Tag: touch

God surprises us by kindness – a hymn of caring

1         God surprises us by kindness, 
           by another’s healing touch, 
           words that speak with understanding, 
           soothe where once we hurt so much.

2         We can never lose the tether 
           tying us to Godly grace,
           yet through human hands we’re lifted, 
           as we’re meeting face to face.

3         Simple acts of loving kindness, 
           bring us back to life again, 
           ease the burden of each moment, 
           share our sorrow, ease our pain.

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.
Metre: 8 7 8 7

Tune: ST OSWALD

As published in http://www.theworshipcloud.com

Created by HymnQuest.com – HymnQuest links this text with Matthew 4:4

God surprises us by kindness – a hymn of caring with assurance and, perhaps, challenge

1	God surprises us by kindness, 
	by another’s healing touch, 
	words that speak with understanding, 
	soothe where once we hurt so much.

2	We can never lose the tether 
	tying us to Godly grace,
	yet through human hands we’re lifted, 
	as we’re meeting face to face.

3	Simple acts of loving kindness, 
	bring us back to life again, 
	ease the burden of each moment, 
	share our sorrow, ease our pain.

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.
Metre: 8 7 8 7
Tune: ST OSWALD

As published in http://www.theworshipcloud.com

Created by HymnQuest.com – HymnQuest links this text with Matthew 4:4

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

A hymn by Marjorie Dobson – A woman in a crowd touches Jesus robe

A hymn by Marjorie Dobson - A woman in a crowd touches Jesus robe- The touch was so light that it passed by unnoticed …

The touch was so light that it passed by unnoticed.
The crowd was so dense, who could possibly tell
that there in the crush was a desperate woman,
a woman entombed by her personal hell.

The touch was so light and yet someone had noticed –
the man at the centre; the man in demand;
the healer whose presence was urgently sought for
a child who was needing the power from his hand.

The touch turned his head as he wondered who’d done it.
The poor guilty woman was bowed by her shame.
But power had gone from him, he knew he was needed.
With fear she admitted that she was to blame.

The touch of his robe had already proved healing.
The sound of his voice was a blessing at last.
‘My daughter, take courage, your suffering is over.
Your pain and disgrace are a part of your past.’

One touch in a crowd had seemed pointless to others
and many felt agony at the delay.
But one outcast woman could be well for ever
and others would know that same touch on that day.

Marjorie Dobson (born 1940) based on Mark 5 vs 24-34 and Luke 8 vs 42-48
Words © 2017 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: 12 11 12 11
Tunes: ERISKAY; STREETS OF LAREDO

Published in Hymns of Hope and Healing, Stainer & Bell Ltd

Jesus meets a woman in a crowd – hymn inspired by Mark 5: 21 – 43

Hymn inspired by Mark 5: 21 – 43 Jesus meets a woman in a crowd

1	Within a crowd where we're alone 
	with nothing left to say; 
	when fear has traced our every step 
	and love has gone away;
	God, give us courage, help us step 
	beyond this cage of time 
	to find again the freedom steps 
	to dance with heaven's rhyme.
	
2	God, help us grasp the hem of hope, 
	the garment of your grace; 
	to look again with certain eyes 
	at love within your face.
	God, send us out to live again, 
	to live well and be blessed, 
	to pirouette with steps of love, 
	in every way refreshed.

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: CMD
Tune: KINGSFOLD


It makes sense – I’ll use my loaf

Is this the sun, 
condensed into a flower? 
Distant energy 
facilitates fine subdivision, 
mitochondrial machination 
building petal, 
sepal, 
branch 
and bower.


Sound struggles, 
beats on baffles 
beneath the strings. 
Sweet escape 
eludes 
then exudes 
mellifluously.


Pine needles, 
waft, 
scent air 
evoking 
place and season, 
sharp 
to unshod foot 
yet gentle 
olfaction, 
calms… 
relaxation.


Sensate to a feather
brushing my cheek, 
soft, 
sensuous, 
soothing, 
like these 
sibilant characters 
typed 
on a page.


Childhood memories
evoked 
as yeast, 
after millennia waiting, 
interacts 
in the present tense. 
Air carries 
intense anticipation 
of taste across 
the park, 
use my loaf, 
collect my daily bread.

AnDrew Pratt 8/2/2021