Tag: rest

When grief is raw and anger burns – a hymn for those who grieve

When grief is raw and anger burns – a hymn for those who grieve

1	When grief is raw and anger burns 
	and lives are churned about, 
	the reed will bruise, but will not break, 
	love's flame will not snuff out.
	
2	Our depth of love is signalled by 
	this parting stress we feel 
	and neither platitudes, nor prayer, 
	can make our loss less real.
	
3	Yes, death will sting and pain will hurt, 
	but love will not recede, 
	for God is greater than our loss 
	and to our God we plead.
	
4	We cry for peace, we plead for rest, 
	we ask that we might trace, 
	through every mem'ry that we hold, 
	God's present love and grace.

Andrew Pratt (born 1948)
Words 2008 © 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
Tune: BEATITUDO

On the Sunday between my wife’s death and her funeral one of the lectionary readings is John 14: 15 – 21
Jesus’ words…18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

HymnQuest.com suggests this hymn, written 18 years ago as one related to this text.

The sunlight on the water – Hymn

The sunlight on the water –  inspired by Luke 12: 13-21

1           The sunlight on the water
              Sets singing in our eyes
              A single glance of wonder, 
              A shimmering first surprise;
              But dusty practicalities,
              The thorn within our flesh,
              That recommend obedience
              Just will not let us rest.

2           The landfall at a haven,
              Our solitude replete,
              A foretaste of God’s heaven,
              Serenity complete,
              Is tempered by reality
              With feet firm on the ground.
              We recognise a call to live
              In this world’s sight and sound.

3           We turn again from wonder,
              From spiritual surprise,
              From laser light and thunder,
              Through dazzled, dancing eyes
              We see the grinding poverty,
              We smell the stench of death,
              And only sacrificial love
              Will lead through hell to rest.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2000 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: 7 6 7 6 8 6 8 6 Tune: CHRYSOSTOM Published in Whatever Name or Creed

A hymn inspired by the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)

Hymn: inspired by the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) - Sometimes when all our busyness 

1	Sometimes when all our busyness 
	is just too much bear 
	remember Jesus kindly words 
	with Mary sitting there.
	
2	The words that Martha felt unfair 
	gave leave to stop and be, 
	and those who need the peace of God 
	have reason to feel free.
	
3	So when for any one of us 
	the pressure is too great, 
	then stop, take stock, and rest awhile, 
	it never is too late. 

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2013 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
Tune: BELMONT