Samples of Hymn Texts
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Michael's hymns are published by Kevin Mayhew Ltd who hold the copyright on the texts, many of which appear in a variety of hymnals.
Sample verses of a few texts are shown here. These are some of the ones that Michael feel best represent his own spirituality and values at the present. His texts cover a wide spectrum, having been written over a period of 25 years. Some reflect different stages on his own faith journey; others reflect the purpose for which they were written. For example, his 'Instant Hymn' collection was written to provide texts that explore the connection between the lectionary readings for each Sunday - 'Instant' refers the fact that they are instantly singable, being written to well known tunes.
Throughout his hymn-writing career, Michael has tried to reflect some important values in his hymns - and other writing, for that matter: these include using life- and humanity-affirming language that treats people with equal respect whatever their race, gender, faith or place in society, and with particular concern for those who are marginalised and disadvantaged through prejudice or fear.
More recently, Michael has extended this principle further. He now avoids using male pronouns when referring to God. Centuries of almost-exclusively referring to 'God as male have undoubtedly reinforced (whether intentionally or not) patriarchy and the oppression of women. Celebrating the feminine in God - and thereby femininity as a divine attribute of humanity - is important and hymns like John Bell's wonderful 'Enemy of Apathy' (She sits like a bird) are great examples of this. Of course, celebrating the divine attribute of masculinity is also important and this must include redeeming our image of masculinity - something to which hymn writers like Lucy Berry and John Campbell have recently made important contributions - but Michael's own emphasis is upon finding ways of referring to God as inclusive.
Another principle Michael has now adopted for his hymns is that they should be able to be sung by people of different faiths together. Of course it is right that we each celebrate the uniqueness of our own faith, but the world surely now has an abundance of hymns old and new (including many by Michael) that do that. However, there is an urgent need for us to find ways of celebrating the diversity of faiths and cultures and, most importantly, finding unity within that diversity. Many values that are carelessly referred to as 'Christian' are in fact shared by other faiths - indeed, those most urgently needed in our world are common to all the great religions as well as to secular philosophies. What better way to counter division and prejudice than by actually celebrating our diverse faiths together in language that unites us!
Sample verses of a few texts are shown here. These are some of the ones that Michael feel best represent his own spirituality and values at the present. His texts cover a wide spectrum, having been written over a period of 25 years. Some reflect different stages on his own faith journey; others reflect the purpose for which they were written. For example, his 'Instant Hymn' collection was written to provide texts that explore the connection between the lectionary readings for each Sunday - 'Instant' refers the fact that they are instantly singable, being written to well known tunes.
Throughout his hymn-writing career, Michael has tried to reflect some important values in his hymns - and other writing, for that matter: these include using life- and humanity-affirming language that treats people with equal respect whatever their race, gender, faith or place in society, and with particular concern for those who are marginalised and disadvantaged through prejudice or fear.
More recently, Michael has extended this principle further. He now avoids using male pronouns when referring to God. Centuries of almost-exclusively referring to 'God as male have undoubtedly reinforced (whether intentionally or not) patriarchy and the oppression of women. Celebrating the feminine in God - and thereby femininity as a divine attribute of humanity - is important and hymns like John Bell's wonderful 'Enemy of Apathy' (She sits like a bird) are great examples of this. Of course, celebrating the divine attribute of masculinity is also important and this must include redeeming our image of masculinity - something to which hymn writers like Lucy Berry and John Campbell have recently made important contributions - but Michael's own emphasis is upon finding ways of referring to God as inclusive.
Another principle Michael has now adopted for his hymns is that they should be able to be sung by people of different faiths together. Of course it is right that we each celebrate the uniqueness of our own faith, but the world surely now has an abundance of hymns old and new (including many by Michael) that do that. However, there is an urgent need for us to find ways of celebrating the diversity of faiths and cultures and, most importantly, finding unity within that diversity. Many values that are carelessly referred to as 'Christian' are in fact shared by other faiths - indeed, those most urgently needed in our world are common to all the great religions as well as to secular philosophies. What better way to counter division and prejudice than by actually celebrating our diverse faiths together in language that unites us!
Sample texts of hymns
Here are the first verses of a few of Michael's hymns. The full texts are obtainable from Kevin Mayhew Ltd who own the copyright and will advise about licensing the production of copies.
They are also covered by the CCLI licence system - and again the full text can be obtained from Kevin Mayhew Ltd
Let Love be Real
Suitable for weddings or for general use as an expression of Christian love by the whole community, this can be sung to ‘Danny Boy’ but Chris Tambling’ great tune is worth learning.
This hymn could be sung by a multi-faith, multi-cultural congregation. The reference to the desert in v1 can be associated with Exodus, but is equally applicable to the concept of the journey of life taking us through threatening landscapes.
1 Let love be real, in giving and receiving,
without the need to manage and to own;
a haven free from posing and pretending,
where every weakness may be safely known.
Give me your hand, along the desert pathway,
give me your love wherever we may go:
as God loves us, so let us love each other,
with no demands, just open hands and space to grow.
© Kevin Mayhew Ltd, Buxhall, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 3BW
They are also covered by the CCLI licence system - and again the full text can be obtained from Kevin Mayhew Ltd
Let Love be Real
Suitable for weddings or for general use as an expression of Christian love by the whole community, this can be sung to ‘Danny Boy’ but Chris Tambling’ great tune is worth learning.
This hymn could be sung by a multi-faith, multi-cultural congregation. The reference to the desert in v1 can be associated with Exodus, but is equally applicable to the concept of the journey of life taking us through threatening landscapes.
1 Let love be real, in giving and receiving,
without the need to manage and to own;
a haven free from posing and pretending,
where every weakness may be safely known.
Give me your hand, along the desert pathway,
give me your love wherever we may go:
as God loves us, so let us love each other,
with no demands, just open hands and space to grow.
© Kevin Mayhew Ltd, Buxhall, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 3BW
In Glad and Sad Remembrance
Tune: Jupiter (from Holst’s Planet Suite) – usually sung to ‘I vow to thee my country
This text was written for a hospital memorial service, held annually to commemorate all who had died there in the past. Clearly, for that purpose a hymn was needed that could be sung by a multicultural congregation.
In glad and sad remembrance we gather to recall
the lives, in all their fullness, that made and changed us all:
the hopes and disappointments, the sorrow and the joy,
the laughter-laden mem’ries that death could not destroy
the love that touched and held us, the faith that set us free,
the hope that still inspires us to be what we might be.
© Kevin Mayhew Ltd, Buxhall, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 3BW
Let Love be our Glory
Tune: Land of my Fathers
This text was commissioned by Kevin Mayhew commissioned this text after hearing 'Land of my Fathers' on the car radio and being struck by what a great hymn tune it would be. I hope the text is found worthy of such a tune.
Let love be our glory, our strength and our song,
in face of injustice courageous and strong,
that labours with love in the pains of the earth
to bring peace and wholeness to birth.
Love, love, sacred and holy is love.
Love holds, love shares,
love dreams, love dares;
of all things, most sacred is love.
© Kevin Mayhew Ltd, Buxhall, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 3BW