Praying for Manchester

I wrote this hymn last year as a prayer for Orlando, and for all affected by the murder of Jo Cox. Sharing it now for the people of Manchester and especially for those caught up in the explosion there last night.  If you want to sing it, it goes to the tune King’s Lynn (or Corvedale). Or to Finsbury Park (specially written for these words): http://artsyhonker.net/finsbury-park/

O God of all salvation
In every darkest hour,
Look down at your creation
With pity and with power.
In all the pain we’re seeing,
For stranger as for friend,
We’ll cling with all our being
To love that cannot end.

O God, your loving passion
Is deeper than our pain,
Look down, and in compassion
Bring us to life again.
When we are found despairing,
When all seems lost to sin,
We’ll hear your voice declaring
That love alone will win.

O God, when hate grows stronger,
With fear to pave its way,
The cry, ‘Lord, how much longer?’
With broken hearts we pray.
In all that is dismaying
In humankind’s freewill,
We’ll join our voices, praying
That love will triumph still.

O God, whose love will never
Be silenced, stalled or stilled,
Set us to work wherever
There’re bridges to rebuild.
We’ll take our life’s vocation
To make, like heav’n above,
In this and every nation
A kingdom built on love.