Notes on the Notes – June 7, 2015

This week’s scripture readings:  Psalm 138

This week’s music:

“Ancient of Days”

“Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto the Ancient of Days;
From every nation, all of creation bow before the Ancient of Days.

Every tongue in heaven and earth shall declare your glory,
Every knee shall bow at your throne in worship;
You will be exalted, O God, and your kingdom shall not pass away,
O Ancient of Days.

Your kingdom shall reign over all the earth;
Sing unto the Ancient of Days.
For none shall compare to your matchless worth;
Sing unto the Ancient of Days.”

The lyrics and music for this song were written by Garry Sadler and Jamie Harvill in 1982.

Ancient of Days, is a name for God in the Biblical Book of Daniel.  The title “Ancient of Days” has been used as a source of inspiration in art and music, denoting the Creator’s aspects of eternity combined with perfection.  William Blake‘s watercolour and relief etching entitled “The Ancient of Days” is one such example.

Hear a gospel version of the song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-cl=84503534&v=5m04UJ6BCrI&x-yt-ts=1421914688&feature=player_detailpage

“Hear Our Praises”

“May our homes be filled with dancing
May our streets be filled with joy
May injustice bow to Jesus
As the people turn to pray

From the mountains to the valleys
Hear our praises rise to You
From the heavens to the nations
Hear our singing fill the air

May Your light shine in the darkness
As we walk before the cross
May Your glory fill the whole earth
As the water o’er seas

From the mountains to the valleys
Hear our praises rise to You
From the heavens to the nations
Hear our singing fill the air”

Reuben Morgan is Worship Pastor at Hillsong Church London and a prolific songwriter. He has written many of the church’s best loved songs, from Mighty To Save to Forever Reign (see below).   As worship leader Reuben tours extensively every year with Hillsong… He lives in London with his wife, Sarah, and three children.

Hear the song at:  https://youtu.be/c94kMA5IgKo

“Your Everlasting Love” –    

This popular praise and worship song is by Bill Batstone (1993).  The simple lyrics and catchy tune make this song a staple of Christian camp and praise services and remind us of the constant presence of God’s love.

“Your everlasting love Is higher than the sky,  Oh the wonder of Your everlasting love is higher than the sky.  
Your everlasting love is deeper than the sea, Oh the wonder of Your everlasting love is deeper than the sea.
Higher than the heavens above is the glory of Your wonderful love.  I’m lost in the mystery of Your everlasting love. 
Your everlasting love is reaching out to me,  Oh the wonder of Your everlasting love is reaching out to me.”   

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGeJOU59_LA

“Everlasting God”

“Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord.
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord.

Our God, You reign forever. Our Hope, our strong Deliverer.

You are the everlasting God, the everlasting God.
You do not faint, You won’t grow weary.
You’re the defender of the weak, You comfort those in need,
You lift us up on wings like eagles.”

This song was written by Brenton Brown and Ken Riley in 2005.  It is based on Isaiah 40.

Hear Brenton Brown talk about writing the song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZS7cy7OEUYI

See him performing the song below:

“How Great Thou Art” (VU #238)

“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy pow’r thru-out the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

 When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.

 But when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, “My God, how great thou art.””

The words of this hymn are an echo of the awe felt by the writer of Psalm 8.   The original version was a poem written by a Swedish pastor, Reverend Carl Boberg in 1886.   In 1933, English missionaries to the Ukraine, Reverend and Mrs. Stuart K. Hine heard the song for the first time, fell in love with it and sang it often throughout their missionary journeys. As they traveled the Carpathian Mountains, the couple was inspired by the incredible beauty to translate the first three verses of the song into English. When WWII broke out in 1939, the Hines returned to England carrying How Great Thou Art to its new home. After the war they wrote the fourth verse and arranged the original Swedish folk tune to be published in English hymnals. In the 1950s, the song was copyrighted and widely published in America, becoming more and more popular. When George Beverly Shea and the Billy Graham gospel choir, directed by Cliff Barrows, began to sing the song at virtually every crusade event, How Great Thou Art soon became one of the most recognized songs around the world. (source:  Share Faith website)

Here are just a few of the amazing variety of interpretations of this much-loved hymn:

The Piano Guys (cello and piano):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHV6BjuQOZQ&feature=player_detailpage

Cool version with traditional, world and modern drums at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt8egypk_Lo

The Blackwood Brothers (circa late 50s): https://youtu.be/m0sdY9uKaA0 

Michael W. Smith live at the Grand Old Opry: https://youtu.be/LG3Adej9Je0

“Forever Reign” – “Forever Reign” was co-written by Reuben Morgan and Jason Ingram.  When asked about the story behind the song, Reuben Morgan says:
“The message of the song is very confessional. Throughout the song we declare who God is, “You are good, You are love, You are light, You are hope, You are peace, You are joy and You are life.” At the same time, we combine that message of who God is with our response, “You are good, You are good, when there’s nothing good in me.” I hope the song enlarges God in our view of Him. We need to know that God is not diminished by our circumstances, doubts or our response… The bridge, “My heart will sing, no other Name, Jesus, Jesus” singing that bridge over and over after we finish the song. It’s humbling to be part of something that affects people in a personal way.”

“You are good when there’s nothing good in me.  You are love on display for all to see.  You are light when the darkness closes in.  You are hope – You have covered all my sin.

You are peace when my fear is crippling.  You are true even in my wandering.  You are joy – You’re the reason that I sing.  You are life, in You death has lost it’s sting.

Oh, I’m running to Your arms. The riches of Your love will always be enough.  Nothing compares to Your embrace.   Light of the world forever reign.

You are more than my words will ever say.  You are Lord,  all creation will proclaim.  You are here – in Your presence I’m made whole.  You are God – of all else I’m letting go.

My heart will sing no other name – Jesus, Jesus.

Oh, I’m running to Your arms.  The riches of Your love will always be enough.  Nothing compares to Your embrace. Light of the world forever reign.”

Hear One Sonic Society sharing the song below:

“Love the Lord”

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
With all your mind and with all your strength.

With all your heart
With all your soul
With all your mind
And with all your strength

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul
With all your mind and with all your strength.

I will serve the Lord with all my heart, with all my soul
With all my mind and with all my strength

With all my heart…

I will love You (I will love You)
I will praise You (I will praise You)
I will serve You, Lord (I will serve You)
I will trust You, Lord (I will trust You)

And with all my heart…

I will love You Lord with all my heart, with all my soul
With all my mind and with all my strength.”

Lincoln Brewster talks about the story behind this song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P95C3jkwBYs

 Join us following worship for our

church picnic!