Tag: John the Baptist

Advent 3 – A hymn based on Matthew 11 vs 2-11

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

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)

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