Notes on the Notes – September 6, 2015

This week’s Scripture readings:

Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23,

James 2:14-17

This week’s music:

“Dance With the Spirit” (More Voices #156)

“Dance with the Spirit early in the mornin’
Walk with the Spirit throughout the long day.
Work and hope for the new life abornin’,
Listen to the Spirit to show you the way.”

Our gathering song this week was composed by Jim Strathdee in 1995.   It is from the Strathdee “Mass for the Healing of the Earth.”  This short song celebrates the presence and prodding of the Holy Spirit.

“Let Us Build a House” (MV #1 verses 1 & 3)

“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.

Let us build a house where love is found in water, wine and wheat;
A banquet hall on holy ground, where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus, is revealed in time and space;
As we share in Christ the feast that frees us;
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

Our opening hymn of welcome comes from the hymn book supplement More Voices.  The supplement serves to introduce congregations to newer music that has been composed in between the publications of our larger, main hymn book. This hymn was written by Marty Haugen in 1994.  This week we will be using the opening verse and verse 3.   Hear the whole song at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAZC65CwTEA

“Love One Another”

“Love is patient, love is kind.
Love is gentle, love divine.
Love forgives, is never rude.
Love rejoices in the truth.

Love one another, as God has also loved you.
Love one another, as God has also loved you.

Love is faithful, love is pure.
Love is hopeful, love endures.
Love is humble, love is strong.
Love is such a joyous song.”

This week’s duet is based on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and John 13:34. The words are by Roger Thornhill with music by Brad Nix.

“Christ of Compassion”

“Christ of compassion, Christ of all giving,
Our hearts are full with your comfort and care.
Love’s living presence, Spirit of Sharing,
Nourish and strengthen the faith that we bear.

Love for our neighbour, friend to the stranger,
Gently we open a place in our heart.
Peace to the fearful, hope to the lonely,
Spirits renewed through the care we impart.

Travelling companions, friends on the journey,
Sharing our kindness, our joy to increase.
Truth gives our faith its courage and wisdom,
Shaping our world with the love we release.

Love from the heart, the sweetest expression,
Tells of the Spirit alive in this place.
Spreading that love to people around us,
Touching our living, with honour and grace.

Grain of the land, and fruit of the planet,
Gifts of Creation, we share in this place.
Feeding our courage, banish our failure,
Bringing new life for the whole human race.

We who would hunger, thirsting for justice,
Through faithful action our love is made real.
Bread of abundance, cup of renewal,
Our lives seek meaning through this sacred meal.”

This new hymn has lyrics by Peggy McDonagh of St. David’s United Church in Calgary. The melody is familiar as the tune for the song “Morning Has Broken.”  This week we will be using selected verses.

“For the Gift of Creation” (Voices United #538)
“For the gift of creation, the gift of your love,
And the gift of the Spirit by which we live,
We thank you and give you the fruit of our hands.
May your grace be proclaimed by the gifts that we give.”

This offertory response is from the United Methodist Book of Worship (1991) as is especially appropriate as we enter the season of Creation.  The composer, Steve Garnaas-Holmes is a United Methodist pastor in Montana.

“Sent Forth by God’s Blessing” (VU #481)

“Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing,
The people of God from this dwelling take leave.
The supper is ended, O now be extended
The fruits of this service in all who believe.

The seed of Christ’s teaching, receptive souls reaching,
Shall blossom in action for God and for all.
God’s grace did invite us, God’s love shall unite us
To work for the kingdom and answer its call.

With praise and thanksgiving to God ever-living,
The tasks of our everyday life we will face.
Our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring,
Embracing God’s children of each tribe and race.

With your feast you feed us, with your light now lead us;
United us as one in this life that we share.
Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving
Give honour to Christ and the name that we bear.”

The words for this post-communion hymn were written by Omer Westendorf, an organist, composer and music publisher in Cincinnati, Ohio.  He was also the compiler of The People’s Mass Book (1964), the first vernacular (ie English rather than Latin) hymn and service book published in the United States after the Second Vatican Council approved the implementation of vernacular liturgies in Roman Catholic worship. This arrangement of “Llynn Onn,” a traditional Welsh folk tune, is by Leland Sateren, an American Lutheran organist and composer. We know the tune as THE ASH GROVE.

“I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” (VU #575 verse 1)

“I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime.”

Our benediction response will be verse one of the hymn, sending us out into the world to be instruments of God’s divine love.

*featured image is Seasons of Creation by Carola Ann-Margret Forsberg (Sweden)