Tag: vocation

Calling and Vocation – the first disciples- a hymn

Within the temple's shaking frame – Calling and Vocation – the first disciples

1	Within the temple's shaking frame, 
	Isaiah heard a call, 
	that sought commitment through a vow 
	that he would give his all.
	The gospel message that he heard, 
	apostles heard again 
	within another time and age. 
	God's call was not in vain;
	
2	For Jesus standing by a lake 
	amazed the men who fished, 
	then challenged them to move beyond 
	all that they hoped or wished.
	And now we stand before you God,
	in our own time and place, 
	so give us courage and the nerve 
	to trust surprising grace.
	
3	To go beyond our place and time, 
	encompassed in your care, 
	to know however hard the call 
	your love will find us there.
	Amazed by grace and stunned by awe
	that brings us to our knees, 
	we rise within the hope of God
	that strengthens, loves and frees.

Andrew Pratt (born 1948) © 2010 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 6 8 6 8 6 8 6
Tune: KINGSFOLD


God loves a scandal…a hymn for our times…

1	God loves a scandal, look at Christ, 
	his crying indignation 
	will turn our tables round again, 
	infect our generation.

2	And those of us who hold some power, 
	our influence diluted, 
	will sense the end of all we love, 
	our treasured schemes uprooted.

3	What will we do? What can we say? 
	Bow down in adoration?
	Or rage with words, then crucify 
	the ground of our creation?

4	The crisis looms, the choice remains: 
	the cross or selfish grasping; 
	the denigration of the poor 
	or love that can be lasting?

5	God give us strength that we might take 
	the risk of Christ-like living, 
	this gracious way of selfless love,
	of sacrificial giving.

Andrew Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2010 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: 8 7 8 7
Tune: DOMINUS REGIT ME

Come follow me – hymn inspired by Mark 10: 17-31

Come follow me – inspired by Mark 10:17-31

1	'Come follow me, come follow fast, 
	and leave the rest behind, 
	reach after realms of mystery, 
	yes, seek, and you will find'.
	What holds us in this human realm? 
	What treasures keep us back
	from giving all we have and are? 
	This confidence we lack!
	
2	The call had seemed impossible, 
	the problem was his wealth.         
	And we deflect the word of God
	avoiding it by stealth.
	Our legs are heavy, steps are slow, 
	it seems we cannot move. 
	The call to trusting seems absurd, 
	in things we cannot prove.
	
3	And so we stay with what is sure, 
	we cling to what is known,
	and through our fear we lose our grip 
	on treasure we might own.
	Then like that man we walk away, 
	each with a heavy heart, 
	or turn to follow in the way, 
	to make a brand new start.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
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: DCM
Tune: KINGSFOLD


Vocation, Ordination, Being Christian after an Election

Last Sunday (30th June 2024) Methodist Presbyters and Deacons were Ordained at the Annual Methodist Conference in the UK. Those in Leeds were able to witness and share in this in person. Some of us followed the preceding service on-line. 

ALL CHRISTIANS have a vocation, a calling to follow Christ and to share God’s love whoever we are and wherever life takes us. This hymn was written FOR US!

1	We are the rainbow's colours,
	the thundering sighs of love,
	the shakers of foundations,
	the seething clouds above.
	We are God's chosen people,
	from exile we are freed,
	our common consecration
	means liberty indeed.

2	A hope for every nation,
	we come to bring God's peace,
	the reconciliation,
	the prisoner's release.
	This is our sole vocation,
	the reason for our birth,
	to offer hope through loving,
	to bring God's peace on earth.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
© 2002, 2006 Stainer & Bell Ltd (alt 2024 by the author)
Metre: 7 6 7 6 D
Tune: PASSION CHORALE