Isaiah 40:3 A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God”.
1 Where the jackals scratch a living,
in this wild, deserted place,
springs will bring refreshing water,
grass and reeds will sign God's grace.
2 Here our God will build a highway
striding out across the land,
bringing hope to what was barren,
once again the people stand.
3 Once again a smile is dawning
on the face of every man,
all the children play together,
women talk, it's time to plan.
4 As we tell, recount the story,
in this present time and place,
may we build in recollection,
room for hope and gracious space;
5 Space where God can offer comfort
through our human words and lives,
love that shows in every instance
faith can live and hope survives.
© Andrew Pratt Words © 2010 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
Tune: ALL FOR JESUS
Tag: hope
New Advent hymn – A quiet chill that freezes expectation
A quiet chill that freezes expectation, the hope of love seems distant and remote as war and hate are whirling all around us, we wait for light of which the prophets wrote. There is no peace, no reconciliation as factions fired by hatred seethe and kill, when will it end, this constant devastation, when will we learn to listen, to be still? [When will we listen to each other, share one will?] This advent season, dawn of love’s foundation is born in darkness of eternal night, and yet a flicker bids us hasten onward, as purple shadows hint at morning light. And in this moment in our preparation let’s put aside our fripperies and fear, to make new space for gracious re-creation. Come God, in love at last, come now, draw near. [Come God infuse your love in us, O come, draw near.] Words Andrew Pratt © 2023 © 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 Tunes: INTERCESSOR, [LONDONDERRY AIR] Note: Using the tune: INTERCESSOR sing as a four verse hymn. Ignore words in [square] brackets. Using LONDONDERRY AIR combine verses 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 to make a two verse hymn using the use the words in [square] brackets for the last line of each verse.
Devastation and Hope?
Andrew Pratt Copyright 2023
Shaken confidence dismembers
A hymn inspired by Matthew 16: 21 perhaps, also useful in difficult times and when faith is tested.
‘From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and
undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed,
and on the third day be raised.’
Shaken confidence dismembers
faith that once had seemed secure,
things that frighten in this moment,
at one time had seemed demure.
Love is fractured, hope is fettered,
grace obscured from sight or sound,
while we cry in desperation,
'where is safe and solid ground'.
Through the mist a form is shaping,
living sign of love and grace,
God embodied, present, human,
seen in every neighbour's face.
Hold the truth when doubt is raging,
when our lives are insecure,
fold in love each friend and neighbour,
till that love feels safe and sure.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
© 2015 Stainer and Bell Ltd.
Words: Andrew Pratt (born 1948) © 2015 Stainer & 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 7 8 7
Tune: STUTTGART
Can perfect love cast out the fear and hate – a hymn inspired by a text suggested by Gordon Taylor
Can perfect love cast out the fear and hate Words inspired by a text suggested by Gordon Taylor at a hymn workshop of the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland in Lincoln July 2023. The theme is a response to the Government’s Illegal Immigration Bill. Can perfect love cast out the fear and hate that festers in a hardened, ravaged heart, when lives abandoned to a savage sea, have hope denied, grace drowned out from the start. As cold officials act with callous power we sing the words that plead and pray for care, to see humanity in each new face to wipe away the tears of rank despair. How long, O God, will we discard the lives, that you have birthed that we should seek to save, who caught by circumstance, or course of life, we destine to a swirling, watery grave. Yes perfect love can cast out fear and hate that festers in each hardened, ravaged heart, when we reach out to others in their need. Through gracious words, new hope has power to start. © Andrew Pratt 19/7/2023 Words © 2023 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 Tune: YANWORTH
