Come wake the dead- hymn

Come, wake the dead and raise the roof  – a hymn with Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 in mind

1             Come, wake the dead and raise the roof, 
                we’ll picnic in the hills;
                the day of God will come to pass, 
                when fear no longer chills.
               
2             Good wine is here to slake your thirst, 
                the hungry feast and rest, 
                the captives will be free at last, 
                the foreigner is blessed.
               
3             God formed us all and made us well 
                and God will bring us home; 
                the broken, beaten, lost, are found, 
                no longer need to roam.
               
4             So join the throng and raise your voice, 
                look round, look up, look well, 
                while all the heavens join our song, 
                ring every freedom bell.

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: CM
Tune: CAPEL

When nations are healed – a hymn for today

1 When nations are healed and all warfare is banished, 
the hungry are fed and the poor lifted high, 
the vision of glory, God’s presence among us, 
will signify love and all hatred will die.

2 The river of life will flow on unpolluted, 
the language we share will express common wealth, 
all greed and all grasping will vanish forever, 
instead of for warfare, we’ll budget for health. 

3 The light of God’s love will then shine on forever, 
the same light will shine out from each neighbour’s eyes, 
this vision need not be set far in the future, 
through love, in God’s spirit, we can grasp this prize.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
© 2013 Stainer and 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 Tunes: THE ASH GROVE; SAINT CATHERINE’S COURT

In the silent stillness – A hymn reflecting on Hebrew scriptures

A hymn reflecting on Hebrew scriptures – In the silent stillness

1 In the silent, stillness, listen,
God is calling will we hear?
All too often faith has foundered,
grace is muzzled by our fear.
In our rush and haste and hurry
we have lost the time for prayer;
lost the time for conversation,
then we think God is not there.

2 Yet our forebears grasped a promise
of a covenant of grace;
God is faithful to that promise
in this present time and place.
Limitless in application,
boundless in its scope and span;
grace is wide enough for thousands,
here there is no 'also ran'!

3 Spoken to a chosen people
for the nations of the earth,
see God's love is offered freely,
recognising all have worth.
More than milk, than wine or honey,
God has offered, God will give
bread that all may feast, and freely,
all rejoice, that all may live!

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
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
Metre: 8 7 8 7 D
Tune: ABBOT’S LEIGH


Jerusalem awaits me – based on – Luke 13.31-35

Jerusalem awaits me

1 'Jerusalem awaits me',
said Jesus to the crowd,
yet they would jeer and taunt him
and curse his name out loud.
'Today I cast out demons,
tomorrow I will heal
The third day I will finish
the things I came to seal’.

2 In childhood he was harassed
and Herod sought his blood;
and now that fox still needed
to fell him where he stood;
but Jesus was as cunning
as those who wished to kill
and later in the garden,
would seek to do God's will.

3 Here comes the man of blessing,
the Christ that they would kill,
and those who seek to worship,
must also seek his will.
God give us strength to follow,
and give us grace to serve,
to follow Jesus' footsteps,
to never lose our nerve.

Andrew Pratt (born 1948) based on Lent 2 - Luke 13.31-35
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: 7 6 7 6 D
Tune: THORNBURY

When justice is impossible – can we sing?

1 When justice is impossible,
beyond our human scope;
 when doubt and darkness celebrate
 and we no longer cope,
 give us, O God, the words to sing,
 and faith to trust the end you bring.

2 From thundercloud, through wind and fire,
 you act to bring release.
 From bonds that we have forged ourselves
you come to bring us peace;
 so give us, God, the words to sing,
 and strength to trust the end you bring.

3 From our distress we call to you,
 but yet we fear your hand,
 for where we fail you will prevail
 but will we live to stand?
 O give us God, the words to sing
 whatever end you need to bring.

4 Our mouths are open with the song,
 we’re singing for our lives,
 bring courage, give us strength, O God,
 while human hope survives.
may alleluias fill that song
 in spite of all our human wrong.

Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948)
© 2006 Stainer & Bell Ltd

Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior permission from Stainer & Bell Ltd.

Tune: AUCH JETZT MACHT GOTT