Tag: flood

What happened to the Covenant – a hymn for a time of storms and floods

What happened to the covenant, 

the rainbow in the sky, 

that signed an end to flood and storm? 

Still people stand and cry.



The floods still come, the waters rage, 

while homes are swept away, 

the covenant, of which God spoke, 

seems of another day.



And yet amid experience, 

a mystery remains, 

a sense in spite of all we see 

that love survives, sustains.



The rainbow arch still signs a truth, 

God’s covenant of care 

will never leave us without love, 

in turmoil God is there.



For nothing now in all the earth 

below, or heaven above 

will separate us from Christ’s grace

or tear us from God’s love.


© Andrew Pratt 7/2/2012

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: CM
Tunes: RODWELL; OSWALD’S TREE; NOX PRAECESSIT



Broken buildings, flooded rivers – a hymn for Pakistan amid the floods

1          Broken buildings, flooded rivers
            foaming like a liquid hell;
            jagged rocks and raging waters,
            currents twisting break the swell
            into such a tortured maelstrom;
            people reach and lives are saved;
            human beings loved and treasured
            where the waters heaved and raved.

2          Devastation, ruined farmland,
            crops destroyed compound the threat,
            images assail our conscience,
            sights we never will forget;
            here where homes had offered comfort
            degradation meets our eyes,
            while the thunder of the waters
            drowns the sound of human cries.

3          God, we cry, as lives are wasted,
            hold us when all else is lost;
            where the floods have brought destruction
            hold us, help us share this cost.
            Lift us out of dereliction,
            help us reach to those in need,
            love them till all fear has foundered,
            till they know they’re safe and freed.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)

Metre: 8 7 8 7 D

Tune: HYFRYDOL

Words © 2022 © 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., adapted from ‘Swirling winds and raging oceans’ © 2017 Stainer and Bell Ltd.