Poem: Oh why are we searching from cradle to manger?
Poem: Oh why are we searching from cradle to manger?
by Andrew Pratt
Poem: Oh why are we searching from cradle to manger? Luke 2: 41-52 Oh why are we searching from cradle to manger? From Christmas to Easter God comes as a stranger. From Bethlehem's stable, a child in a temple, two people in exile, a man with a temper, Beyond all the tinsel the st…
Poem: Held in the cleft of the cold, dark rock
Poem: Held in the cleft of the cold, dark rock
by Andrew Pratt
Poem: Held in the cleft of the cold, dark rock Held in the cleft of the cold, dark rock, the summit of human fear, pursued to the end of his life's reserves, the hunters were drawing near. God was remote, Elijah quaked, protection was hard to find, the One he had heard and sought…
Poem: Hear the echoes of the scripture
Poem: Hear the echoes of the scripture
by Andrew Pratt
Poem: Hear the echoes of the scripture Hear the echoes of the scripture in the parting of the waters, see Elijah in the whirlwind, see Elisha, looking, waiting. See Elisha take the mantle, see Elisha strike the water, faith and action moving forward, faith is passed from hand to …
Poem: O what a place for living, divine accommodation
Poem: O what a place for living, divine accommodation
by Andrew Pratt
Poem: O what a place for living, divine accommodation O what a place for living, divine accommodation; the dwelling place of God through every generation. Here swallows sweeping, rest from endless navigation; find a safer place, a nest for pro-creation. The cosmos is exultant, wh…
Poem: Beyond our context, out of time
Poem: Beyond our context, out of time
by Andrew Pratt
Poem: Beyond our context, out of time Beyond our context, out of time, can we believe the things we read? Are these imagined, false or fact, or signs that we should test and heed? A woman dies then finds new life, a metaphor or something real? The narrative has truth to tell in w…
Poem: The Psalmist reckoned fools were unbelieving
Poem: The Psalmist reckoned fools were unbelieving
by Andrew Pratt
Poem: The Psalmist reckoned fools were unbelieving The Psalmist reckoned fools were unbelieving, but faith, like fashion, leaves to sink or swim. No God indeed? perhaps as others paint 'him'. No goddess either? Faith is just a whim? We look at life and context moulds our seeing, …
Poem: The wisdom of women: discernment of thought
Poem: The wisdom of women: discernment of thought
by Andrew Pratt
The wisdom of women: discernment of thought, with love's intuition that cannot be bought; how long will we limit these God given gifts while fudging church unity, fearful of rifts? All people are worthy and all have a place, all people are gifted with God-given grace, yet barrier…
Poem: To dish the dirt we need to know
Poem: To dish the dirt we need to know
by Andrew Pratt
Poem: To dish the dirt we need to know To dish the dirt we need to know the detail of a life, and advocates must understand the truth, to counter strife. Yet knowing all, the Christ of God was willing to defend a remnant, rabble, humankind, to care, to bind, to mend. A paraclete,…
Poem: This towering edifice of shining glass
Poem: This towering edifice of shining glass
by Andrew Pratt
This towering edifice of shining glass which speaks of power, of status and of class. will one day fall, a glittering shower of shards, will flutter like the children's house of cards. These temples of our vanity and pride like expectations of the crucified will lie in dust and r…
Poem: Wine maker, bread breaker
Poem: Wine maker, bread breaker
by Andrew Pratt
Poem: Wine maker, bread breaker Wine maker, bread breaker source of festivity, coming to greet us with warm creativity. Here is Immanuel, in grace beholding us; Jesus the fear shaker taking, enfolding us, Continues... Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © 8/1/2013 Stainer & Bell Ltd…
Poem - We read of cultures from the past
Poem - We read of cultures from the past
by Andrew Pratt
We read of cultures from the past where slaves were normal, commonplace. Today we look with different eyes, to keep a slave would bring disgrace. Yet people still are caught and sold, removed from family and friends, then bought, mistreated and abused. For them life’s horror neve…
Poem - Right here in the presence of loving and grace
Poem - Right here in the presence of loving and grace
by Andrew Pratt
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. What need this affection, that Jesus received? It seemed to go counter to all they believed.…
Poem/Meditation: Crazy, ragged, ranting prophet
Poem/Meditation: Crazy, ragged, ranting prophet
by Andrew Pratt
Poem/Meditation: Crazy, ragged, ranting prophet Crazy, ragged, ranting prophet, least that's how some people saw him, eating locusts and wild honey, sweeping hypocrites before him. Standing by the raging river, raging at unrighteousness forces, calling weak and powerful to him, s…
Poem: Evil intention, skilful deception
Poem: Evil intention, skilful deception
by Andrew Pratt
Poem: Evil intention, skilful deception Evil intention, skilful deception, Herodias plotting, bent on revenge; heart fired by hatred, nothing now sacred, John's words of judgment she'd need to avenge… Continues Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © 30/6/2012 Stainer & Bell Ltd, Lond…
Poem: A sacramental union
Poem: A sacramental union
by Andrew Pratt
Poem: A sacramental union A sacramental union that none can put apart, and those who sought to fudge the law, were challenged from the start. The Pharisees were undermined, the laws would stay in place, with subtle ways of subterfuge destroyed without a trace. Continues... © Andr…
Prayer - We are 'fearfully and wonderfully made'
Prayer - We are 'fearfully and wonderfully made'
by Andrew Pratt
Prayer We are 'fearfully and wonderfully made', said the Psalmist. Each one of us human, yet bearing a spark of the divine, of our almighty, humble, vulnerable God; You are our God, And we are your people. Each of us is bound to the other by intangible strands, cords of love, at …
Prayer: Sometimes the things we
Prayer: Sometimes the things we
by Andrew Pratt
Prayer: Sometimes the things we Sometimes the things we face undermine our resolve and destroy our confidence. Problems tower above us and we see no way to overcome them. When these things happen, as they have, and probably will again, give us, O God, humility and simplicity. Con…
Prayer: God of all grace and glory