There is no clash of creeds – A hymn to remind us of our common humanity whatever our ethnicity or creed

There is no clash of creeds,
no hatred thought or said,
where love is taken seriously,
where neighbour's needs are fed.

Beliefs are put aside,
so care can take the stage;
no creed is more important here
than loving come of age.

The gamble that we take
from each religious frame,
is letting go of certainty,
of silencing our claim.

No pride in rite or creed
is ever worth a life;
for this humanity we share
transcends all human strife.

Together let us build,
and keep the end in view:
a vast community of love
for all, not just the few.

Andrew Pratt (born 1948)
© 2008 Stainer & Bell Ltd
Words © 2008  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
Tunes: GARELOCHSIED; SANDYS

Cities of sanctuary – hymn for refugee week

Cities of sanctuary, places of safety, 
here where all strangers are welcomed and blessed, 
we stand with Jesus in love of our neighbour, 
here in our actions his love is expressed.
	
We will act justly while offering mercy, 
nurturing humbly a gospel of peace, 
welcome all people regardless of status, 
counter celebrity, value the least.
	
Here in a world that is cruel and unyielding 
God's hospitality values the poor; 
this is the scandal of love without limits, 
loving the unloved, then loving them more.
	
We will not rest till each migrant is welcomed. 
We will share bread till the hungry are fed. 
We will confront each injustice that greets us, 
loving with vigour till hatred is dead.

Andrew Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2008 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: STEWARDSHIP

With thanks to Inderjit Bhogal for his work, example and inspiration

Who is Christ for – Philip Sudworth

This is is worth a read – Who is Christ for?

Illegal Migration Bill

Methodist News

The “Illegal Migration Bill”

“We are appalled by the proposals in the government’s ‘Illegal Migration Bill’ to detain, punish and reject thousands of people seeking safety. They are completely incompatible with our Christian conviction that all human beings are made in the image of God, and are therefore inherently worthy of treatment which honours their dignity.“

Church Leaders from the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church and the Baptist Union have signed a joint statement expressing opposition to the government’s new ‘Illegal Migration Bill’.

A still small voice, the crumbling earth lies silent – a poem after a devastating earthquake – music setting – John Kleinheksel

A still small voice, the crumbling earth lies silent, 
a baby suckled at her mother’s breast, 
feels flesh grow cool as she lies quietly dying, 
no comfort now, no warmth, no earthly rest.

And where is God amid this dust, these ashes? 
Is this God’s plan, this random, rancid death?
Where is the blessing in these crumbling buildings 
where silent bodies drew a final breath?

The dust, a pall, obscures the teasing sunrise. 
See, dawn’s temptation to arise, to wake. 
But this dishonest call is, empty, hollow
to any who’ve survived this night, this quake.

What now? The still, small voice still quietly questions:
there is no consolation for this pain, 	
but mid the dust and rubble of this carnage, 
humanity might rise in hope again.

©Andrew Pratt 7/2/2023; apply to author for any commercial use andrewpratt48@gmail.com 
The day after the earthquakes in Turkey, Syria and the surrounding regions.

Original post of text