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Hymn: Sometimes the Bible seems unreal
Hymn: Sometimes the Bible seems unreal
by Andrew Pratt
Sometimes the Bible seems unreal, its people like a saintly race, they speak with such integrity as those immersed in Godly grace. And how can we, within our time, aspire to such a perfect goal of innocence and purity, when needing love to make us whole? Verses 3-4 follow Tune: B…
Hymn: The narrative of Godly love
Hymn: The narrative of Godly love
by Andrew Pratt
The narrative of Godly loveresists attempts to test or prove and yet exceeds our wildest dreams, while we put trust in human schemes. Verses 2-3 follow Tune: GONFANLON ROYAL Metre: LM Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © 8/10/2012 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England, www.stainer.co…
Hymn: Upon this groaning, quaking earth
Hymn: Upon this groaning, quaking earth
by Andrew Pratt
Upon this groaning, quaking earth we find the evidence of grace, for here, our God, you nurtured love, brought faith and hope within this place. Verses 2-3 follow Tune: ABENDS Metre: LM Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © 5/5/2012 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England, www.stainer.c…
Hymn: Only with God will the building, the loving
Hymn: Only with God will the building, the loving
by Andrew Pratt
Only with God will the building, the loving, praying and praising bear fruit, or make sense. When we align with divine revelation heaven draws near and love has no pretence. Verses 2-3 follow Tune: STEWARDSHIP Metre: 11.10.11.10 Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © 19/10/2012 Stain…
Hymn: Our problem God: your enigmatic presence
Hymn: Our problem God: your enigmatic presence
by Andrew Pratt
Our problem God: your enigmatic presence, will challenge who we are and seek to be, you call us through the mists of exploration to follow paths that guide, yet set us free. We seek a deeper focus for our being, while feeling weakness when we should be strong. Great God within ou…
In the silence of the dawning
In the silence of the dawning
by Andrew Pratt
In the silence of the dawning birds are waking, start to sing, light is coming bringing colour, each day brighter, nearly spring. Every day the season’s turning brings a sign of coming birth, seeds are growing, new growth showing, pushing through the rock hard earth. Verse 2 foll…
Like a trace of mist at morning
Like a trace of mist at morning
by Andrew Pratt
Like a trace of mist at morning, golden in the rising sun, grace remains beyond the dawning of the grief that has begun. See Elisha followed after old Elijah, near to death; holding onto something special: gracious spirit, near as breath. Verses 3-4 folllow Tune: ST OSWALD; WRAYS…
Look around: so many places
Look around: so many places
by Andrew Pratt
Look around: so many places Look around: so many places, ravaged, ruined or destroyed. Ruthless people leaving carnage by the methods they deployed. In destruction prophets picture God in judgment showing strength. These are signs to bring the people to the Godhead's side at leng…
Now is the time to reassess
Now is the time to reassess
by Andrew Pratt
Now is the time to reassess our place within God's grace, a time for calm, reflective prayer, to meet God face to face. Now is the time for honesty for God is by our side; each action seen and understood, no way that we can hide. Verses 3-4 follow Metre: CM Tune: FINGAL Andrew …
Early Christian Letters for Everyone - Don't Be Deceived
Early Christian Letters for Everyone - Don't Be Deceived
by SPCK - N T Wright
Don’t Be Deceived 2 John 7-13 I was going to quote a Beatles song, but then I remembered that you have to pay a lot of money even to quote a single line. But the song is well enough known, declaring that the only thing one might need is love. It’s ironic, of course, that you have…
Paul for Everyone 1 Corinthians - Marriage and Divorce
Paul for Everyone 1 Corinthians - Marriage and Divorce
by SPCK - N T Wright
Marriage and Divorce 1 Corinthians 7.8-16 Divorce has swept the Western world like a plague. When I was young, nobody I knew, in our street, my school, anywhere, was divorced. There were occasional mentions of marriage breakdown well outside our close family and friends, but it w…
1 and 2 Samuel for Everyone - Fool by Name, Fool by Nature
1 and 2 Samuel for Everyone - Fool by Name, Fool by Nature
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Fool by Name and Fool by Nature 1 Samuel 24: 1- 25: 44 You sometimes wonder how on earth a certain woman ended up marrying a certain man, but sometimes you can see that a couple are a good match. My office is located between the offices of two of my married colleagues; I joke tha…
Exodus and Leviticus - Giving to God
Exodus and Leviticus - Giving to God
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Giving to God LEVITICUS 1: 1- 2: 16 In our seminary in England, faculty and students worked as teams in planning and leading worship. While this was a great privilege and I enjoyed it when it was my team’s turn, my heart would also sink somewhat when our period of duty arrived be…
Exodus and Leviticus - How to Celebrate
Exodus and Leviticus - How to Celebrate
by SPCK - John Goldingay
How to Celebrate LEVITICUS 23: 1- 24:9 When my parents could afford it, two or three times as a teenager I was able to go to “camps,” as they would be called in the United States (I am glad to say there were no tents in sight; we slept in school dormitories). It was at one of the…
Gazing on the Gospels year c - The Fifth Sunday of Lent Year C
Gazing on the Gospels year c - The Fifth Sunday of Lent Year C
by SPCK - Judith Dimond
The Fifth Sunday of Lent Luke 12.1-8 Gaze on this cosy domestic setting, spruced up for a special celebration. It seems that this house is the nearest Jesus came to an adult family home. Martha is being Martha again – the carer in the kitchen. Mary is being Mary as ever – impetuo…
Gazing on the Gospels year c - The Third Sunday of Lent Year C
Gazing on the Gospels year c - The Third Sunday of Lent Year C
by SPCK - Judith Dimond
The Second Sunday of Lent Luke 13.31-35 Gaze on Jerusalem today, in greater need than ever of her children being gathered together in harmony. It is a city divided between Jew and Muslim, Jew and Christian, with no-go areas armed by guns. Churches are locked. Doubt and suspicion …
Lectionary Reflection Year C - Proper 18 Year C
Lectionary Reflection Year C - Proper 18 Year C
by SPCK - Jane Williams
Proper 18 Deuteronomy 30.15–20 Philemon 1–21 Luke 14.25–33 Which of your letters would you like preserved for a couple of millennia? Philemon is one of the most ‘domestic’ of the documents of the New Testament, and it is impossible not to read it like an unfinished novel. What ha…
Lectionary Reflection Year C - Proper 5 Year C