Tag: spirit

A laser like tongue – A hymn inspired by Jesus baptism which might be used as a dramatic reading

A laser like tongue – A hymn inspired by Jesus baptism which might be used as a dramatic reading.



A laser like tongue used when speaking God's word, 

an arc-light to shine through the crass or absurd. 

The prophet had spoken of just such a voice, 

embodied in John who would offer God's choice.

	

A preacher from Galilee joined in the crowd, 

not hidden, John pointed and called him out loud.

The lamb, God's anointed, Messiah had come, 

the Spirit confirming that this was God's son.

	

The world and God's people spun round by this man 

discovered that grace had a limitless span; 

and this, while offending the pious, the priest,

brought joy to the ones once regarded as least.

	

Some soon caught the essence, the crisis, the power, 

the challenge of Jesus to twist or devour 

their present conceptions, their life-long deceit, 

to turn them, re-focus, and make them complete.

	

And so those around heard both challenge and choice, 

the sense of authority rang through his voice. 

The call to leave everything seemed so absurd 

and yet they responded to Jesus's word.

	

That word is still rippling, extending through space, 

it reaches through time and it tells of God's grace;

it sharpens perception, it rings in each ear, 

the spirit is moving, the Kingdom is near.



Andrew Pratt (born 1948) based on Isaiah 49 vs 1-7; Mark 1: 9 – 15; John 1 vs 29-42 

© Stainer & Bell Ltd. 

Metre: 11 11 11 11

Tune: PADERBORN (Paderborn Gesangbuch 1765) Perhaps this text could be read dramatically rather than sung?

We are a pilgrim people – a hymn

Methodists in the area in which I live are part of the way through the Methodist Bible Month. Some of our preachers are modelling worship on a sequence of passages from the Book of Revelation. Many of these verses are obscure and difficult to penetrate. Jewish and Christian history has been built on a sequence of revelations. The Book of Revelation is one of those.

Meanwhile, as a nation, a world even, we are living in a time of change. As such we are a pilgrim people, moving forward, guided by the Spirit, reliant on God, dependent on our understanding of what is revealed to us now of how our Christianity can be expressed in our days and time.

We are a pilgrim people, forever moving on, 
each day a new creation, each dawn a brand new song. 
And when our hearts are rooted into one place and time, 
we lose God's moving Spirit, that singing, dancing rhyme.
	
The Hebrews came from Egypt, each turn along the way 
another revelation, another dawning day;
and through this God would teach them to always travel light, 
to trust grace for the future, to calm them or excite.
	
The shepherd of our future, calls us to something new, 
and this may twist and turn us before it can renew. 
But trust and God will take us, will help us realise
beyond imagination the hope that can arise.
	
We must not cage the Spirit, we must not quench the flame, 
we move with God together, are ready for the game. 
Each day a new creation, each dawn a brand new song,
we are a pilgrim people, forever moving on.

Andrew Pratt Words © 2015 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd
Metre: 13 13 13 13
Tune: THORNBURY

Searing incandescent spirit – A hymn reflecting on John 13: 34 – 35

A hymn reflecting on John 13: 34 – 35 takes us, perhaps, toward Pentecost…

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.



Searing incandescent spirit, 
melting rock and churning foam, 
turning chaos into comfort 
formed the planet where we roam. 
Now we recollect the story 
of the cosmic photo-call 
when the universe was forming 
earth, the cradle of us all.


By this spirit prophets speaking 
challenged power and brought down thrones, 
pointed people to the Godhead, 
moved them from their comfort zones; 
turned their minds from selfish pleasure, 
marking wrong and putting right, 
led them from each ego's desert, 
from their introspective blight.


Now the spirit doused all people, 
no-one could escape this shower; 
sons and mothers, fathers, daughters, 
felt this rhythmic, dancing power; 
soon all nations heard the clamour, 
every language known on earth 
called to every nation living, 
join with love and find new-birth.


Andrew E Pratt; Words © 2015 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd.
Metre: 8 7 8 7 D
Tune: LUX EOI

Up! Up and away! – Ascension Hymn

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 much to receive.

The Spirit was coming, the mission beginning,
the world was their parish to love and to hold.
Disciples went on in the strength of that Spirit,
a Spirit of power to inspire and enfold.

But that would come later, for now they were waiting,
in hiding, reflecting on all they had seen;
on all Jesus taught them, in words and through wonders,
in all they had heard, of whom Jesus had been.

This Jesus had promised, had challenged, encouraged,
had offered them peace that the world could not give.
And soon all the earth would be spun on it’s axis,
and we share that Spirit, in Christ we will live!

Andrew Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2011 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England, http://www.stainer.co.uk.
Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd.
Tune: STREETS OF LAREDO
Metre: 12 11 12 11
As published in The Seed – http://www.seedresources.com <http://www.seedresources.com&gt;