justice – hymnsandbooks

Magnificat challenges the status quo in a topsy–turvy, upturned world

Magnificat challenges the status quo in a topsy–turvy, upturned world

A topsy–turvy, upturned world,
where values are distorted,
the first is last and last is first
with everything contorted.
The rich are begging at the door
while ones they were despising
are given charge of Godly wealth,
in stature they are rising.

Magnificat has come to stay,
the proud have been extinguished;
the humble poor are lifted high,
their poverty relinquished.
The reign of God has come to pass
rebutting our world’s choices,
each one that we would count as last
within this time rejoices.

And will we ever find a place
with pride and wealth rejected,
or will hypocrisy deny
our need to be accepted?
The choice is ours, the crisis dawns,
the time to make decisions,
to stand with God or walk alone
within this world’s divisions.

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: CONSTANCE (Sullivan)

A hymn for going out – Now let us go from our praise and our worship

A hymn for going out - Now let us go from our praise and our worship

As the Methodist Conference recognises new Deacons and Presbyters might we all consider our own commitment  to faith, love and justice - a hymn : Now let us go from our praise and out worship'....

Now let us go from our praise and our worship 
out through these doors with the light of the world, 
where we can share with our friends and our neighbours 
love given freely to have and to hold.

There let us reach to the ones who seem distant, 
those we might shun or see pushed to one side, 
people less valued than those set around them, 
those who the world would accost or deride.

Here is God’s grace and the power of God’s spirit, 
here is the love that was seen on the cross, 
these we will offer as our obligation, 
giving our all, never counting the loss. 

Then hand in hand with the neighbours around us, 
seeking companionship all of our days, 
we’ll follow after the one who has named us, 
sharing our bread as we offer God praise.

Andrew Pratt, Words © 2014 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England, http://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: 11 10 11 10
Tune: EPIPHANY HYMN

When justice is impossible – can we sing?

1 When justice is impossible,
beyond our human scope;
when doubt and darkness celebrate
and we no longer cope,
give us, O God, the words to sing,
and faith to trust the end you bring.

2 From thundercloud, through wind and fire,
you act to bring release.
From bonds that we have forged ourselves
you come to bring us peace;
so give us, God, the words to sing,
and strength to trust the end you bring.

3 From our distress we call to you,
but yet we fear your hand,
for where we fail you will prevail
but will we live to stand?
O give us God, the words to sing
whatever end you need to bring.

4 Our mouths are open with the song,
we’re singing for our lives,
bring courage, give us strength, O God,
while human hope survives.
may alleluias fill that song
in spite of all our human wrong.

Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948)
© 2006 Stainer & Bell Ltd

Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior permission from Stainer & Bell Ltd.

Tune: AUCH JETZT MACHT GOTT

Advent in uncertain times – Active love, not fearful frenzy – a hymn

Advent in uncertain times - Active love, not fearful frenzy

1	Active love, not fearful frenzy,
	Is the path that we pursue,
	Counterblast to alienation,
	Struggle making all things new.
	Facing up to common conflict,
	Meeting arrogance with prayer,
	Seeking to be one with Jesus,
	Dignified amid despair.
	
2	Torture, fear and desecration
	Paint the canvas of our lives;
	But the picture, deeply woven,
	Demonstrates that love survives.
	Systems that would seek to scar us,
	Mould us blindly to their trends,
	We will overthrow with kindness,
	Not be subject to their ends.

3	We will take the cross of Jesus
	Into every sphere of life,
	We will stand for peace and justice,
	We will not succumb to strife.
	We must meet this tribulation,
	Live our lives, if need be, die;
	Take no refuge in abstraction,
	Take the cross and lift it high! 

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
© 1997 Stainer & Bell Ltd
Words Andrew Pratt © 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 Trochaic
Tune: BETHANY (Smart)

The Way to the Cross – from Bethlehem to Calvary and Beyond – A Hymn

When Jesus came to Bethlehem there was no harsh a day, 
they say a census had been called, there was no place to stay;
this baby who would shake the world, would first lay down his head, 
not in a royal house or hall, but in a manger bed.
	
When Jesus went to Nazareth his father had a trade, 
a carpenter now had a son and business plans were laid;
but soon within the temple courts, this lad would have his way, 
dissenting from his parents' wish, they'd looked for him all day.
	
The path that he set out to tread from Jordan's crowded bank
would take him him through a wilderness with neither power nor rank; 
returning he would scourge the ones and verbally deride
a viper's brood, these hypocrites, who dressed themselves in pride.
	
Returning to Jerusalem, but not in regal dress, 
he's seated on a donkey's back, not here to rule or bless;
the temple tables were upturned, but more disturbing still, 
his challenge to authority would cause the air to chill.
	
That chill was in Gethsemane when he knelt down to pray, 
and all the pain of all the world  seared through him on that day; 
the time of crisis had arrived to turn from what was right,
or walk with soldiers on to what now looked like endless night.
	
The trial came and ones that he had scourged with words scourged him, 
and this was brutal vengeance now, not wondrous, simply grim:
his flesh was ripped, his sinews torn, his body hung to dry, 
and as the darkness gathered round the whole world seemed to sigh.
	
That ragged child that Mary bore was taken from the tree, 
the women waited through three days, covertly went to see:
they found the tomb was empty now, the one they sought had gone, 
and as they raced in fear away, the mystery lingered on.  
	
Yet through two thousand years and more the influence of that man
has rippled down through history from where it first began; 
his spirit stills inspires a faith that trusts to what is right, 
to seek for truth, to live in love, keep justice burning bright.

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: 14 14 14 14 
Tune: THE LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER
Written at the request of the Rev’d Dr John Parry