hymn

How can we try to comprehend
the suffering and grief,
this sanctioned inhumanity
with death the sole relief?
We delve into our memories,
but hatred still survives,
and states still legislate cruel laws,
devalue human lives.
New crosses litter history,
new victims cry in pain,
and Christ, in them, is crucified,
and love is killed again.
How long, O God, before we learn
the message of your grace,
to [...]

{ 2 comments }

I know — I usually post a hymn on a Sunday. I’ll probably still share a bit of Wesley tomorrow. But here’s a hymn written in response to 9/11 by British Methodist Minister Gareth Hill. I hope he won’t mind. I’ve used it several times in worship and I think it is particularly helpful. The [...]

{ 10 comments }

Imagine a world where our leaders aren’t liars,
distorting reporting and spinning the news;
where all whistle-blowers and brave Jeremiahs
are lauded, applauded and never abused.
Imagine a world where believers aren’t fighting
and shedding our blood in the name of their gods;
where faith is is delightful, enlightening, inviting,
and never deployed for crusades and jihads.
Imagine a world where the [...]

{ 0 comments }

(Reblogged from 26/3/07)
Jesus entering the city
on a donkey, grand but gritty,
weeping tears of peace and pity –
rocks and stones cannot be dumb.
Jesus at the place of praying,
overturning tables, saying,
“In my Father’s house no paying!” –
now the temple’s Judge has come.
Jesus in the temple preaching,
using stories [...]

{ 4 comments }

A change from Wesley today. We have John Newton (mostly) instead. Here are the Blind Boys of Alabama…

{ 0 comments }

Son of God, if thy free grace
Again hath raised me up,
Called me still to seek thy face,
And given me back my hope;
Still thy timely help afford,
And all thy loving kindness show:
Keep me, keep me, gracious Lord,
And never let me go!
By me, O my Saviour, stand,
In sore temptation’s hour;
Save me with thine outstretched hand.
And show forth [...]

{ 1 comment }

Away with our fears!
The Godhead appears
In Christ reconciled,
The Father of Mercies in Jesus the Child.
He comes from above,
[...]

{ 1 comment }

While Shepherds Watch (Sweet Chiming Bells).
I know - it’s too early to be playing Christmas carols. But if you’re preparing a Christmas service, and looking for an alternative to the rather turgid Winchester Old, this tune would fit the bill nicely. It’s easy to pick up and sing, and the addition of the ‘chiming bells’ [...]

{ 4 comments }

Jesus comes with all his grace,
Comes to save a fallen race,
Object of our glorious hope,
Jesus comes to lift us up!
Let the living stones cry out!
Let the seed of Abram shout!
Praise we all our lowly King,
Give him thanks, rejoice, and sing!
He has our salvation wrought,
He our captive souls has bought,
He has reconciled to God,
He has washed [...]

{ 0 comments }

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now thy [...]

{ 1 comment }

Jesus, united by thy grace,
And each to each endeared,
With confidence we seek thy face
And know our prayer is heard.
Still let us own our common Lord,
And bear thine easy yoke,
A band of love, a threefold cord,
Which never can be broke.
Make us into one spirit drink;
Baptize into thy Name;
And let us always kindly think,
And sweetly speak, the [...]

{ 0 comments }

Light of the world, thy beams I bless;
On thee, bright Sun of Righteousness,
My faith has fixed its eye;
Guided by thee, through all I go,
Nor fear the ruin spread below,
For thou art always nigh.
Not all the powers of hell can fright
A soul that walks with Christ in light;
He walks, and cannot fall:
Clearly he sees, and wins [...]

{ 0 comments }

God of all power, and truth, and grace,
Which shall from age to age endure,
Whose word, when heaven and earth shall pass,
Remains and stands for ever sure;
That I thy mercy may proclaim,
That all mankind thy truth may see,
Hallow thy great and glorious name,
And perfect holiness in me.
Thy sanctifying Spirit pour,
To quench my thirst, and make me [...]

{ 1 comment }

Saviour from sin, I wait to prove
That Jesus is thy healing name;
To lose, when perfected in love,
Whate’er I have, or can, or am:
I stay me on thy faithful word,
“The servant shall be as his Lord.”
Answer that gracious end in me
For which thy precious life was given,
Redeem from all iniquity,
Restore, and make me meet for heaven;
Unless [...]

{ 0 comments }

COME, sinners, to the gospel feast,
Let every soul be Jesu’s guest;
Ye need not one be left behind,
For God hath bidden all mankind.
Sent by my Lord, on you I call,
The invitation is to ALL:
Come, all the world; come, sinner, thou!
All things in Christ are ready now.
Come, all ye souls by sin opprest,
Ye restless wanderers after rest,
Ye [...]

{ 0 comments }

COME, O thou Traveller unknown,
Whom still I hold, but cannot see!
My company before is gone,
And I am left alone with thee;
With thee all night I mean to stay,
And wrestle till the break of day.
I need not tell thee who I am,
My misery and sin declare;
Thyself hast called me by my name,
Look on thy hands, and [...]

{ 8 comments }

In view of Tim Chesterton’s response to a comment by DH in the thread to my post “Hauerwas on spirituality: ‘the assholes got it’”, here is the first hymn I ever wrote (in desperation, simply because I couldn’t find a hymn in any of the hymnbooks I have that say what I wanted to sing [...]

{ 28 comments }

Come on, my partners in distress,
My comrades through the wilderness,
Who still your bodies feel;
Awhile forget your griefs and fears,
And look beyond the vale of tears,
To that celestial hill.
Beyond the bounds of time and space,
Look forward to that happy place,
The saints’ secure abode;
On faith’s strong eagle pinions rise,
And force your passage to the skies,
And scale the [...]

{ 0 comments }

Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go,
My daily labour to pursue;
Thee, only thee, resolved to know
In all I think or speak or do.
The task thy wisdom hath assigned,
O let me cheerfully fulfill;
In all my works thy presence find,
And prove thy good and perfect will.
Preserve me from my calling’s snare,
And hide my simple heart above,
Above [...]

{ 0 comments }