Notes on the Notes – March 2, 2014

This week’s theme:  Transfiguration – How do I know When I’m Having a Holy Moment?

Worship leaders – Sharon and the Praise Team 

This week’s readings: 2 Peter 1:16-21,  Matthew 17:1-9

This week’s music:           

“Holy Moment”

As we come today, we remind ourselves of what we do;  that these songs are not just songs, but signs of love for You.

  This is a holy moment now, something of heaven touches earth, voices of angels all resound; we join their song.

Come, come, come, let us worship God with our hands held high and our hearts bowed down.

We will run, run, run through Your gates, O God, with a shout of love, with a shout of love.

Lord, with confidence we come before Your throne of grace.  Not that we deserve to come, but You have paid the way.

You are the holy King of all, heaven and earth are in Your hands.  All of the angels sing Your song; we join them now…”

This song was written by Matt Redman, an English Christian worship leader, songwriter and author based in Brighton, East Sussex, UK.  Matt has worked with many groups and his music is very popular on the contemporary Christian music scene.

Hear Matt Redman sing this song at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK8k9GtjteQ&feature=kp

“Holy Ground”

“We are standing on holy ground, and I know that there are angels all around;  Let us praise Jesus now, we are standing in His presence on holy ground.”

This week we will be using the chorus of this well-known song by Geron Davis.  To read Davis’ account of how the song came to be, go to:  http://aliveworshipexperience.blogspot.ca/2007/12/test_11.html

See the complete song sung by The Crabb Family at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tp8nWghz14

“Holiness (Take My Life)”

“Holiness, holiness is what I long for.  Holiness is what I need.  Holiness, holiness is what you want from me.

So take my heart and form it.  And take my mind and transform it.  And take my will and conform it to Yours, to Yours, O Lord.”

The words and music for this song were written by Scott Underwood.  Hear him sing the song at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHeEytocJVY#aid=P3AAcdnqYAA

Hear the version by Sonicflood at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utscitpAJok

“Shine Down on Me”

“From every mountain and over the sea I shout out Your name, Lord, and You’re here with me.  When Your Spirit falls, it sets me free, when I let, let Your love shine down on me.

Let the light of Your love shine down on me.

When burdens are heavy, I give them all to You.  It’s Your peace that guides me, that pulls me through….”

This song, based on Psalm 31:16, was written by Chris O’Brien, Maria Abraham, Margaret Davis and Carrie Ann Petrillo.

“Holy, Holy, Holy” (VU #315 – vs 1)

“Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!  Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.  Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and mighty!  God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

The words for this hymn are a paraphrase of Revelations 4:8-11, which were written by Reginald Heber in 1820.   The tune, NICEA, was written by John B. Dykes in 1861.  It is named for the Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.) where the doctrine of the Trinity, known as the Nicene Creed, was formulated.

“Shine on Us”

“Lord, let Your light, light of Your face shine on us that we may be saved, that we may have life;  to find our way in the darkest night, let Your light shine on us.

Lord, let Your grace, grace from Your hand fall on us that we may be saved, that we may have life; to find our way in the darkest night, let Your grace fall on us.

Lord, let Your love, love with no end come over us that we may be saved, that we may have life;  to find our way in the darkest night, let Your love come over us, let Your light shine on us.”

This song was written by Michael W. and Deborah D. Smith in 1996.

See the Philips, Craig and Dean version set to beautiful imagery at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utscitpAJok

 “Blessed to Be a Blessing”

“Blessed to be a blessing.  Blessed to live your love.  Blessed to share with others every blessing from above.  Blessed to walk in mercy.  Blessed to light the way.  Oh, blessed to be a blessing every day.

Oh my Jesus, You have blessed me.  You died for me to take my sin away.  Now You live Your life in me and the love received is love I give away.

Oh my Jesus, make me a blessing.  In my work and play, in everything I do.  Oh, let Your blessing flow through me, that in seeing me, may others see You…”

This song by Michael Schmid reminds us of the many ways that we have been richly blessed by God.  Having been so blessed we are called to be a blessing to others, shining forth God’s life in our lives.  This song was written for St. John’s Lutheran School in Napa, California as the school’s theme song for the 2001-2002 school year.

“Go Light Your World”

“There is a candle in every soul; some brightly burning, some dark and cold.  There is a Spirit who brings a fire, ignites a candle and makes His home. 

So carry your candle, run to the darkness, seek out the hopeless, confused and torn.  Hold out your candle for all to see it.  Take your candle and go light your world.

Frustrated brother, see how he’s tried to light his own candle some other way.  See now your sister, she’s been robbed and lied to, still holds a candle without a flame.

We are a family whose hearts are blazing, so let’s raise our candles and light up the sky.  Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus, make us a beacon in darkest time…”

The words for this song were written by American singer-songwriter Chris Rice in 1993.    A native of Clinton, Maryland, Chris grew up as the second of four sons born to bookstore owners. His parents, and other adult mentors, influenced Rice’s Christian faith and his early work with youth and college students.  Having taken only three years of piano lessons as a child, Rice did not aspire to a career in either music or student work. But frequent invitations to speak and lead music at his church’s youth group events led to more such invitations throughout his college years.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Communication. While leading music and coaching high school soccer teams he began writing songs. What began as weekend and summer work with youth and college students soon turned into a full-time career during his twenties and thirties, and prompted Rice to write and perform mainly on the guitar.

Rice’s songwriting career began in the mid-1980s, after moving from his Washington, D.C., home to Nashville, Tenn. During that period several of Rice’s songs were recorded by other artists, including Kathy Troccoli, Terri Gibbs, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant and John Tesh.  He began his recording career in 1996.

Hear Chris Rice sing this song at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsM5lt9tCFo