Notes on the Notes – September 15, 2024

Second Sunday in the Season of Creation

This week’s music:

“It’s a Song of Praise to the Maker” (MV #30)

“It’s a song of praise to the Maker, the thrush sings high in the tree.
It’s a song of praise to the Maker, the gray whale sings in the sea,
And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

It’s a call of life to the Giver when waves and waterfalls roar.
It’s a call of life to the Giver when high tides break on the shore,
And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

It’s a hymn of love to the Lover; the bumblebees hum along.
It’s a hymn of love to the Lover, the summer breeze joins the song,
And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

It’s the chorus of all creation; it’s sung by all living things.
It’s the chorus of all creation; a song the universe sings,
And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.”

Ruth Duck and Ron Klusmeier collaborated on this song, which is based on Psalm 148. Ruth uses the Psalm as inspiration for this hymn, which encourages us to join with all creation to “sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.” It is a psalm which resounds with praise to the Lord God Almighty – the Creator of Heaven and the Earth. As the work of God’s hands, it is only right and proper that all of heaven and earth praise the Lord.

“O Beautiful Gaia” (MV #41)

“O beautiful Gaia,
O Gaia, calling us home.
O beautiful Gaia,
Calling us on.”

The term Gaia (guy-ah) represents “Mother Earth,” inviting us to live into our care and respect for all creation. It asks us to consider our relationship to the earth in the context of our faith. During the Season of Creation, we will be using the chorus as our response to the Words of Assurance.  The words and music are by Carolyn McDade and the arrangement is by Lydia Pedersen (2006).

“For the Beauty of the Earth”  (VU #226)

“For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth over and around us lies,
God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light,
God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. 

For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild,
God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. 

For each perfect gift sublime to our race so freely given,
Grace human and divine, flowers of earth and buds of heaven,
God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.”

The words for this hymn of gratitude were written by Folliott Sandford Peirpoint in 1864.  We will be using the hymn tune DIX, familiar as the tune for the hymn “As With Gladness Men of Old” (VU #81) composed by Conrad Kocher (1838) and adapted by William H. Monk (1861).

“With Respect in Creation”

“All creation groans as earth, our fragile home,
Turns in paths that lead to devastation,
Fish and bird and tree, threatened until we
Will live with respect in creation.

Skies and seas and land, created for God’s plan,
Not for our own selfish domination,
Drought or rising sea threaten until we
Will live with respect in creation.

All creation sighs, we hear the Spirit’s cries,
Calling for rebirth and restoration,
Warmth for every heart, healing of each part
That lives with respect in creation.

All creation sings, let fields and forests ring
As we make this holy declaration,
Mountains, lakes, rejoice, joining every voice
To live with respect in creation.

We’ll live with respect in creation.”

This week’s anthem was written by David Kai in 2012.  It is based on the United Church’s “A New Creed” and Romans 8, calling for the care of creation. The words of the song take us from our planet’s current situation to a time of hope and healing, when we work to help the earth return to the state it is meant to be, where all “live with respect in creation.”  This song received an honourable mention for the United Church’s Earth Day Sacred Song Contest and Pax Christi Chorale hymn competition.

“For the Gift of Creation” (VU #538)

“For the gift of creation, the gift of your love,
And the gift of the Spirit by which we live,
We thank you and give you the fruit of our hands.
May your grace be proclaimed by the gifts that we give.”

Our offering dedication is from the United Methodist Book of Worship (1991) and is especially appropriate during the season of Creation.  The composer, Steve Garnaas-Holmes is a United Methodist pastor in Montana.

“To Show by Touch and Word” (VU #427)

“To show by touch and word devotion to the earth,
To hold in full regard all life that comes to birth,
We need, O God, the will to find the good you had of old in mind.

Renew our minds to choose the things that matter most,
To speak and do the truth, creating peace and trust.
For every challenge that we face we need your guidance and your grace.

Let love from day to day be touchstone, guide, and norm,
And let our lives portray your Word in human form.
Now come with us that we may have your wits about us where we live.”

This hymn by Fred Kaan (1974) and Ron Klusmeier (1974) brings our worship to a close with a prayer to God.  As we are faced by the challenges of a world seeking to understand our impact on the Creation and each other, we ask for God’s presence and love.

Hear the hymn at: https://youtu.be/2rcs4iCL79I

“When You Walk from Here” (VU #298)

“When you walk from here,
When you walk from here,
Walk with justice, walk with mercy,
And with God’s humble care.”

Our benediction response was written by Linnea Good of Vancouver.  It was published in Stickpeople (1993).
The text is derived from Micah 6:8.

Here the song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvd2PUoEj9g