Notes on the Notes – November 13, 2022

“A New World”

Music for this service will be led by The Worship Choir.

This Week’s Music:

“Isaiah the Prophet Has Written of Old” (VU #680)

“Isaiah the prophet has written of old how God’s new creation shall come,
Instead of the thorn tree, the fir tree shall grow;
The wolf shall lie down with the lamb. 
The mountains and hills shall break forth into song,
The peoples be led forth in peace,
For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God
As the waters cover the seas. 

Yet nations still prey on the meek of the world,
And conflict turns parent from child.
Your people despoil all the sweetness of earth;
The brier and the thorn tree grow wild. 
God, bring to fruition your will for the earth,
That no one shall hurt or destroy,
That wisdom and justice shall reign in the land
And your people shall go forth in joy.”

Joy Paterson, from Wausau, Wisconsin wrote the above text in 1982, based on Isaiah 11:6-9 and 55:12-13.  It was one of seven winning hymns published in New Hymns for Children (1982).  The tune, SAMANTHRA, is an American folk tune from Southern Harmony (1835).

“O Day of Peace” (VU #682)

“O day of peace that dimly shines through all our hopes and prayers and dreams,
Guide us to justice, truth and love, delivered from our selfish schemes.
May swords of hate fall from our hands, our hearts from envy find release,
Till by God’s grace our warring world shall see Christ’s promised reign of peace.

Then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb, nor shall the fierce devour the small;
As beasts and cattle calmly graze, a little child shall lead them all.
Then enemies shall learn to love, all creatures find their true accord;
The hope of peace shall be fulfilled, for all the earth shall know the Lord.”

This hymn has lyrics by Carl P. Daw, Jr., quoting from Isaiah and was written in 1982.  The words reference the peacable kingdom, a future period of time on Earth when peace and unity shall reign.  The tune, JERUSALEM, was composed by C. Hubert H Parry (1916) and is his most famous tune, which is also used with the hymn known as “Jerusalem,” with words by William Blake, which starts with the lyrics, “and did those feet, in ancient time.”

“I See a New Heaven” (VU #713)

“I see a new heaven, I see a new earth as the old one will pass away,
Where the fountain of life flows and without price goes to all people who abide in the land.

There, there on the banks of a river bright and free,
Yielding her fruit, firm in her root,
The Tree of Life will be.

There, there where death dies and our lives are born again, 
Body and soul, struggling but whole
Like flowers after the rain.

There, there where the darkness brings visions from above.
There where the night, bearing new light,
Reveals the promise of love.

There, there where we work with the love of healing hands.
Labour we must, true to our trust
To build a promised new land.

I see a new heaven…”

The text of this hymn by Carolyn McDade is based on Revelation 21. It was written in 1979.

See the song sung in worship at Strathroy United Church at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzVejfBb3SA

“Grant Us, God, the Grace of Giving” (VU #540)

“Grant Us, God, the grace of giving,
With a spirit large and free,
That ourselves and all our living
We may offer faithfully.”

The text of our offering response comes from the Mennonite hymn book, “Hymnal: a Worship Book.”  The tune is a familiar one which is also used for the Advent hymn “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”  (VU #2).

“One More Step” (VU #639)

“One more step along the world I go,
One more step along the world I go,
From the old things to the new, keep me traveling along with you:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new; keep me traveling along with you.

Round the corner of the world I turn,
More and more about the world I learn;
All the new things that I see you’ll be looking at along with me:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
Keep me traveling along with you.

As I travel through the bad and good, keep me traveling the way I should;
Where I see no way to go you’ll be telling me the way, I know:
And it’s form the old I travel to the new;
Keep me traveling along with you. 

Give me courage when the world is rough,
Keep me loving though the world is tough,
Leap and sing in all I do, keep me traveling along with you:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
Keep me traveling along with you. 

You are older than the world can be,
You are younger than the life in me,
Ever old and ever new, keep me traveling along with you:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
Keep me traveling along with you.”

This folk-hymn by Sydney Carter was written in 1971.  The words of the hymn emphasize that living a faith-filled life is more about the journey than about having all of the answers.  It also speaks of our desire to have God with us as we live and learn in a world that is constantly changing.

“Peace Be with You” (MV #215)

“Peace be with you, peace forever,
Peace be with you, my friends.
Till we meet again, may God be with you.
Peace, peace, peace.”

Our benediction response was written by Alison L. Wesley (Slaats) in 2000.

Hear the song on piano at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU1saI3YD-0