Notes on the Notes – October 8, 2017

This Week’s Theme: Thanksgiving

This Week’s Scripture Readings:

Isaiah 5:1-7         Matthew 21:33-46

This Week’s Music:

“Let All Things Now Living” (VU #242)

“Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving to God our Creator triumphantly raise;
Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us, by guiding us on to the end of our days.
God’s banners are o’er us, pure light goes before us, a pillar of fire shining forth in the night;
Till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished, as forward we travel from light into Light.

By law God enforces, the stars in their courses and sun in its orbit obediently shine;
The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains, the depths of the ocean proclaim God divine.
We, too, should be voicing our love and rejoicing with glad adoration a song let us raise:
Till all things now living unite in thanksgiving, to God in the highest, hosanna and praise.”

This hymn in an arrangement of an anthem published in 1939 by Katherine Kennicott Davis under the pseudonym John Cowley.  She wrote the text sometime in the 1920s for the Welsh folk melody, LLYNN ONN,  or “The Ash Grove.”  

Listen to the song at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYtbqCqkNUk

Hear the song on guitar at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV8c4O3rcIA

“We Praise You, O God” (VU #218)

The title for our hymn book, Voices United,  comes from the third stanza of this hymn.  The words were written by Julia Cory in 1902 at the request of the organist, for a Thanksgiving service at Brick Presbyterian Church in New York.  The original 16th century text, known as the “Dutch Hymn of Thanksgiving,” was written in celebration of the release of the Netherlands from Spanish rule.  The melody, KREMSER, was arranged by the Viennese conductor Eduard Kremser from a tune published with the earlier text in a 17th-century collection of Dutch folk songs.

“We praise you, O God, our Redeemer, Creator;
In grateful devotion our tribute we bring.
We lay it before you; we kneel and adore you;
We bless your holy name, glad praises we sing.

We worship you, God of our mothers and fathers,
Through trial and tempest, companion and guide.
When perils o’ertake us, you will not forsake us,
But faithful to your promise, you walk by our side.

With voices unied our praises we offer
And gladly our songs of thanksgiving we raise.
Our sins now confessing, we pray for your blessing,
To you, our great Redeemer, forever be praise!”

Hear the hymn played on organ at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPlPtJ0iZW8

“Give Thanks, My Soul, for Harvest” (VU #522)

“Give thanks, my soul, for harvest, for store of fruit and grain,
But know the owner gives so that we may share again.
Where people suffer hunger, or little children cry,
With gifts from God’s rich bounty may thankfulness reply.

Give thanks, my soul, for riches of woodland, mine, and hill,
But know that gold and timber are the Creator’s still.
God lends to us, as stewards, abundance we might share,
And thus provide earth’s children the blessing of God’s care.

Give thanks, my soul, for labours, that strength and days employ,
But know the Maker’s purpose brings toil as well as joy.
Show forth, O God, your purpose; direct our will and hand
To share your love and bounty with all in every land.”

This hymn was written in 1960 to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the department of Stewardship and Benevolence of the National Council of Churches (USA).  As with other contemporary harvest expressions, the words draw our attention in the midst of celebration to the need for sharing of resources and care of the earth.

The words are set to the German tune, MUNICH, which was in use as early as the 16th century.  It was adapted by J.S. Bach for Cantatas 24 and 71, and by Felix Mendelssohn for his oratorio Elijah (1846).  The tune is also used for the hymn, “O Christ, the Word Incarnate” (VU #499).

Hear the melody on organ at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w30Q6jDKNZE

“We Come to Say Thank You”

“Thank You, O Lord, we come to say, “Thank You.”
For all You’ve done we say, “Thank You,
Thank You today for all the blessings You send our way.”    

For the beauty of the earth,
For the glories of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.

For the wonder of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale and tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light,
Stars of heavenly light.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild.

For Thyself, best gift divine,
To our race so freely giv’n,
For the great, great love of Thine,
Peace on earth and joy in heav’n,
Endless joy in heav’n!

We thank You, Lord!”

This week’s anthem of thanksgiving is by Pepper Choplin (2015).  Using a new melody, Choplin incorporates the words from the hymn “For the Beauty of the Earth,” by Folliott S. Pierpoint (1864).

“In Gratitude and Humble Trust” (VU #544)

In gratitude and humble trust
                                 we bring our best today
                     To serve your cause and share your love
                                 with all along life’s way
                     O God, who gave yourself to us
                                in Jesus Christ, your Son,
                     Teach us to give ourselves each day
                                 until life’s work is done.

Our offering response text is the third verse of the hymn “As Those of Old Their First-fruits Brought” (VU #518).  It was published in 1961 and is set to the tune FOREST GREEN, a traditional English folk tune arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1906.

“Grateful” (MV #182)

“Grateful for the life you give us, thankful for your Holy Son,
Joyful in your Spirit flowing over all, O God of Love.
Grateful for the Bread of Heaven, thankful for your Holy Word,
Joyful in your mercy flowing, we will praise you.

You are more than we imagine, Ancient, Holy, Living Lord.
Even when we doubt your presence you are faithful to your Word.

May our lives proclaim your justice, may our voices sing your praise.
May our hands work in your service to the glory of your name.”

This song of thankfulness is by Tom Tomaszek (2003), author, composer, educator and liturgical musician.  His ministry began with teaching English at a public high school while serving as a parish musician and catechist. Those experiences led to 14 years of service to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s youth ministry office.  Later, Tom served as the director of the Artists and Repertoire at OCP. He holds a master’s in theological studies from St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, and a master’s in education from the University of Wisconsin.

“For the Harvests of the Spirit (VU #227)

“For the harvests of the Spirit, thanks be to God.
For the good we all inherit, thanks be to God,
For the wonders that astound us,
For the truths that still confound us,
Most of all that love has found us, thanks be to God.”

Our benediction response text is also the third verse of a hymn, this time “For the Fruit of All Creation” (VU #227), which was written by Fred Pratt Green and set to the traditional Welsh tune, AR HYD Y NOS (All Through the Night).  The melody was arranged as a hymn tune by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1906.