While the bread is yet unbroken

Authors:
Themes:
Scriptures:
  • Psalms 139:23-24
  • Matthew 18:21-35
  • Matthew 6:12-15
  • Mark 11:25-26
  • Luke 10:26
  • Luke 11:4
  • Luke 17:3-4
  • Luke 20:17
  • Luke 6:37
  • Luke 7:36-50
  • John 13:34-35
  • Acts 15:11
  • Romans 3:24
  • 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
  • 1 Corinthians 5:7-8
  • Ephesians 4:31-32
  • Colossians 3:8
  • Hebrews 12:15
  • Hebrews 4:12-13
  • James 5:16
  • 1 Peter 1:22-23
  • 1 Peter 2:1
Book Number:
  • 660

While the bread is yet unbroken,
while the wine is yet unpoured,
there is time to pray, recalling
what is written in God’s word.

2. Time for contrite, true repentance,
time to root out bitterness,
that our minds will hold no malice,
as we ask the Lord to bless.

3. We are debtors to God’s mercy,
by free grace alone we live.
As we ask to be forgiven,
make us willing to forgive.

4. Lord, prepare each one who gathers,
may no fault go unconfessed,
teach us so to love each other
that our witness may be blessed.

5. Let us each ourselves examine,
that we eat and drink aright,
so shall all receive a blessing,
find in Christ our true delight.

6. While the bread is still unbroken,
while the wine is still unpoured,
as our thoughts dwell on Christ’s sufferings,
search and cleanse us, living Lord.

© Mrs J Norwood/Praise Trust
John Thomas Norwood 1934-2005

The Church - The Lord's Supper

Downloadable Items

Would you like access to our downloadable resources?

Unlock downloadable content for this hymn by subscribing today. Enjoy exclusive resources and expand your collection with our additional curated materials!

Subscribe now

If you already have a subscription, log in here to regain access to your items.

Tunes

The story behind the hymn

This is the first hymnal to include these distinctive lines, drawing on 1 Corinthians 11:23–30 but concentrating on the preparation for our reception of the bread and wine. John T Norwood wrote them in 1989, having been asked by his Pastor (A Winston Flavell) to supply the need for a hymn ‘dealing with preparation of the heart before coming to the Lord’s table.’ The author adds, ‘I attempted to reflect in the hymn the biblical principles that should apply.’ It was first sung in that year at his church, Spring Meadow Baptist Church, Old Hill, W Midlands. F C P Pearce’s EBENEZER CHAPEL is the first choice of tune, with an alternative in Stainer’s LOVE DIVINE (745). The composer, who died in 1948, was a founder member of the Companion Tune Book Trust. The author’s preference is for Pastor Flavell’s tune UNBROKEN BREAD, composed for these words. For copyright reasons we are unable to publish the tune ‘Ebenezer Chapel’ on-line.

A look at the author

Norwood, John Thomas

b Old Hill, Staffs 1934, d Halesowen, W Midlands 2005. Windsor High Sch, Halesowen; Martineau Teacher Training Coll Birmingham (DipTMH); Birmingham Poly (Diploma in Management). He worked as the manager of a training college for adults with learning difficulties; retired at Halesowen, where he was an Elder of the Mission Baptist Ch, Cradley Heath, until his death. He had several contributions published in collections of Christian poetry and his verse has travelled around the world. His first significant use of a hymn was In might and majesty at the 1989 Grace Baptist meetings; to Basil Jayatilaka’s tune CLARION CALL scored for full choir and orchestra; this has featured in special events in 1990 in Perth, W Australia. Since 1987 he has written hymns and songs for children, with music often composed by (Pastor) A Winston Flavell who preached at his funeral service in June 2005. This reflected his support for Youth for Christ, and included his hymn Released from earthly bondage and verses headed ‘Benediction’ (Oh Lord our God our thanks we bring for all the blessings of this day) and ‘Melody’ (A mind at peace with God—SM, but cf the CM 716). No.660.