Notes on the Notes – May 26, 2024
Second Sunday of Pentecost
This week’s music:
“Praise With Joy the World’s Creator” (VU #312)
“Praise with joy the world’s Creator,
God of justice, love, and peace,
Source and end of human knowledge,
God whose grace shall never cease.
Celebrate the Maker’s glory,
Power to rescue and release.
Praise to Christ who feeds the hungry,
Frees the captive, finds the lost,
Heals the sick, upsets religion,
Fearless both of fate and cost.
Celebrate Christ’s constant presence:
Friend and stranger, guest and host.
Praise the Spirit sent among us,
Liberating truth from pride,
Forging bonds where race or gender,
Age or nation dare divide.
Celebrate the Spirit’s treasure:
Foolishness none dare deride.
Praise the Maker, Christ, and Spirit,
One God in community,
Calling Christians to embody
Oneness and diversity.
This the world shall see reflected:
God is One and One in Three.”
This text in praise of the Trinity was written for an anniversary conference of the World Student Christian Federation held at Edinburgh in 1985 by the Iona Community. It brings fresh insights to the understanding of the Godhead. In verse one we offer praise to the Creator, “God of justice, love and peace…” Verse two celebrates “Christ’s constant presence” with us as fearless world-changer. In verse three, the hymn offers praise to the Spirit, moving among us, “liberating truth from pride…” The final verse brings all three together into the Trinity, calling us to “embody oneness and diversity.” The music LAUDA ANIMA (PRAISE MY SOUL) was composed by John Goss, organist at St. Paul’s Cathdral in London, in 1868. The tune is most well-known as the tune for the hymn, “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven.”
Watch an organ solo of this hymn tune at: https://youtu.be/Q5VkuRqUA0Y
“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 will be our response to the words of assurance. It was written by Carolyn McDade in 1981 and arranged by Grace Lewis-McLaren and published in 1993.
“The Church is Wherever God’s People” (VU #579)
“The church is wherever God’s people are praising,
Singing God’s goodness for joy on this day.
The church is wherever disciples of Jesus
remember his story and walk in his way.
The church is wherever God’s people are helping,
Caring for neighbours in sickness and need.
The church is wherever God’s people are sharing
the words of the Bible in gift and in deed.”
The simple lyrics of this hymn remind us that “church” is not about the church building, but that we can be the church wherever we are by our words and actions as God’s people. The words were written by Carol Rose Ikeler in 1959. The tune is based on a traditional English carol, “Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day.” The arrangement used in Voices United was made for The Hymn Book (1971) by F.R.C. Clarke, composer and organist at Sydenham Street United Church in Kingston, Ontario.
Enjoy listening to a string arrangement of the tune at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t6HhlbNlL4
“We are the Followers of Jesus”
“We are the followers of Jesus.
We’re the followers of the Lamb of God.
We are the followers of Jesus Christ,
We’re the followers of the Lord.
Halle, halle, hallelujah!
Let the love of Christ shine through.
Halle, halle, hallelujah!
Follwers of the Lord.
We are born of the Spirit,
Born from above,
Our lives are a gift from God who loves us.
Praise to our Maker, let us sing
And tell the whole world!”
Throughout the season of Pentecost, we contemplate our role as followers of the risen Christ. This lively anthem was written by Dave and Jean Perry in 2008.
“We Give You But Your Own” (VU #542)
“We give you but your own,
Whate’er the gift may be,
All that we have is yours alone,
We give it gratefully.”
The words for our offering response were written by William Walsham How in 1858, and updated for use in Voices United. The music is by Johann Balthasar Konig (1738), with adaptations by William Henry Havergal (1847).
“Sing a New World into Being”
“Sing a new world into being. Sound a bold and hopeful theme.
Find a tune for silent yearnings. Lend your voice and dare to dream:
Dream a church where all who worship find their lives and loves belong.
Sing a new world into being. Sing as Christ inspires your song!
Sing a new world into being where each gender class and race
Brings its rainbow gifts and colors to God’s limitless embrace;
Where the lines that once divided form instead the ties that bind.
Sing a new world into being – risk transforming heart and mind!
Sing a new world into being where the homeless find a home.
Where no children ever hunger but are filled with God’s shalom;
Where all people work for justice, where all hate and vengeance cease.
Sing a new world into being – raise the harmonies of peace.
Sing a new world into being. Join the ancient prophets’ cry
For a time of health and plenty when all tears have been wiped dry;
When compassion flows like waters, pouring balm for all who grieve.
Sing a new world into being – live the promise you believe!”
Mary Louise Bringle wrote the text for this hymn in 2005. Through the four verses, the words encourage us to join in the creation of a world where all belong and can live in peace and justice. The hymn is set to the tune, NETTLETON (found at VU #559).
Hear the tune played on organ at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4AghcUS9Xk
“One More Step Along the World” (VU #639)
“One more step along the world we go,
One more step along the world we go,
From the old things to the new, keep us traveling along with you:
And it’s from the old we travel to the new; keep us traveling along with you.
We will be using one verse of this hymn, with adapted lyrics, as our benediction response during the month of May. The hymn was written by Sydney Carter was written in 1971. The words 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. We ask that God be with us, and we be with God, as we continue to move forward and change as Windsor Park United Church.
