A hymn inspired by Paul’s meeting at the altar to an unknown God within the Areopagus 1 Within the Areopagus debate was heated, talk was fast, Paul joined this lively interchange: debate goes on, the questions last. 2 It was not easy to believe: the 'god' they worshipped was unknown. They harboured an uncertainty, another 'god' might still be shown? 3 What was the nature of this 'god'? They argued, logic made them strain beyond the confines of the known, beyond the scope of mind or brain. 4 The ground of being, source of hope, this nameless creativity, might be the 'god' for whom they sought, now focused in humanity. 5 It is not easy to believe, but this we trust through faith and grace, the unknown God for which they sought is seen in Jesus life and face. Andrew Pratt (born 1948) © 2011 Stainer and Bell Ltd. Metre: 8 8 8 8 Tune: Melcombe
Category: worship
Toward the Coronation – a hymn
To set the context. Not everyone is a Royalist. I am Republican (in an English sense) by conviction. But… accident makes me roughly a month younger than Charles. He came to Queen’s College, Birmingham when I was training for ministry. He seemed far more at one with us students than many of the accompanying clergy and signatories. He is born into a role he did not choose anymore than I chose my birth. So a hymn for me, for us, perhaps for him…
This hymn is one of prayer, dedication and affirmation which might be used individually, or in connection with the Coronation. (inspired by Philippians 4:8)
Commend what is excellent, things that bring honour,
things that are praiseworthy, honest and pure,
whatever is pleasing, whatever brings justice:
these are the things to affirm and secure.
Be known by your gentleness, loyal in your dealings,
favour no person, but honour the poor.
Then welcome the stranger, the widow, the outcast,
to join as companions through love's open door.
Wherever God finds you, wherever you wander,
take faith as your watchword, let care bring renown;
while greeting each neighbour with hands that show friendship
let grace be your goal and let love be your crown.
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. Published in More than hymns
Metre: 12 11 12 11
Tune: WAS LEBET, WAS SCHWEBET
Emmaus a hymn – Way out beyond the reaches of the cosmos
After Easter some people were walking to Emmaus talking about all that had happened. Jesus, unrecognised, walked beside them. Only when they reached their destination and asked Jesus to join them for a meal did they recognise him – when he broke bread. This hymn reflects on the all-pervasive nature of the message of resurrection, that of creation and re-creation, only in the last verse bringing us to Emmaus. It is for communion, or any other meal. Fred Kaan once pointed out that ‘companion’ means ‘with bread’. Way out beyond the reaches of the cosmos, through strands, like smoke, of interstellar cloud, our God is moving, forming, re-creating, each image speaks the name of God, out loud. It seems this God will nurture like a mother, the power of love embodies life and light. This love transcends succeeding generations, brings comfort in the darkness of death's night. Companion God in breaking bread together we meet with you as we met on the way, a friendly God you still make peace between us, as sharing meals we meet with you each day. Andrew E Pratt (born 1948) Words © 2014 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: O PERFECT LOVE : :
One week on from Easter Sunday, a hymn with echoes of the story: ‘Such enchantment, sudden strangeness’
One week on from Easter Sunday, a hymn with echoes of the story: Such enchantment, sudden strangeness... 1 Such enchantment, sudden strangeness, Power and love, by God, distilled; Then they recognise his presence, By his words their fears are stilled. 'Peace be with you', Simon Peter, John, you need not be afraid; 'Peace be with you', doubting Thomas, Don't be anxious or dismayed. 2 In the garden he saw Mary, Talked with her, unrecognised; Naming her drew back the curtain, Opened tear-stained, blinded eyes. Others walking to Emmaus Talked, depressed, their sadness showed, Till at last, their journey ended, Broken bread their Lord disclosed. 3 Fishing, from a boat, some saw him, They had trawled, had felt forlorn; Recognition added savour To their breakfast at the dawn. As we go about our business Bring enchantment to our lives; Open eyes that we might know the Love from which our peace derives. Andrew E Pratt (born 1948) Words © 2000 © 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. 8.7.8.7.D Tune: HYFRYDOL
Easter hymn – We cannot speculate, or glance
An empty tomb is just empty. It took a meeting with Jesus to convince a woman, then a group of men that Jesus, who had died on a cross, was alive. It is still difficult to believe. Yet after two thousand years, whatever we believe, as Geoffrey Best has written on Facebook, ‘…in this (hi)story is the revelation of the very nature of God, a God who takes all that we throw and absorbs and transforms the dead and deadly into life abundant .... if we let it!’ Amen! 1 We cannot speculate, or glance into the well of history. Nor can we look beyond this time with any sense of certainty. We only have our faith and hope, to make us stand, to help us cope. 2 Great God we grasp at straws of faith, of things we hope will point to you. We read the ancient texts and scan those distant myths to make them new. And all the time we live between these metaphors and what is seen. 3 The past is gone, we cannot hear more than an echo down the age. And what is still to come we fear; we see each other's pent up rage. Yet what we need is close at hand, your present love in every land. 4 True resurrection brings to bear the things that heal, create, unite. Love launches its triumphant praise and builds on joy and will delight. The former things are passed away, dead night transformed to brightest day. Metre: 8 8 8 8 8 8 Tune: ABINGDON 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.
Art © Andrew Pratt 2022
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