He touched the ones that others would despise hymn inspired by Matthew 15: 10 – 28

He touched the ones that others would despise

1 He touched the ones that others would despise,
he lifted up the poor to help them rise,
he stemmed the hypocrites within their pride
and drew the little children to his side.

2 He stopped the ones who'd stone a woman dead,
then offered care, forgiving her instead.
He called his friend once buried in a cave,
he promised love would live beyond the grave.

3 He poured himself in love to all the earth,
a sacrifice of grace affirmed our worth,
and now this simple sacrifice is all
we need to make to follow at God's call.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2012 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: 10 10 10 10
Tunes: ALL SOULS; CHILTON FOLIAT

The finest detail of our lives – a hymn as we age… (Matthew 10: 24-39)

The finest detail of our lives – a hymn as we age… (Matthew 10: 24-39)

1 The finest detail of our lives
is held by God with care and grace,
while every chance and change that comes,
our loss of hair, lines on our face,
can signal wisdom time has borne,
within each context, in each place.

2 Yet grace and hope and love remain,
as faith is nurtured till mature.
Though we can know both scorn and hurt,
while held by God we stand secure;
God is the centre of our hope
as long as love and life endure.

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: 8 8 8 D Tune: ABINGDON
Created by HymnQuest.com

Beware of what you think or say – Jesus and a Samaritan woman – a hymn

John 4: 5-42  v.7  A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’.

1           Beware of what you think or say,
              our actions give the lie,
              or offer evidence of faith
              for which we sing, or cry.
               
2           When challenged by a foreigner,
              a woman in her need,
              see Jesus shamed to change and act,
              her challenge sowed a seed.
               
3           Yes, Jesus heard her call for help
              and recognised her prayer,
              her faith was evident to him,
              as was his need to care.                         
               
4           If even Jesus changed his mind,
              when will we grasp the fact
              that scruples that we hold and guard
              mean less than how we act.
               
5           But faith depends on depths of love,
              compassion, care and grace;
              to see in those we disregard
              a sister’s, brother’s face.

© 2011 Stainer and Bell Ltd., London, England, www.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 6 8 6  Tune: ABRIDGE; BELMON

Filled with fear may love surround us

Filled with fear may love surround us

 

Filled with fear may love surround us,

spirit ground us, in that love,

drench us with this expectation

here on, earth not just above.

 

May each day extend a welcome,

open hands and open hearts,

open homes that offer shelter,

love that never more departs.

 

God enfold us, always hold us,

may our human love extend

’til all people, every nation

know your love can never end.

 

Words: Andrew Pratt (born 1948) © 18 August 2026 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England, http://www.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 Tune: ALL FOR JESUS

Great prophet of pity – A hymn inspired by Romans 12: 1-8

Great prophet of pity - A hymn inspired by Romans 12: 1-8

Great prophet of pity, subversive in love,
unsettle our comfort, divert and reprove;
that, moved from self-interest, and shielded from pride,
we might yet embody the gifts of your bride.

O raise up your people and fit them to care
for all who are lonely or lost in despair.
The reed that is bending, the wick that burns low,
through grace and persistence, God, help them to grow.

From each generation, race, colour or creed,
Christ, gather together, united by need,
the ones that you value, and God, may we find,
in spite of ourselves that your welcome is kind.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2003  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 11 11 11
Tune: ST DEINIO