Come, living God, when least expected

Come, living God, when least expected. Alan Gaunt* (1935-2023). Like ‘Lord Christ, we praise your sacrifice’*, this hymn originally appeared in New Hymns for Worship (1973), Alan Gaunt’s companion volume to his New Prayers for Worship (1972). It was then printed in New Church Praise (1975). Its appeal against dullness of mind and coldness of feeling is countered by the turn to the ‘radiant brightness’ of the two final stanzas. RS prints the text with some alterations, presumably with Gaunt’s approval: the most extensive are to verse 5, which originally read: Then, from our gloom, your Son still rising Will thaw the frozen heart of pride And flash upon us through the shadows To spread his...