Notes on the Notes – September 20, 2020
Creation 2
Only what we need!
Exodus 16:2-15
This week’s music:
“Sing Your Praise to God Eternal” (VU #244)
“Sing your praise to God eternal, sing your praise to God the Son,
Sing your praise to God the Spirit, living and forever One.
God has made us, God has blessed us, God has called us to be true.
God rules over all creation, daily making all things new.
Join the praise of every creature, sing with singing birds at dawn;
When the stars shine forth at nightfall, hear their heavenly antiphon.
Praise God for the light of summer, autumn glories, winter snows,
For the coming of the springtime and the life of all that grows.
Praise God on our days of gladness for the summons to rejoice;
Praise God in our times of sadness for the calm, consoling voice.
God our Maker, strong and loving, Christ our Saviour, Leader, Lord,
Living God, Creator Spirit, be your holy name adored!”
As we begin our time of worship, we will be singing this hymn of praise to the trinity. The words remind us of God’s presence with us always – through all times and all places. God is not only with us in the good times, but also walks with us during times of struggle. This hymn, by R.B.Y. Scott, was first published in The Hymn Book in 1971. The tune, ARFON, is derived from a Welsh folksong dating from at least the 18th century with possible French origins.
Hear the hymn sung in worship at Trinity United Church in PEI (the hymn occurs at minute 17, but feel free to enjoy “visiting” another church – love the choir gowns!) https://youtu.be/LQSKmuNJGBw
“Lead On, O Cloud of Presence” (VU #421)
“Lead on, O cloud of Presence, the exodus is come.
In wilderness and desert our tribe shall make its home.
Our slavery left behind us, new hopes within us grow.
We seek the land of promise where milk and honey flow.
Lead on, O fiery Pillar, we follow yet with fears,
But we shall come rejoicing though joy be born of tears.
We are not lost, though wandering, for by your light we come,
And we are still God’s people. The journey is our home.
Lead on, O God of freedom, and guide us on our way,
And help us trust the promise through struggle and delay.
We pray our sons and daughters may journey to that land
Where justice dwells with mercy, and love is law’s demand.”
The words for this hymn were written by Ruth Duck in 1974. She says, “‘Lead on, O Cloud of Presence’ emerged while I was trying to adapt ‘Lead on, O King Eternal’ for Because We Are One People (1974). Both texts used the Exodus imagery (Numbers 9:15-23). The old hymn uses triumphalist military language, while the new hymn grows out of liberation movements. The cloud and fiery pillar are symbols of God’s presence, guiding people in uncertain times as they journey toward freedom.” (Source: Discipleship Ministries) The words for the hymn are set to the tune, LANCASHIRE, composed by Henry Thomas Smart in 1836.
See the hymn played on the organ at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvt9X_wQJq4
“Holy Manna”
“Lord! Shower us with holy manna,
Lord, shower us from above.
We gather here to sing hosanna,
We gather to share your love.
We have gathered here to worship and adore the Lord, our God.
Will you pray with all your power while we try to preach the Word?
All is vain unless the spirit of the Holy One comes down.
Christians pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
Lord! Shower us with holy manna…
Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too.
Let us love and pray together till our God makes all things new.
Christ will call us home to heaven, at his table we’ll sit down;
Christ will gird himself and serve us with sweet manna all around.
Lord! Shower us with holy manna…”
This setting of the tune HOLY MANNA is by Joel Raney with words by George Atkins and additional text by Joel Raney. It was published in 2012. The song references the story from the Book of Exodus, where God gives the Israelites manna as they journey in the wilderness.
“Bless Now, O God, the Journey” (VU #633)
“Bless now, O God, the journey that all your people make,
The path through noise and silence, the way of give and take.
The trail is found in desert and winds the mountain round,
Then leads beside still waters, the road where faith is found.
Bless sojourners and pilgrims who share this winding way,
Whose hope burns through the terrors, whose love sustains the day.
We yearn for holy freedom while often we are bound.
Together we are seeking the road where faith is found.
Divine Eternal Lover, you meet us on the road.
We wait for lands of promise where milk and honey flow.
But waiting not for places, you meet us all around.
Our covenant is written on roads, as faith is found.”
This hymn is from Sylvia Dunstun’s first collection, In Search of Hope and Grace (1991). The melody, THORNBURY was composed by Basil Harwood, an English organist and composer of church music in 1864. We also use the same tune for the hymns “Your Hand, O God, Has Guided” (VU #274) and “To Abraham and Sarah” (VU #634).
Hear the melody on pipe organ at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hPE3L4WBJU0VU 633
“Travel On” (VU #647)
“Travel on, travel on, there’s a spirit that is flowing,
A spirit that is flowing night and day.
Travel on, travel on, with the spirit that is flowing,
The spirit will be with us all the way.
Travel on, travel on, with the spirit that is flowing,
The spirit will be with us all the way.
Throughout this season of Creation we will be following the story of Exodus, the story of a people leaving the known for the unknown. Our benediction response is by the well-known British folk singer, Sydney Carter. It was written in 1969.
