Notes on the Notes – January 20, 2019

This week’s scripture readings:

1 Corinthians 12: 1-11        John 2:1-11

This week’s music:

“Sing a New Church”

“Summoned by the God who made us
Rich in our diversity,
Gathering in the name of Jesus,
Richer still in unity:

Let us bring the gifts that differ
And in splendid, varied ways,
Sing a new church into being,
One in faith and love and praise.

Trust the goodness of creation;
Trust the Spirit strong within.
Dare to dream the vision promised,
Sprung from see of what has been.

Let us bring…

Bring the hopes of ev’ry nation;
Bring the art of ev’ry race.
Weave a song of peace and justice;
Let it sound through time and space.

Let us bring…”

This hymn was written by Delores Dufner in 1991.  The lyrics express a hope for a growth and regeneration within the church that expands our inclusivity and welcomes the unique and varied gifts that each person has, bringing us closer to more just and peaceful world.   The words are set to the tune NETTLETON.  Hear the hymn at: https://youtu.be/Qt5Fqm3xS10  (click on CC to have the lyrics appear)

“Songs of Thankfulness and Praise” (VU #101)

“Song of thankfulness and praise, Jesus Christ, to you we raise,
Manifested by the star to the sages from afar;
Branch of royal David’s stem in your birth at Bethlehem;
Anthems be to you addressed, God in flesh made manifest.

Manifest at Jordan’s stream, Prophet, Priest, and King supreme;
And at Cana wedding guest, in your Godhead manifest;
Manifest in power divine, changing water into wine;
Anthems be to you addressed, God in flesh made manifest.

Manifest in making whole palsied limbs and fainting soul;
Manifest in valiant fight, quelling all the devil’s might;
Manifest in gracious will, ever bringing good from ill;
Anthems be to you addressed, God in flesh made manifest.

Grant us grace to see you, Lord, mirrored in your holy Word;
With your grace our lives endow, grace to imitate you now,
That we like to you may be at your great epiphany,
Anthems be to you addressed, God in flesh made manifest.”

The text of this hymn provides a recap of the whole message of Epiphany.  It outlines the ways in which Christ was made manifest in history and concludes with a prayer for the imitation of Christ.  The hymn was written by Christopher Wordsworth, the nephew of William Wordsworth, and published in his collection of hymns for the church year entitled The Holy Year, in 1862.   The tune is attributed to Jacob Hintze (1678) with harmony adapted from J.S. Bach (ca. 1765).

“My Song to the Lord”

“O Lord, I am thankful each day that I live,
for all of the wonderful blessings You give.
In the love of my family, in the kindness of friends,
In this life I am leading, Your grace never ends.

O Lord, You sustain me with courage and hope,
by guiding my footsteps and helping me grow.
When I’m weary or troubled, when I’m filled with despair,
When I’m lonely or grieving, I know You are there.

So my grateful voice I will raise to proclaim Your grace and Your glory,
And my praises will ring in each song that I sing,
as I share Your truth and Your love.

O Lord, I will follow and serve You each day by using my talents and living in faith.
May Your light shine within me, may Your peace keep me strong,
May You help me in sharing Your Word and Your song.

Now my grateful voice I will raise to proclaim Your grace and Your glory,
And my praises will ring in each song that I sing,
as I share Your truth and Your love.
I will share Your truth and love.”

This week’s anthem was written by Nancy Price and Don Besig (2005). It opens with a litany of thanksgiving for all that God has given us and for walking with us on life’s journey. Once we have acknowledged God’s grace, the focus shifts to our response to God and closes with a commitment to service – living in God’s way and sharing God’s love.

“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.

“Called as Partners in Christ’s Service”

“Called as partners in Christ’s service,
Called to ministries of grace,
We response with deep commitment
Fresh new lines of faith to trace.
May we learn the art of sharing,
Side by side and friend with friend,
Equal partners in our caring
To fulfill God’s chosen end.”

Our benediction response this week is the first verse of the hymn “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service.”  The tune is the familiar BEACH SPRING.

To ponder:

God gives everything we need and more besides.

How have you experienced that?