It seems like something of a contradiction to hold a quiet day on the theme of hymns, but in case anyone is interested, here are the four addresses that I’ve written for a Friends of Little Gidding quiet day: Little Gidding quiet day addresses. It’s a mixture of George Herbert and other stuff, and some of my own hymns which, in such illustrious company, feel like the beggar invited to the wedding feast and then about to be thrown out for not having the right clothes on!
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.
It’s about to be Vocations Sunday (in the C of E, that is). If you want a new-ish hymn for your service, how about one of these? They’re all free to use – just help yourself (if you could attribute them to (c) Ally Barrett that would be great, but there’s nothing to pay! 🙂
This first was written for Birmingham Diocese, for the re-launch of their mission strategy document.
Here and now we’re drawn together:
hold us all in one embrace.
Help us see, in one another,
difference as a gift of grace.
As each passing generation
worships you in fresh new ways,
join our songs with all creation,
lift our voice to sing your praise.
Lord, affirm our shared vocation:
may we bring your plans to birth,
build a church on Christ’s foundation,
fit to tend a troubled earth.
Growing, praying, sharing, learning,
deep in wisdom, broad in scope,
love-revealing, truth-discerning,
living out the gospel hope.
In your work of transformation
you are making all things new.
Stir our hearts’ imagination,
call us now to work with you.
As we live the Great Commission
all will find their part to play:
Send us out to share your mission,
joyful in the world today.
(tune: Abbot’s Leigh, or any suitable 8787D trochaic tune)
This one is about Vocation, ministry and mission, and was the first hymn I wrote, in 2006.
Tune: Woodlands
(it’s also in the latest version of Hymns Ancient and Modern)
Hope of our calling: hope through courage won;
By those who dared to share all Christ had done.
Saints of today, Christ’s banner now unfurled,
We bring his gospel to a waiting world.
Hope of our calling: hope with strength empowered,
Inspired by all that we have seen and heard;
This call is ours, for we are chosen too,
To live for God in all we say and do.
Hope of our calling: hope with grace outpoured,
From death’s despair the gift of life restored;
Our call to serve, to wash each others’ feet,
To bring Christ’s healing touch to all we meet.
Hope of our calling: hope by faith made bold;
To sow God’s righteousness throughout the world;
Bring peace from conflict, fruitfulness from weeds,
The kingdom’s harvest from a mustard seed.
Hope of our calling: Spirit-filled, unbound,
Old joys remembered and new purpose found,
Our call refreshed by sacrament and word,
We go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
This next one was written for the service in York Minster on 17th May 2014, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of women priests in the Church of England – anyone is welcome to use it, though.
The tune is Londonderry Air.
Glory to God, the mother of creation,
in love you brought the universe to birth,
then gave your life to purchase the salvation
of all the sons and daughters of the earth.
Glory to you, for love that’s shown through history:
the warp and weft that patterns time and space.
By grace you’re known, yet known to be a mystery,
and we can touch eternity in your embrace.
Glory to you for calling us to service,
shepherds and stewards, messengers and priests,
we give ourselves in gratitude and gladness
as guests and hosts at your thanksgiving feast.
Our hearts exult in loving affirmation,
We sing with joy, your greatness we proclaim.
Your praise resounds in every generation,
Our souls with Mary magnify your holy name.
We are united, in Christ’s body dwelling,
one in the Spirit: wind and fire and dove;
one in the grace and hope of every calling,
to lift the ways of earth to heav’n above.
Through all our lives your power is ever flowing,
To show your work of love is underway;
Stir up your gift in us, your grace bestowing,
so we may speak and live your Word afresh today.
Finally, this hymn is based on the Ely Diocese Vision Statement
It was originally written to Guiting Power (Christ Triumphant, ever reigning) but the author of that tune isn’t keen on it being used for other words, so I’m delighted to say that Peter Moger, my friend and mentor, has written this fabulous tune, Minster Gates, that is in the same metre and fits the words perfectly! You are welcome to use it (please note the copyright information at the bottom of the file). Alternatively, I wrote this tune to the same metre and for these words.
It’s quite long, so would work as a processional/recessional/offertory
Gracious God, your love has found us,
bound us, set us free.
Take our lives, transform us into
all that we can be.
Call us, one and all, together,
now and evermore, we pray.
Call us to be Christ-revealing,
radiant with your light;
generous as a hilltop city,
visible and bright.
Call us, one and all, together,
now and evermore, we pray.
Call us all to live the kingdom,
active here and now;
Life affirming, world-renewing.
Church above, below.
Call us, one and all, together,
now and evermore, we pray.
Call us all in love discerning,
strong in word and deed;
sent, commissioned, gladly serving
all who are in need.
Call us, one and all, together,
now and evermore, we pray.
Call us as your loved disciples:
learning, growing, fed;
Send us out, as new apostles,
Leading as we’re led.
Call us, one and all, together,
now and evermore, we pray.
Call us deeply, touch our souls through
worship, prayer and word,
teach our minds to feel in echo
myst’ries yet unheard.
Call us, one and all, together,
now and evermore, we pray.
Call us, as you called creation
when the world began,
Guide our hearts’ imagination
to your loving plan.
Call us, one and all, together,
now and evermore, we pray.
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This has been written for Ely Cathedral’s Science Festival (May-June 2017). The tune is Love Unknown.
Praise for the depths of space,
its endless scope and scale:
in such a vast embrace
our words and numbers fail.
For what are we,
that mortal mind
should seek and find
infinity?
Praise for the rules that show
the patterning of time,
creation’s ebb and flow
expressed in reason’s rhyme.
Can these great laws
contain our awe,
a formula
for wonder’s cause?
Praise for the complex codes
each spiral strand conveys,
as chemistry explodes
to life in myriad ways.
Can we compare
what’s ours alone
if we are known
by all we share?
Praise for the drive to know;
from human nature springs
a need to learn and grow,
to understand all things.
Yet wisdom’s prize
is never won:
from all that’s done
new questions rise.
Praise for the gift of sense,
for touch and sights and sounds,
for all the tastes and scents
with which Your world abounds.
For love made known
in every thing,
in praise we sing
to You alone.
1. He’ll be riding on a donkey when he comes (x2)
He’ll be riding on a donkey,
Riding on a donkey,
Riding on a donkey when he comes.
So we’ll sing hosanna when he comes (x2)
So we’ll sing hosanna, sing hosanna,
Sing hosanna when he comes.
2.We will all come out to meet him when he comes…
3. We will throw our cloaks* before him when he comes…
4. We will wave our palms to greet him when he comes…
(*or coats, or whatever)
To the tune ‘she’ll be coming round the mountain’. You’re welcome.
reverendally.org 