Tag: hearing

We strain to hear the voice of God – hymn Epiphany 2

Hymn: We strain to hear the voice of God



We strain to hear the voice of God,

this God who knows us inside out, 

a whispered voice of gentleness 

that never seeks to force or shout.



Christ's voice was heard in Galilee 

by those who had the ears to hear, 

he challenged hypocrites with truth 

while sinners, sensing love, drew near.



His crazy, crafted way of life, 

gave little hint where it might lead,

and yet the people followed him,

each word of Christ met hidden need;



for he addressed with present sense

a desert way of wilderness, 

or else the intellectual task 

within the city's busyness.



'Come follow me', hear Jesus say, 

to those who answered to his call; 

and in our present time and place 

may we respond and give our all. Amen.



Andrew Pratt 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

Metre: 8 8 8 8

Tune: GONFALON ROYAL
Second Sunday after Epiphany, 1 Samuel 3: 1-10 (11-20), Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18; John 1:43-51

It makes sense – I’ll use my loaf

Is this the sun, 
condensed into a flower? 
Distant energy 
facilitates fine subdivision, 
mitochondrial machination 
building petal, 
sepal, 
branch 
and bower.


Sound struggles, 
beats on baffles 
beneath the strings. 
Sweet escape 
eludes 
then exudes 
mellifluously.


Pine needles, 
waft, 
scent air 
evoking 
place and season, 
sharp 
to unshod foot 
yet gentle 
olfaction, 
calms… 
relaxation.


Sensate to a feather
brushing my cheek, 
soft, 
sensuous, 
soothing, 
like these 
sibilant characters 
typed 
on a page.


Childhood memories
evoked 
as yeast, 
after millennia waiting, 
interacts 
in the present tense. 
Air carries 
intense anticipation 
of taste across 
the park, 
use my loaf, 
collect my daily bread.

AnDrew Pratt 8/2/2021