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A hymn for this time and context -when a world calls out for healing – Christ’s Body has been broken

Toward Pentecost – when a world calls out for healing - Christ's body has been broken 

1	Christ's body has been broken, 
	not bread but human lives,  
	each family has scattered, 
	just memory survives; 
	the parents cry in anguish, 
	the children cry in fear, 
	we label them as migrant, 
	not wanted over here.

2	These are our human neighbours, 
	relations from our birth, 
	each sister, child or brother, 
	as one on this wide earth.
	If we claim God as parent, 
	'our Father' as we say, 
	when will we own the the meaning 
	of empty words we pray?

3	God, help us welcome others, 
	God break the barriers down, 
	that tears may turn to laughter, 
	and smiles displace each frown; 
	then may we live together, 
	forgiven by your grace, 
	the Pentecostal promise, 
	one Godly human race!

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2018 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: AURELIA

Earth day hymn

Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by Earthday.org including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. 

The following hymn, previously blogged, was written in response to a Seminar given by Dr Michael Morecroft, Principal Climate Scientist, Natural England

 

Called to be partners with God in creation,

stewards of the biosphere, what can we do?

How can we work with the land as it’s changing,

working more flexibly, alter our view.

 

Here with a climate that’s moving, evolving,

summers are drier, but winters more wet,

storm, drought and flood, matched with wildfire, erosion,

raising the question how great is our debt?

 

Help us to learn how to live with each species,

neighbours to share with our planetary store.

Earth has a cycle, a sensitive balance,

ours to care fairly, destroy or restore.

 

God infuse learning, respect for creation,

give us humility, channel your grace;

all earth’s resources are precious, yet finite,

help us to value all life in this place.

 

Andrew Pratt 12/5/2021

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: 11.10.11.10

Tune: STEWARDSHIP(Ruddle); EPIPHANY HYMN; SPEAN