Tag: love

The Space Shuttle Columbia remembered – a hymn

The Space Shuttle Columbia – a hymn written at the time of its launch and explosion – remembered BBC 2 12/2/2024 - They reached for stars, beyond our grasp… written 4th February 2003.



1	They reached for stars, beyond our grasp,

	they rode beyond the clouds,

	we gazed in wonder, seized by awe,

	now friends grasp empty shrouds.



2	A thousand searing fiery shards

	had flared across the sky,

	as crowds looked up in disbelief,

	and framed the question 'Why?'



3	Can God be found amidst this loss?

	Is love a present fact

	when torn by pain, in misery,

	we lack the power to act?



4	O God make known your presence now,

	yes, show your boundless love

	as through the tears and loneliness

	we/they search the skies above.



Andrew E Pratt (born 1948) written 4th February 2003. Words © 2003 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: CM

What happened to the Covenant – a hymn for a time of storms and floods

What happened to the covenant, 

the rainbow in the sky, 

that signed an end to flood and storm? 

Still people stand and cry.



The floods still come, the waters rage, 

while homes are swept away, 

the covenant, of which God spoke, 

seems of another day.



And yet amid experience, 

a mystery remains, 

a sense in spite of all we see 

that love survives, sustains.



The rainbow arch still signs a truth, 

God’s covenant of care 

will never leave us without love, 

in turmoil God is there.



For nothing now in all the earth 

below, or heaven above 

will separate us from Christ’s grace

or tear us from God’s love.


© Andrew Pratt 7/2/2012

Words © 2012 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: CM
Tunes: RODWELL; OSWALD’S TREE; NOX PRAECESSIT



New Advent hymn – A quiet chill that freezes expectation

A quiet chill that freezes expectation, 
the hope of love seems distant and remote 
as war and hate are whirling all around us, 
we wait for light of which the prophets wrote.

There is no peace, no reconciliation 
as factions fired by hatred seethe and kill, 
when will it end, this constant devastation, 
when will we learn to listen, to be still? 
[When will we listen to each other, share one will?]

This advent season, dawn of love’s foundation 
is born in darkness of eternal night, 
and yet a flicker bids us hasten onward, 
as purple shadows hint at morning light.

And in this moment in our preparation 
let’s put aside our fripperies and fear, 
to make new space for gracious re-creation.
Come God, in love at last, come now, draw near. 
[Come God infuse your love in us, O come, draw near.]

Words Andrew Pratt © 2023 © 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: 11.10.11.10
Tunes: INTERCESSOR, [LONDONDERRY AIR]

Note: Using the tune: INTERCESSOR sing as a four verse hymn. Ignore words in [square] brackets.
Using LONDONDERRY AIR combine verses 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 to make a two verse hymn using the use the words in  [square] brackets for the last line of each verse.

Hymn of Seasons

From season to season, 
through death and re-birth,
this world, through its phases, 
shows love has no dearth.

Such love is for sharing, 
to do good to all,
to nurture well-being, 
to echo God's call.

Through sensitive reason 
we fathom the need
of neighbours, of nature;
we subjugate greed.

We offer each other 
the kiss of God's peace,
embracing earth's harmony, 
hatred will cease.

Through summer and autumn, 
through winter's release,
we welcome spring's coming 
with nature's increase.

All praise for the gifting 
of harvest and life,
all power to the ending 
of all human strife.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2002 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: 11 11 11 11
Tune: DATCHET