Notes on the Notes – April 20, 2025 – Easter Sunday

Service Music:

“Jesus Christ is Risen Today” (VU #155)

“Jesus Christ is risen today, hallelujah!
Our triumphant holy day, hallelujah!
Who did once upon the cross, hallelujah!
Suffer to redeem our loss.  Hallelujah!

Hymns of praise then let us sing…
Unto Christ, our heavenly King,…
Who endured the cross and grave,…
Sinners to redeem and save…

But the pains which he endured,…
Our salvation have procured;…
Now above the sky he’s King,…
Where the angels ever sing…

Sing we to our God above…
Praise eternal as God’s love;…
Praise our God, ye heavenly host,…
Praise the Son and Holy Ghost.  Hallelujah!

This triumphant Easter carol appears in several 14th-century manuscripts, and has been revised and added to over the centuries, with the fourth verse being written by Charles Wesley in 1740.   The tune, EASTER HYMN, is a model of the new hymnody that was being introduced to English congregations at the beginning of the 18th century.   The descant was written by Derek Holman in 1971.

See the King’s College Choir at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMwPEmUMP7U

“Alleluia” (MV #50)

“Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”

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

“Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Give Thanks” (VU #179)

“Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give thanks to the risen Christ.
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give praise to God’s name.

Jesus is Lord of all the earth,
Firstborn of all creation.

Hallelujah…

Spread the good news o’er all the earth:
Jesus has died and is risen.

Hallelujah….

We have been crucified with Christ,
Now we shall live forever.

Hallelujah…

Come let us praise the living God,
Joyfully sing to our Saviour.

Hallelujah…”

The text of this hymn is a series of paraphrases from the letters of Paul.  The words and music are by Donald Fishel (1971) with descant by Betty Pulkingman (1987).   Darryl Nixon created this arrangement for publication in the United Church hymn supplement Songs for a Gospel People (1987).

See the hymn sung in worship at Strathroy United Church at:  https://youtu.be/0GWSdq8GVG8

“He is Risen”

“He is risen!  He is risen! Alleluia, Christ is risen!
Let the song ring out through all the earth: “Our Savior’s risen today!”
Alleluia! Alleluia! Sing a joyful alleluia.
For the chains of death can hold Him no more.
Let us praise His name.  Let the earth proclaim:
“He is risen!”

He is risen! He is risen! Alleluia, Christ is risen!
On this happy morn a miracle comes to those who truly believe.
Alleluia!  Alleluia! Sing a joyful alleluia.
For a new and glorious day has begun.
Let the bells ring out, let the people shout:
“He is risen!”

For Christ the Lord has been victorious
freeing us from death and sin.
Now a new life waits before us.
All on earth is born again.
Come rejoicing, come rejoicing.
Raise your voice, raise your voice in praise.

He is risen! He is risen! Alleluia, Christ is risen.
Let the message ring throughout the world;
“He lives this Easter day!”
Alleluia! Alleluia! Sing a joyful alleluia.
Let us celebrate the wonderful news.
Let the anthems ring,
Let the people sing,
He is risen!
He is risen!
Alleluia!”

Our Easter anthem by Nancy Price and Don Besig (1989) is a celebration of the news of the resurrection.  The song also incorporates the hymn tune REGENT SQUARE, composed by Henry Smart (1867).

“Come People of the Risen King”

“Come people of the risen King who delight to bring Him praise.
Come all and tune your hearts to sing to the Morning Star of grace.
From the shifting shadows of the earth we will lift our eyes to Him
Where steady arms of mercy reach to gather children in.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice, O church of Christ, rejoice!

Come those whose joy is morning sun and those weeping through the night.
Come those who tell of battles won and those struggling in the night.
For His perfect love will never change and His mercies never cease,
But follow us through all our days with the certain hope of peace.

Rejoice!…

Come, young and old from every land, men and women of the faith.
Come, those with full or empty hands, find the riches of His grace,
Over all the world His people sing, shore to shore we hear them call
The truth that cries through every age,
“Our God is all in all!”

Rejoice!…”

This lively anthem, by Keith and Kristyn Getty, is rooted in the traditions of Celtic and English hymnody.  It invites us to rejoice in the resurrection with Christians around the world in all times and places.  The choral arrangement is by David Angerman.

“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.

“Because You Live O Christ” (VU #178) 

“Because you live, O Christ, the garden of the world has come to flower,
The darkness of the tomb is flooded with your resurrection power.

The stone has rolled away and death cannot imprison.
O sing this Easter Day, for Jesus Christ has risen,
Has risen, has risen, has risen!

Because you live, O Christ, the spirit bird of hope is freed for flying,
Our cages of despair no longer keep us closed and life-denying.

The stone has rolled away…

Because you live, O Christ, the rainbow of your peace will span creation,
The colours of your love will draw al human kind to adoration.

The stone has rolled away…” 

Shirley Erena Murray, a New Zealand hymn writer, wrote this strong new hymn to provide an alternative Easter text for the tune VRUECHTEN.  “I wanted a fresh expression of community joyfulness, with light, color, and the vision of the covenant rainbow through the Resurrection.”  (Shirley Erena Murray).  The hymn is published in her collection, In Every Corner Sing (1992).

“Amen” (VU #974)

“Amen, amen, hallelujah, amen!
Amen, amen, hallelujah, amen!”

Our benediction response this week was written by Jim Strathdee (1985).