Hymn & Worship Resources

 

The Methodist Church – Singing the Faith plus

http://www.singingthefaithplus.org.uk/

Hymns, songs and comment for free download. A web-site to accompany Singing the Faith (hymnbook) but much more too.

HymnQuest

http://hymnquest.com/

HymnQuest is a unique software program developed by The Pratt Green Trust, a charity devoted to the advancement of hymnody and music in worship. It is the most comprehensive ever published in its field, containing over 44,900 first lines and choruses, the full text of 31,000 hymns and songs from some 497 hymn books and publications. The opening bars of over 23,700 melodies can be both viewed and heard, and the indexes list tune names and metres; biblical, lectionary, thematic, liturgical and seasonal references, as well as information and pictures of authors, composers and translators. It is even possible to search for tunes by playing the opening notes on a Virtual Keyboard.  The software allows for direct insertion into PowerPoint (providing this is installed), copy and paste or direct printing.

The data is now updated regularly on line.

Subscribers also have access to a ‘Mobile’ version which will work on Android or Apple phones and tablets.

Lite Version - £25 per year

Copyright Licence Users’ Edition - £50 per year (does not include Church Copyright Licence which must be purchased for use with this Edition

Useful Websites and Resources

ArtServe has superceding the Methodist Church Music Society

http://www.artserve.org.uk/

ArtServe started as an initiative of the Methodist Church Music Society which was formed in 1935 to support Methodist musicians and all types of music in worship.

ArtServe was born in 2008 and initially ran alongside MCMS. Eventually, MCMS activities were transferred to ArtServe and MCMS formally ceased to exist on 31st August 2010.

ArtServe promotes and supports the use of creative arts in Christian worship, including music, dance and drama, visual arts, and creative writing.

Music in its many styles has been prominent in our worship for many years and we uphold and develop all aspects of our musical life including worship bands, music groups, choirs, instrumentalists, organists, songwriters, and composers and arrangers.

ArtServe's minimum annual subscription is £25.00.

Worshipcloud

http://www.theworshipcloud.com/

The Worship Cloud brings you over 22,000 resources for you to use in leading worship or for personal devotion.Every resource is available to buy as an individual download, however you can also take out one of The Worship Cloud’s subscription packages.

Originally Twelvebaskets, then Seedresources, now worshipcloud.

The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

http://www.hymnsocietygbi.org.uk/

This site carries short papers offering guidance on use of hymns available freely.

The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada

http://www.thehymnsociety.org/

A good source of information and a constantly updated catalogue of hymn texts no more than one year old.

Global Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church (USA)  

http://www.gbod.org/worship/

An excellent source of hymns and other liturgical resources updated daily.

Hymnsite    

http://www.hymnsite.com/

A source of midi files of public domain hymns. Good search engine which links to midi, text and piano score sources and much more.  American Methodist based.

Hymns.uk.com                

http://www.stainer.co.uk/hymns/index.html

A good source of hymn texts run by Stainer & Bell Ltd using new material and their back catalogue.

Worship Live         

http://www.worshiplive.org.uk/

Originally a magazine with new hymns, prayers and other worship material published three times a year by Stainer & Bell Ltd. This is now run independently as a web-site edited by Rev Dr Janet Wootton.

Worship Live also run occasional residential hymn writing weekends – next March 17th - 19th 2017 at The Windermere Centre, Cumbria.

Black holes and Hawking radiation…hymn

Stephen Hawking – Reith Lectures – Black Holes

Black holes and Hawking radiation…

I try to explore faith in relation to events and discoveries. After listening to Stephen Hawking I wrote the following text which was sung in Wavertree, Liverpool o 6th February 2016

A spinning vat of data

a hidden vault in time,

no solace in this quantum,

an end to singing rhyme?

The information gathered

in each black hole in space

we cannot grasp or fathom:

like mystic freedom’s grace.

Its particles are virtual,

are neither seen nor heard,

yet somehow radiation

escapes - that seems absurd:

a parallel dimension

that leaks across the void

upsetting mathematics,

those we had once employed.

And is this radiation

like spirit that we sense

the edge of comprehension

felt in our present tense

discerned by those who fathom

the depth of loving grace,

immersing us in freedom,

yet outside time and space?

© Andrew Pratt 2/2/2016

Tune: CRUGER

Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd.

SYRIA

Thinking of Syria; At its core, the teachings of Jesus call us to love our enemies, seek justice, and serve the needy.

Hymn for harmony in a world of many faiths

1 Faith works, but how can love be shown
within a world of complex care?
Between each nation, in each town
how can God's love be focused there?

2 A different language, creed or dress
can build a wall and damage life;
and ignorance or fear of faith
could break our trust and fire our strife.

3 How can we legislate for peace,
or work for human harmony,
within a world of disparate needs,
maintaining our integrity.

4 God give us confidence to see
your face in people all around
that, in a world of many faiths,
your seeds of love may find rich ground.

Andrew E. Pratt (born 1948)
© Andrew Pratt 20/4/2006
8 8 8 8
Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd.

Paris attacks - hymn

At least 18 people have been killed in several shootings in the French capital, Paris, as well as explosions near the Stade de France (BBC) 2254hrs 13/11/2015

This hymn written earlier this year has, sadly, been adapted in the light of today's attacks.

Hopeless to help in this violence, this crisis,

here in the focus of bloodshed and fear,

common humanity binds us together,

love at the centre, not hatred's veneer.

History repeats in this city of beauty,

here amid elegance: danger’s embrace.

Love is our purpose when those filled with hatred

break down relationships, nullify grace.

Give me your hand, then let peace grow between us,

let us rebuild what distrust might destroy.

Now in this moment we'll make a commitment,

love is the weapon we'll use and deploy.

© Andrew Pratt 20/1/2015 & 18/1/2015 & 13/11/2015
Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd.

Mohammed Emwazi (AKA Jihadi John)

In the light of the suspected death of Mohammed Emwazi (AKA Jihadi  John), the following hymn originally written at the time of the death of Osama bin Laden might be pertintent - see below or follow the link
http://hymnsandbooks.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/osama-bin-ladin-hymn.html

REMEMBRANCE & PEACE - A HYMN - How do we heal the horror

How do we heal the horror:

the aftermath of war,

the sharpened, hurtful questions

we wonder what it’s for;

the tears that feed each memory,

the pain, the hurt, the fear,

the images that haunt each mind,

that always seem so near?

How can we unlearn hatred

that undermines our peace,

that hurts beyond our healing,

God, will it never cease?

How can we sound the purpose

that severs limb from limb,

that escalates the tension,

that sounds a war-like hymn?

No God can end this murder,

this futile loss of life,

this endless mutilation,

this pointless human strife,

for every generation

must learn to love again,

to mine the seam of healing,

to end this ceaseless pain.

© Andrew Pratt 7/11/2015

Tune: AURELIA

Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd.