The witnesses are watching (website only)

The witnesses are watching,
more athletes join the race.
We cover ground before us,
we run within God's grace.
We persevere with patience,
we lay aside each load
that holding or constraining
might slow us on the road.

Christ ran this race before us,
we heed the words he said.
His faith is our example,
we follow where he led.
Like every saint before us
our strength will come through grace;
Our passion is unending,
for Christ has set the pace.

Throughout our lives we'll follow,
we never will regret
the faithfulness and fervour,
the pattern he has set.
No shame could make him falter,
we'll follow to the end
the one who died at Easter
our risen, living friend.

Words: Andrew Pratt (born 1948) © 2004 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England, www.stainer.co.uk.
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.

Metre: 76.76.D.

Suggested tune: Crüger (StF 228)

Words inspired by Hebrews, chapter 11 and written at the time of the 2004 Athens Olympic and Paralympic Games