A hymn for the New Year, for Covenant
1 The year is new, do not resist,
for God is moving in our midst
who brings a covenant to birth,
of common wealth throughout the earth.
2 The atmosphere is cold and raw
and yet our God engenders awe:
is kneeling there to wash our feet,
to heal, to love, to kiss, to greet.
3 And in our healing we will find
a wholeness hidden, yet refined,
a God made known in every face,
each neighbour ministers God's grace.
4 And God says all is ready yet;
the meal prepared, the table set.
And will we come? And dare we share
the covenant that sounds God's care?
5 No complicated myth or sign
a simple meal of bread and wine,
speaks of the love that feeds us still:
come all who can, come all who will.
6 And when we rise and go our way,
remember who you met today,
who showed you love, who held, who healed,
who, in each neighbour, is revealed.
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: LM