Great God, Your Love Has Held Our Lives: A Hymn of Healing and Remembrance for September 11

Words: Andrew Pratt, 2011
Music: setting 1, JERUSALEM, by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 1916
Music: setting 2, KEDRON, attr. Elkanah Kelsey Dare, 1799

This is a truly remarkable new hymn by British Methodist pastor and hymn writer Andrew Pratt. 2011 marks the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11. For those closely connected to the event by deaths of family, friends, or by close proximity to New York City, Washington, DC, or the Pennsylvania site, that connection, including grief and loss, continues. For others who may not have such a close connection, the past ten years have provided time for healing, new life, and perhaps even a bit of forgetfulness. This hymn eloquently speaks for both. It recalls the events, acknowledges the loss and grief, but helps us to move on into a brighter future.

There are two tunes provided. JERUSALEM by Parry is in The United Methodist Hymnal as accompaniment for the hymn, "O Day of Peace that Dimly Shines" by Carl Daw (no. 729), another hymn that may be appropriate on this occasion. KEDRON, also in The United Methodist Hymnal (no. 109), provides an American hymn tune of a strong, serious quality.

Great God, Your Love Has Held Our Lives [JERUSALEM] (pdf)

Great God, Your Love Has Held Our Lives [KEDRON] (pdf)