For more information click here - the Celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of the birth of Hugh Bourne one of the founders of Primitive Methodism and the History of Primitive Methodism A song - From farmyard to fireside this carpenter, preacher Written 23 January 2022 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Hugh Bourne, one of the founders of Primitive Methodism. From farmyard to fireside this carpenter, preacher set free by the gospel sang praise in the hills, like Jesus, the poor were his constant companions, from factory or workhouse, from slum house to mills. The good news was more than a spiritual compass, he broke from the ones who were buttressed by wealth, he shattered the barriers of class and distinction, and sought for equality, freedom and health. He read to the heart of the scripture he studied, envisaged a commonwealth founded on grace, where all of the people were one with each other, who sought to see Jesus in everyone’s face. He offered redemption to all who would hear him, not bounded by buildings, conditions or rules, the people were warmed by his kind invitation, though some criticised them, and some called them fools. A primitive gospel was all that was needed to lift them above, build up hope, banish shame, that simple perspective will rest with God’s people, who humbly still follow in Jesus’s name. Andrew Pratt 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. The tune STREETS OF LAREDO is commended for this text. A hymn - We will join in celebration . Written to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Hugh Bourne, one of the founders of Primitive Methodism. We will join in celebration of the line in which we stand, grown beyond imagination, grace for all throughout the land: sisters, brothers (sisters, brothers), here in union, hand in hand. Once a man who followed Jesus had a vision for the earth, grace and joy for all the people freed from poverty from birth: sing the story (sing the story), sing in knowledge of our worth. From a farm to work and fireside he would preach and work and act, living out the gospel message, turning words to living fact, still we’re learning (still we’re learning), letting love and faith attract. Now in grace and hope and friendship we will stand on solid ground, we will follow in the footsteps of the Christ Hugh Bourne had found: onward pilgrims (onward pilgrims), let our song of joy resound! Andrew Pratt 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: 8.7.8.7.4.7 The tunes ROUSSEAU’S DREAM, SAINT RAPHAEL, REGENT SQUARE and RHUDDLAN are commended for this text. (If sung to REGENT SQUARE or RHUDDLAN, repeats should be used in the penultimate line of each verse, as shown in parentheses) 'We will join in celebration' intentionally mirrors the pattern of Hugh Bourne's own hymn, 'Hark! the gospel news is sounding' (later attributed jointly to William Sanders) Hark! the gospel news is sounding: Christ hath suffered on the tree; Streams of mercy are abounding; Grace for all is rich and free. Now, poor sinner, Look to him who died for thee. O escape to yonder mountain! Now begin to watch and pray; Christ invites you to the fountain, Come, and wash your sins away: Do not tarry, Come to Jesus while you may. Grace is flowing like a river; Millions there have been supplied; Still it flows as fresh as ever From the Saviour's wounded side: None need perish; All may live, for Christ hath died. Christ alone shall be our portion; Soon we hope to meet above, Then we'll bathe in the full ocean Of the great Redeemer's love; All his fullness, We shall then for ever prove. William Sanders (1799-1882) and Hugh Bourne (1772-1852) 8 7 8 7 4 7
Tag: Hymn
Sunday Night Live – Premier Radio focussing on Ukraine
MARCH 20TH 2022, ‘SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE
Click here to view the whole programme
Includes new hymn ‘We hear the news in anguish’
Much brighter than a thousand suns – a Transfiguration hymn
I have always thought that the gospel accounts that point to the identity of Jesus as Christ, God’s anointed person, God with us, lay down three markers. As Jesus comes with the crowds of people to the River Jordan, to identify with them in Baptism by John, he is saying by his action that he is son of a man, human like us. In unison with this the writers gospel record God’s words, this is my Son, my beloved. Finally, Resurrection and Ascension confirm all that has gone before. Midway in the whole narrative of Jesus life, between these other events, is placed an account of the Transfiguration. Jesus has gone up a mountain with some of his disciples. Matthew 17: 2 says, ‘he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white’. This hymn starts at this point:
1 Much brighter than a thousand suns,
the source of life, eternal grace;
light of the cosmos and this world
now shining from a saviour's face.
Upon the mountain's towering height
they saw transfiguration's light.
2 This man, this Jesus, they had known,
who called them once by Galilee,
now stood upon the mountaintop,
he seemed exalted, shining, free.
Disciples caught in stark surprise
had shielded dazzled, blinded eyes.
3 Free of the bonds of human life
and distanced by some greater power,
a strange yet mystic harmony
joined earth and heaven in this hour.
It seemed that God was very near,
inspiring awe, dispelling fear.
4 The height of love, the depth of grace,
the dazzling birth of something new,
a supernova magnified,
a stunning, startling, shining view,
for God affirmed Christ's human worth
illuminating all the earth.
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 8 8 8 8 8
Tunes: ABINGDON; SAGINA
An old hymn, that many may know: ‘Stay, Master, stay upon this heavenly hill’, concludes the event, for the story goes on and after this height of exaltation as we return to what was normal. A message for us all perhaps…
No, saith the Lord, the hour is past, we go;
Our home, our life, our duties lie below.
While here we kneel upon the mount of prayer,
The plough lies waiting in the furrow there.
Here we sought God that we might know his will;
There we must do it, serve him, seek him still.
(Samuel Greg, 1804-1876)
A hymn for this time…Ukraine, Russia, NATO, the world…and its people…
As we move towards Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and Lent, a moment to pause. By the time you read this the tension in Ukraine may have eased or increased. Let this be a moment to remember that our faith has a worldwide perspective as we share words written in Poland while listening to a lecture by Joachim Waloszek on Polish hymns. 1 The words we sing are wrung from broken hearts, are formed within the soil of time and place, are rooted in our history and this time, yet ring with changeless mystery and grace. 2 Our treasure is the very grace of God, the pearl that we would lose our lives to hold, this gift we guard with frail yet gentle hands, to share among God's people young or old. 3 We sing with others met along the way who speak our language or another tongue, who walk beside us on the road to heaven, who stumble, fly or fall till life is won. 4 The words we sing now whisper sighs of joy, transcending all we fear within this place, they ring with endless, everlasting hope, they celebrate the freedom of God's grace. 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
Discipleship, justice and mercy – a hymn
This last week some of us have remembered Jesus being presented in the temple. Soon our readings turn to the calling of disciples. We follow in their footsteps. As we do we are presented, not just with things we should believe, but how we live, the values we should hold.
1 God's commandments link together justice, mercy, love and grace; elements to guide the framing of our laws within this place. Yet the laws and legal judgments that we form through human thought, all too easily diminish values that the Christ had sought.
2 As we follow in his footsteps as disciples, let us find, ways to live in peace together, ways that bring God's grace to mind; ways of gracious peaceful living, that might spread throughout the earth, ways of God's audacious giving: let the spirit find new birth.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948) Words © 2015 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: BETHANY (Smart)