Category: Uncategorized

The mingled tears of memory – for now in Florida while remembering Katrina

1 The mingled tears of memory,

of present grief and fear,

reminders for humanity

that death is always near.

2 The hurricane, the tidal wave,

the terrorist attack,

that fracture faith, unsettle hope,

can cause belief to crack.

3 For where is God? And what is love

within this finite frame,

where life is trampled underfoot,

destroyed by winds that maim?

4 Can God be found in broken lives.

where chaos seems to rule?

Forsaken on a cross Christ hung,

made wisdom look a fool.

5 His broken hands reach out to heal,

through human hands today;

compassion sees the need for love

and God still makes a way.

6 And so amid these mingled tears

we cling to those who care,

and in the silence come to feel

the love of God is there.

Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948) 2005 Stainer and Bell Ltd.

Extravagant horror – a world at war with itself

Extravagant horror, beyond our conceiving,

the rain of this terror confounds our believing,

the thunder, war’s lightning, once deaf’ning, then blinding,

has sculpt human madness, to hell we are sliding.

Humanity harbours such hidden aggression,

the need to reap vengeance to counter oppression,

the screams of the innocent, tears of depression,

white noise of the agony, warfare’s obsession.

And now hope is lost, there is no compensation,

no sense of relief for each people, each nation,

some milit’ry folk will admire each citation

while leaving the children in wild conflagration.

                                                © Andrew Pratt 30/9/2024

No peace for the Master – a hymn inspired by John 6:1-21 – Feeding of the multitude

No peace for the Master - July 28th  John 6: 1-21

1	No peace for the Master, the people would follow, 
	for he had compassion for those who were lost, 
	then when he had healed them, and answered their questions, 
	he saw they were hungry, yet food had a cost.
	
2	Now Philip computed, they never could manage, 
	but Jesus was adamant, they must be fed. 
	What was there to feed them? A boy had come forward, 
	he offered two fishes and five loaves of bread.
	
3	The crowd were now seated and Jesus was ready, 
	he lifted his eyes, blessed the fish and the bread. 
	Miraculous feeding, five thousand were feasting, 
	O wonder of wonders, yet more lay ahead. 
	
4	However we see it, God's power over nature; 
	a sharing of little so all can be fed;
	this story still points to the person of Jesus, 
	for here God is present, God's nature is read.

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.
Metre:12 11 12 11
Tune: STREETS OF LAREDO; ST CATHERINE’S COURT

Jesus meets a woman in a crowd – hymn inspired by Mark 5: 21 – 43

Hymn inspired by Mark 5: 21 – 43 Jesus meets a woman in a crowd

1	Within a crowd where we're alone 
	with nothing left to say; 
	when fear has traced our every step 
	and love has gone away;
	God, give us courage, help us step 
	beyond this cage of time 
	to find again the freedom steps 
	to dance with heaven's rhyme.
	
2	God, help us grasp the hem of hope, 
	the garment of your grace; 
	to look again with certain eyes 
	at love within your face.
	God, send us out to live again, 
	to live well and be blessed, 
	to pirouette with steps of love, 
	in every way refreshed.

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: CMD
Tune: KINGSFOLD