Your refuge from the bustle of daily life
© Hanwell Methodist Church
Composed, designed and published by Ray Garnett
Listed below is a selection of prayers, poems and thoughts submitted by members of our congregation.
Church members are welcome to supply contributions to the webmaster for possible publication on this page.
Prayers, Poems and
Reflections
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Waiting (A poem to the glory of God based on Acts 1:1-11)
Waiting, wondering, watchful,
Looking to the sky,
We couldn’t go where He was going
And we sometimes wondered, why?
It wasn’t the time to go with Him
We’d got a job to do.
A life to live, a message to give
Send your spirit, help us through.
Expecting, anticipating, waiting,
Not knowing when’s the time.
But knowing He’ll be with us
Through His bread and wine.
The message of His love and purpose
Is needing to be shared.
A job to do, a task or two.
A coming now declared.
Waiting, poised and ready,
Not knowing where or when,
But knowing and believing
That He will come again.
The message that we have to share
It’s a taste of things to come.
To deliver, from our giver
Your will, will be done.
Waiting, wondering, watching
For when you’ll come again,
Looking, listening, longing,
Waiting,
for your power to reign.
Ray Garnett, June 2011
Waiting, wondering, watchful,
Looking to the sky,
We couldn’t go where He was going
And we sometimes wondered, why?
It wasn’t the time to go with Him
We’d got a job to do.
A life to live, a message to give
Send your spirit, help us through.
Expecting, anticipating, waiting,
Not knowing when’s the time.
But knowing He’ll be with us
Through His bread and wine.
The message of His love and purpose
Is needing to be shared.
A job to do, a task or two.
A coming now declared.
Waiting, poised and ready,
Not knowing where or when,
But knowing and believing
That He will come again.
The message that we have to share
It’s a taste of things to come.
To deliver, from our giver
Your will, will be done.
Waiting, wondering, watching
For when you’ll come again,
Looking, listening, longing,
Waiting,
for your power to reign.
Ray Garnett, June 2011
Christmas 2010
Families together, carols sweetly sung.
Clear and sunny weather, church bells loudly rung.
Laughter joy and happiness everywhere abound.
Children playing gaily, presents all around.
Turkey roasting gently, chestnuts on the fire.
Mince pies, wine and shortbread - of this we never tire.
But snow means there's no transport and families are apart.
There's thick ice on the windscreen and the car just will not start.
The turkey's still at Tesco's, the presents in the post.
The kids have all got swine flu and we'll have to dine on toast.
The ringing of the church bells bring torture to the ear
And marriages once loving, may soon break up I fear.
But what of baby Jesus - the cause of all the fuss,
Reclining in a manger, born to comfort us?
Did He need beer and tinsel, a giant Christmas tree?
Pork or figgy pudding and crackers after tea?
So who cares if we're stranded on motorway so cold,
Far away from loved ones, the young, the sick, the old?
For it's Christmas every morning and Christ is ever near.
So forget your woes and celebrate.
Give thanks for He is here!
Eileen M Pratt, December 2010
Families together, carols sweetly sung.
Clear and sunny weather, church bells loudly rung.
Laughter joy and happiness everywhere abound.
Children playing gaily, presents all around.
Turkey roasting gently, chestnuts on the fire.
Mince pies, wine and shortbread - of this we never tire.
But snow means there's no transport and families are apart.
There's thick ice on the windscreen and the car just will not start.
The turkey's still at Tesco's, the presents in the post.
The kids have all got swine flu and we'll have to dine on toast.
The ringing of the church bells bring torture to the ear
And marriages once loving, may soon break up I fear.
But what of baby Jesus - the cause of all the fuss,
Reclining in a manger, born to comfort us?
Did He need beer and tinsel, a giant Christmas tree?
Pork or figgy pudding and crackers after tea?
So who cares if we're stranded on motorway so cold,
Far away from loved ones, the young, the sick, the old?
For it's Christmas every morning and Christ is ever near.
So forget your woes and celebrate.
Give thanks for He is here!
Eileen M Pratt, December 2010
March Winds
Blow away the cobwebs; clear my mind.
Fill my lungs; fix me in your purpose.
Give my heart wings that I may know joy in the morning.
Refresh my voice that I may sing your praise.
Contributed by one of our previous Ministers
Blow away the cobwebs; clear my mind.
Fill my lungs; fix me in your purpose.
Give my heart wings that I may know joy in the morning.
Refresh my voice that I may sing your praise.
Contributed by one of our previous Ministers
Easter Holidays
Hot Cross buns and Easter eggs, Spring cleaning, gardening too.
Must go to the nursery to buy a plant or two.
Perhaps we'll visit Auntie Ann and if the day is sunny,
We'll travel to the seaside and spend our hard earned money.
We could decorate the bathroom and repair the second car,
And plan our Summer holiday. Will we go near or far?
But hark! Did I hear someone say that Christ was crucified?
Betrayed by one for money and by his friend denied?
They say he wore a crown of thorns upon his blessèd head
And a purple robe adorned him as a mocking notice said,
"King of the Jews" for all to see - such torture did he bear!
He died for us as in pain and grief he hung and suffered there.
And yet he rose triumphant as prophets once foretold,
That we might have eternal life - a treasure more than gold.
What love you've shown O giving Lord! Let us rejoice and sing.
And praise and honour you always, our Saviour and our King!
An Easter poem contributed by Eileen Pratt
Hot Cross buns and Easter eggs, Spring cleaning, gardening too.
Must go to the nursery to buy a plant or two.
Perhaps we'll visit Auntie Ann and if the day is sunny,
We'll travel to the seaside and spend our hard earned money.
We could decorate the bathroom and repair the second car,
And plan our Summer holiday. Will we go near or far?
But hark! Did I hear someone say that Christ was crucified?
Betrayed by one for money and by his friend denied?
They say he wore a crown of thorns upon his blessèd head
And a purple robe adorned him as a mocking notice said,
"King of the Jews" for all to see - such torture did he bear!
He died for us as in pain and grief he hung and suffered there.
And yet he rose triumphant as prophets once foretold,
That we might have eternal life - a treasure more than gold.
What love you've shown O giving Lord! Let us rejoice and sing.
And praise and honour you always, our Saviour and our King!
An Easter poem contributed by Eileen Pratt
Change
Lord, give us courage to accept change.
Let us not hide beneath the comfortable cloak of the familiar routine of our lives but accept with joy and anticipation any alterations and new experiences that may lie ahead.
May we be comforted and reassured knowing that we are forever guided and loved by you.
Amen
Lord, give us courage to accept change.
Let us not hide beneath the comfortable cloak of the familiar routine of our lives but accept with joy and anticipation any alterations and new experiences that may lie ahead.
May we be comforted and reassured knowing that we are forever guided and loved by you.
Amen
Thoughts
Father, whenever you speak, you act in your own time.
Grant us a spirit of meekness and humility for your work.
For Jesus' sake, Amen.
Remember that as we go about our daily lives, God's Holy Spirit should be dwelling is us,
active, alive and at work.
Father, whenever you speak, you act in your own time.
Grant us a spirit of meekness and humility for your work.
For Jesus' sake, Amen.
Remember that as we go about our daily lives, God's Holy Spirit should be dwelling is us,
active, alive and at work.
