spirit – hymnsandbooks

Each person bears the image of God’s face

Each person bears the image of God’s face – a hymn inspired by Philippians 2: 1-13

Each person bears the image of God’s face
and we have met and gathered here to praise:
a worldwide movement channelling God’s love
to live and demonstrate creative grace.

As Moses saw within a burning bush,
the ground of human being and all thought,
so when we come to worship in this place,
may dancing creativity be caught.

God’s grandeur over-brims to all the world,
the flaming, incandescent spirit’s power,
that if we will, transforms our lives to act,
to reach beyond this present time, this hour.

The narrative of God is where we live,
each action that we take now changes lives,
can bring to bear God’s gracious, hopeful love.
Praise God! through us God’s spirit moves and strives.

Andrew Pratt (born 1948)
Words: Andrew Pratt (born 1948) © 2009 Stainer & 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: 10 10 10 10 Tune: WOODLANDS
Created by HymnQuest.com

Morris Dancing, Great Budworth © Andrew Pratt

Pentecost – a hymn ‘Is this a void, or just a time of challenge?’

Pentecost signalled a time for a new start? A time of change for the disciples. For us? – a hymn ‘Is this a void, or just a time of challenge?’

Is this a void, or just a time of challenge, 
a new found joy, beginning or an end?
Yet God has travelled with us on this journey 
along with each acquaintance, neighbour, friend.

And will God leave us as we travel onward, 
abandon us to all the future holds? 
But God, is here, behind us and before us, 
as every chance is greeted and unfolds.

So God, we offer thanks for every blessing, 
for times of care and gifting, now long past, 
and hand in hand we seek a common purpose, 
assured that love and grace are sure to last.

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:11 10 11 10
Tune: INTERCESSOR

Created by HymnQuest.com

The tangent, the touching, where God warms each heart – Inspired by Matthew 5: 13-20 – [note the unusual rhyme-scheme]

The tangent, the touching, where God warms each heart - 
Inspired by Matthew 5: 13-20

The tangent, the touching, where God warms each heart
provides re-creation, we make a new start 
for here love is grounded and grace can be found; 
for here God speaks quietly and whispers resound.
	
The cusp of the matter, yes, where God is found,
where questions are answered and sense is profound;
is here at the centre of children at play,
in work and in worship, or where people pray.
	
The spirit is dancing, philosophers play,
as hypocrites hide from the cold light of day,
a light that exposes each choice and each grudge
to God who through kindness, with mercy, will judge.
	
So answer each neighbour extinguish each grudge,
take Christ as your model and try not to smudge
the image of God that is found in your heart;
yes, join us in concert and each play your part.

Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948)
© 2004 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: 11 11 11 11
Tune: SAINT DEINIO

The comprehensive love of God – the Spirit will not be restrained – hymn for Pentecost

The comprehensive love of God - the Spirit will not be restrained, 

1	The comprehensive love of God 
	will reach all humankind, 
	the Spirit will not be restrained, 
	she cannot be confined.
	The breath of God infuses all 
	who live a life on earth, 
	the spark of God’s divinity 
	is with us at our birth. 

2	So how can we deny this love 
	to those whom God would own,
	for every person that we see, 
	by God, is fully known.
	These are our sisters, brothers, friends, 
	they are our kith and kin, 
	we have one parent, yes one God, 
	and here we must begin.

3	How can we set aside the ones 
	so treasured by our God, 
	who walk upon the self-same earth 
	that we, ourselves, have trod? 
	Then let us all embrace as one 
	all nations and all creeds, 
	to show God’s love to each and all 
	in words and human deeds.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
© 2015 Stainer and 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 6 8 6 D
Tune: KINGSFOLD; ELLACOMBE

A challenge to the church to change – ‘When the church, afraid of changing’

Hymn writers sometimes ask questions of the church and then flesh out the consequences of the actions they have described. Fred Pratt Green’s - ‘When the Church of Jesus shuts its outer door’ is one such hymn (perhaps too challenging, or near to the bone, to be in Hymns & Psalms or Singing the Faith?) As we live out the time through lectionary readings from resurrection to Pentecost we have a chance to reflect on what the church is, and what it might be expected to be. Remember that Jesus death was partly a consequence of his challenging people to change their perspectives of faith.

When the church, afraid of changing,
clings to glories of the past,
holding fast to long lost memories,
sure that it will always last,
lost in time, devoid of spirit,
know this truth, its fate is cast.

When the church no longer welcomes
people other than it's own,
when it thinks its understanding
stands complete, is fully grown,
love is rarely seen in action,
grace is only, thinly, sown.

Jesus challenged expectation,
turning tables upside down,
those who once were thought as holy
he confronted with a frown.
When, then, will we learn the lesson,
own that cross, that thorny crown?

Andrew Pratt 3/5/2025
© Words Andrew Pratt © 2025 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: 87 87 87
Tunes: PICARDY; RHUDDLAN