Notes on the Notes – December 21, 2022

Longest Night Service

“When the Wind of Winter Blows” (MV #71)

“When the wind of winter blows, bringing times of solitude,
Fill the silent icy night; be our hearts’ compassion.
Holy Light, warm our night; warm the time of winter.
Holy Light, warm our night; warm the time of winter.

When we shiver in despair, when the chill of death comes near,
Hold us, Spirit, calm our fear, while the evening deepens.
Holy Light, warm our night; warm the time of winter.
Holy Light, warm our night; warm the time of winter.

When in days of fallen snow, change confounds or love burns low,
From the ashes may there rise phoenix of our growing.
Holy Light, warm our night; warm the time of winter.
Holy Light, warm our night; warm the time of winter.”

This hauntingly beautiful hymn has words by Ruth Duck (1992) and music by Lori True (2000).  The text uses the winter cold and accompanying darkness as a metaphor for the times when we experience fear and despair, and calls upon the Holy Light to “warm our time of winter.”  In these times, we ask God to show compassion, calm our fears, and move us through the time so that, like a phoenix, we might arise from the ashes.

Hear The Harmony Singers at: https://youtu.be/Nv519YZUjW0

“Come and Fill our Hearts” (MV #16)

“Come and fill our hearts with your peace.
You alone, O Lord, are holy.
Come and fill our hearts with your peace.
Alleluia!”

This short song of centering and healing prayer comes from the Taize Community, with music by Jacques Berthier (1982).  It will be sung in the response to the lighting of each candle.

Take a few moments to relax and breathe at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYfW2BBtAos

“Be the Centre”

“Jesus, be the centre,
Be my source, be my light, Jesus.

Jesus, be the centre,
Be my hope, be my song, Jesus.

Be the fire in my heart,
Be the wind in these sails,
Be the reason that I live, Jesus, Jesus.

Jesus, be my vision,
Be my path, be my guide, Jesus.

Be the fire in my heart,
Be the wind in these sails,
Be the reason that I live, Jesus, Jesus.

Be the fire in my heart,
Be the wind in these sails,

Be the reason that I live, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”

As we move through our Longest Night service we sing this song by Michael Frye (1999).  The song expresses the desire to move beyond our own needs and wants to fully having Jesus and his teachings at the center of our lives.

Hear Michael Frye sing the song at:  https://youtu.be/MERQ0P6O0CE

“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” (VU #44 – v 1 and 4)

“It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold,
“Peace on the earth, good will to all, from heaven’s all-gracious King!”
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

For, lo! The days are hastening on, by prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold,
When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendours fling,
And the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.”

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear is about the message of peace that the angels proclaimed on the first Christmas, when Jesus was born. The song looks forward to a time when people will respond to the angels by living in peace with God and each other, and likens doing so to offering the angels’ song back to them.

Edward Hamilton Sears, a Unitarian minister, wrote the text of this carol during a period of social and political turmoil in Europe and the United States.  It was first published in Boston in 1849, but the message still rings true today.  It was one of the first times that an American writer had penned words that would become a Christmas carol.  The American composer Richard Storrs Willis, who had studied music with renowned composer Felix Mendelssohn in Germany, wrote a tune called ‘CAROL’ and adapted the words of Sears’ poem to that music about a decade after the poem was first published (1850).

Hear the carol sung by Julie Andrews at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwBajJ3ZFVo

Hear the carol sung by The Harmony Singers at:  https://youtu.be/w7RUEDrfMuY