Hymn - Who shares this wine? Who dips this bread
Hymn - Who shares this wine? Who dips this bread
by Andrew Pratt
Who shares this wine? Who dips this bread? Was Judas hesitant or calm, the moment Jesus sent him out to raise that awful, crazed alarm? The others looked around, askance, not sure what this might sign or seal. They whispered, questioned; all too soon resumed this fated, final mea…
Hymn: Father of Jesse and father of David
Hymn: Father of Jesse and father of David
by Andrew Pratt
Father of Jesse and father of David, born of a foreigner here in their midst: Ruth would nurse Obed, then comfort and nurture. Boaz brought safety it seemed she had missed. Now as we listen we re-tell this story, try to untangle the mystery and worth, one thing is certain: a love…
Hymn: Familiar man
Hymn: Familiar man
by Andrew Pratt
Familiar man, beneath contempt, they knew him all too well, a common carpenter from town without a tale to tell. And now the words they heard contained authority and power. They listened to each utterance and soon their thoughts turned sour. Verses 2-3 follow Tune: MACPHERSON’S F…
Hymn: He stood with scarred and open hands
Hymn: He stood with scarred and open hands
by Andrew Pratt
He stood with scarred and open hands, their bloodied, but now risen, Lord, incomprehension met his words, their fear had tightened like a cord. His word of peace rang in their ears, yet they could hardly understand. Bemused, unsettled, disbelief meant that the fear they felt was …
Hymn: Hard sayings of Jesus that challenge and test
Hymn: Hard sayings of Jesus that challenge and test
by Andrew Pratt
Hard sayings of Jesus that challenge and test, that bring us to crisis, will not let us rest. Confronted by holiness, righteousness, light, our lives are exposed whether wrongful or right. Verses 2-3 follow Tune: DATCHET Metre: 11.11.11.11 Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © 23/8/…
Hymn: She felt just like a ragged dog
Hymn: She felt just like a ragged dog
by Andrew Pratt
She felt just like a ragged dog that scratched around for food, denied, despised and kicked aside and never any good. Yet now she stood inside the door and pleaded with this man, for each taboo had little weight, her grief had wider span. Verses 3-5 follow Tune: AULD LANG SYNE ( …
Hymn: When Jesus came to Bethlehem there was no worse a day
Hymn: When Jesus came to Bethlehem there was no worse a day
by Andrew Pratt
When Jesus came to Bethlehem there was no worse a day, they say a census had been called, there was no place to stay; this baby who would shake the world, would first lay down his head, not in a royal house or hall, but in a manger bed. When Jesus went to Nazareth his father had …
Now take away the stone, he is not dead
Now take away the stone, he is not dead
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: 'Now take away the stone, he is not dead', Fifth Sunday in Lent John 11: 1 - 45 'Now take away the stone, he is not dead', the people looked amazed, yet some with dread. For Lazarus was buried four long days, the stench said this was more than just a phase. Yes dead is dead…
The crisis had come, now they had to decide
The crisis had come, now they had to decide
by Andrew Pratt
The crisis had come, now they had to decide, to grasp what was safe, or to go with the tide. For Jesus was calling, and what would they say, would their actions say 'yes' or their words ring out 'nay'? He said, 'follow, follow, come on follow me, leave your nets and your lifestyl…
The spirit that breathed on the waves of the sea
The spirit that breathed on the waves of the sea
by Andrew Pratt
The spirit that breathed on the waves of the sea, is wonder, is wisdom, a cause to be free. Before all creation, her glory was known, with earth as a footstool and heaven her throne. This spirit, this wisdom, then took human flesh, divested of glory, a manger for rest... Verse 2 …
Up! Up and away! Was it really that crazy
Up! Up and away! Was it really that crazy
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Up! Up and away! Was it really that crazy Ascension Acts 1: 1 – 11; Acts 1: 6 – 14; Psalm 47; Luke 24: 44 – 53 Up! Up and away! Was it really that crazy? Seems too much like magic, so hard to believe. His ministry ended. The cross was behind him. Disciples commissioned, so …
We strain to hear the voice of God
We strain to hear the voice of God
by Andrew Pratt
We strain to hear the voice of God, this God who knows us inside out, a whispered voice of gentleness that never seeks to force or shout. Christ's voice was heard in Galilee by those who had the ears to hear, he challenged hypocrites with truth while sinners, sensing love, drew n…
We will love the God we worship
We will love the God we worship
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: We will love the God we worship Proper 25 year A Matthew 22: 41-46 We will love the God we worship with each mind and soul and heart, seek to heed the words of Jesus, sharing grace through every part. We will live the words we utter, loving neighbours that we meet... TUNE: …
What waste of Godly grace and love
What waste of Godly grace and love
by Andrew Pratt
'What waste of Godly grace and love, this perfume cast away, what waste of money, see the poor before us everyday'. But Judas, driven by his greed, was filling up his purse; and through inherent selfishness perhaps our ways are worse. Verses 3-4 follow TUNE: ST BERNARD Andrew P…
When Moses uttered, ones who heard
When Moses uttered, ones who heard
by Andrew Pratt
When Moses uttered, ones who heard assumed he spoke for them, for now, not for some future time or place still wanting of a Saviour's grace. And yet those words would resonate beyond that early utterance, would still have force in later years to speak to latent needs and fears. V…
Within the Areopagus
Within the Areopagus
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Within the Areopagus Sixth Sunday of Easter Acts 17: 22-31 Within the Areopagus debate was heated, talk was fast, Paul joined this lively interchange: debate goes on, the questions last. It was not easy to believe: the 'god' they worshipped was unknown. They harboured an un…
Right here in the presence of loving and grace