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Symphony of song and colour
Symphony of song and colour
by Andrew Pratt
Third Sunday of Advent Year A Isaiah 35: 1 – 10Hymn: Symphony of song and colour Symphony of song and colour, mountain glories gild the globe, awesome time anticipated, God resplendent, brightly robed... Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England, www.…
The challenge seemed audacious
The challenge seemed audacious
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: The challenge seemed audacious Proper 17 Year A Exodus 3: 1 – 15 The challenge seemed audacious, impossible to hear: a bush that kept on burning, love’s antidote to fear. A nameless God was calling and freedom was the goal. Could Moses bring redemption for every Hebrew soul…
The brightest light that dazzles by its power
The brightest light that dazzles by its power
by Andrew Pratt
The brightest light that dazzles by its power is not as great as Christ met in this hour. Within this glory see him pause and stand, as beams illuminate both sea and land. At one with God and God at one with him, this mystic love makes senses skip and swim, too much, it seems, fo…
The simplest of words have eternal importance
The simplest of words have eternal importance
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: The simplest of words have eternal importance Proper 18 Year A Matthew 18: 15 – 20 The simplest of words have eternal importance, a 'yes' or a 'no' last for more than a day. Be careful in talking and choose your words wisely, then think before speaking of what you will say.…
The silent language of the stars
The silent language of the stars
by Andrew Pratt
The silent language of the stars The silent language of the stars, each shining constellation, all speak of God to those who see the beauty of creation. They speak with lightening clarity, give every indication to those who look through eyes of faith, of cosmic evolution. Verse …
The shepherd mind had open eyes
The shepherd mind had open eyes
by Andrew Pratt
The shepherd mind had open eyes to calibrate the worth, to see beyond the poverty divine in human birth. These shepherd hands had held a lamb, had weighed* the new-born flesh. In every birth of lamb or child our hope is born afresh. Verses 3-4 follow *The older word, ‘hef…
The Spirit of God is both humble and gentle
The Spirit of God is both humble and gentle
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: The Spirit of God is both humble and gentle Proper 26 Year A Matthew 23:1-12 The Spirit of God is both humble and gentle, devoid of hypocrisy, sharp as a sword. And when we are driven along by that Spirit we live with God’s courage, embody God’s Word. The ones who do all fo…
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…
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…
When those whose thoughts are crystal clear
When those whose thoughts are crystal clear
by Andrew Pratt
When those whose thoughts are crystal clear meet those who are confused, reality can seem disturbed and sense can feel abused. We stand upon a sheer abyss while vertigo takes hold, the air above, the sea beneath, our actions uncontrolled. Verses 2-3 follow Tune: MACPHERSON’S FARE…
When the leaders of the nations
When the leaders of the nations
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: When the leaders of the nations Proper 26 Year A Micah 3:5-12 When the leaders of the nations feast while heaping wrong on wrong; we will lose all sense of vision, discord will pervade our song. Those who perpetrate injustice, making profit out of war... Tune: GOTT WILL’S M…
Why put our faith in transient things
Why put our faith in transient things
by Andrew Pratt
Why put our faith in transient things Why put our faith in transient things, satanic mills of industry, the wealth that we accumulate, or even churches' history? The rites that we revere and praise, the hymns we sing, the prayers we pray, the actions we see as divine were human …
Who can fathom point or purpose
Who can fathom point or purpose
by Andrew Pratt
Who can fathom point or purpose in our random history? Who can frame a sharper focus, clear the clouds of mystery. In this present generation, where can God be seen or known? Are we blind to love and goodness where the grace of God is shown? Verse 3 follows Tune: GOTT WILL’S MACH…
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…
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 …
You are responsible, I am responsible
You are responsible, I am responsible
by Andrew Pratt
Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 Hymn: You are responsible, I am responsible You are responsible, I am responsible, each for our actions and words that we say. Gone are the days of our blaming each other, gone are the days of our turning away. Each generation must look to its laurels, don’t…
Within the temple Simeon met