Ally’s Hymns and SongsNovember 2017 editionThank you for downloading this collection of hymns. You are welcome to use any of them in worship, free of charge (I am not registered with CCLI or Calamus).

Please attribute the hymns to me using the following or similar wording (if nothing else, it will mean people won’t keep asking you where you got the worlds from): Words © Ally Barrett. Used by permission.

I’ve made a note of the tune I had in mind for each hymn, and particular seasons/occasions when the hymns may be most appropriate.

If you would like to include any of the hymns in a published hymn book, or if you would like to use them for any other commercial purpose, please do let me know.

Enjoy!

First line Tune/metre Theme/occasionLittle baby sweetly slumbering Sugar Plum Fairy(!) ChristmasSolemn notes of tribute sounded Schmucke dich 8.8.8.8D Commemoration, educationPraise for the depths of space Love Unknown 66664444 Science / creationHere and now we’re drawn together Abbots Leigh 8787D t Mission, ministryHe’ll be riding on a donkey when he comes She’ll be coming round… Palm Sunday children’s songEveryone here has a part to play Tetris theme All age worship / gatheringMay this place be one of nurture Corvedale / 8787D SafeguardingO God of all salvation King’s Lynn / 7.6.7.6.D Disaster, violenceMothers and fathers of the faith Father I place into your hands Advent wreathWhen I am feeling dull and grey This little light of mineChristingle A world in shadow once again O waly waly / 8.8.8.8 Violence, LGBTQI Come to God’s table! Slane / 10.11.11.11 Holy CommunionPraise the Lord for faithful service Lauda anima / 8.7.8.7.8.7 Her Majesty the Queen’s birthdayHere we are giving out of our plenty Bunessan / 5.5.5.4.5.5.5.4 Money, stewardship, givingThank you, O Lord, for the gift of this day Slane / 10.11.11.11 Godparents’ Sunday Longing for a hope-filled morning Picardy /8.7.8.7.8.7 AdventWords of the prophets Woodlands / 10.10.10.10 Advent (late in the season)All glory be to Jesus! Ellacombe / 7.6.7.6.D TransfigurationA gift each day, our daily bread Kingsfold / 8.6.8.6.D Holy Communion / Corpus ChristiEarly while the world was sleeping Lauda anima / 8.7.8.7.8.7. Easter dayFor all with heavy loads to bear Melita / 8.8.8.8.8.8 WorkGracious God, your love has found us Guiting Power / 8.5.8.5 &R Mission/ChurchDust to dust, we mark our repentance Picardy / 8.7.8.7.8.7 Ash WednesdayGlory to God, the mother of creation Londonderry Air Ministry / vocation

11.10.11.10 11.10.11.12Star of wonder Sing Hosanna / 10.8.10.9.&R EpiphanyO radiant Lord and light of light Gonfalon Royal / 8.8.8.8 EpiphanyFreely we give, and freely share Jerusalem / 8.8.8.8.D MarriageLove, faith and hope are free Lord of the dance / irregular MarriageBless this sacred moment All things B & B / 7.6.7.6 MarriageLife comes to an upper room Salzburg / 7.7.7.7.D EastertideDear Father God, we gather here Repton / 8.6.8.8.6(6) CandlemasBless this water, bless this child All things B & B / 7.6.7.6 BaptismWord of life! Such transformation Regent Square / 8.7.8.7.8.7 Bible SundayWe place into your hands, O Lord Repton / 8.6.8.8.6(6) All SoulsJesus our Saviour, your life-giving breath Slane / 10.11.11.11 Healing/ discipleshipO sing aloud to God our strength Kingsfold / 8.6.8.6. D Easter VigilHere we sing our great thanksgiving Abbot’s Leigh / 8.7.8.7 D Holy CommunionHope of our calling Woodlands / 10.10.10.10 Vocation

Take, O take me as I am (further verses) Take O take / 7.7.7.4 Vocation(John Bell)

All our blessings, all our joys All things B & B / 7.6.7.6 Mothering SundayFor those who gave us life and breath O waly waly / 8.8.8.8 Mothering SundayIf we’d been there so long ago O waly waly / 8.8.8.8 Holy week / EasterMay we who gather in your name Golden Sheaves / 8.7.8.7 D Post-communionLord of all time Highwood 11.10.11.10 God’s purposesBe here, Lord in your churches The Church’s one foundation Church/mission

7.6.7.6. DWe join with the angels Immortal invisible Metrical Gloria

11.11.11.11There came a shepherd Tyrolean melody / 8.6.8.6 D Jesus the good shepherdThere’s a story to tell Sing hosanna 10.8.10.9 &R Advent SundayBe present, Lord, among us here Tallis’ Canon 8.8.8.8. God among us / attentivenessWe love the Lord our God 6.6.6.8 refrain (original tune) all age / summary of the law

Little baby, sweetly slumbering,Cradled and cuddled in Mary’s loving arms.In the sky are angels gathering,but for now, here below, all is still and calm.

Little baby, our Emmanuel,God with us, one of us, born to be our king. Little baby, while you slumber,Far above you angels sing.

We know you came to save us all…But how can God become so small…?For God so loved all he had madeHe sent his Son the world to save……

Little baby…

This was written for a friend, who wanted a new carol to sing as part of a nativity play. It goes to the tune of the Sugar Plum Fairy (from Tschaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite).

Solemn notes of tribute sounded:Gratitude and celebration.By such history surrounded:Legacy of inspiration.From that ground new growth is springing,From those songs new voices singing;Through each passing generationStill our hope in God is founded.

All our life in wisdom growing,God’s good purposes discerning;Words and deeds of virtue flowingThrough the sacred gift of learning.When the world seems lost to violenceHope and love must break their silence,Grace in human nature turningTo the truths that are worth knowing.

Blessings for our lifetime, lendingGrace for work and love and leisure,Gladly spent, and gladly spendingall to find our heart’s true treasure.Choice and chance unfold each story,May our lives reflect God’s glory,Then when time completes life’s measureWe may know a perfect ending.

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to St Catharine’s College, Cambridge for their vision and commitment to empowering young women through music (specifically, by means of their girls’ choir) which has enabled my daughter to have a first rate musical education and experience some things that I never had the chance to do at her age (or indeed ever!).Here’s what I wrote for the College’s Commemoration of Benefactors service on the Feast of St Katharine of Alexandria, 2017. At the Director of Music’s request, the tune is chorale Schmücke Dich, usually sung to the words, Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness).

Praise for the depths of space,its endless scope and scale:in such a vast embraceour words and numbers fail.For what are we,that mortal mindshould seek and findinfinity?

Praise for the rules that showthe patterning of time,creation's ebb and flowexpressed in reason's rhyme.Can these great lawscontain our awe,a formulafor wonder's cause?

Praise for the complex codeseach spiral strand conveys,as chemistry explodesto life in myriad ways.Can we comparewhat's ours aloneif we are knownthrough all we share?

Praise for the drive to know; from human nature springsa need to learn and grow,to understand all things.Yet wisdom's prizeis never won:from all that's donenew questions rise.

Praise for the one whose Wordbreathed purpose into chance,for whom all matter stirredto join creation’s dance.For love made knownin every thing,in praise we singto You alone.

This was written for Ely Cathedral’s Science Festival (May/June 2017) – it belongs to them until mid June 2017, and then is available for anyone to use. The tune is Love Unknown.

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 generationworships 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 transformationyou are making all things new.Stir our hearts’ imagination,call us now to work with you.As we live the Great Commissionall 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 was written for Birmingham Diocese, for the launch of their mission strategy document.

He’ll be riding on a donkey when he comes,He’ll be riding on a donkey when he comes,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,So we’ll sing hosanna when he comes,So we’ll sing hosanna, sing hosanna,Sing hosanna when he comes.

We will all come out to meet him when he comes…

We will throw our cloaks* before him when he comes…

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’. It’s a children’s song suitable for Palm Sunday.

This is a gathering song suitable for all age worship. It is loosely based on 1 Corinthians 12, and the tune has been chosen for the way that the multi-coloured and diverse shapes of Tetris fit together.

May this place be one of nurturewhere we all may come to knowhow your endless love sustains usas we live and move and grow.May we work to build your kingdomfull of truth and light and grace,living life in all its fullnessheld in one divine embrace.

From our negligence and failures**you have called us to repent,drawing energy for actionfrom the voices of lament.As the secret hurts long hiddenmay at last be brought to light,may the truth unlock the freedomthat is every person’s right.

For you hold the broken heartedtill they learn to live again,and your justice stands like mountains,while your mercy falls like rainwhen the smallest child is valued,and the strong empower the weak,when each human life is hallowedand the unheard voices speak:

So with humble thanks we praise youand we lift to you in prayerall the people you are callingto this ministry of care.Give us wisdom, grace and courage,holding fast to all that’s good,seeing Christ in one anotherwe will love and serve our Lord.

I wrote this for someone who was planning a service to pray for all those who work as safeguarding officers. One sets out to write a hymn about this subject with a certain degree of fear and trembling. I’m especially grateful for the feedback from the ‘Singing the faith’ editors, who made various helpful suggestions that led to the final version. The tune is Corvedale (that’s the triple time tune that’s often used for There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy).

O God of all salvationIn this, our darkest hour,Look down at your creationWith pity and with power.In all the pain we’re seeing,For parent, partner, friend,We’ll cling with all our beingTo love that cannot end.

O God, your loving passionIs deeper than our pain,Look down, and in compassionBring us to life again.When we are found despairing,When all seems lost to sin,We’ll hear your voice declaringThat 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 dismayingIn humankind’s freewill,We’ll join our voices, prayingThat love will triumph still.

O God, whose love will neverBe silenced, stalled or stilled,Set us to work whereverThere’re bridges to rebuild.We’ll take our life’s vocationTo make, like heav’n above,In this and every nationA kingdom built on love.

In the week when 50 gay people were murdered in an Orlando nightclub, an MP was murdered in her own constituency, and UKIP published an advert that many felt incited racial hatred in the run up to the European referendum, I found myself unable to sleep at night, and while I was watching, and waiting and weeping, I wrote this as a prayer, to the tune Kings Lynn (aka O God of earth and altar) – though any suitable sombre 7676D tune would work.

Mothers and fathers of the faith, who lived in time of old,Leaders and judges, kings and queens were faithful, true and bold,Travelers, heroes, shepherds, all with stories to be told:Still they show us how to follow you.

Prophets and seers who spoke the truth in answer to your call,finding new ways to bring your word to people great and small,living their lives to show your love was meant for one and all,still they show us how to follow you.

John, in the desert calling out, ‘The Kingdom has come near.’‘Come and repent, and be baptised, there’s nothing then to fear.’‘Jesus is coming now, the One you’re waiting for is here.’Still he shows us how to follow you.

Mother of God, the angel called her favoured, full of grace,Holding the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, in her embrace,She is the one whose ‘yes’ helped God to save the human race,still she shows us how to follow you.

And this last verse, for Christmas day, is by my friend and colleague Gill Robertson:

Jesus our Saviour, born a king, we welcome you today,Lord of all time, Immanuel, with joyful hearts we say:You are the Christ who came to earth for us; and now we pray,Help us all to daily follow you.

Advent Wreath Song to the tune ‘Father we place into your hands’

When I am feeling dull and grey,and sunshine seems so far away,when I don’t know quite where to start,I remember the stardust in my heart:all it needs is a tiny sparkto get me shining in the dark,So Jesus, give me your fire divineto let my little light shine!

This is an extra verse for This little light of mine, that works with the Sparkly Christingle Talk

A world in shadow once again, So full of loss, and grief and pain:O Lord, how long? your people praythat love at last will win the day.

A world where gay and trans and queer must live their daily lives in fear:O Lord, how long? your people praythat love at last will win the day.

A world where human life is cheap, Where family, friends and lovers weep:O Lord, how long? your people praythat love at last will win the day.

Your rainbow people pledge todayto show the world a better way,O Lord, how long till earth beginsto see that this is how love wins?

Tune: O Waly WalyWritten in response to the murder of 50 gay people in a night club in Orlando, in June 2016

Come to God’s table! for all is prepared,The bread we have offered is broken and shared,Christ's presence among us is food for the soul,reviving, renewing, and making us whole.

Come to God’s table! and drink of the wine,the blood of the Saviour, both real and a sign,The cup of salvation both priceless and free,transforming God's people into all we can be.

Come to God’s table! we come as we are,we bring all the burdens we've carried so far,in body, in spirit, in soul, mind and heart,to feed on the grace which God alone can impart.

Come to God’s table! then go in that graceto hold all the earth in a heav'nly embrace,Sent out in the Spirit to tend and to carein thought, word and action, our life is our prayer.

This is a Holy Communion hymn, which goes to the tune ‘Slane’

Praise the Lord for faithful service,offered through each passing year,Steadfast prayer, ‘May God preserve us’Through the times of joy and fear.Bless our Queen and bless her people,Give us strength to persevere.

Praise the Lord for faithful vision,keep life’s journey fixed in sight,seek God’s will in each decisionPray to choose the good and right.Bless our Queen and bless her people,In God’s way our shared delight.

Praise the Lord for faithful duty,God has called: to this we cling,live it out with grace and beauty,in the tasks each day may bring.Bless our Queen and bless her people,As we seek to serve the King.

Praise the Lord for faithful living:Seeking peace and just accord,Trusting, hoping, still believing,sharing faith in deed and word.Bless our Queen and bless her people,Fellow servants of One Lord.

A little something for the Queen’s birthday. The tune is Praise my soul, the king of heaven.This was a collaborative effort between me, Julie Bacon, Gill Robertson, Leah Vasey-Saunders, Sheridan James and Cate Williams.

Here we are giving,out of our plentyfruit of thanksgiving,tribute of love.Hearts overflowingcannot stand empty,constantly growinggrace from above.

Gathered as one, andthankfully bringingall that we are, andall that we do.Serving and caring, praying and singing,building and sharing,offered to you.

Love beyond measure,total compassion, We are your treasure:wondrously giv’n.Made in your likeness,imaged and fashioned,life that is priceless, valued in heaven.

This one goes to the tune Bunessan (Morning has broken). It’s based on the theology behind the gospel story about tax: ‘render to Caesar that which is Caesar’s; render to God that which belongs to God’. Basically, the coin had an image of the Emperor on it, but the image of God is found in humanity, so our true tribute to God is ourselves.

Thank you, O Lord, for the gift of this day:a time to count blessings, to think and to pray,support us, inspire us, and call us anew,help us to be faithful in following you.

Bless us in keeping our promise to care,our loving commitment to always be there,we’ll smile at each moment of joy and success,and when life is bitter, our love is no less.

Bless us with patience, with care and with timeto listen, to challenge, to open our mind,exploring life’s questions in wonder and awe,and sharing the wisdom that loves to learn more.

Guide us, O Lord, as we walk on life’s way,Discov’ring together fresh blessings each day,O Lord of our journey, we ask you to showthe paths we might follow, the ways we may go.

The first ever Godparent Sunday in the Church of England was on 1st May 2016 – The Powers That Be felt that it deserved a hymn all of its own, so they asked me, and I wrote this one. tune: Slane aka Lord of all hopefulness

Longing for a hope-filled morning, Kingdom of the Son, draw near!Waiting for the day soon dawning,Light of love that casts out fear.Dayspring, come from heav’n, in lowly birth,Come to warm this cold, dark earth.

Sorrow through the world is sweeping,Bitter conflict rages still,Heaven hears its children weeping: cost of humankind’s freewill. Come, O Price* of Peace, in lowly birth,Come to mend this broken earth.

Pattern of the world’s salvation,God and human side by side. Colour, language, creed or nation,No more should the world divide:Come, Emmanuel, in lowly birth,Show how heav’n embraces earth.

An Advent hymn to the tune ‘Picardy’ (aka Let all mortal flesh keep silence)

*This really is Price, not Prince. It started as a typo, but now I like it. But if you want to sing Prince instead, you totally can.

Words of the prophets since the world beganSo long before salvation’s human birthSpeaking of God’s tremendous loving planfor heav’n to touch the long-estrangèd earth.

Those ancient words at last began to bein flesh and skin and bone and blood unfurledIn maiden womb and half-made family –so heaven stooped to touch a fallen world.

Amongst the stable beasts behind the inn,the baby’s eyes saw first a mother’s love;and though their world, like ours, was full of sin,yet in their gaze the earth met heav’n above.

We cry aloud for peace, goodwill to all,and for God’s heaven to touch his earth again,We bend our ears to hear the angels’ call,and raise our voice to join the great Amen.

This hymn started as a sermon, then spent some time as a sonnet, before being repurposed as a late Advent hymn. It would go to Woodlands or similar.

All glory be to Jesus,all joyful songs of praise!Ascend, with him, the mountain,And on him fix your gaze.For Christ reveals his glory:The Son’s bright shining rays;The veil, worn thin, breaks opento set the soul ablaze.

On earth, a glimpse of heaven,in darkness, dazzling light;From lowly plain and valley,to holy mountain’s height.Now all the world’s divisionsin Jesus may unite:An ordinary momentis blessed with God’s delight.

The light of light eternalto faithful eyes is shown,The myst’ry of the Godheadmiraculously known.The seeds of Jesus’ passionin glory once were sown,so fruits of resurrectioncould out of death be grown.

The words of affirmation,of challenge and command,To listen, learn, and followin all that God has planned.May graceful transformationby God’s almighty hand,empower us now for servicein this and every land.

I was asked to write a hymn for a Rita’s church, which is dedicated to the Transfiguration, as there aren’t many hymns written for that particular feast day and they wanted something new. They asked for the tune Ellacombe, as they enjoy singing it at Easter and wanted to give it another outing!

A gift each day, our daily breadreveals your faithful love,you keep your pilgrim people fedwith manna from above.We live, not by this bread alone,but by your holy Word:so feed our hearts, and make us onein you, O Christ our Lord.

All are invited, called from farand near, to eat this fare;As all we have, and all we are,are gifts to grow and share.You call us now as servants, guests,as sisters, brothers, friends:to gather and be richly blessed.with life that never ends.

In broken body, life-blood shed,true love was once made known.In pouring wine and breaking breadthat love again is shown.We are your body, fed todayfor strength, for grace, for good:Break us and send us out, we pray,to bring the world its food.

This one goes to the tune ‘Kingsfold’. Thanks, as always, to those who helped me get it ready for posting, and further comments are of course always welcome. I guess this would work for any communion service, but I had it in mind for Corpus Christi.

Early, while the world was sleeping,to the garden Mary came;lost in lonely grief, still weepingtill in love you spoke her name.Alleluia, alleluiaNothing now can be the same.

See, the sunlight, slowly dawningoverwhelms the shades of night,welcoming this glorious morning,rising with the Light of Light.Alleluia, alleluia,Death and darkness put to flight.

Trusted as the first apostle,Mary swiftly made her way;bearing this, the Easter gospelto a world in disarray.Alleluia, alleluia,Good news for the earth today.

Risen Jesus, come and greet us:Speak our name, we are your own;In your generous love you meet us:in our lives that love is shown.Alleluia, alleluia,Resurrection life made known.

This one is for Easter morning, so it’s based on the John 20 gospel reading about Jesus and Mary in the garden. The tune is Praise my soul / Lauda anima.

For all with heavy loads to bear,with calls to serve, protect and care,Whose work and life bring hard demands,With others’ welfare in their hands.Lord, help them thrive in all they face,Upheld by your all-loving grace.

For all who find their work to beA test of their integrity,in contracts brokered, deals secured,In choices faced and stress endured,Lord, grant to them the strength they need,To follow you in word and deed.

For all who long for work and payTo buy enough to live each day.When skills are offered yet ignored,And patience reaps no real reward,Lord, where we only see despairsend purpose, hope and justice there.

For all whose work is never done,Whose call is answered in the home,Frustration, tiredness, love and careCombine to build the kingdom there.Lord, give to all whose work is loveYour inspiration from above.

In all that we will do this dayBe near us, Lord of all, we pray,In words and actions, work and rest,May all our moments be so blessedThat when our days and years are doneWe’ll find our life has just begun.

This hymn is about work, so is one of those hymns that will be useless on almost every occasion except for the tiny few occasions when it’s useful.Tune: Melita (Eternal Father, strong to save)

Gracious God, your love has found us,bound us, set us free.Take our lives, transform us intoall 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 all to live the kingdom,active here and now;Life affirming, world-renewing.Church above, below.

Call us all in love discerning,strong in word and deed;sent, commissioned, gladly servingall who are in need.

Call us as your loved disciples:learning, growing, fed;Send us out, as new apostles,Leading as we’re led.

Call us deeply, touch our souls throughworship, prayer and word,teach our minds to feel in echomyst’ries yet unheard.

Call us, as you called creationwhen the world began,Guide our hearts’ imaginationto your loving plan.

This hymn is based on the Ely Diocese Vision Statement The tune for this was originally intended to be Guiting Power (Christ Triumphant, ever reigning) but the composer of that tune is not happy with it being used for other words so I composed the music overleaf. It would work as a processional/recessional/offertory

Here's a tune that I'm pretty sure I wrote that's in the same metre as Guiting Power 8.5.8.6 (plus a refrain with scope for between 15 and 17 syllables). Think of it as a less good-looking stunt double for Guiting Power, but sort of the same vibe. I called it Wulfstan Way because that's the name of the road that my current church is on.

Dust to dust, we mark our repentance,entering a guilty plea,Ash to ash, we face our sentence,Sin writ large for all to see:Bearing signs of all our falls from grace,Yearning for your strong embrace.

Dust of earth once shaped and moulded,human form from Godly hand,Male and female both enfolded,part of all that you had planned.Now O Lord reshape our damaged form,Hold us till our hearts grow warm.

Dust that fuels the lights of heaven,Stars and planets passing by,Atoms of creation’s splendour,Earth to earth and sky to sky,Now our dust, redeemed, may sing alongwith that universal song.

This one is for Ash Wednesday. The tune is ‘Let all mortal flesh’.

Glory to God, the mother of creation,in love you brought the universe to birth,then gave your life to purchase the salvationof 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 gladnessas 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.

This was commissioned 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.

Star of wonder! Light to lead us!Show the way to find the Lord of lords,Star of wonder! Light to lead us!Show us how to find the Lord.

We bring gold for a king, keep us serving,We bring gold for a king today.We bring gold for a king, keep us serving.Keep us serving Jesus every day.

Star of wonder! Light to lead us!Show the way to find the Lord of lords,Star of wonder! Light to lead us!Show us how to find the Lord.

We bring incense today, keep us praying,We bring incense to him today.We bring incense today, keep us praying,Keep us praying to him every day.

Star of wonder….

We bring myrrh now to help us remember,For the sacrifice that he made.We bring myrrh now to help us remember,to remember Jesus every day.

Star of wonder...

We bring all that we have to his manger,We bring all that we have today,We bring all that we are to his manger,As we offer him ourselves today.

Star of wonder...

This one was written for Yvonne Brae’s church, who wanted a bouncy song for Epiphany – it’s a very simple one, to the tune ‘Sing hosanna’.

O radiant Lord and Light of light,who turns earth’s shadows dazzling bright,O flame of love that heav’n impartsto warm seven billion human hearts.

The colours of your dayspring’s glow,a rainbow-gift to earth below,to spread the spectrum of your grace,dispersed through this and every place.

O light that shines to guide our way,Bless’d Son, illuminate our day!And grant our eyes a friendly sparkto lead us through the hours of dark.

Now bring to light the things we fear,and make our moral vision clear,Remove the darkness from the souland make us bright and brave and whole.

Still greater is the light unseentranscending what our sense can glean:our hearts’ imagination kneelsin awe at what our faith reveals.

O God, Creator, Christ, the Son,And Holy Spirit, three in one:To you our gathered voices raise,Your universe unites in praise. Amen.

This one might work at Epiphany, or any time when we get the Light of the World readings. The tune is Gonfalon Royal (generally used for ‘The Royal banners forward go’)

Freely we give, and freely shareAll that we have, and all we are,Our pledge to cherish and embrace,Made through this covenant of grace.With soul and body intertwined,We give ourselves, in heart and mind,to deeper union day by day,and walk in step along life’s way.

[Alternative less personal version of verse 1:Freely to give, and freely shareAll that we have, and all we are,A pledge to cherish and embrace,Made through this covenant of grace.With soul and body intertwined,two lives together, heart and mind,in deeper union day by day,to walk in step along life’s way.]

Kindle a flame both bright and bold,Out of the earth bring purest gold,Turn all our water into wine,Teach us new songs of joy divine!Give us your patience, make us kind,Increase our faith that we may findthat in true love, good Lord, we pray,we’ll walk together all life’s way.

At various times there have been challenges issued on facebook and twitter, seeking alternatives to All Things Bright and Beautiful, Lord of the Dance, and Jerusalem, at weddings. This one is to Jerusalem. The most observant of you will spot that I’ve used the second verse tune for both verses (the difference is in the rhythm of the penultimate line). I’d like to thank those who commented on the first draft of this and helped me improve it.

Love, faith and hope are freeto all who live abundantly,So lead us, Lord, wherever we may bein the dance of life for eternity.

The gift of love is a powerful thing,Blessed and worn in a golden ring,The vows are the binding of our lives,words for all that the heart believes.

Love, faith and hope …

The gift of faith is the gift of care,The words that say, “I will always be there.”For better, for worse, in joy and pain,faith brings love to life again.

Love, faith and hope …

The gift of hope is a burning fire,a guide we can follow that will never ever tire,A lamp to guide us in the darkest night,and show us the path that leads to light.

Love, faith and hope…

This one is to the tune: Lord of the dance

Bless this sacred momentwith your greatest gift of love,Bring us ever closerto the joy of heaven above.

All future growth and floweringare rooted in our past:two lives entwined togetherin promises that last.

Bless this sacred moment….

Lord, make us more forgivingto those who do us wrong,give patience and enduranceand peace our whole life long.

Bless this sacred moment….

The care of those around us,our families and friends,uphold us and inspire usto love that never ends.

Bless this sacred moment….

A ring to seal the promise,A kiss to touch the heart,A prayer to know the blessingthat you alone impart.

Bless this sacred moment….

There had to be one to ‘All things bright and beautiful’

Life comes to an upper room,breaking through the fear and gloom;walls and door-locks are no bar:Jesus meets us where we are.Life dispels the doubt of griefbringing hope and new belief;touching scars – these signs of painbring us back to life again.

Life comes to a broken heart,bowed by sorrow, torn apart;in the darkness of our tearsJesus speaks to calm our fears.On our journey life comes home,in this fellowship made known;with Christ’s body we are fed:life revealed in broken bread.

Life comes to a sunlit shore,sharing food with friends once more;Fresh new callings banish guilt,hope and faith and love rebuilt.Jesus’ vict’ry over deathbrings new life with every breath,to the world it’s freely giv’n,reconciling earth with heav’n.

This is an Eastertide hymn to mirror the wonderful Epiphany hymn, ‘Songs of thankfulness and praise’, attempting to capture the lectionary stories of the season. I know there’s more than one tune used for the Epiphany hymn, so I guess that means that whatever tune you’d use for that one, you could also use for this one! I rather like Salzburg.

Dear Father God, we gather hereIn this great house of prayer.We come just as we are to youas one who knows us through and through,and keeps us in your care, in love beyond compare.

Dear Father God, we praise the nameof Jesus Christ your Son,The light for all the nations shines,we see how your salvation bindsall people into one, and brings your children home.

Dear Father God, we sing your praisefor promises come true.As young and old our voices raiseand joyfully proclaim, “God’s waysare heaven breaking through to make the earth anew.

We praise you, Father, for you ownour future and our past.Your promised kingdom soon shall come,and then, when earthly life is doneyour love will hold us fast, in heaven’s peace at last.

So Father God, may each of usgo out into this nightto share the joy you give to us,to praise, to sing, to teach, to blessall people with your light, and make earth’s darkness bright.

A Hymn for Candlemas (aka the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple) Tune: Repton.

Bless this water, bless this child,Upon this joyful day:Bless us as we gather hereand lead us on our way.

We hear your voice from heaven,speak blessings from above,such words of affirmation,encouragement and love.

Your faith in us is strongerthan we can ever know,You see our true potential,and guide us as we grow.

You give us light in darkness,and hope when we despair,You strengthen us in weaknessand hold us in your care.

We pray for peace and purpose,for happiness and fun,for health of mind and body,till life’s adventure’s done.

A Baptism Hymn to the tune All Things Bright and Beautiful, because it’s one of the few tunes people know. The words are based on the conversation I had with the baby’s parents as I was preparing them – these were the things they wanted to include in the prayers.

Word of life! Such transformation!bringing light to darkest space;loving mother of creation,forging life in every place.Shine that light on every nation,gather us in your embrace.

Word of truth! You spoke though history,prophets knew you as their friend;As you shared with earth the mysteryof your love that knows no end.Yet your fullest glory must beMore than words can comprehend.

Word made flesh! You came to meet us,pitched your tent among our own,Born on earth so heaven could greet us:God in human heart and bone.Teach us, lead us, tend us, feed uswith the life that’s yours alone.

Words of scripture, here you teach us,All you speak is here received.Shared by print and voice to reach us:written, read and now believed;Speak again to all and each, asfaith is grown and life is lived.

A hymn for Bible Sunday. The tune is ‘Regent Square’, or other compatible 878787 tunes. It was written because there weren’t very many hymns suitable for Bible Sunday in our hymn book.

We place into your hands, O Lord,the souls of those we love:we trust your promise is not vainthat all, through grace and faith, may gaina place in heaven above,a place in heaven above.

We place into your hands, O Lord,this world and all its care,The grief and hurt and pain we feel,when desperation makes us kneelin silent, wordless prayer,in silent, wordless prayer.

We place into your hands, O Lord,These burdens that we bear:Each sorrow and each past regret,And ask that in our hearts you’ll setyour peace beyond compare,your peace beyond compare.

We place into your hands, O Lord,our future and our past:And as you bless us on our way,and travel with us night and day,your love will hold us fast,your love will hold us fast.

A hymn for All Souls to the tune ‘Repton’ (Dear Lord and Father of mankind), written for St Mary’s Buckden service of commemoration in 2013

Jesus, our Saviour, your life-giving breathbrings order from chaos, and life out of death;You give us your blessing, now help us impartthat gift to our neighbour as a gift from the heart.

Jesus, our healer, the touch of your handfills us with new confidence, helps us to stand;Your strength in our weakness is power indeedto stand up for others whatever their need.

Jesus, our brother, your love never ends:makes slaves into children, helps strangers make friends,may love be the lesson we learn and we teach,may love be the motive for our actions and speech.

Jesus, inspirer and source of all good,we stand here on earth as of old you once stood;The Church is your body, the task you begunis ours to continue till the work here is done.

This one was based loosely on the healing of the woman bent double (Luke 13.10-17) The tune is ‘Slane’

O sing aloud to God our strength whose glory conquers all,His mighty power has raised us up while horse and rider fall.We sing in worship, for to God all praise and thanks belong,Our voices raise the melody of our salvation’s song.

This is our God, whom we exalt until the world shall end;The Lord who saved our fathers will to us his love extend.He did not leave us in our plight, but to the rescue came,Our strong defender in the fight, Jehovah is his name.

His powerful hand has been our shield and glorious is his might,And all the hosts of evil now are shattered at the sight.The breath divine that gave us life the mighty flood sets free,And so the water’s swirling rage devours our enemy.

Almighty is the power of God, his love will never end,He has redeemed us, set us free, and leads us by the hand.And now he brings us to that place where we may dwell secure,The holy house of God shall be our haven evermore.

All glory be to God on high,The Father, Spirit, Son,To whom we raise the melodyOf our salvation’s song.

This is a metrical version of the canticle, A song of Moses and Miriam, which is often used a the Easter Vigil. The tune I had in mind is Kingsfold (the second part of the tune should be used for the doxology).

Here we sing our great thanksgiving,Tell again God’s tale of love:Sin undone, for Christ’s self-givingBreathes forgiveness from above,Here we make our humble offering:All we have, yet more we owe;So the heavenly celebrationFinds an echo here below.

Here we take the bread from heaven,Broken, torn, the crumbs we share;Here we drink the living fountain,Quench our thirst, our souls repair.Here recall Christ’s loving passion,Arms spread wide, he bore our pain;Suffering servant, scorned Messiah,God’s own loss has bought our gain.

Here Christ’s love is shared among us,All are welcomed, none left out.Here God’s reconciling SpiritBrings an end to fear and doubt.Let our hands be made for healing,May our tongues speak words of peace;Let God’s justice rule for ever,And his righteousness increase.

Here may we receive our mission,Here accept your gracious call.Speak again your great commission:Show the Way of Life to all.Send us, Lord, to live your gospel,Christ’s new body let us be.Then at last around your table,All may feast eternally.

An offertory hymn based on four terms for the Holy Communion, to the tune Abbot’s Leigh.Verse 1: Eucharist / Verse 2: Lord’s Supper / Verse 3: Holy Communion / Verse 4: Mass

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 is the first one I wrote that really became popular. It was for the Ely Diocese clergy conference in 2006. It’s really about vocation, ministry and mission, and people like to use it at ordinations. It’s also going to be used at the consecration service for the first woman bishop in the C of E.The tune is Woodlands.

Take, O take me as I am,let me hear you call my name,set my soul ablaze andnever quench the flame.

Take, O take me as I am,Let me with your glory shine,in my weakness show your strength,your life in mine.

Take, O take me as I am,let your hope in me abide,grant me faith to take each step,your love my guide.

Take, O take me as I am,Draw me into your embrace,All I have I give to yourtransforming grace.

These are four further verses for John Bell’s ‘Take O take me as I am’ Verse 1 (not included here) is © 1995 WGRG, Iona Community.

All our blessings, all our joysWith thankful hearts we sing,God of love and faithfulness,Accept the praise we bring.

For parents and for children,For husbands, wives, and friends,For those whose care enfolds usWith love that never ends.

For fellowship and friendshipFor all we have to give,For those who’ve shared our journeyAnd taught us how to live.

For all who’ve shared our sorrow,Walked with us in our pain,Who’ve held our hand through darknessAnd showed us light again.

In sacrifice and serviceYour love is clearly shown,Your outstretched arms embrace usto bring us safely home.

This is the first of two hymns written for mothering Sunday. The tune is All Things Bright and Beautiful, for the usual reason…

For those who gave us life and breath,For love that’s stronger far than death,Today we bring our thankful hearts,For all a mothering love imparts.

For kindness, patience, warmth and care,For each embrace, each smile, each tear,Each word of peace, each healing touch,These simple gifts which mean so much.

We look to you, our mothering Lord,Who shows love’s cost, and love’s reward,Your passion fiercer than the grave,Nailed to the world you came to save.

So teach your people how to live,How to endure, how to forgive,Teach us to trust, to sacrifice,To share the love that has no price.

This is the second of my hymns for mothering Sunday, and goes to the folk tune ‘O Waly Waly’

If we’d been there so long agoWhen Jesus died upon the crossWould we have walked with him alongThat way of anguish, pain and loss?

Would we have stood and watched him there,And heard him cry with dying breath?Would we have seen him give his life,and hand the victory to death?

Would we have grasped what nailed him there –It was our pride and cruelty,Our lying, fear, injustice – theseDied with our Lord upon the tree?

When dawn first broke on Easter dayAnd new light shone not from the sunBut from the Son, would we have seenthat dark had died and light had won?

But just as then, we turn our back,The light is bright, our eyes are dim,We live as if our Lord is dead,And hand the triumph back to sin.

So break our hearts, these caves of stone,To set the resurrection free,And loose our limbs from darkness’ shroudTo live, and live abundantly.

Another one to ‘O Waly Waly, this time for Holy Week and Easter (and because it’s for both, it’s no liturgical use at all!)

May we who gather in your namefind your dear presence near us,and offering our prayers and praisekeep faith that you will hear us.May we who’ve shared the peace you bringnow take that gift to others,draw all into you household turningstrangers into brothers.

Through words of song and scripture’s truthyou aid us in our knowing,and by this teaching may we bein grace and wisdom growing.Through all our lifetime’s journeyingwe know you walk beside us,so when the pathway seems unclearLord, by your Spirit, guide us.

May all who share the bread and wineand all who seek your blessingnow find ourselves empowered to goour strengthened faith confessing.So send us, Lord, into this worldwhich needs to hear your gospel:transform you faithful peoplefrom disciples to apostles.

A post-communion hymn, to the tune ‘Golden Sheaves’ or other 8787D Iambic

Lord of all time, our end and our beginning,shaping the whole in which we play our part,open our eyes to see your way unfolding,and keep eternity within our hearts.

Lord of all truth, inspiring and surprising,keep us alert and watching through the night,seeking the signs of your salvation dawningin lives illumined by your glorious light.

Lord of all hope, your song of consolationechoes through time, in this and every place;Now and in every future generationwe’ll sing this story of transforming grace.

This one was written for the 2009 Ely Diocese clergy conference, to the tune ‘Highwood’. It originally had five verses, but it got rather dramatically rewritten during the conference at which it was to be sung because the keynote addresses were so good they dismantled the theology that the hymn had been built on! The night before we were due to sing it, a whole group of us tussled with it to try and get it right! It was the wonderful keynote speaker himself, Stephen Cottrell, now Bishop of Chelmsford, who, entirely in keeping with his addresses that had caused all the problems, suggested we stop trying to write five verses and just stuck with three instead. What a great bloke!

Be here, Lord, in your churches,And shine through us your light,As cities built on hill-topsWe’ll not be hid from sight,O give us, Lord, the courage,the energy and driveto make our faith turn outwards,incarnate and alive.

May we, in words and actionBring all your plans to birth,Make us your holy peoplefor this, your needy earth.When all our aspirationsCan’t set our hearts on fire,Lord, fill us with the passionthat you alone inspire.

Lord, give us roots that nourishthe branch, the leaf, the shoot,And help us by your pruningTo yield a richer fruit.Lord, save us from distractionsthat human minds devise,And give us grace to strive forthe trophies you most prize.

Are we a true communion,diverse and yet as one?A house with doors wide open,and room for all who come?Renew your church in mission,In ministry and grace,That all who seek may find you,In this and every place.

Once upon a time, there was a thing called the ‘seven marks of a healthy church’. This Based mostly on them, and the tune is, appropriately enough, ‘The Church’s one Foundation’.

We join with the angels, our voices we raise,To give you the glory, and sing forth your praise.We pray for the peace you alone can bestow,To fall down like rain on your people below.

O Lord God almighty, and heavenly King,Accept the thanksgivings and praises we bring,For though you are mighty, the Lord God above,For us you are also the Father we love.

Christ Jesus, Messiah, and God’s only Son,The Lamb who was slain, who now sits on heavn’s throne.Your death conquered evil and cancelled our sin,In mercy, receive all the prayers that we bring.

All glory to God in the highest of heaven,The Father, the Son and the Spirit be given.To you and you only our praises we sing,Our Lord God and Father, our heavenly King.

Fairly obviously, this is a metrical Gloria, and it goes to the tune ‘Immortal invisible’

There came a shepherd from the hillsidesearching all alone.He came to seek and save the lost,And welcome us back home.‘O come to me, beloved child’,The shepherd spoke his plea:‘Your heart will never find its restUntil you rest in me.’

We hoped to prove our worthinessin duty and in care;We sought you, Lord, in rules and laws,And thought to find you there.In all our searching, we forgotWhat deep inside we knew:Our hearts could never find their restUnless it was in you.

O search us out and know our waysIn waking and in sleep;Protect us through the day and nightAnd in your presence keep.We travel on in life and faithAnd find that it is true:Our hearts will never find their restUntil we rest in you.

This one is to the tune ‘Tyrolean melody’ and was written with thanks and apologies to St Augustine.

There’s a story to tell of creation,And the patriarchs’ faith of old,There are stories of prophets and sages,We’ll repeat them ‘til the world’s been told:

Sing together! sing together!Sing to welcome in the King of Kings.Sing together! Sing together!Sing to welcome in the King.

There are stories of sin and forgiveness,Of a Kingdom of truth and love.Of a girl who gave birth to a baby,To fulfil God’s promise from above:

As God’s people prepare for his coming,And remember those days long gone,Our own stories are yet to be written,As we live to make God’s kingdom come:

We will patiently wait for the morning,Through the night we will watch and pray,As we look for the light that is dawning,We’ll be ready at the break of day:

This was intended to make a link between the ‘Jesse Tree’ / Salvation History pathway through advent, and the Advent Sunday theme of keeping alert and being ready.The tune is ‘Sing hosanna’

We come to this, your table, Lord,Not certain of our rights,But trusting that your mercy findsus worthy in your sight.

We would not dare to eat the crumbsThat from your table fall,But for your invitation whichExtends to one and all.

For you, Lord, are a God of love,Your mercy never ends.Your grace has brought us here today,And now you call us friends.

In bread may we receive Christ’s flesh,To clean our bodies through,And in his life-blood wash ourselvesto be remade anew.

Lord, grant us grace to seek your face,and come and dwell with you,And dwell in us, that we may find our-selves more Christ-like too.

I found this versified ‘Prayer of Humble Access’ on my computer, half finished, with no recollection of having started to write it. So I finished it, but I can’t actually imagine a situation in which it would be preferable to sing this than to say the standard version of the prayer, but there you go.

Be present, Lord, among us here,And speak to drive away our fear,And as a stranger seeking restBe with us now as host and guest.

Our mind and spirit, flesh and bone,Our past and present, things to come:To you, O Lord, we now present –We gladly spend, are gladly spent.

Our presence, Lord, we dedicate,This time is yours, and we will wait,To friend and stranger may we giveThe gifts to help each other live.

And finally, this one was written for the closing service of a course I went on about supervision skills. I wrote it with Tallis’ canon in mind, but the very wonderful @artsyhonker has written it a great new tune, which you can read and play on her blog.