love – hymnsandbooks

Beware of what you think or say – Jesus and a Samaritan woman – a hymn

John 4: 5-42 v.7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’.

1           Beware of what you think or say,
              our actions give the lie,
              or offer evidence of faith
              for which we sing, or cry.

2           When challenged by a foreigner,
              a woman in her need,
              see Jesus shamed to change and act,
              her challenge sowed a seed.

3           Yes, Jesus heard her call for help
              and recognised her prayer,
              her faith was evident to him,
              as was his need to care.

4           If even Jesus changed his mind,
              when will we grasp the fact
              that scruples that we hold and guard
              mean less than how we act.

5           But faith depends on depths of love,
              compassion, care and grace;
              to see in those we disregard
              a sister’s, brother’s face.

© 2011 Stainer and Bell Ltd., London, England, 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: 8 6 8 6 Tune: ABRIDGE; BELMON

God disarm us from the language – pertinent in a time when language and how it is being used can be utterly damaging

God disarm us from the language

God disarm us from the language
that will harm, or dispossess,
that disparages our neighbour
words that hurt, or bring distress.

God bring love instead of hatred,
tear down barriers we have built,
bring your grace among all nations,
takeaway our fear and guilt.

Take us, use us, in this purpose,
so our actions emulate,
all that brings us peaceful living,
not just tools of chance or fate.

Build between us bonds of friendship,
bridges in the place of lies,
till we’re bound with one another:
held by love that none denies.

Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948)
© 2026 Stainer and 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: 8.7.8.7
Tune: SHIPSTON

Filled with fear may love surround us

Filled with fear may love surround us

Filled with fear may love surround us,

spirit ground us, in that love,

drench us with this expectation

here on, earth not just above.

May each day extend a welcome,

open hands and open hearts,

open homes that offer shelter,

love that never more departs.

God enfold us, always hold us,

may our human love extend

’til all people, every nation

know your love can never end.

Words: Andrew Pratt (born 1948) © 18 August 2026 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: 8.7.8.7 Tune: ALL FOR JESUS

Beyond the crime of crippled conversation…in spite of degradation

Beyond the crime of crippled conversation

1	Beyond the crime of crippled conversation, 
	that thunders when diplomacy is dead, 
	a still small voice will whisper in the darkness 
	dispelling what was once a living dread.

2	Here love, like feathers, scatters in a moment, 
	the breeze of war is reaching hatred’s height, 
	yet love is not forgotten or extinguished, 
	still bids us walk within the dying light.

3	And dawn will come again, another morning, 
	to shed its colours on a new found way, 
	and hope will rise in spite of degradation, 
	and still our praise will wake this dancing day.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
© 2016 Stainer and Bell Ltd., London, England, 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.

A time to reconsider – a hymn inspired by Matthew 4:12-23

A time to reconsider – inspired by Matthew 4:12-23

1	A time to reconsider, 
	to pause, to reassess;
	when crisis comes with challenge, 
	how can God come to bless?
	And yet a light is shining, 
	we cannot understand 
	that at this time of turning 
	God sharpens what we planned.
	
2	As Jesus felt the tension,
	while John slept in a cell, 
	the challenge was beginning 
	and he would sound the knell.
	Now in our time the echo 
	reverberates with fear, 
	and will we face our challenge
	of bringing justice near?
	
3	To face the grief and sorrow, 
	to live with scorn and hate, 
	to live love undiluted 
	before it is too late?
	A time to reconsider, 
	to pause, to reassess;
	when crisis comes with challenge, 
	how can God come to bless?

Andrew Pratt (born 1948) based on Isaiah 9 vs 1- 4 and Matthew 4 vs 12-23
Words Andrew Pratt © 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.
v.2 l.8 alt by the author 2026
Metre: 7 6 7 6 D
Tune: CRUGER

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