God marks no ending, only new beginnings – a hymn for times of change/moves of Circuit…

1          God marks no ending, only new beginnings,
            until the consummation of our lives;
            God keeps no count of losses, nor of winnings:
            we move through grace, the holy spirit thrives.

2          So as we go beyond this time, this setting,
            rememb'ring all the laughter and the tears;
            we go with God in faith, so not regretting
            the moments shared, the hopes, the dreams, the fears.

3          Though parted for a while, we travel onward,
            not knowing what the future has in store.
            This phase will close, the spirit draws us forward,
            we've tasted love, but God has promised more!

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; LORD OF THE YEARS

Coming soon – Hymn of the Day –

Watch this space

Hymn of the Day returns for a third Series this coming Thursday (1st July) and will continue, with a new hymn and commentary each day, throughout the month. The theme this time is ‘hymns strongly based on scripture’ so there is plenty of scope for the thirty one hymns, ‘Ancient and Modern’, ‘Old and New’, which will be appearing. Many of you will be familiar with the procedure – just go to our website :

www.hymnsocietygbi.org.uk

to ‘tune in’, it is also accessible on Facebook. As usual, all the submissions are fully scripted, beginning with the text of the hymn, followed by the Reflection and concluding with a short Prayer. Some are additionally accompanied by an audio / visual presentation and many have links to YouTube renderings of the hymn being considered. All will remain accessible until the end of August.

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