Notes on the Notes – January 19, 2025

Second Sunday after Epiphany

This week’s music: 

“Songs of Thankfulness and Praise” (VU #101)

“Song of thankfulness and praise, Jesus Christ, to you we raise,
Manifested by the star to the sages from afar;
Branch of royal David’s stem in your birth at Bethlehem;
Anthems be to you addressed, God in flesh made manifest.

Manifest at Jordan’s stream, Prophet, Priest, and King supreme;
And at Cana wedding guest, in your Godhead manifest;
Manifest in power divine, changing water into wine;
Anthems be to you addressed, God in flesh made manifest.

Manifest in making whole palsied limbs and fainting soul;
Manifest in valiant fight, quelling all the devil’s might;
Manifest in gracious will, ever bringing good from ill;
Anthems be to you addressed, God in flesh made manifest.

Grant us grace to see you, Lord, mirrored in your holy Word;
With your grace our lives endow, grace to imitate you now,
That we like to you may be at your great epiphany,
Anthems be to you addressed, God in flesh made manifest.”

The text of this hymn provides a recap of the whole message of Epiphany.  It outlines the ways in which Christ was made manifest in history and concludes with a prayer for the imitation of Christ.  The hymn was written by Christopher Wordsworth, the nephew of William Wordsworth, and published in his collection of hymns for the church year entitled The Holy Year, in 1862.  The tune is attributed to Jacob Hintze (1678) with harmony adapted from J.S. Bach (ca. 1765).

“Gloria” (VU #37)

“Gloria, gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, gloria, alleluia, alleluia.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest!
Glory to God, glory to God, hallelujah, hallelujah!”

This music was written by Jacques Berthier for the Taize Community.  The English text by R. Gerald Hobbs and the music arrangement by Darryl Nixon were prepared for Songs for a Gospel People (1987).  We will be using it as a response to the Words of Assurance.

“Many are the Light Beams” (VU #588)

“Many are the light beams from the one light.
Our one light is Jesus.
Many are the light beams from the one light;
We are one in Christ.

Many are the branches of the one tree.
Our one tree is Jesus.
Many are the branches of the one tree;
We are one in Christ.

Many are the gifts given, love is all one.
Love’s the gift of Jesus.
Many are the gifts given, love is all one;
We are one in Christ.

Many ways to serve God, the Spirit is one,
Servant spirit of Jesus.
Many ways to serve God, the Spirit is one;
We are one in Christ.

Many are the members, the body is one,
Members all of Jesus.
Many are the members, the body is one;
We are one in Christ.

In 1972, Anders Frostenson, a Swedish pastor and hymn writer, wrote this paraphrase of a passage from “De Unitat ellesiae” by Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage (252 A.D.). The English translation is by David Lewis (1983). The tune was written by Swedish composer Olle Widestrand and arranged by Leonard Lythgoe of Vancouver. This hymn was sung extensively at the Vancouver and Canberra Assemblies of the World Council of Churches. Its message of diversity of gifts used in unity of purpose strikes a healing note in a fractured world.

“Cana Wine”

“Some friends of mine got married about three days ago,
I could take you to the place down in the valley just below.
But I think I’ll stay up here a time and enjoy the sweet warm glow,
That has come with the taste of Cana wine.

It was just a simple wedding, you know the kind I mean,
Holding hands, holding hearts and holding fast to all their dreams.
But somehow I got the feeling it was more than first it seemed,
Must have been from the taste of Cana wine. 

Cana wine, Cana wine, working on my heart and mind;
Flowing free, filling me, ’til I lose all sense of time.
Cana wine, pure and fine, from the fairest of all vines;
Come, sit down, and we’ll share some Cana wine.

I didn’t have that much to drink, but I never felt so tall,
The wine was finding empty holes I hadn’t known at all.
It touched the deepest hurts in me, ’til it found and filled my soul,
Never tasted the like of Cana wine.

That marriage down in Cana brought new life to my friends,
I bless them and I wish them all the fullness life can bring.
But a new life’s rising in me too, like an overflowing stream,
And it comes from the taste of Cana wine. 

Cana wine, Cana wine, working on my heart and mind;
Flowing free, filling me, ’til I lose all sense of time.
Cana wine, pure and fine, from the fairest of all vines;
Come, sit down, and we’ll share some Cana wine.”

This reflection on the wedding at Cana was written by Gordon Light in 1987 and appears on the album “Draw the Circle Wide – The Common Cup Company Live Volume 2.” We will be using an arrangement by Andrew Donaldson (1999).

Hear the song sung by the Common Cup Company at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du735ZkJoCo&t=23s

Learn more about the group at:  https://commoncup.com/history/

“Grant Us, God, the Grace of Giving” (VU #540)

“Grant Us, God, the grace of giving,
With a spirit large and free,
That ourselves and all our living
We may offer faithfully.”

The text of our offering response for the season of Epiphany comes from the Mennonite hymn book, “Hymnal: a Worship Book.”  The tune is a familiar one which is also used for the Advent hymn “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (VU #2).

“Sing a New Church”

“Summoned by the God who made us
Rich in our diversity,
Gathering in the name of Jesus,
Richer still in unity:

Let us bring the gifts that differ
And in splendid, varied ways,
Sing a new church into being,
One in faith and love and praise.

Trust the goodness of creation;
Trust the Spirit strong within.
Dare to dream the vision promised,
Sprung from seed of what has been.

Let us bring…

Bring the hopes of ev’ry nation;
Bring the art of ev’ry race.
Weave a song of peace and justice;
Let it sound through time and space.

Let us bring…”

This hymn was written by Delores Dufner in 1991.  The lyrics express a hope for a growth and regeneration within the church that expands our inclusivity and welcomes the unique and varied gifts that each person has, bringing us closer to more just and peaceful world.   The words are set to the tune NETTLETON.  Hear the hymn at: https://youtu.be/Qt5Fqm3xS10  (click on CC to have the lyrics appear)

“Called as Partners in Christ’s Service”

“Called as partners in Christ’s service,
Called to ministries of grace,
We respond with deep commitment
Fresh new lines of faith to trace.
May we learn the art of sharing,
side by side and friend with friend,
Equal partners in our caring
to fulfill God’s chosen end.”

The words for our benediction response come from the first verse of the hymn of the same name,  written by Jane Parker Huber in 1981.  The words are a commissioning to go into the world with a deep commitment to live the life of a follower of Jesus, bringing our faith into all of our actions. The tune, BEECHER, was composed by John Zundel in 1870.