Andrew Pratt
A mirage, nothing more
A mirage, nothing more
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: A mirage, nothing more Proper 17 Year A Jeremiah 15: 15 – 21 A mirage, nothing more, that’s how God often seems, for even though we keep the faith, is God a God of dreams? We pray by night and day, but answers seem remote, and then detractors laugh at us, make fun of us and…
This rock raised above all others
This rock raised above all others
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: This rock raised above all others Proper 16 year A Matthew 16: 13 – 20 This rock raised above all others: 'Peter, here I build my church'. So we hear the words of Jesus, though this rock would shake and lurch. Peter was a human being, filled with insight, seeing clear, clos…
See the veins that run through marble
See the veins that run through marble
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: See the veins that run through marble Proper 16 year A Isaiah 51: 1 – 6 See the veins that run through marble, making every slab unique, like them, strands run through our history, through our thoughts and words we speak. We are hewn from living history, formed by comfort, …
Little baby that the Levite bore
Little baby that the Levite bore
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Little baby that the Levite bore Proper 16 year A Exodus 1: 1.8 – 2.10 Little baby that the Levite bore, floating safely in a boat of straw, hidden from the Pharoah's cruel law, Moses set your people free... O now march with them right through the sea, there are mor…
Feathers fly, the snare is breaking
Feathers fly, the snare is breaking
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Feathers fly, the snare is breaking Proper 16 year A Psalm 124 Feathers fly, the snare is breaking, God is here, foundations shaking. Prayer, it seemed, was empty, hollow, now in answer blessings follow! If our God had not been with us, think, if God had gone and left us...…
May God bless and shine upon us
May God bless and shine upon us
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: May God bless and shine upon us Proper 15 year A Psalm 67 May God bless and shine upon us all the riches his grace, may the earth, may every nation know the love in Jesus' face. Let the people offer praises, all who know God's saving power, those of this and every nation, t…
Joseph wept, his brothers found him
Joseph wept, his brothers found him
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Joseph wept, his brothers found him Proper 15 year A Genesis 45: 1 – 15 Joseph wept, his brothers found him, found the one that they had sold, stunning grace would now confound them, family bonds would last and hold. Famine brought them to his table, desperation drove them …
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…
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…
Jealous hatred fired his brothers
Jealous hatred fired his brothers
by Andrew Pratt
Poem: Jealous hatred fired his brothers Proper 14 year A Genesis 37: 1 – 4, 12 - 28 Jealous hatred fired his brothers, Joseph, Jacob's favourite son, cooking up a plot to kill him, thought the plan would soon be done. In the distance they had seen him, saw the dreamer, saw his co…
Churning waves unsettled Peter
Churning waves unsettled Peter
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Churning waves unsettled Peter Proper 14 year A Matthew 14: 22 - 33 Churning waves unsettled Peter, startled, he was sinking fast, he'd been walking on the water, seemed this moment could not last. Jesus reached a hand to save him, lifted him above the swell. Fainting faith…
Almost silent, God would whisper
Almost silent, God would whisper
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Almost silent, God would whisper Proper 14 year A 1 Kings 19: 9-18 Almost silent, God would whisper, prophesy to empty space. Fire and earthquake held no message, nothing there of love or grace. But a challenge came through quietness 'go to those from whom you flee... Tune:…
You cannot put a price on love
You cannot put a price on love
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: You cannot put a price on love Proper 13 year A Isaiah 55: 1 – 5 You cannot put a price on love, the taste of milk and honey, the things that really are of worth, you cannot buy with money. The riches that we save and hoard will, in the end, be worthless, God calls us to a …
Wrestling stranger met with Jacob
Wrestling stranger met with Jacob
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Wrestling stranger met with Jacob Proper 13 year A Genesis 32: 22 – 31 Wrestling stranger met with Jacob, struggled onward till the morn, struggled by the brook of Jabbok, heralding a different dawn. Jacob met the task with courage, and it seemed he would prevail, but the s…
No peace for the Master, the people would follow
No peace for the Master, the people would follow
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: No peace for the Master, the people would follow Proper 13 year A Matthew 14: 13 – 21 No peace for the Master, the people would follow, for he had compassion for those who were lost, then when he had healed them, and answered their questions, he saw they were hungry, yet fo…
Jacob’s wrestling
Jacob’s wrestling
by Andrew Pratt
Meditation: Jacob’s wrestling Proper 13 year A Genesis 32: 22 – 31 I'd looked out on that scene before. Knew it like the back of my hand. Funny the sayings we have, I don't know the back of my hand very well, never studied it. But I knew that scene, the placing of trees, leafy in…
Treasures abounding, wonders confounding
Treasures abounding, wonders confounding
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Treasures abounding, wonders confounding Proper 12 year A Matthew 13: 31 – 33, 44 – 52 Treasures abounding, wonders confounding limits and concepts humanly held; pearls of great treasure, love beyond measure, graciously given, never compelled. Yeast for our baking, loaves w…
What are the gifts we would treasure most highly