Tag: wisdom

Making much of clever counsel – a hymn inspired by Luke 20:27-38

Making much of clever counsel – a hymn inspired by Luke 20:27-38

1           Making much of clever counsel
              lawyers sought to trip and flaw.
              Jesus answered with God’s wisdom, 
              offered grace to cut through law.
             
2           God of Jesus, God of Moses, 
              God of Hannah and of Ruth; 
              God of Dorcas, God of Peter, 
              help us understand your truth
             
3           Held by things that do not matter, 
              we can sometimes miss our place,
              nothings fuel our indignation
              still we’re blinded to your grace.
             
4           Open eyes and hearts to kindness, 
              help us see beyond the lies
              that would complicate your goodness, 
              God with grace awake, surprise!

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: ALL FOR JESUS

‘Right here in the presence of loving and grace’ – a hymn inspired by  Mary anointing Jesus’s feet.

‘Right here in the presence of loving and grace’ – a hymn inspired by  Mary  anointing  Jesus's feet.

1	Right here in the presence of loving and grace, 
	see Judas is scowling, a sneer scars his face.
	Anointing with perfume is costly and rare;
	this gift could be sold, giving substance to care.
	
2	What need this affection that Jesus received? 
	It seemed to go counter to all they believed. 
	The sale of the perfume could go in the purse, 
	some pieces of silver, not seen as a curse.
	
3	Yet this would foreshadow for Judas and Christ,
	a scene of betrayal, for greed had enticed 
	this zealot to grasp for much more than his lot,
	through misunderstanding, he'd scheme and he'd plot.
	
4	For Jesus, anointing would speak of his death, 
	as love of humanity took his last breath, 
	but now in this moment a woman knelt down, 
	her wisdom, perception, would lead to a crown.
	
5	This act of extravagance, worldly yet wise, 
	offensive to some, was now opening eyes  
	to love without measure, to infinite grace, 
	that minds cannot fathom, nor custom displace.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
© 2015 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: 11 11 11 11
Tune: ST DENIO


The Queen’s Accession and Platinum Jubilee – a Hymn

A hymn that might be used to mark the Anniversary of the Queen’s Accession and Platinum Jubilee. 

While some people question the concept of Monarchy, whatever our perspective, many have found Queen Elizabeth II to be a person who has engendered respect. These words are written in that light and from that perspective.

 Once a woman heard a message, 
 telling of her father’s death,
 spinning life round on a pinhead -
 causing her to catch her breath.
 From that day a life of service,
 putting others first of all,
 meant a change of her direction,
 yet she saw this as God’s call.
 
 Celebrate her tour of duty,
 duty built on faith and love,
 ceaseless run since her Accession,
 life committed, hand in glove.
 Even though some question kingship,
 they would witness cov’nant grace,
 promise made, tasks undertaken,
 never knowing what she’d face.

 So today, in celebration,
 we will stand to recognise,
 age and wisdom, dedication,
 pray that peace may be her prize;
 then, whatever our perspective,
 may we be forever bound
 in communion with our neighbours,
 finding grace on heaven’s ground.

Andrew Pratt (4/2/2022)
Words © 2022 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 D
Tune: MARATHON (Vaughan Williams)This tune can be heard with different words here it is printed at Songs Of Praise No.302; RUSTINGTON; BETHANY (Smart)
Published in the Methodist Recorder June 3rd 2022





Communion with our God in prayer – https://bramhallmethodists.org.uk/scienceandprayer/

Communion with our God in prayer
may be explained in mystic ways:
a prophet’s dream, a shining light,
that flashes through the darkest night.

Yet that same sense of harmony
can be explained in other ways,
as neurones channel, pulse and play,
the darkest night can seem like day.

We question, is this God or self?
Can God in spirit fire each mind?
Is prayer a myth we ought to shelve,
as we experiment and delve?

A deeper wisdom might explain
that neural pulses we detect
show prayer and science can equate,
as cause and symptom correlate.

So it should not seem odd or strange,
that when we meditate or pray,
a God incarnate offers grace,
inspires each neural interface.
Andrew Pratt 19/10/2019

Tune: O WALY WALY
Metre: LM
Written in response to Rev’d Canon Dr Joanna Collicutt seminar on The Psychology of Neuroscience and Prayer
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.

Susanna Wesley Anniversary Hymn 1

One of two hymns written for the Anniversary of the Birth of Susanna Wesley 350 years ago – 20th January 1669.
She was the mother of John and Charles Wesley.

The wisdom of women, so often determines
the paths that we take from the moment of birth;
both nature and nurture define through our growing:
a life hardly noticed or fame upon earth.

As parents we live out our lives through our children,
restraining, controlling or letting them grow;
demanding obedience, enabling their freedom,
or opening doors, simply letting them go.

The care and compassion received in the cradle
can influence choices and actions we take,
the growth of our faith, or our arrogant conflict,
the walls that we build, or the bridges we make.

From humble beginnings faith leaders are nurtured,
in just such a crib can a tyrant be found,
a mother or father can model commitment,
God’s graciousness planted in gently tilled ground.

And so we remember the strength of our parents,
their place in informing what we have become,
and those who through history have parented leaders
extending their influence through daughter or son.

Andrew Pratt 14/1/2019
Metre: 12.11.12.11
Tunes: ST CATHERIINES COURT; STREETS OF LAREDO
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.