Hymns (A-S)

As the world turns, we turn to you,

- here we pause before you, Lord.

In our search for peace in turmoil

we have come to be restored.

All the world is crowding closer,

longing for a touch of grace;

asking us to act for Jesus,

searching for a healing place.

So we come to pray and listen:

give us tender hearts and true.

As you hold us in the silence

tune our lives to speak for you.

Call again in quiet whispers,

flood our souls with calm and peace;

so our sharing of your Gospel

helps this world to find release.

As the world turns, we turn to you,

- here we pause before you, Lord.

In our search for peace in turmoil

we have come to be restored.

Suggested tune: Love divine (Stainer)

Called to the kingdom for a time like this

Chosen and precious to you, Lord.

Here in this moment,

Here in this place,

We stand in answer to your call

For a time like this

Before you formed us in the womb you knew

Your chosen purpose for our days:

To be the prophets,

To speak your Word,

To help the nations know your plan

To make all things new

And in the dark days you said, "Do not fear,

I am beginning, I am end"

You stood beside us,

Your promise sure.

You held us in the grip of grace

And dried every tear

Why have you called us is a mystery;

Can any good thing come from us?

Yet we are faithful

And trust in you.

We pledge to serve your Kingdom's cause:

To change history.

Written to mark the 50^thanniversary of full clergy rights for women in the United Methodist Church (USA).

Dear Lord, where are the signs of hope,

the echoes of new birth?

Where will we find the shafts of light;

God’s grace notes for the earth?

Could we be what our neighbours need

to bring the great Good News?

Could we reveal the love of God

and walk in Jesus’ shoes?

How do we touch this fragile world

and bring the Christ-light near?

How do we earn the right to speak

of love that conquers fear?

We need to know your Spirit’s power,

equipping us to serve.

May we be energised by fire

to give without reserve.

We hold our lives before you now:

a grace gift from your Son.

Lord, make us open to your will

until the work is done.

We will not rest until the day

your Kingdom comes on earth.

We give ourselves to serve the light

and bring new hope to birth.

Written to mark the start of the Rev Dr Martyn Atkins’ year as President of the British Methodist Conference and sung at the opening of Conference in Blackpool, July 2007. It was later one of the winners of the BBC Radio 2 and Local Radio Hymn-writing Competition 2007.

Recommended tune: Kingsfol

Father, we have heard you calling

to your church in every age;

for a sign of true devotion

for a sacrifice of praise.

In this place where you have brought us,

may we always seek to be

one in love and one in worship

- children of eternity

Jesus Christ, our faith’s perfecter,

priest and advocate above.

We would reach our broken nation

with the truth of your great love.

So transform our feeble witness,

may we always live to be

one in love and one in worship

- children of eternity

Holy Spirit, fire of heaven,

fall upon us here today.

Bring release, bring tears, bring passion,

then transform your church, we pray.

As you pour your grace upon us,

may we always thirst to be

one in love and one in worship

- children of eternity

Praise we bring to God the Father,

Praise we bring to God the Son,

Praise to God the Holy Spirit,

Praise to you, the three in one.

Trinity of love inspire us,

may we always strive to be

one in love and one in worship

- children of eternity

Recommended tune: Hyfrydol

From sandy cove and surfer’s wave

to sun-kissed cliff and moor;

From farmer’s field to rambler’s path

and seagull’s cry to children’s laugh

the whole creation sings

Creator God, your name is heard,

in every wind that blows;

in summer breeze and sailor’s gales

we hear of love that never fails

and all creation sings

From great cathedrals’ soaring praise

To voices cracked with age;

from chapel pulpit, market hall

our lives will echo one and all

that all creation sings

To you, who spoke the Word of Life

and saw Creation grow;

to you who heard the new world ring

we offer all that we can bring

‘til all creation sings

This hymn, written to reflect some of the glories of Cornwall, was used for some years at the opening service of the annual Royal Cornwall Show.

Metre: 8.6.8.8.6.6.

God of all-consuming grace,

reckless lover of my soul;

call me to your holy place,

speak the love that makes me whole.

I would dare to hope in you,

dare to seek your warm embrace,

dare to offer all I am

to you in this sacred space.

When I’m weary, desert-dry,

scarred by service, bruised and raw;

let the still, small whisper-cry

steal into my aching core.

As I turn to you again,

gracious Heart of Heaven, my

life becomes your holy ground:

sharing Christ my heart’s reply.

Send me out to kiss the night

with your righteousness and peace;

‘till your gracious Gospel’s light

radiates and gives release.

Call me, guide me, Lord, I pray,

make me holy in your sight.

Send me from this holy place

- make my living your delight.

Recommended tune: Aberystwyth

God of our sunrise and light of the morning,

dawn on our worship, renew us today.

Come by your Spirit and fill with your passion,

set us on fire with the Gospel we pray.

We are your people, the Church you have chosen.

We are a gift to the weak and the strong.

We are the shape of your love for all people.

Help us to live that the world may belong.

Jesus your cross is the hope of the hopeless,

guide of the blind and the staff of the lame.

Here, as the nations are grieving and limping,

Give us compassion to live for your name.

Jesus your cross is the world’s consolation,

object of pain yet the strength of the weak.

Here, as we struggle for peace and for meaning

Jesus we ask for your courage to speak.

Jesus your cross is the birthplace of justice,

cloth for the naked, refreshment for thirst.

Here, as we seek ways to live out the Gospel,

May we repent of our need to be first.

Jesus your cross is the mystery that beckons:

drawing us close till we see face to face,

sharing your love with the world in its turmoil,

blessing with your uncontrollable grace.

Glorious and blessèd God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

You are mine and I am yours,

only by your grace.

Now your will, not mine, be done

in all things, as you determine

and, wherever I may go,

shield me by your grace.

When my life is as I choose:

filled with purpose, rich and peaceful,

or in dark and troubled times

hold me in your grace.

In this pilgrimage of faith

I would seek to serve your glory;

To be known as yours alone,

faithful by your grace.

In this moment, holy Lord,

may I be a sign of heaven;

bringing you my willing heart

- fill it with your grace.

So, no longer mine but yours,

here my life of faith lies open.

Freely bound to serve your cause,

captive to your grace.

Based on the Methodist Covenant Prayer

Metre: 7.8.7.8.5.

How long, 0 Lord, until you hear

the Church’s cry of pain?

Our voices fail, our strength grows weak

are all our dreams in vain?

Yet still we search for shafts of hope

for rumours of new birth,

we strain for heaven’s answer

to our anguish here on earth.

How long, 0 Church, until you learn

that death must be the sign?

How long until that call is heard

and recognised as mine?

Yet still I search for shafts of hope

for rumours of a change,

that dying to yourself prepares

for a divine exchange.

We hear, 0 Lord, that death means life

not only for the One

who risked the cross with all its shame

to show himself the Son.

Yet still we search for shafts of hope

for rumours of a sign

to help your restless people see

this mystery divine.

My children will you dare to see

beyond your sacred wall;

To risk a faith that dares to grasp

eternal life for all?

Yet still I search for shafts of hope

for rumours of a Church

that, dying to itself, can bring

my Kingdom here on earth.

Recommended tune: Vox Dilecti

Lord of ages past remembering

Lord of ages yet to be.

Hope of every generation,

yours the grace that sets us free.

Thorn and cross your battle tokens

symbols of a life laid down,

as the hope of all the nations

dies to claim us for his own.

So for this our generation

hear us as we bow the knee.

Shape our witness to our neighbour

send your Spirit, set us free!

For the lives where hope lies bleeding,

for the homes where love has died,

for the victims of injustice,

raise, O Lord, a battle cry.

Bread and wine your passion’s tokens,

symbols still of hope restored.

In the sacrament we offer

we proclaim our dying Lord.

So for this our generation …

Make your Church a pilgrim people,

challenge our complacent ease.

Then, because your truth disturbs us,

Father, bring us to our knees.

Lives renewed your gospel tokens

symbols of the Spirit’s call.

As the world that you have ransomed

hears the truth: You died for all.

So for this our generation …

Recommended tune: Morgenlied (in 1932 Methodist Hymn Book to Now the Year is Crowned with Blessing)

Mary in the stable waiting.

hears again the angel’s voice:

‘favoured one the Lord is with you,

all Creation sings: ‘Rejoice!’

Mary waits, and heaven wonders,

at the Prince of Glory’s birth

from her womb, inside that stable,

heaven’s waiting room on earth.

Shepherds waiting on the mountain,

Wise Men searching for a sign,

hear that outcasts can be welcomed

at the baby Jesus’ side.

So the earth’s unlikely pilgrims

find themselves upon their knees

and a teenage mother watches

as they hail a refugee.

Son of God and hope of heaven,

with the waiting ones on earth,

we expect a world of diff’rence

when your justice comes to birth.

So the world is waiting, hoping

for the promised day to dawn;

when our longings find fulfilment

through the babe in Bethlehem born.

Metre 8.7.8.7.D

Recommended tune: The Carnival is Over, Scarlet Ribbons or an appropriate traditional tune

Speak in the stillness, God we pray,

come to our hearts and meet us here.

Bring us your peace for each new day

- the gift of grace to earth from heaven.

We speak as though we have not heard

and live as if we do not know

your love in Christ, the living Word

- the gift of grace to earth from heaven.

When, in the anxious rush of days,

we lose our hold on faith and you,

reclaim us with your calm embrace

- the gift of grace to earth from heaven.

Lift us to see with heaven’s eyes.

We long to soar on eagles’ wings

as we press on to claim your prize

- the gift of grace to earth from heaven.

So may we be renewed in love,

held and sustained by you alone.

Strengthened by you that we may prove

a gift of grace to earth from heaven. Amen.

Recommended tune: Gonfalon Royal

Spirit of God come to us

in this appointed hour.

Come as the wind from heaven

with Pentecostal power

Spirit of God convict us

when we are hard and cold.

Soften our graceless spirits,

turning the dross to gold

Spirit of God you teach us

more of the ways of grace.

Make us your living witness,

standing in Jesu’s place

Spirit of God you guide us

into the way of peace.

Send us to live for Jesus,

offering his release.

Recommended tune: waiting for one!