Foretaste of Friday
Foretaste of Friday
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Foretaste of Friday Proper 17 Year A Matthew 16: 21 – 28 Foretaste of Friday, shadow of judgement, Peter resisting God's fateful end. Jesus deciding where he is riding, cross casting shadows, life's journey's end. This was God's purpose, never resisting, meeting our hatred …
Go out to the world, spread the news, God is with us
Go out to the world, spread the news, God is with us
by Andrew Pratt
Go out to the world, spread the news, God is with us, to heal us and strengthen, to care and protect. No place is too far from his care and perspective, no person too wretched to gain his respect. Verse 2-3 follow Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © 18/1/2012 Stainer & Bell Ltd, L…
How could this man from Nazareth
How could this man from Nazareth
by Andrew Pratt
How could this man from Nazareth speak with such power and heal the sick, he spoke with great authority, the healing might have been a trick? But those who came were healed, made well, and what he said was common sense, yet spoken in a way well honed, the word of God, the present…
Hymn: God shows no partiality
Hymn: God shows no partiality
by Andrew Pratt
God shows no partiality to favour rich or poor; God sees beyond pretentiousness and looks right to the core where every heart is open wide, and each desire known, where platitudes are stripped away and motives clearly shown. Verses 2-3 follow Tune: KINGSFOLD; MACPHERSON'S FAREWEL…
Hymn: Here in the midst of greatest loss
Hymn: Here in the midst of greatest loss
by Andrew Pratt
Here in the midst of greatest loss, reflecting on what might have been, Naomi gave a kiss of peace, a kiss of comfort, yet release, but Ruth would learn what love could mean, yes she would learn what love could mean. The love these women would exchange was not ephemeral or weak, …
Hymn: This is God, a human baby
Hymn: This is God, a human baby
by Andrew Pratt
This is God, a human baby, offered into human hands, hands to comfort, feed and nurture, hands that follow hate's commands. Then disciples, stunned and puzzled, couldn't make sense of his word, theologians down the ages, seek to juggle the absurd. Man, Messiah, Lord and Master, h…
Hymn: This is for keeps, not just a moment's glory
Hymn: This is for keeps, not just a moment's glory
by Andrew Pratt
This is for keeps, not just a moment's glory, this is for life, as long as we will live, to write our part within creation's story, not just a chapter; all that we can give. This is the challenge: always fight for justice, well armed with Jesus' gracious, patient power; to stand …
Impartial God, beyond your death
Impartial God, beyond your death
by Andrew Pratt
Impartial God, beyond your death your grace remains a sign, that nothing now in all the world can breach your love's design. We praise that universal love, that lives beyond the cross, that makes our falt'ring joy complete, yet holds us still in loss. Verses 2-3 follow Tune: KING…
In the temple, place of peace (version 2)
In the temple, place of peace (version 2)
by Andrew Pratt
In the temple, place of peace, Mary, Joseph, stand in awe; Anna comes with songs of joy, Simeon sings, yet knows the score. Bitter sweet this time of hope, winter passes Lent awaits; let us pause, reflect awhile: joy of birth or cross of hate? Verses 3-5 follow Tune: LAUDS (Wilso…
Jerusalem rejoice and sing
Jerusalem rejoice and sing
by Andrew Pratt
Jerusalem rejoice and sing as new things come to pass; a revelation is revealed, that love will live and last. Beyond a detrimental end, beyond the cross and tomb, the Christ was raised, would live again beyond the dark and gloom. Verses 3-4 follow Tune: AMAZING GRACE Metre: CM …
Love that breaks the heart of God
Love that breaks the heart of God
by Andrew Pratt
Love that breaks the heart of God, love of Israel, you or me, love that taught a child to walk, has the power to set us free. Loving kindness now ignored, people turn their backs on grace, turn away from faith and hope, fear to see God's loving face. Verse 2 follows Tune: ABERYST…
Strange how we adorn with honours
Strange how we adorn with honours
by Andrew Pratt
Strange how we adorn with honours people doing what they should, while the one we count as master hung upon a cross of wood. Verses 2-3 follows Metre: 8 7 8 7 (Trochaic) Tune: ST OSWALD Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © 18/9/2013 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England, www.stainer.…
Things we thought were firm foundations