The gospel reading of the Fourth Sunday in Advent tells of the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth and Mary’s prophetic song which we know as the Magnificat (Luke 1: 39-55). This Sunday’s hymn reaches further than this. It has for its background an occupied country, a census involving a journey and the song of a young woman which anticipates the birth of a child who will bring radical challenge and change to the world – if only we would hear and follow him… A tension stalked the stage, an occupying force, and in this context Mary sang. The world could alter course. Once humbled by her God, demeaned, yet she felt blessed, her life now mingled joy and pain, from now she'd never rest. And those in every age are challenged by her song, the paupers free to pray again - for those who did them wrong; while princes are appalled, for those who once held power will find their status racked right down, and that within this hour. For where injustice meets with worship lived and prayed, the social order swings around, the powerful are dismayed; and that includes us all, our power is sapped away, while genuine humility at last will have its day. Andrew E Pratt 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: DSM Tune: LEOMINSTER
Tag: worship
Full Service Resources for the Three Year Lectionary
If you need worship resources for services, complete service outlines with hymns, prayers and sermon ideas are available by going to https://www.theworshipcloud.com/search?search=Full+service&type_id=2 This link and then enter ‘Full Service Pratt’ into the search. This will bring up resources by myself and Majorie Dobson
Using Vintage Hymns in Worship – a new book by Gillian Warson. You may find this interesting…
The publisher says –
For Christian believers, hymns offer an opportunity to bear witness to their faith and lift their voices in praise of God with their fellow worshippers. Hymns, even those dulled by familiarity, far from being trite and complacent, have the power to alert us to grave dangers facing the world today, and even to move us to decisive action.
Tempting though it is to disregard older hymns thinking of them as past their sell-by date, for many of the faithful, these traditional texts form the bedrock of worship and liturgy. Yet, what can be done if treasured hymns express social attitudes we no longer share, for example with regard to gender or colonialism?
Gillian R. Warson blows the dust off unfashionable texts and argues that they can now be regarded as “vintage”. She argues that hymn singing can continue as a flourishing tradition with old and new coexisting comfortably alongside each other, and suggests that vintage hymn texts should be lovingly preserved so that they can be enjoyed for generations to come.
You can see more at Gillian R. Warson News or buy the book here .
Praying for our planet – faith and climate change – Bramhall Methodist Church
Seven scientists through seven seminars offer perspectives on a faithful response to climate change.
A series of free webinars. Beginning 12th May 2021
Find out more here
Face masks – UK
The BBC has announce that
The government is adding museums, galleries, cinemas and places of worship to the list of places where face coverings should be worn in England.
It is currently a recommendation, but will become law on 8 August.
It has been compulsory to wear them in shops since 24 July.
Let wearing of masks in Church be a sign of love of our neighbour. Unusual for Government of any shade to insist on loving neighbours…one small step…
