Ms Steph Bryant Youth and Schools Programme Co-Director, The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion Our view of the stars fosters wonder, through grandeur: the sense of a cosmos within God’s embrace; from infinite chaos we’ve grown on this planet to learn, live and care, an inquisitive race. We thrive as God nurtures our fragile existence, our life is related to all life on earth, and each generation must deepen in knowledge, yet guard against arrogance in our own worth. God give us compassion to live with our neighbours, to value each species, conserve, and renew; to challenge those actions that lead to destruction, to cherish and never take more than our due. And these are the gifts we must share with our children, compassionate love and a God-given grace, this love with no limits pervades all creation from oceans and forests to infinite space. Andrew Pratt 14/6/2021 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: 12.11.12.11 Tune: STREETS OF LAREDO More information click here
Category: worship
Hymn responding to Prof John Evans’ Seminar for Bramhall Methodist Church Climate Change Series
Prof John Evans Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, University of Southampton To work with God we need to learn each nuance of this earth, the way the planet shifts and moves, its treasures, all their worth. We search out every finite source, yet sometimes lack the care to measure out just what we need, to leave some resting there. And now we start to comprehend not just this worldly wealth, but how its use can build, enhance, or damage earthly health; not just the strength of humankind, but climate’s synergy, the balance on which life depends for its vivacity. So now we learn to understand the calling of our race, to stand in watch, to call and act, within each time and place; not just renewing white bleached bones or raising dead to life, but clothing every word with love, where hatred once was rife. 7/6/2021 Andrew Pratt 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: CMD Tune: KINGSFOLD
More information click here
Using Vintage Hymns in Worship – a new book by Gillian Warson. You may find this interesting…
The publisher says –
For Christian believers, hymns offer an opportunity to bear witness to their faith and lift their voices in praise of God with their fellow worshippers. Hymns, even those dulled by familiarity, far from being trite and complacent, have the power to alert us to grave dangers facing the world today, and even to move us to decisive action.
Tempting though it is to disregard older hymns thinking of them as past their sell-by date, for many of the faithful, these traditional texts form the bedrock of worship and liturgy. Yet, what can be done if treasured hymns express social attitudes we no longer share, for example with regard to gender or colonialism?
Gillian R. Warson blows the dust off unfashionable texts and argues that they can now be regarded as “vintage”. She argues that hymn singing can continue as a flourishing tradition with old and new coexisting comfortably alongside each other, and suggests that vintage hymn texts should be lovingly preserved so that they can be enjoyed for generations to come.
You can see more at Gillian R. Warson News or buy the book here .
Hymns responding to Dr Tim Gordon’s Seminar for Bramhall Methodist Church Climate Change Series
Dr Tim Gordon Marine Biologist, Exeter University Pre-meeting text Like concrete, coral crumbles, devoid of life and breath, and lifeless it will signal our finiteness and death, until with all creation we find our common place and treasure this our planet and see, in life, God’s face. The reef can be a model: a commonwealth of care, of close cooperation of all that’s living there: yet human beings meddle, bring damage and distress. We need to learn and listen if life is to progress. A deeper understanding that science can provide could bring the restoration our actions have denied; while prayer can open senses to things that are obscure, God’s spirit offers insight to make the world secure. Andrew Pratt 23/5/2021 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: 7.6.7.6.D Tune: LLANGLOFFAN; AURELIA Hymn responding to Dr Tim Gordon Marine Biologist, Exeter University The song of the sea, once melodious is dying, that song is essential, the calling of home; Great God, we lament, yet the sound of our crying is quieter than breakers, the wash of the foam. What work must we do to restore what is broken, how can we encourage the choir of the sea? The spirit is moving, the waters are wounded, the oceans are anguished for life to be free. You enter our suffering and love in our grieving, you join us in weakness, when frailty is near, God hold us, enfold us when hell overcomes us, stand near to the tomb of our folly and fear. You promise a covenant, both gift and promise. Creation is groaning, still coming to birth. Bring newness, renewal, a hope that is living, from suff’ring bring joy for the whole of the earth. We treasure the symphony, yet we are grieving, we long for the chorus, the song of the sea, bring light in the darkness and sound in the silence, Great God, co-creator let all life be free. Andrew Pratt 24/5/2021 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: 12.11.12.11 Tune: STREETS OF LAREDO YouTube - Sung and played by Gareth Moore
More information click here
Praying for our planet – faith and climate change – Bramhall Methodist Church
Seven scientists through seven seminars offer perspectives on a faithful response to climate change.
A series of free webinars. Beginning 12th May 2021
Find out more here
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