1 God's presence was seen in the person of Jesus where people found healing and wholeness and grac miraculous wonders and love without measure, the touch of his hands and the look of his face. 2 So this was the answer when John asked the question, was Jesus Messiah, God's chosen, the one ordained to bring peace and God's reign to the people, embodying hope for the days yet to come. 3 The signs of God's being are seen in the present when people are living with Jesus in faith. The hope of God's kingdom is real when our actions embody Christ's loving with freedom through grace. 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: 12 11 12 11 Tune: STREETS OF LAREDO; ST CATHERINE’S COURT
Tag: John the Baptist
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)
This is the time for μετάνοια

The Baptism of Jesus – a different hymn
The Sunday after Epiphany, when we mark the coming of the Magi to Jesus, is traditionally used to remember Jesus’ Baptism by John the Baptist. This hymn tells the story:
God is not partial: calls all the people, builds up the broken, comforts the frail, raises the fallen, walks with the outcast, loves without limits, love will not fail.
God joined the people: crowds John was calling, crowds by the river, turning around; turned by his preaching, turned by a conscience, turned by a gospel, suddenly found.
Humbly God joined them: Jesus John's cousin, strange, enigmatic, why would he come? John asked the question, Jesus was forthright, 'You must baptise me. This must be done'.
One with the people, Jesus was rising, out of the water, mission begun; light to the nations, eyes to the blinded, prisoners find freedom, 'this is my son'!
Andrew Pratt (born 1948) 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: 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 4 Tune: BUNESSAN
Lent 1 – Three hymns and a poem
He could have walked the easy road He could have walked the easy road to fortune and to fame. He knew he could work miracles, to heal the blind and lame. He could have fed the starving poor with fish as well as bread. But Jesus knew that life held more and chose God’s word instead. He could have trusted angels’ wings, up on that Temple tower. To save him from a fall to death was well within God’s power. The people would have marvelled then and guessed this was God’s son. But Jesus would not take the test to prove he was that one. He could have taken full control, the world lay at his feet. He only had to say the word: his rule would be complete. The mountain view had caught his breath.. Power was a word away. But Jesus turned back from it all and God had won the day. Marjorie Dobson 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: CMDTune: KINGSFOLD Poem: The time has come As John had said, ‘the time has come.’ So Jesus, bowing to the Jordan’s waves and rising to the words ‘beloved Son’ and ‘well pleased,’ was willing to be made ready, by desert trial, to take his place in the unfolding story of God’s love. But John was soon in prison for speaking out too loud and long for the comfort of the king. And Jesus, fresh from temptation and life-changing choices, set off for Galilee, knowing that now was his time to spread good news and bring the kingdom of God to the people for whom it had always been intended. No more waitng. No more preparation. Time to go … ©Marjorie Dobson Jesus met supreme temptation Jesus met supreme temptation, countered subtlety with skill; ever faithful to one purpose, still committed to God's will. With no food he soon was famished, hunger racked him, filled his mind, then a voice had come to taunt him, 'bread is there for you to find'. Each illusion he would parry, each temptation run to ground; all the world was for the asking, yet his faith was strong and sound. Every miracle and wonder he was tempted to perform he rebutted, held the tension; he would live beyond this storm. And when we meet with temptation, save us from each trial and test; strengthen faith, God, give us courage, help us strive toward the best. Andrew Pratt (born 1948) 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: LOVE DIVINE (Stainer) As glass will take the light – FOR COMMUNION As glass will take the light and focus all its heat; here in the water, wine and bread we find God's grace complete. We met God's presence here, our promises were sealed; but all is lost, is null and void, if love is kept concealed. So in God's peace we go, and in the Spirit's power, to offer love in word and deed in every coming hour. Andrew E Pratt © Words © 1997 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: SM Tune: CARLISLE