Baptised into being, the Lord of creation
Baptised into being, the Lord of creation
by Andrew Pratt
Baptised into being, the Lord of creation: the dove is descending the Spirit has come, it soars and it swoops on the face of the waters, Christ blessed in that moment, his mission begun. Here John the Baptiser will pass on the baton, though harsh and prophetic, his message, refin…
Beware of what you think or say
Beware of what you think or say
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Beware of what you think or say Proper 15 year A Matthew 15: 21-28 Beware of what you think or say, our actions give the lie, or offer evidence of faith for which we sing, or cry. When challenged by a foreigner, a woman in her need, see Jesus shamed to change and act, her c…
Beyond our context, out of time
Beyond our context, out of time
by Andrew Pratt
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 what we see and what we feel. Verses 3-…
God had gone up with a shout
God had gone up with a shout
by Andrew Pratt
God had gone up with a shout, sound the trumpets, humble humanity raised into light. Stunned by the after-shock, standing in wonder, orphaned disciples were thrust into night. Ours is their heritage born out of history, yet God transcends all the life that we know: grounding and …
God is in the thick of living
God is in the thick of living
by Andrew Pratt
God is in the thick of living, in the midst of love and life; God is in our haste and hurry, in our peace and through our strife. At the crux of every crisis, with the wounded and bereft, Christ is crucified, derided, knows our punishment and stress. This is God, incarnate, wit…
God breathed on the waters, brought order to bear
God breathed on the waters, brought order to bear
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: God breathed on the waters, brought order to bear Trinity Sunday Year A Genesis 1: 1 – 2: 4a; Psalm 8 God breathed on the waters, brought order to bear, before all creation the Spirit was there; then spanning all history God moved through the earth gave life for the living,…
God hung and died upon the cross
God hung and died upon the cross
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: God hung and died upon the cross Fourth Sunday of Easter Year A 1 Peter 2: 19 – 25 God hung and died upon the cross, and there he suffered wild abuse, the ones who held religious power had offered an oblique excuse: denying love their greatest crime. We see this echoed in o…
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…
God grants a blessing when we least expect it
God grants a blessing when we least expect it
by Andrew Pratt
God grants a blessing when we least expect it, times when our poverty cuts where it hurts; Jesus has promised in this situation, grace will bring hopefulness, kindness subverts. Verses 2-3 follow Tune: EPIPHANY HYMN; LIEBSTER IMMANUEL Please include on your CCL licence. Andrew …
God brings in a circus of love and delight
God brings in a circus of love and delight
by Andrew Pratt
God brings in a circus of love and delight that longs to live lovingly putting things right, uplifting the humble, distributing wealth, till hypocrites tumble and children have health. This, this is the God, that we love and adore, the God who spins values, then opens the door to…
God’s grace extends beyond our comprehension
God’s grace extends beyond our comprehension
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: God’s grace extends beyond our comprehension Proper 19 Year A Matthew 18: 21-35 God’s grace extends beyond our comprehension, beyond the limits that we put on love. God calls us to forgiveness and redemption, sometimes the bar is just too high above. When we are wronged God…
God's love can never be undone
God's love can never be undone
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: God's love can never be undone Proper 15 year A Romans 1: 1 – 2a, 29 - 32 God's love can never be undone, the covenant be broken, God's mercy never fades or ends, the source of grace has spoken. No disobedience demands a final separation... Tune: ST COLUMBA (IRISH) Ninth Su…
God's presence was seen in the person of Jesus
God's presence was seen in the person of Jesus
by Andrew Pratt
Third Sunday of Advent Year A Matthew 11: 2 – 11 Hymn: God's presence was seen in the person of Jesus God's presence was seen in the person of Jesus where people found healing and wholeness and grace, miraculous wonders and love without measure, the touch of his hands and the loo…
God-botherer's call with their prayers and their praises
God-botherer's call with their prayers and their praises
by Andrew Pratt
God-botherer's call with their prayers and their praises, incessantly knocking on doors that seem barred, until through persistence God listens and raises an answer to heartfelt, persistent demands. Verse 2 follows Tune: STREETS OF LAREDO Metre: 12.11.12.11 Andrew Pratt (born 1…
God’s aim is love for all who live
God’s aim is love for all who live
by Andrew Pratt
Proper 21 year A Matthew 21: 23-32 God’s aim is love for all who live together on this earth, for in God’s eyes each person shares a common rank and worth. So tangled up in argument we miss what matters most... Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, Engl…
God's aim is love for all who live