Tag: unity

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

If God is love, then God in love unites us – Christian Unity

If God is love, then God in love unites us 

If God is love, then God in love unites us, 
the essence of our being, sense and life, 
how can we be divided, for our nature
is rooted in this Spirit, transcends strife.
The ethic by which all our life is driven 
is grounded in relationship and prayer, 
for where love joins us, weaving bonds of friendship, 
be sure to find that God, through grace, is dwelling there.

If this is so, then what can separate us:
our human ego, hubris or our pride? 
For when we argue, struggle with each other,
like children we are fighting for our side.
Without God holding us we’re hollow cymbals, 
we need to let Love guide our ebb and flow, 
till entering the stream of love together, 
the harmony of hope through trust will surely show.

Andrew Pratt 15/1/2023 written for Northwich & District Churches Together, with thanks to Robert Bridge for inspiration.
Words © 2023 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.

Tune: LONDONDERRY AIR

As the Commonwealth Games begin, a hymn for reflection

The Commonwealth was built more on the spread of the British Empire than sharing all things in common – wealth was not common but often taken by the rich from the poor. The Games, however, ideally, offer the opportunity for us to come together, hopefully, in a more equal way even if we still need to heal the hurt of colonialism.

1 A commonwealth of love
where all are held by grace,
it seems idyllic on the page,
could it infect this place?
Within that upper room
were people just like us,
but meeting Christ in faith and love
transformed their depth of trust.

2 And when we meet with God
we cannot but be changed,
for God confronts our doubt and fear
as lives are rearranged.
This day the change begins,
the vision is fulfilled,
and life will never be the same
where love can be distilled.

3 So let us grasp this hope
that set the world alight,
that love can never be destroyed
and fear is put to flight.
A commonwealth of love:
let’s risk a seed of grace
to bring this vision into life
within each time and place.

Andrew E Pratt

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: DSM Tune: FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH