Notes on the Notes – September 5, 2021

Season of Creation 1

Planet Earth/Communion

This week’s music:

“O Beautiful Gaia” (MV #41)

“O beautiful Gaia, O Gaia, calling us home.
O beautiful Gaia, calling us on.”

The term Gaia (guy-ah) represents “Mother Earth,” inviting us to live into our care and respect for all creation. It asks us to consider our relationship to the earth in the context of our faith. We will be using the chorus of this song by Carolyn McDade (2006) as our sung response after the lighting of the Christ candle during the season of Creation. The musical arrangement is by Lydia Pedersen (2006). Hear the full hymn at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96Lf6Xob900

“It’s a Song of Praise to the Maker” (MV #30)

“It’s a song of praise to the Maker, the thrush sings high in the tree.
It’s a song of praise to the Maker, the gray whale sings in the sea,
And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

It’s a call of life to the Giver when waves and waterfalls roar.
It’s a call of life to the Giver when high tides break on the shore,
And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

It’s a hymn of love to the Lover; the bumblebees hum along.
It’s a hymn of love to the Lover, the summer breeze joins the song,
And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

It’s the chorus of all creation; it’s sung by all living things.
It’s the chorus of all creation; a song the universe sings,
And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.”

Ruth Duck and Ron Klusmeier collaborated on this song, which is based on Psalm 148. Ruth uses the Psalm as inspiration for this hymn, which encourages us to join with all creation to “sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.” It is a psalm which resounds with praise to the Lord God Almighty – the Creator of Heaven and the Earth. As the work of God’s hands, it is only right and proper that all of heaven and earth praise the Lord.

“Big Beautiful Planet”

“There’s a big, beautiful planet in the sky,
And it’s our home, it’s where we live.
You and many others live here, too.
The earth is our home, it’s where we live.

We can feel the power of the noon day sun
A blazing ball of fire up above
Shining light and warmth enough for everyone
A gift to every nation from a star

There’s a big, beautiful planet in the sky
It’s my home, it’s where I live
You and many others live here too
The earth is our home, it’s where we live

We can feel the spirit of the blowing wind
A mighty source of power in our lives
Offering another way to fill our needs
Nature’s gift to help us carry on

There’s a big, beautiful planet in the sky
It’s my home, it’s where I live
You and many others live here too
The earth is our home, it’s where we live.”

This song was written in 1981 by the Canadian children’s singer/songwriter Raffi.  Raffi’s recent musical work focuses on social and environmental causes and appeals to the generation who grew up with his children’s music (“Beluga Grads”) to effect change in the world. He also promotes those causes through his books, academic lectures and as a speaker. In 2007 (14 years ago!), Raffi wrote, recorded and produced the single “Cool It”, a rockabilly “call to action” on global warming with Dr. David Suzuki in the chorus. “Cool It” was the theme song for Dr. Suzuki’s recent Canadian tour to promote action on climate change.

“In the Garden”

“I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet, the birds hush their singing;
And the melody that He gave to me within my heart is ringing.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.

I’d stay in the garden with Him though the night around me is falling.
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe, His voice to me is calling.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”

This week’s anthem is an arrangement of the well-loved hymn “In the Garden.”  The words and music are by C. Austin Miles and the arrangement we will be using is by Patti Drennan (2001).  C. Austin Miles says the inspiration for this hymn came to him in March 1912 when he was drawn to John 20:1-18.  While the words reference the story of the meeting between Jesus and Mary Magdalene soon after his resurrection, the intimate nature of the words has made this song a favourite of many.

Sing along with Anne Murray at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCnpACM6dgA

Hear the Vagle Brothers sing the hymn at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KoN-MbSBhY

“All Praise to You” (VU #297)

“All praise to you, O God of all creation:
You made the world, and it is yours alone.
The planet earth you spun in its location
Amid the stars adorning heaven’s dome.
We lease the earth but for a life’s duration,
Yet for this life it is our cherished home.

With wondrous grace you clothed the earth in splendour;
With teeming life you filled the sea and land.
Instill in us a sense of awe and wonder
When we behold the bounty of your hand.
Then when we hear the voice of bird or thunder,
We hear the voice our faith can understand.

To tend the earth is our entrusted duty,
For earth is ours to use and not abuse.
O gracious God, true source of all resources,
Forgive our greed that wields destruction’s sword.
Then let us serve as wise and faithful stewards
While earth gives glory to creation’s Lord.”

Our closing hymn is set to the music “Finlandia” by Sibelius.   Take the time to sit back and watch this magnificent video celebrating the Creation (the hymn tune starts at 6 minutes in) and then re-read the above words for the hymn. (click play and then click on the square in the bottom right corner to watch full-screen)

“Like a Rock” (MV #92)

“Like a rock, like a rock, God is under our feet.
Like the starry night sky, God is over our head.
Like the sun on the horizon, God is ever before.
Like the river runs to ocean, our home is in God evermore.”

The words for this song are by Keri K. Wehlander (1998), adapted to music by Linnea Good (1998).  We will be using this song as our benediction response during the season of Creation.  The words of the song portray our confidence in the eternal nature of God.