1 God would not will what we have seen, the terror, violence, death; for God is love, the source of life, the essence of our breath. 2 God would not break the damaged reed, the smouldering wick is fanned; yet human power, our want and greed can counter what God planned. 3 Our will is free, our way we choose, to act for good or ill, to offer love, to calm or heal, to damage or to kill. 4 God give us courage in the face of carnage that we see, to work for life, to live for love, to set your people free. Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948) (alt Andrew Pratt 13/8/2021 Words © 2006 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. Metre: CM
Tag: violence
Hymn in relation to the killing of George Floyd, USA – WITH A NEW TUNE – and AUDIO
The will for domination leaves carnage in its wake,
as neighbours are berated, while peace and justice quake.
A dream once spoke of freedom, embodied hope and grace,
now all of that is challenged, with hatred in its place.
Hostility is breeding as loving is outlawed.
Hypocrisy and violence once left a saviour floored.
So what is there to save us when leaders lose all sense?
When governments are faulted, we daren’t sit on the fence?
Our common human nature, the seed of human love,
must hold us at the centre beyond the push and shove,
must live beyond this moment, must meet each human need,
when other things divide us, while neighbours die or bleed.
God bind our lives together, fulfil our living dream,
that hearts might cleave together beyond each human scheme,
that love might reign triumphant in every human heart.
Now is the time for building, the time for us to start.
Andrew Pratt 2/6/2020
Words © 2020 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.
Metre: 7.6.7.6. D set as 13.13.13.13
Tune: AURELIA; CRUGER; PASSION CHORALE;
NEW TUNE SETTING BY JOHN KLEINHEKSEL
Click link for setting: Pratt.v.Will.4.Domination.George.FloydPratt.v.Will.4.Domination.George
Click link to access audio:
What sharp protestations might echo the prophets – hymn at the time of parliamentary disagreement
What sharp protestations might echo the prophets,
could mirror the actions of Christ and the cross?
We witness indifference, inaction and malice,
that break up communities, add to our loss.
But how can we counter political action
that builds upon selfishness slander and lies,
that blinds us to suffering, homelessness, hunger,
ignoring these needs as our barren earth dies?
While violence surrounds us, our dark contemplation
breeds hopelessness, helplessness, absence of light;
yet here in the darkness a spark might still smoulder,
that love might still fan to dispel hatred’s night.
Join hands now, God’s people, let love be our watchword,
let Christ be our model of life giving grace,
that those of each nation, the war torn, the migrant,
may find they are welcome right now in this place.
Andrew Pratt 31/8/2019
Words © 2019 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: WAS LEBET, WAS SCHWEBET (or possibly THE ASH GROVE)
Written at a time when parliament was due to be prorogued.
We live in times of crime and violence, aka – We live in sharp infested waters
We live in times of crime and violence
where guns and knives would seem to rule;
incarceration offers respite,
is prison now the only school?
We learn so slowly in this era,
how we should nurture love and care.
For still we model cold derision,
with disrespect, derisive stare.
Our politicians rage and stumble,
as racists bawl across the street,
then disagreements twist and tangle,
with language coarse and indiscreet.
God give us grace and apt discretion,
the skill of choosing words that skirt
around each tempting confrontation,
give words that calm instead of hurt.
Words (including alternatives below) © 2019 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: ST CLEMENT (Scholefield)
Metre 9.8.9.8
The original first verse of this text is as follows and can be used if wished:
We live in sharp infested waters,
the law of Cain would seem to rule,
incarceration offers respite,
is prison now the only school?
In the second stanza, first line ‘era’ can be replaced with ‘country’.
At a time when knife and gun crime are rife this text may be seen to be pertinent either as a poem or a hymn.
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