Tag: God

A hymn in anticipation of Advent – The crash of constellations

A hymn in anticipation of Advent - The crash of constellations

1	The crash of constellations, 
	where prejudice divides, 
	where love is torn and broken, 
	where hatred still resides, 
	is where we meet as equals 
	and share what God has given, 
	diversity in concord,  			
	a foretaste of God's heaven.
	
2	This is the time for praying,
	yet prayer is not the end, 
	for reconciliation
	needs grace that God will send.
	And in that grace our vision, 
	our eyes are opened wide,
	to see Christ in the other, 
	and then we must decide:
	
3	Is love of God yet greater 
	than human words and creeds?
	Is love of neighbour furnished
	by human loving deeds?
	And can we live together
	or must we be apart,
	because of human diff'rence
	though we are one in heart?
	
4	God give us grace to fathom 
	the riches of your care,
	and then the strength to shoulder
	the ministry we bear;
	that working with each other
	acknowledging the worth
	of love we share together
	we'll spread your peace on earth.

Andrew Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 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: 7 6 7 6 7 6 
Tune: THORNBURY


Crafted from wood – a hymn on the cross – Luke 9:23

Crafted from wood - a hymn on the cross – Luke 9:23; 14:27

Crafted from wood, the grain of our decision, 
where faith was hung, a challenge to God’s love, 
the Christ had carried it to execution,
this then our choice – the wing of hawk or dove?

Some made the choice that led to their extinction, 
their’s was a loss, but not of love or grace,
accepting in each place of human crisis, 
this challenge that each Christian has to face.

Take up your cross each day was Christ’s suggestion,
if you would follow in the path he  trod, 
yet we would minimise the resurrection, 
that love transcending death can lead to God.

Words 2025 © 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 (Barnby)

Some thoughts on this hymn to take us further. 

I had in mind, as I wrote it: 

Luke 9:23;14:27
23 Then he said to them all, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. (New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised)

14:27Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Also: 

Søren Kierkegaard

In Kierkegaard's view, the Church should not try to prove Christianity or even defend it. It should help the single individual to make a leap of faith, the faith that God is love and has a task for that very same single individual. Kierkegaard identified the leap of faith as the good resolution. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B8ren_Kierkegaard)

And 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer ‘The Cost of Discipleship’ – Bonhoeffer stood against Fascism and was ultimately sent to a concentration camp and he was hanged on 9 April 1945 during the collapse of the Nazi regime.

All these point for me to Jesus’ words and how others have seen them and sought to live by them.

‘Trust in God we cannot see’ – a hymn of faith by Marjorie Dobson

‘Trust in God we cannot see' – a hymn of faith by Marjorie Dobson

1	Trust in a God we cannot see
	turns reason inside out.
	Faith is a rough and winding road
	with stumbling blocks of doubt.

2	We follow where we think God leads,
	although the road seems strange:
	but faith demands an open mind
	and willingness to change.

3	When crisis clouds of doubt disturb
	and shake our faith with fear,
	it can be hard to trust that God
	will, one day, make things clear.

4	Yet when God’s call breaks through again,
	persistent as before,
	the choice is plain: ignore, stagnate,
	or fire our faith once more.

Marjorie Dobson (born 1940)
Words © 2019 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
Tune: LONDON NEW
Published in Unravelling the Mysteries

Life is tough but God will hold us…

Life is tough, but God will hold -  us inspired by Psalm 132: 1 – 12 (13 – 18)

1	Life is tough, but God will hold us 
	through each hardship of our lives, 
	when our hope is torn to ribbons 
	grace is present, love survives.
	
2	God will feed us bread of heaven, 
	finest wine to slake our thirst.
	Those who grieve will know God's comfort,
	those who waited will be first.
	
3	Hear the faithful offer praises, 
	here the poor will shout for joy, 
	grace and hope will give forever 
	love that nothing can destroy.

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: 8 7 8 7
Tunes: CROSS OF JESUS; LAUS DEO (Redhead)

Abram set out on a journey – the call of Abram/Abraham – Genesis 12 and onward…

Abram set out on a journey – Inspired by the call of Abram

1	Abram set out on a journey, 
	joined this new, uncertain, game.
	Challenges bring new excitement,  
	no two days will be the same. 
	Life was settled, now it's shaken, 
	preconceptions turned around, 
	every day a new beginning, 
	every place uncommon ground.
	
2	Now it felt God moved the goal-posts, 
	playing by some other rules,  
	life and work had been uprooted, 
	staying home seemed just for fools.
	Still today God calls the dreamers, 
	those with visions charged by grace, 
	those who move and travel onward, 
	bringing hope to each new place.

3	Will you join this pilgrim people, 
	finding new and different ways;
	trusting God will walk beside you
	now and in your future days?
	Will you walk into the darkness, 
	trusting God and trav'ling light, 
	setting out to live the gospel, 
	always keeping God in sight?

Andrew Pratt (born 1948) based on Genesis 12 vs 1-4 
Words © 2011 © 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 7D
Tune: BETHANY