Notes on the Notes – January 28, 2024

Fourth Sunday in the season of Epiphany

This week’s music is provided by the musicians at Atlantic-Garden City United Church (on-line, with the Worship choir helping lead music at WPUC’s in person service):

“Behold, Behold, I Make All Things New”  (MV #115)

“Behold, behold,
I make all things new, beginning with you
and starting from today.
Behold, behold, 
I make all things new, my promise is true,
For I am Christ the way.” 

Our gathering song for the month of January was written by John L. Bell in 1995.

Hear the song sung by WPUC’s worship choir:

“Come and Seek the Ways of Wisdom” (MV #10) 

“Come and seek the ways of Wisdom, she who danced when earth was new.
Follow closely what she teaches, for her words are right and true.
Wisdom clears the path to justice, showing us what love must do.

Listen to the voice of Wisdom, crying in the marketplace.
Hear the Word made flesh among us, full of glory, truth, and grace.
When the word takes root and ripens, peace and righteousness embrace.

Sister Wisdom, come, assist us; nurture all who seek rebirth.
Spirit-guide and close companion, bring to light our sacred worth.
Free us to become your people, holy friends of God and earth.”

The words for this hymn were written by Ruth Duck in 1993.  She says, “In my sophomore Bible class at Rhodes College in Memphis, I learned about Lady Wisdom, an intriguing image of God found in Proverbs, Matthew, 1 Corinthians, and literature between the testaments.”   She created this hymn to attempt to express a trinitarian theology with this image. Sophia is the biblical Greek word for Wisdom, which is why Wisdom is often portrayed as female. In this hymn we see Wisdom as Creator, Word-with-us, and Spirit-guide.  The music is by Donna Kasbohm, a composer from the Twin Cities.

“Will You Come and Follow Me”  (VU #567) 

This hymn, also known as “The Summons” was written by John Bell of the Iona Community.  The first three verses contain the questions that Jesus poses to us –

“Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be know,
Will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Will you love the “you” you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around,
Through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

Jesus’ questions involve taking personal risks as well as risks in the world as his followers.  Being a follower of Jesus also requires a change in us, both in attitude and in action.

The final verse of the hymn is our answer – our commitment to move forward with Christ and never be the same:

“Christ, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.”

The tune is the traditional Scottish tune KELINGROVE, which is the same tune as the hymn “Will You Come and See the Light” another hymn about making choices to follow Jesus.

Hear the hymn sung by Robert Kochis at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0aAkOe87mo

“When Hands Reach Out Beyond Divides” (MV #169)

“When hands reach out beyond divides and hope is truly found,
Each chain of hate will fall away and bells of peace shall sound.
And bells of peace, of peace shall sound, and bells of peace shall sound,
Each chain of hate will fall away and bells of peace shall sound. 

When fear no longer guides our steps and days of war are done,
God’s dream for all shall live anew; our hearts will heal as one.
Our hearts will heal, will heal as one, our hearts will heal as one.
God’s dream for all shall live anew; our hearts will heal as one.

When race and creed blind us no more, a neighbour’s face we’ll see,
And we shall dance the whole world round, for love will set us free.
For love, yes love will set us free, for love will set us free,
And we shall dance the whole world round, for love will set us free.”

The lyrics for this hymn of unity, peace and love are by Keri Wehlander, an author, hymn lyricist, liturgical dancer and leader of retreats and workshops. The tune, SALEM, is from the 1854 edition of Southern Harmony.

Hear the hymn recorded by Andrea LeBlanc at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MNjjTgA_cI

“I Praise You, O God” (MV #61) 

“I praise you, O God, with all of my heart.
With all the earth I will sing your praises.”

Our offering response for the month of January has words and music by David Robertson (2005) and was inspired by Psalm 138:1.

Hear this response at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLIH4X43Dxc

“And When You Call for Me” (MV #96)

“And when you call for me, I have already answered.
And when you call for me, I am already there.”

This sung introduction to prayer was written by Lynn Bauman in 2000, with music by Linnea Good (2004).

“Draw the Circle Wide” (MV #145)

“Draw the circle wide.  Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
Standing side by side, draw the circle wide.

God the still-point of the circle,
‘Round whom all creation turns;
nothing lost, but held forever,
In God’s gracious arms.

Let our hearts touch far horizons,
So encompass great and small;
Let our loving know no borders,
Faithful to God’s call.

Let the dreams we dream be larger
Than we’ve ever dreamed before;
Let the dream of Christ be in us,
Open every door.”

This hymn of inclusion was written by Gordon Light of the Common Cup Company in 1994 and arranged by Michael Bloss in 1998.  If God’s love is the centre point of our lives, everything we do ripples out from God’s love and grows to encompass everyone we meet.

“Go Now in Peace, Guided by the Light” (MV #211)

This commissioning and prayer for guidance was originally written in Spanish (“Vayan en paz”) by Pedro Rubalcava in 2002.  It was arranged by Peter Kolar, also in 2002.

“Go now in peace, guided by the light of Christ,
So you may be nourished by the Word of Life.”