Notes on the Notes – February 5, 2017

This week’s theme:

What Does God Really Want?

This week’s scripture readings:

Isaiah 58:1-12         Matthew 5:13-20

This week’s music:

“Jesus Bids Us Shine” (VU #585)

Jesus bids us shine with a pure, clear light,
Like a little candle burning in the night.
In this world is darkness, so let us shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine.

Jesus bids us shine first of all for him;
Well he sees and knows it if our light grows dim:
Jesus walks beside us to help us shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine.

Jesus bids us shine, then, for all around,
Many kinds of darkness in the world are found:
Sin, and want and sorrow; so we must shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine.”

This hymn, by American novelist Susan Warner, was first published in 1868 in a children’s magazine titled The Little Corporal.  An interesting side note is that the author’s younger sister, Anna Barlett wrote the hymn “Jesus Loves Me.”   The tune was written by Edwin O. Excell, an American composer of gospel hymns.

“Eternal, Unchanging, We Sing” (VU #223)

“Eternal, Unchanging, we sing to your praise:  your mercies are endless, and righteous your ways;  your servants proclaim the renown of your name who rules over all and is ever the same.

Again we rejoice in the world you have made, your mighty creation in beauty arrayed, we thank you for life, and we praise you for joy, for love and for hope that no power can destroy.

We praise you for Jesus, our Master and Lord, the might of his Spirit, the truth of his word, his comfort in sorrow, his patience in pain, the faith sure and steadfast that Jesus shall reign.”

R.B.Y. Scott taught Old Testament studies at United Theological College in Montreal for almost twenty-five years before moving to the Department of Religion at Princeton University.  This is one of his early hymns, first published in 1938.   The tune, ST. DENIO, is a traditional Welsh melody adapted into a hymn tune during the Welsh revivals at the turn of the 19th century.  It is also the tune used by Ralph Vaughan Williams with the hymn “Immortal, Invisible.”

Hear the melody on pipe organ at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqgQ3_VcaKw

“Beyond the Beauty and the Awe” (MV #80)

“Beyond the beauty and the awe, beyond the fear and dread,
We long, O God, to hear your word, to taste your transformed bread.

Our lives feel torn between the world whose needs are grimly real
And empty talk of peace and joy with distant, vague appeal.

Oh, teach us how to hear your voice despite the traffic’s din;
To keep the blasts of rancour out and let your Spirit in.

In sound or silence, sight or smell, may we some token find
That makes your living presence known to body, soul, and mind.

Then help us live as Jesus taught, as light and salt and yeast,
That others may be brought to share your promise and your feast.”

The words of this hymn are by Carl P. Daw Jr. (1994).  The Reverend Dr. Carl P. Daw Jr., is an American Episcopal priest and writer who served as the Executive Director of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada from 1996 to 2009.  Daw’s texts have appeared in most denominational and ecumenical hymnals published in the United States and Canada.

The tune we will be using will be #899 from Voices United, MORNING SONG.  It is an American folk hymn from the 19th-century.

“We are Called to Be His Servants”  

“We are called to be his servants,
to be salt and light;
We are called to point the way to the kingdom.
We are called to be his servants,
to be salt and light;
We are called, we are called in his name.

When a brother is hungry we can offer a meal.
When a sister is hurting we can help her to heal.
When a neighbour is needy we can offer a hand.
We are called, we are called in his name.

If a brother is lonely we can stop for a while.
If a sister is weeping we can offer a smile.
If a burden needs sharing we can make it our own.
We are called, we are called in his name.

We are called to be his servants, to be salt and light;…”

This week’s anthem was written by John Carter and Mary Kay Beall in 2002.

“Christ Has No Body Now But Yours” (MV #171)

The words of this hymn were adapted by Stephen C. Warner in 2003 from the original poem by St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582).

 “Christ has no body but yours.
Here on this earth, yours is the work, to serve with the joy of compassion.

No hands but yours to heal the wounded world,
no hands but yours to soothe all its suffering,
no touch but yours to bind the broken hope of the people of God.

No eyes but yours to see as Christ would see,
to find the lost, to gaze with compassion;
no eyes but yours to glimpse the holy joy of the city of God.

No feet but yours to journey with the poor, to walk this world with mercy and justice.
Yours are the steps to build a lasting peace for the children of God.

Through ev’ry gift, give back to those in need;
as Christ has blessed, so now be his blessing,
with ev’ry gift a benediction be to the people of God.”

Born in Spain, Teresa entered a Carmelite convent when she was eighteen, and later earned a reputation as a mystic, reformer, and writer who experienced divine visions. She founded a convent, and wrote the book The Way of Perfection for her nuns. The music used in More Voices was written in 2006 by Rick Gunn, a United Church musician from Bedford, Nova Scotia.

“Go Make a Difference” (MV #209)

“Go make a difference.
We can make a difference.
Go make a difference in the world.

We are the salt of the earth, called to let the people see
the love of God for you and me.  

We are the light of the world,
not to be hidden but be seen.
Go make a difference in the world.

We are the hands of Christ reaching out to those in need,
the face of God for all to see.
We are the spirit of hope;  we are the voice of peace.
Go make a difference in the world.

So let your love shine on, let it shine for all to see.
Go make a difference in the world.
And the spirit of Christ will be with us as we go.
Go make a difference in the world.”

This lively song enthusiastically sends us out to carry our faith into the world.  It was written by Steve Angrisano and Tom Tomaszek in 1997.   The words reinforce the message from the gospel of Matthew.

Watch Steve Angrisano singing the song at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQJ4TLRy1KI