Pentecost

This week’s music:

“She Comes Sailing on the Wind” (VU #380)

“She comes sailing on the wind, her wings flashing in the sun;
On a journey just begun, she flies on.
And in the passage of her flight, her song rings out through the night,
Full of laughter, full of light, she flies on.

Silent waters rocking on the morning of our birth,
Like an empty cradle waiting to be filled.
And from the heart of God the Spirit moved upon the earth,
Like a mother breathing life into her child.

To a gentle girl in Galilee, a gentle breeze she came,
A whisper softly calling in the dark,
The promise of a child of peace whose reign would never end,
Mary sang the Spirit song within her heart.

Many were the dreamers whose eyes were given sight
When the Spirit filled their dreams with life and form.
Deserts turned to gardens, broken hearts found new delight,
And then down the ages still she flew on.

Flying to the river, she waited circling high
Above the child now grown so full of grace.
As he rose up from the water, she swept down from the sky,
And she carried him away in her embrace.

Long after the deep darkness that fell upon the world,
After dawn returned in flame of rising sun,
The Spirit touched the earth again, again her wings unfurled,
Bringing life in wind and fire as she flew on.”

This folk-style song was written by Gordon Light of the Common Cup Company, a group originally formed in Winnipeg and subsequently based in Burnaby, BC. in 1985.   The verses we are singing this week lead us through the stories of Creation, Jesus’ birth, baptism, Easter and Pentecost, while the chorus emphasizes the eternal nature of God’s Spirit.

Hear the song sung by the Common Cup Company at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPSjTGzjUSI

“Spirit of Life” (VU #381)

“Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea; move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.”

This sung prayer is by Carolyn McDade and was written in 1981.  It was arranged by Grace Lewis-McLaren and published in 1993.

Hear a choral arrangement of the song at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM-MHSKBL4g

“Spirit of the Living God” (VU #376)

“Spirit of the living God,  fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Spirit of the living God, move among us all,
Make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love;
Humble, caring, selfless, sharing
Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love!”

This is one of the most long-lasting and widely used choruses in Christian worship. Every aspect of the song embodies a simple sincerity.   The melody encompasses only five notes.  The harmonies can be played by a very modestly skilled pianist, and three of the four lines repeat the same nine words.  Yet for many, the straightforward petitions of this song draw the singer into an attitude of prayer.

The first verse of the hymn was written by Daniel Iverson (1890-1977), a native of Brunswick, Ga.  The second verse of the hymn was written by Michael Baughen for Hymns for Today’s Church (1982).  The arrangement in Voices United is the one written by Darryl Nixon for Songs for a Gospel People (1987).

Hear an acappella version of the hymn by Voices of Praise at:  https://youtu.be/jrwRS1h-rmY

“Spirit of God”

“Spirit of God in the clear running water,
Blowing to greatness the trees on the hill.
Spirit of God in the finger of morning,
Fill the earth, bring it to birth
And blow where You will.
Blow, blow, blow till I be
But breath of the Spirit blowing in me.

Down in the meadow the willows are moaning,
Sheep in the pastureland cannot lie still.
Spirit of God, creation is groaning,
Fill the earth, bring it to birth
And blow where You will.
Blow, blow, blow till I be
But breath of the Spirit blowing in me.

“I saw the scar of a year that lay dying,
Heard the lament of a lone whip-poor-will,
Spirit of God, see that cloud crying,
Fill the earth, bring it to birth,
And blow where You will.
Blow, blow, blow till I be
But breath of the Spirit blowing in me.

Spirit of God, everyone’s heart is lonely,
Watching and waiting and hungry until,
Spirit of God, we long that You only full-
Fill the earth, bring it to birth
And blow where You will.
Blow, blow, blow till I be
But breath of the Spirit blowing in me.”

This week’s anthem was written by Miriam Therese Winter and published in the 1965 collection “Joy is Like the Rain.”

“Send Your Holy Spirit” (VU #370)

“Send your Holy Spirit on your gathered people,
Merciful and loving God, hear us, as we pray.”

Our sung prayer response was written by Jim Strathdee in 1993.

“Oh, a Song Must Rise” (MV #142)

“Oh a song must rise for the spirit to descend
          Oh a song must rise once again
          Singing out God’s praises and glory,
          The faithful voices blend,
          Oh a song must rise for the spirit to descend.
 
          From the mountains to the valleys,
          From the desert to the sea,
          A song must rise once again.
          From the voices of our leaders,
          The voice of you and me,
          A song must rise for the spirit to descend.

          From poverty and riches,
          From the voice of young and old,
          A song must rise once again.
          From the free and the imprisoned,
          The timid and the bold,
          A song must rise for the spirit to descend.

          From every house of worship,
          In every faith and tongue,
          A song must rise once again.
          From the villages and cities
          A new song must be sung,
          A song must rise for the spirit to descend.”

The words and music for this lively song are by Paul B. Svenson (1995).  The arrangement we will be using this week is by Bryn Nixon (2006) as it appears in More Voices.

See a teaching video of this song sung by choir and congregation at: https://youtu.be/Y4Q7XghWg-c

Read Jeff Doucette’s blog about music and faith at:  http://jeffdoucette.webs.com/apps/blog/show/7336990

“Send Us Out”

“Send us out in the power of Your Spirit, Lord,
May our lives bring Jesus to the world.
May each thought and word bring glory to Your name,
Send us out in Your Spirit, Lord, we pray.”

The words and music for our benediction response were written by Ruth Fazal (1993).