Andrew Pratt
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,…
Doubt and worship, mixed emotions
Doubt and worship, mixed emotions
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Doubt and worship, mixed emotions Trinity Sunday Year A Matthew 28: 16 – 20 Doubt and worship, mixed emotions shimmered through their troubled minds; gathered near the mountain's summit, each remembered words and signs. Jesus spoke with calm assurance, brought to mind all …
Stirring, dancing, flaming Spirit
Stirring, dancing, flaming Spirit
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Stirring, dancing, flaming Spirit Acts 2: 1 – 21 Stirring, dancing, flaming Spirit, ground of being, source of light; breathing at the world's creation, shining words through human night. Lives that once had been forsaken, shells of people, lost bereft, find the Spirit's re…
Once, like a mighty rushing wind
Once, like a mighty rushing wind
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Once, like a mighty rushing wind Acts 2: 1 – 21 Once, like a mighty rushing wind, the Holy Spirit came. From Pentecost, the world they knew could never be the same. The Christ that they had loved and known, the one who hung and died, was in their living, laughter, joy; and …
Linguistic Gymnastics
Linguistic Gymnastics
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Linguistic gymnastics Day of Pentecost Year A Acts 2: 1 – 21 Linguistic gymnastics, they heard in each tongue the message of Jesus, the Spirit had come! This message was spoken, still here in our sight God's essence is living, we live in the light. God's Word is dynamic, th…
Within the Areopagus
Within the Areopagus
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Within the Areopagus Sixth Sunday of Easter Acts 17: 22-31 Within the Areopagus debate was heated, talk was fast, Paul joined this lively interchange: debate goes on, the questions last. It was not easy to believe: the 'god' they worshipped was unknown. They harboured an un…
We offer worship, held in hope
We offer worship, held in hope
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: We offer worship, held in hope Sixth Sunday of Easter Psalm 66: 8 - 20 We offer worship, held in hope, while storms make war around us for You have held us in despair, and nothing can confound us The trial and testing we have seen, the dash of expectation... Tune: DOMINUS R…
Up! Up and away! Was it really that crazy
Up! Up and away! Was it really that crazy
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Up! Up and away! Was it really that crazy Ascension Acts 1: 1 – 11; Acts 1: 6 – 14; Psalm 47; Luke 24: 44 – 53 Up! Up and away! Was it really that crazy? Seems too much like magic, so hard to believe. His ministry ended. The cross was behind him. Disciples commissioned, so …
There we were, off up a mountain again
There we were, off up a mountain again
by Andrew Pratt
Dramatic monologue: There we were, off up a mountain again Ascension Acts 1: 1-11 There we were, off up a mountain again. My legs were aching. Not as young as I used to be. Near the summit, thank goodness, but I expect he could hear me moaning. He turned and faced us. Was it imag…
It all feels so unjust
It all feels so unjust
by Andrew Pratt
Monologue: It all feels so unjust Sixth Sunday of Easter 1 Peter 3: 13 – 22 It all feels so unjust when they slag me off, makes me cynical. I hardly want to believe anymore. Call themselves Christian? And they tell me how to behave? Should look at themselves. It all feels so unju…
God makes a mockery of death
God makes a mockery of death
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: God makes a mockery of death Sixth Sunday of Easter 1 Peter 3: 13 – 22 God makes a mockery of death, the Spirit is consistent, an Advocate will keep our part, in this Christ is insistent. We are not orphans, will not be beyond God's loving Spirit. And all that Christ has be…
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 …
The room is ready, all prepared
The room is ready, all prepared
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: 'The room is ready, all prepared Fifth Sunday of Easter Year A John 14: 1 - 14 'The room is ready, all prepared, you have a place to go' said Jesus to his gathered friends! 'I thought that you would know'. 'We've walked together, shared and talked, we've prayed, you've seen…
Stoned Stephen: martyr for the cross
Stoned Stephen: martyr for the cross
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Stoned Stephen: martyr for the cross Fifth Sunday of Easter Year A Acts 7: 55 – 60 Stoned Stephen: martyr for the cross, a witness to the grace of Christ; the love of God, the Spirit’s power; at one in Christian sacrifice. He spoke of love, and lived the life of one who cha…
Persisent in witness and certain in call
Persisent in witness and certain in call
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Persistent in witness and certain in call Fourth Sunday of Easter Year A Acts 2: 42 – 47 Persistent in witness and certain in call, big Peter is singing and telling them all: the way of God’s love had reached way beyond death, so now through the Spirit they sing with God’s …
High on a mountain path
High on a mountain path
by Andrew Pratt
Meditation on Psalm 31: High on a mountain path Fifth Sunday of Easter Year A Psalm 31 High on a mountain path, the weather closing in, the air wet, as though we're in a cloud. It's hard to see ahead, can't see the way we've come; need to find some shelter and some rest. Silence …
He taught in puns and riddles
He taught in puns and riddles
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: He taught in puns and riddles Fourth Sunday of Easter Year A John 10: 1-10 He taught in puns and riddles, in pictures wrung from words, of gates and fields and shepherds, of fish and flowers and herds. These parables are potent, ingrained with hope and grace, infused with l…
God hung and died upon the cross