Hymn: God who walked this earth before us
Hymn: God who walked this earth before us
by Andrew Pratt
God who walked this earth before us, over mountains, by cool springs, pictured in the poet's image: soaring high on eagles’ wings: We can never cage or capture such a Spirit in her flight, yet within a vaulted temple people seek to praise your might. Verses 3-4 follow Tune: RUSSI…
Hymn: God is God and Lord of all
Hymn: God is God and Lord of all
by Andrew Pratt
God is God and Lord of all, all the cosmos knows God's grace, every person held by God, everyone of every race. This is what the good news says, all are welcomed, all are blessed, there is no distinction now, all can come and all find rest. Verses 3 follows Tune:LAUDS(Wilson) Met…
Hymn: Here a neighbour stands as Jesus
Hymn: Here a neighbour stands as Jesus
by Andrew Pratt
Here a neighbour stands as Jesus, here is God, yes, face to face, here our faith finds restoration, here we meet and share God's grace. Here while eyes look with compassion hands reach out and peace is shown; we are held in loving kindness filled with joy that God has sown. Verse…
Hymn: Held in the arms of God's love and compassion
Hymn: Held in the arms of God's love and compassion
by Andrew Pratt
Held in the arms of God's love and compassion, Jesus had kept them right up to the end, these his disciples, now named as Apostles, each of these strangers now counted as friend. Jesus had taught them by word and example, shared times of suffering, illness and grief. Spell-bound …
Hymn: How could God love against the grain
Hymn: How could God love against the grain
by Andrew Pratt
How could God love against the grain, to offer love we don't deserve; to meet us when we lose our way, to hold us when we twist, or swerve? This gracious, fulsome, steadfast love is more than we can comprehend, it offers hope when all seems lost, resists, survives beyond life's e…
Hymn: How safe is that? God owns us and protects us
Hymn: How safe is that? God owns us and protects us
by Andrew Pratt
How safe is that? God owns us and protects us. While life is cruel this shepherd knows the flock. We could not gain or earn the love that holds us. The grace of God is solid, like a rock. We cannot wander where God's love is absent. The universe is furnished with God's care. When…
Hymn: Help us, good God, to consider our actions
Hymn: Help us, good God, to consider our actions
by Andrew Pratt
Help us, good God, to consider our actions, let us take stock of the things that we say, building the pathway to peace between nations, building new friendships to face each new day. Rumour and falsehood, like fire through the stubble, stir up our reasons for hate or revenge. J…
Hymn: Hidden mysteries amaze us
Hymn: Hidden mysteries amaze us
by Andrew Pratt
Hidden mysteries amaze us, seed is sown then grows up high, swelling seas form mighty mountains, stars adorn the evening sky. Jesus saw in life a story, parables of love and grace, things of God and revelation, rooted, grounded in each place. Verses 3-4 follow Tune: GOTT WILL’S M…
Hymn: Hoist by his own petard
Hymn: Hoist by his own petard
by Andrew Pratt
Hoist by his own petard, while Mordecai went free, a vengeful justice had been met for all around to see. An ancient parable? A message for us all? That often sin will find us out, we're heading for a fall. Verses 3-4 follow Tune: ALLINGTON; CARLISLE Metre: SM Andrew Pratt (bor…
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: It was a game of pass the blame
Hymn: It was a game of pass the blame
by Andrew Pratt
It was a game of pass the blame, denied responsibility; the buck was passed along the line, avoiding culpability. And now we play the self-same game, but guilt must still be faced and borne, we need to own our acts and ways, the things we've done, the words we've sworn. Verses 3-…
Hymn: Look: gnawed and bleached, dismembered bones
Hymn: Look: gnawed and bleached, dismembered bones
by Andrew Pratt
Look: gnawed and bleached, dismembered bones, a desert valley strewn with stones, a metaphor of hopelessness, for people worn with weariness. It took a poet's way with thought, an image that his mind had caught: imagine flesh and new found life, a counter to historic strife. Vers…
Hymn: Like feathers on the wind
Hymn: Like feathers on the wind
by Andrew Pratt
Like feathers on the wind our words can lose their way, a loosened tongue, as much as arms, is in the devil's pay. We need a listening ear, a slowness when we act, before we judge, the time to sift the rumour from the fact. Verses 3-4 follow Tune: GARELOCHSIDE; POTSDAM Metre: SM …
Hymn: It seemed as if the Lord lived still
Hymn: It seemed as if the Lord lived still
by Andrew Pratt
It seemed as if the Lord lived still, expressed his will, the lame could walk, and all assumed the blind would see, the silent ones would start to talk! Yet all they saw when looking round, were Galilean fisher folk, a zealot and some other men, some hazarded it was a joke. Verse…
Hymn: Life is tough, but God will hold us
Hymn: Life is tough, but God will hold us
by Andrew Pratt
Life is tough, but God will hold us through each hardship of our lives, when our hope is torn to ribbons grace is present, love survives. God will feed us bread of heaven, finest wine to slake our thirst. Those who grieve will know God's comfort, those who waited will be first.…
Hymn: Life needs our care, not foolish indiscretion
Hymn: Life needs our care, not foolish indiscretion
by Andrew Pratt
Life needs our care, not foolish indiscretion, the willingness to guard against our greed; but still the world has need to learn the lesson: extravagance puts want ahead of need. God gives the Spirit to correct direction, to guide us from the drunkenness of thought that fuels a w…
Hymn: Look: fantastic celebration
Hymn: Look: fantastic celebration
by Andrew Pratt
Look: fantastic celebration, thirty thousand gathered round, in the midst the ark is lifted, this would now be hallowed ground. Listen: tambourines are ringing, this would be the day of days. Songs and lyres and harps resounding form a framework for their praise. Verses 2-3 follo…
Hymn: Look: such horror, torn, then tortured