Notes on the Notes – May 17, 2020

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

     1 Peter 3:13-22 

John 14:15-21

This week’s music:

“God, We Praise You for the Morning” (VU #415)

“God we praise you for the morning;
Hope springs forth with each new day,
New beginning, prayer, and promise,
Joy in work and in play.

God, we praise you for creation,
Mountains, seas, and prairie land.
Waking souls find joy and healing in your bountiful hand.

God, we praise you for compassion,
All the loving that you show;
Human touching, tears, and laughter,
Help your children to grow.

God, we praise you for your Spirit, Comforter and daily friend,
Restless searcher, gentle teacher,
Strength and courage you send.

God, we praise you for the Saviour, come that we may know your ways.
In his loving, dying, rising, Christ is Lord of our days.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
Christ is Lord of our days!”

Our opening song of praise was written by Jim and Jean Strathdee in 1981.

“Small Things Count” (VU #361)

“Small things count, so Jesus said:
Cups of water, crumbs of bread,
Small things done because we’re kind
Count as big things in God’s mind.

Small things make the big things grow:
Grains of yeast inside the dough,
Puffs that fill a big balloon,
Notes that made a happy tune.

Every hair that’s on our head,
Every sparrow, Jesus said,
God takes care of, counts and knows,
God loves us from top to toes!”

The words for this song were written by Shirley Erena Murray in 1990.  The music is by Jillian M. Bray (1992).

“I Find My Peace in You”

“I find my hope in You, my Savior,
You will keep me in Your care.
When I’m discouraged and can’t go on,
I know that You will hear my prayer.

I find my strength in You, my Savior,
You are always at my side.
If I should stumble, or start to fall,
I know that You will be my guide.

If I start to lose my way,
In my heart I’ll hear You say:

‘Peace I leave with you,
My peace I give to you.’
Savior, when I hear these words, my spirit is renewed.

‘Let not your heart be troubled.
Do not be afraid.’
Savior, help me follow You,
And live my life in faith.

I give my life to You, my Savior.
I will serve You all my days.
My heart rejoices.
I lift my song to sing Your glory and Your praise.

You have helped me find my way,
Once again I heart You say:

‘Peace I leave with you,
My peace I give to you.’
Savior, when I hear these words, my spirit is renewed.

‘Let not your heart be troubled.
Do not be afraid.’
Savior, help me follow You,
And live my life in faith.

I will trust in You.
I will follow You.
I will find my peace,
O Lord, in You.”

This song references John 14:27.  It was written by Don Besig and Nancy Price in 2007.

“Great is Thy Faithfulness” (VU #288)

“Great is thy faithfulness, God our Creator;
There is no shadow of turning with thee;
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
As thou hast been thou forever wilt be.

Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow –
Wondrous the portion thy blessings provide.
 
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!”

Thomas O. Chisholm, a Methodist minister, wrote the poem in 1923 about God’s faithfulness over his lifetime.  The conviction that God is always with us, through good times and bad, has always been a great source of comfort and strength for the faithful.  William Runyan set the poem to music, and it was published that same year and became popular among church groups. The song was exposed to wide audiences after becoming popular with Dr. William Henry Houghton of the Moody Bible Institute and Billy Graham who played the song frequently on his international crusades. The version in Voices United is from the Hymnal of the Evangelical United Brethren (1957).

Listen to Chris Rice singing this hymn with guitar at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k1WhFtVp0o

Hear a quiet instrumental version of the hymn at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoFJzsEF3ZM

Watch the Gaither version of the hymn with Wes Hampton at:  https://youtu.be/yNZS5H9aNlY

“May the Blessing of God” (VU #429)

“May the blessing of God be upon you.
May God’s love light all your way.
May the grace of Christ enfold you
And peace around you stay.
May the Spirit of God dwell within you.
May you live in joy each day.”

The words for our benediction response were written by R. Gordon Nodwell in 1989.
The music is by William H.M. Wright (1989).