Notes on the Notes – January 12, 2014
Baptism of Jesus
This week’s scripture readings: Isaiah 42:1-9, Matthew 3:13-17
This week’s music:
“Let Us Build a House” (MV #1)
“Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live, a place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive. Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace; here the love of Christ shall end divisions: All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place…”
Our gathering hymn of welcome comes from More Voices. It was written by Marty Haugen in 1994. Hear the song at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAZC65CwTEA
“She Comes Sailing on the Wind” (VU #380)
“She comes sailing on the wind, her wings flashing in the sun; on a journey just begun, she flies on. And in the passage of her flight, her song rings out through the night, full of laughter, full of light, she flies on.
Silent waters rocking on the morning of our birth, like an empty cradle waiting to be filled. And from the heart of God the Spirit moved upon the earth, like a mother breathing life into her child.
Many were the dreamers whose eyes were given sight when the Spirit filled their dreams with life and form. Deserts turned to gardens, broken hearts found new delight, and then down the ages still she flew on.
To a gentle girl in Galilee, a gentle breeze she came, a whisper softly calling in the dark, the promise of a child of peace whose reign would never end, Mary sang the Spirit song within her heart.
Flying to the river, she waited circling high above the child now grown so full of grace. As he rose up from the water, she swept down from the sky, and she carried him away in her embrace.
Long after the deep darkness that fell upon the world, after dawn returned in flame of rising sun, the Spirit touched the earth again, again her wings unfurled, bringing life in wind and fire as she flew on…”
This folk-style song was written by Gordon Light of the Common Cup Company, a group originally formed in Winnipeg and subsequently based in Burnaby, BC. It was written in 1985. The verses lead us through the stories of Creation, Old Testament prophecy, Jesus’ birth, baptism, Easter and Pentecost, while the chorus emphasizes the eternal nature of God’s Spirit.
“O Radiant Christ, Incarnate Word” (VU #84)
“O radiant Christ, incarnate Word, eternal love revealed in time: come, make your home within our hearts, that we may dwell in light sublime.
Our bartered, busy lives burn dim, too tired to care, too numb to feel. Come, shine upon our shadowed world: your radiance bathes with power to heal.
Your glory shone at Jordan’s stream, the font where we were born anew. Attune your church to know you near; illumine all we say and do.
O Light of Nations, fill the earth; our faith and hope and love renew. Come, lead the peoples to your peace, as stars once led the way to you.”
CANONBURY is one of a number of 19th-century hymn tunes adapted from instrumental works by well-known composers. The melody is from Robert Schumann’s Nachtstucke, Opus 23, No. 4 (1839) for solo piano (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_88SiwtWzc8 ).
Ruth Duck has written a text fitting for the season of Epiphany, with its sense of wonder at the incarnation and its petition that through Christ’s revelation our lives may be changed. The hymn was commissioned by the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. The words were written in 1991.
“Renew Us”
“O God, grant me new vision, new vision to see Your kingdom, new vision in this year.
O God, grant me a new heart, a new heart to feel Your love, a new heart in this year.
Christ, You are around us, Your light begins to shine, calling us from the darkness; renew us in this time.
O God, grant me new strength, new strength to share Your word, new strength in this year.
O God, grant me new wisdom, wisdom to do Your will, Lord, new wisdom in this year.
Today’s anthem is written by Herb Frombach with music by David Lantz III. It is a simple, yet profound choral prayer, calling upon the Creator God to renew us with clean hearts, the strength to do His will, and the vision to behold His kingdom. It is inspired by the words of Psalm 51:10 –
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me”
as well as the words of 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 –
“Therefore we do not lose heart even though our outer nature is perishing, yet our inner nature is being renewed day by day…”
“Come and journey with a Saviour”
“Come and journey with a Savior who has called us from our birth, who has washed us in the waters, and who loved us on the earth.
Come and journey, come and journey, with a Savior who has come. We are all God’s sons and daughters. In the spirit we are one.”
This week’s offering response is taken from the hymn of the same name, written by Herbert O’Driscoll. It is published in the Catholic Book of Worship III. The tune we will be using is the familiar tune, BEACH SPRING. Hear the melody played on mandolin at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGXTY34U7GM
“Arise, Your Light is Come” (VU #79)
“Arise, your light is come! The Spirit’s call obey; show forth the glory of your God, which shines on you today.
Arise, your light is come! Fling wide the prison door; proclaim the captive’s liberty, good tidings to the poor.
Arise, your light is come! All you in sorrow born, bind up the broken-hearted ones and comfort those who mourn.
Arise, your light is come! The mountains burst in song! Rise up like eagles on the wing; God’s power will make us strong.”
This hymn was first published by the Ecumenical Women’s Center of Chicago in the 1974 collection of hymn adaptations, Because we are One People. The words were written by Ruth Duck in 1974. The tune, FESTIVAL SONG was first published in 1872 in a hymn book for the Episcopal Church of the USA called Hymnal with Tunes Old and New. The lyrics are inspired by words found in the book of Isaiah.
Hear the hymn played on pipe organ at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYoUpNC4FAE
Hear an acoustic guitar version of the tune at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W9UgtefhGo
