The cosmic cries that sound through all creation -
inspired by Psalm 33: 1-12 especially v 8-12.
1 The cosmic cries that sound through all creation,
the pain of creatures, birth-pangs of the stars,
the whining of the world upon its axis,
you craft in ways that nothing stains or mars.
2 We cannot fathom each eternal purpose,
or wrap our minds around what is to be.
We only know that, earthed here for a season,
our role is sealing human liberty.
3 Half crazy world in which we nurture children,
where right seems absent, mercy ground to dust;
O God give courage, foster our intention
to love our neighbour, resurrect our trust.
4 So God, as we would seek to follow Jesus,
to mine the depths of wisdom he has shown,
illuminate our task and lead us onward,
until into his likeness we have grown.
Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948)
© 2009 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: LORD OF THE YEARS; HIGHWOOD
Created by HymnQuest.com
Tag: children
The tangent, the touching, where God warms each heart – Inspired by Matthew 5: 13-20 – [note the unusual rhyme-scheme]
The tangent, the touching, where God warms each heart -
Inspired by Matthew 5: 13-20
The tangent, the touching, where God warms each heart
provides re-creation, we make a new start
for here love is grounded and grace can be found;
for here God speaks quietly and whispers resound.
The cusp of the matter, yes, where God is found,
where questions are answered and sense is profound;
is here at the centre of children at play,
in work and in worship, or where people pray.
The spirit is dancing, philosophers play,
as hypocrites hide from the cold light of day,
a light that exposes each choice and each grudge
to God who through kindness, with mercy, will judge.
So answer each neighbour extinguish each grudge,
take Christ as your model and try not to smudge
the image of God that is found in your heart;
yes, join us in concert and each play your part.
Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948)
© 2004 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: 11 11 11 11
Tune: SAINT DEINIO
Holy Innocents’ Sunday – 28th December – A hymn of lament
Holy Innocents’ Sunday – 28th December – A hymn of lament recollecting Herod’s intention to kill all the young children to rid himself of his perception that Jesus, ‘King of the Jews’ was a threat to his rule.
1 The Prince of Peace has come to earth,
we celebrate Messiah’s birth,
and yet the news is hung with fears,
and all the world is wrung with tears.
How long, O Lord, must children cry?
How long, O Lord, must children die?
2 In Ramah voices once had wept,
in quiet children died, not slept,
and Rachel wandered comfortless
consumed by death and deep distress.
How long, O Lord, must children cry?
How long, O Lord, must children die?
3 And in a later time a place,
a squalid stable formed the space
in which a little boy was born
that all the powers of earth would scorn.
How long, O Lord, must children cry?
How long, O Lord, must children die?
4 The Prince of Peace has come to earth,
we celebrate Messiah’s birth,
and yet we slaughter once again,
will death and carnage still remain.
How long, O Lord, must children cry?
How long, O Lord, must children die?
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: 8 8 8 8 8 8
Tune: MOZART
Good God what are we doing? – a hymn in a time of war and remembrance of Hiroshima
Good God what are we doing? – a hymn in a time of war and remembrance of Hiroshima
Good God what are we doing
upon this harrowed earth,
with children starved, or banished,
a hell has to come to birth?
And even now the mid-wives
see nurtured babies die,
while politicians hunker
and hide behind a lie.
If God is good the image
that we uphold and bear
is marred beyond cognition,
humanity lacks care.
A spark of holy presence
becomes a fading shard
while hopeful grace is damaged,
love’s clarity is barred.
Good God forgive indifference
that lets our children die,
raise up again a spirit
of grace beyond a sigh,
until we cradle babies
and nurture them with love,
until war’s hawks are banished,
peace settling like dove.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2026 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: PASSION CHORALE
Extravagant horror – a world at war with itself
Extravagant horror, beyond our conceiving,
the rain of this terror confounds our believing,
the thunder, war’s lightning, once deaf’ning, then blinding,
has sculpt human madness, to hell we are sliding.
Humanity harbours such hidden aggression,
the need to reap vengeance to counter oppression,
the screams of the innocent, tears of depression,
white noise of the agony, warfare’s obsession.
And now hope is lost, there is no compensation,
no sense of relief for each people, each nation,
some milit’ry folk will admire each citation
while leaving the children in wild conflagration.
© Andrew Pratt 30/9/2024
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