond the confines of the known, beyond the scope of mind or brain. 4 The ground of being, source of hope, this nameless creativity, might be the 'god' for whom they sought, now focused in humanity. 5 It is not easy to believe, but this we trust through faith and grace, the unknown God for which they sought is seen in Jesus life and face. Andrew Pratt (born 1948) © 2011 Stainer and Bell Ltd. Metre: 8 8 8 8 Tune: Melcombe
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