Minister in the #UnitedReformedChurch in the UK, serving at Barnet URC and St Andrew's Chesterfield Road URC. #Hymn writer.
Hymn: Our Father up in heaven above
Our Father up in heaven above, your name deserves our highest love; your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven - heaven, heaven - your kingdom come, your will be doneon earth as it is in heaven. Now give to us, O Lord we pray,what's needed to get through this day;and the debts we owe, and the debts we're owed,
https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2022/06/20/hymn-our-father-up-in-heaven-above/
Hymn translation: Jesus, source of life
Valborg Anderssen was a Norwegian missionary who served in Madagascar in the late-19th and early-20th Century. I was introduced recently to this charming hymn of hers, in a single-verse unattributed English summary-paraphrase. So here's a new translation which retains the original's two distinct verses, as well as its ABABCBCB rhyme scheme. Jesus, source of life, and blazing light upon us every day:
https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2025/05/27/hymn-translation-jesus-source-of-life/
A Song of the Trinity
Often the choice of tune runs much deeper than simply "this'll fit my metre". In this case, the music sat with me for a long time before I began to have a sense of what might emerge. And I think the extraordinary poetry of Joni Mitchell's original lyric still hovers over these words, drawing my own writing towards a different place - less expressly expositional, more in the realm of metaphysics and marvel…
https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2025/05/15/a-song-of-the-trinity/
Hymn: Rejoice and Sing!
Commissioned for an event celebrating the 35th Anniversary of “Rejoice and Sing”, the hymn-book of the United Reformed Church which was published during the denomination’s 18th year. Rejoice and sing! This hymn-book that we hold: a rich compendium of our heritage compiled with wisdom, diligent and bold to serve a Church re-formed and come of age. Rejoice and sing!
https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2025/05/03/hymn-rejoice-and-sing/
Hymn: Jesus, God with us, Emmanuel
Jesus, God with us, Emmanuel:you have come to us,stepping from glory, on earth to dwell.We praise you, Jesus,Son of Man and Son of God, our living Lord.Come and take your rightful place:let all our living be shaped by your holy word. Man of Sorrows, you died for me,paying the penalty, setting me free.
https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2020/12/05/hymn-jesus-god-with-us-emmanuel/
Hymn for Lent: The road may be hard but I’m never alone
The road may be hardbut I'm never alone:I'm held by a strengththat is more than my own.So when times are tough,this refrain I will raise:Forty nights, forty days,turn my life to God's praise. The things I give upand the things I take onwill help me to seewhere my life has gone wrong.
https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2025/03/07/hymn-for-lent-the-road-may-be-hard-but-im-never-alone/
An Advent Calendar in Song: Day 25 http://youtube.com/watch?v=P8cnvQEt1XU&feature=youtu.be https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2024/12/25/an-advent-calendar-in-song-day-25/
An Advent Calendar in Song: Day 24 http://youtube.com/watch?v=GbHyghmxeeM&feature=youtu.be https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2024/12/24/an-advent-calendar-day-24/
An Advent Calendar in Song: Day 23 http://youtube.com/watch?v=7dGlzzFdZJE&feature=youtu.be https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2024/12/23/an-advent-calendar-in-song-day-23/
An Advent Calendar in Song: Day 22 http://youtube.com/watch?v=9GAzAhTJBwo&feature=youtu.be https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2024/12/22/an-advent-calendar-in-song-day-22/
An Advent Calendar in Song: Day 21 http://youtube.com/watch?v=GCy7hHprfQY&feature=youtu.be https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2024/12/21/an-advent-calendar-in-song-day-21/
An Advent Calendar in Song: Day 20 http://youtube.com/watch?v=GZ2eykDkiFU&feature=youtu.be https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2024/12/20/an-advent-calendar-in-song-day-20/
An Advent Calendar in Song: Day 19 http://youtube.com/watch?v=5pA7_3gQSZ0&feature=youtu.be https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2024/12/19/an-advent-calendar-in-song-day-19/
An Advent Calendar in Song: Day 18 http://youtube.com/watch?v=AAIdJWeE-MQ&feature=youtu.be https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2024/12/18/an-advent-calendar-in-song-day-18/
An Advent Calendar in Song: Day 17 http://youtube.com/watch?v=Dnrkm9Lar9o&feature=youtu.be https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2024/12/17/an-advent-calendar-in-song-day-17/
An Advent Calendar in Song: Day 16 http://youtube.com/watch?v=bsBO1zwpE60&feature=youtu.be https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2024/12/16/an-advent-calendar-in-song-day-16/
An Advent Calendar in Song: Day 15 http://youtube.com/watch?v=pJ-xeiVE6c4&feature=youtu.be https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2024/12/15/an-advent-calendar-in-song-day-15/
An Advent Calendar in Song: Day 14 http://youtube.com/watch?v=hUSGvsQsQBU&feature=youtu.be https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2024/12/14/an-advent-calendar-in-song-day-14/
An Advent Calendar in Song: Day 13 http://youtube.com/watch?v=9lUW63_fxLA&feature=youtu.be https://revdsgrant.wordpress.com/2024/12/13/an-advent-calendar-in-song-day-13/