Rising gloom surrounds the story, Jesus moves towards the cross, here Jerusalem is waiting, favour swings from gain to loss. Crowds had swarmed in adulation, many came infused with hope. Every person sought an outcome, nothing seemed beyond his scope. Zealots called for liberation, sinners waited on his word, children ran with palms to meet him, felt affirmed by what they heard. Other people simply bustled, thought their lives beyond reproach, when the Lord came riding humbly, hardly noticed his approach. In the temple, tables turning, those in power were disabused as he showed the way to worship for the poor, despised, abused. Choices faced him in the garden, prayer was dry, betrayal lurked; while his closest friends were sleeping, human evil waited, worked. What is left? some trumped-up charges? Self-conceit? Religious hate? Here the Christ still stands before us - time for judgement ... crosses wait. Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948) Words © 2006 © 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 7 ADORATION (Hunt)
Tag: Hymn
Palm Sunday Hymn – As Jesus came riding
As Jesus came riding along on a donkey, the pavement was holy, he hallowed the ground. The stones will cry out if the people are silent, a day filled with joy and with praising is found. Then those who had followed and those who came after sang loudly while waving their palms in the air; these palms they laid down on the ground like a carpet, some joined celebration, while some stood to stare. Then loud the hosannas that rang round about him, this man of humility, heading for death; and would we sing with them, hosannas and praising, or cry for the cross that would take his last breath. And now in this moment the trial and the testing for you and for me, and for each and for all, is sharing God's sacrifice, selflessly loving, to stand beside Jesus, respond to his call. Andrew E Pratt (born 1948) Words © 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. 12 11 12 11 STREET OF LAREDO
Transfiguration – hymn – Three disciples saw God’s glory
TRANSFIGURATION Three disciples saw God's glory, sunlight pouring from Christ's face, shielding eyes are almost blinded, shaken by God's present grace. Was it just imagination, was that Moses there as well? Then Elijah stood before them; honoured men! Nowhere to dwell! Seize the moment! Peter babbled, 'should I build a place for you? Place of shelter, place of refuge? Moses and Elijah too?' All at once the vision vanished, left them all alone again. Stunned disciples cowered in horror, wondered were they mad or sane? Jesus came and gently touched them, 'never breathe a word,' he said; hinted at his human suff'ring hope, yet hell were both ahead. From the mountain's awesome grandeur they went stumbling to the town, with their friend, this God incarnate, set to wear a scornful crown. Andrew Pratt (born 1948) © 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 7 8 7 D Tune: AUSTRIA iPad art © Andrew Pratt
Advent 4 – A hymn – ‘Like many children’
Advent 4 A hymn - Like many children - God with no throne (inspired by Matthew 1: 18-25)...away in a manger? Like many children, mother unmarried, born into hardship, yet not alone Jesus, was valued, Mary and Joseph, nursing the Godhead, God with no throne. Others would name him king of a kingdom, yet God incarnate lay in the straw, God in a manger? Fodder for cattle? Parents uncertain, no sign of awe? Soon they would struggle, hounded to exile, night brought no comfort, only one star; moment of wonder, quietly, no thunder, angels would whisper, heard from afar. Andrew Pratt 11/12/2022 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. Metre: 5.5.5.4D Tune: BUNESSAN (Morning has broken)
Advent 2 – John the Baptist – a Hymn based on Matthew 3 vs 1-12
3:5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 3:6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 1 Searching, seeking, people clamoured, heard the noise and saw the crowd. Saw the baptist by the river, calling clear and calling loud. First attracted, then confounded, John would challenge all they knew. Those who listened sensed a crisis, change would question what they do. 2 This would be a time of turning, spinning churning, whirling round. John would point to new beginnings, to the God that he had found. No deceit would go unchallenged, hypocrites were undermined, each foundation here was shaken, here the love of God defined. 3 Fruitful trees would flourish, nurtured, barren branches be cut down. Now our generation hears him, now this God has come to town. How will we respond through living, change our ways, transform our lives? One by one, as minds are turning, signs are here that love 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: BETHANY (Smart)
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