Notes on the Notes – September 1, 2024

This week’s music:

“I Sing the Mighty Power” (VU #231)

“I sing the mighty power of God that made the mountains rise;
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God’s command and all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the One who filled the earth with food;
Who formed the creatures with a word, and then pronounced them good.
O God, your wonders are displayed where’er I turn my eye;
If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky!

There’s not a plant or flower below but makes your glories known;
And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from your throne;
While all that borrows life from you is ever in your care;
And everywhere that I may be, You, God, are present there.”

This hymn in praise of the Creator is from Divine Songs Attempted in Easy Language, for the Use of Children (1715), a collection of songs which Isaac Watts wrote for children, at the request of a friend.  Australian hymnologist Wesley Milgate comments, “Watts shows in this hymn a readiness rare in his time to credit children with intelligence and imagination, so that it is a fine hymn for adults also.”  The words assure us of God’s power as Creator, as well as the ever-present nature of God.  The tune, HAYDN, has been attributed to Franz Joseph Haydn, but, despite its name, the association has never been proven.

“Alleluia” (MV #50)

“Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”

Our sung response to the Words of Assurance has music written by Norah Duncan IV (1987).

“To Leave the Stones Unthrown”

“To leave the stones unthrown,
to turn the other cheek,
to bear a load an extra mile,
to listen more than speak:
such are the marks of love,
the testaments of grace,
the daily glimpses of the cross
Christ calls us to embrace.

Not only in extremes,
in moments stark and clear,
in dark-night wrestling long and hard
or agony severe,
but in some faithful act,
some scarcely conscious choice,
we find the grace to hear and heed
the bidding of Christ’s voice.

New crosses wait each day,
new challenges to meet,
new signposts for the way of life,
new marks of death’s defeat:
yet, be they great or small,
unique or commonplace,
they help us look beyond ourselves
to see and know Christ’s face.”

The words for this hymn were written by Carl P. Daw Jr. in 2005.  We will be using the tune TERRA BEATA, commonly known as the tune for the hymn “This is My Father’s World,” (VU #296).  The tune was originally an English folk tune that was arranged by Franklin L. Sheppard  (1915).

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”  (VU #664)

“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Christ the Saviour is our refuge; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do our friends despise, forsake us? Are we tempted to despair?
Jesus’ strength will shield our weakness, and we’ll find new courage there.”

The words for this hymn were originally written by Joseph M. Scriven in 1855 as a poem to comfort his ill mother who was living in Ireland while he was in Canada.  He could not return to be with her, so he wrote a letter of comfort and enclosed this poem.   Years later, one of Joseph’s friends discovered his poems and they were published in a book called Hymns and Other verses.”  The tune to the hymn was composed by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868.

Watch a video about the creation of the hymn at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKjUoE2fack

Hear the Voice of Praise Quartet at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XRmGEbH0qs
Hear Alan Jackson sing the hymn at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCV5t8wRBI8

“What Can I Do?” (MV #191)

“What can I do? What can I bring?
What can I say? What can I sing?
I’ll sing with joy. I’ll say a prayer.
I’ll bring my love. I’ll do my share.”

This joyful song of offering and dedication was written by Paul Rumbolt and Michele McCarthy (2005). The arrangement in More Voices is by Alan C. Whitmore.

“My Love Colours Outside the Lines” (MV #138)

“My love colours outside the lines,
Exploring paths that few could ever find;
And takes me into places where I’ve never been before,
And opens doors to worlds outside the lines.

My Lord colours outside the lines,
Turns wounds to blessings, water into wine;
And takes me into places where I’ve never been before
And opens doors to worlds outside the lines.

We’ll never walk on water if we’re not prepared to drown,
Body and soul need a soaking from time to time.
And we’ll never move the gravestones if we’re not prepared to die,
And realize there are worlds outside the lines.

My soul longs to colour outside the lines,
Tear back the curtains, sun, come in and shine;
I want to walk beyond the boundaries where I’ve never been before,
Throw open doors to worlds outside the lines.”

This song is by Gordon Light (1995) of the Common Cup Company, arranged for More Voices by Andrew Donaldson.  It speaks to our longing to follow God’s call, and gently encourages us to overcome our fear of stepping out of our comfort zone in order to do so.  Read a blog post on the subject of colouring outside the lines at:  https://indianapolisfaith.org/2019/05/05/coloring-outside-the-lines/

Hear the song recorded by the Praise Team in 2021:

“I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” (VU #575 v 1 & 4)

“I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.

I’m gonna sing so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
I’m gonna sing so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.”

This traditional African-American spiritual is from the Presbyterian Hymnal (1990).  As our worship service comes to end, we go into the world ready to be used by God “anywhere, any time.”