Notes on the Notes

Notes on the Notes – Palm Sunday – March 25, 2018

Theme:    From “Hosanna” to death Readings: Psalm 24                 John 12:12-27              John 19:16b-22 What is Palm Sunday? Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and commemorates the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before he was crucified. Palm Sunday is known as such because the faithful will often receive […]

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Notes on the Notes – Lent 5 – March 18, 2018

Theme:  To Follow This King! Readings: John 19:1-16a            Psalm 146 Music: The music this week asks for God’s faithfulness to be with us as we move ever-closer to the events of Good Friday.   Through the words of the hymns, we also commit to walking with Jesus to face the cross. “O Jesus Christ, May Grateful […]

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Notes on the Notes – Lent 4 – March 11, 2018

Theme:  To Stand in Judgement! Scripture: Psalm 145:10-13     John 18:28-40 Music: All of the music this week centers around the theme of Jesus giving up his life for us and our response to that gift. “Here I Am to Worship”“Light of the world You stepped down into darkness. Opened my eyes, let me see. Beauty […]

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Notes on the Notes – Lent 3 – March 4, 2018

Theme: When We Deny God! Scripture: Psalm 17:1-7           John 18:12-27 Music: This week we have two readings that are in contrast to each other.  In the psalm, the speaker is calling on God to hear him, saying that that God should listen because he has followed God steadfastly.  The reading from John, on the other […]

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Notes on the Notes – February 25, 2018

Lent 2 Theme: To be Washed Clean!/Baptism Scripture: John 13:1-17            Psalm 51:7-12 Music: The readings this week both make reference to becoming clean.  In the psalm, the writer is asking God to once again give them a “clean heart” so that they can serve God more fully.  In the gospel reading, we hear how […]

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Notes on the Notes – February 18, 2018

Lent 1 Theme:  Jesus Raises Lazarus Scripture Readings: Psalm 104:27-30      John 11:1-44 Music: “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go” (VU #658) “O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depths its flow may richer, […]

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Notes on the Notes – Ash Wednesday

Scripture Readings: Psalm 23               John 10:1-18 Service Music: “Sunday’s Palms are Wednesday’s Ashes” (VU #107) “Sunday’s palms are Wednesday’s ashes as another Lent begins; Thus we kneel before our Maker in contrition for our sins. We have marred baptismal pledges, in rebellion gone astray; Now, returning, seek forgiveness; grant us pardon, God, this day! We […]

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Notes on the Notes – February 11, 2018

This week’s theme: To be Transfigured This week’s scripture readings: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6               Mark 9:2-9 This week’s music: Throughout the season of Epiphany, we have been reflecting on what it means to hear God’s call.  This week’s reading from Corinthians refers to the preaching of the Gospel that dispels darkness.  The light of knowledge that […]

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Notes on the Notes – February 4, 2018

This week’s theme: The Pay-off! This week’s scripture readings: Isaiah 40:21-31       I Corinthians 9:16-23 This week’s music: As we near the end of the season of Epiphany, we are drawing closer to a deeper understanding of what it means to hear and follow God’s call.  This week, the music centers around our understanding of God […]

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Notes on the Notes – January 28, 2018

This Week’s Theme: To Truly Listen This Week’s Scripture Readings: Deuteronomy 18:15-20                      1 Corinthians 8:1-13 This Week’s Music: For the past two weeks we have been exploring what it means to hear God’s call through the call of Samuel and the calling of the disciples by Jesus.  This week we will continue to […]

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Notes on the Notes – January 21, 2018

This Week’s Theme: To Follow This Week’s Scripture Readings: Mark 1:14-20    1 Corinthians 7:29-31 This Week’s Music: This week we will continue to explore our response to God’s call.   What does it mean to follow God – to follow Jesus? “Jesus, Teacher Brave and Bold” (VU #605) “Jesus, teacher, brave and bold, Let us serve […]

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Notes on the Notes – January 14, 2018

This week’s theme:  Are We Listening? This week’s scripture readings: 1 Samuel 3:1-10     John 1:43-51 This week’s music: All of the music this week is centered around the idea of hearing God’s call.  Do we hear when God calls? And what is our response? “Walk With Me” (VU #649) “Walk with me, I will walk […]

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Notes on the Notes – January 7, 2018

This week’s theme:  Lost in Wonder This week’s scripture readings: Genesis 1:1-5   Mark 1:4-11 This week’s music: This is the first Sunday after Epiphany, which was officially on January 6 this year.   The lectionary readings give us the very beginning of the Bible – “In the beginning…God created light,” and the baptism of Jesus […]

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Notes on the Notes – December 31, 2017

This week’s scripture readings: Galatians 4:4-7   Luke 2:22-40 This week’s music: This year, the first Sunday following Christmas Day is also New Year’s Eve.       The secular world has, for the most part, moved on past Boxing Day sales and into New Year’s resolutions.   This week’s scripture readings remind us that we are children […]

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Notes on the Notes – December 24, 2017 – 7:30 p.m.

Christmas Eve music: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” “Away in a Manger” “Angels We Have Heard on High” “The First Noel” “A King Like This” “Silent Night” “Joy to the World” (VU #59) Bonus video from the Praise Team    from all of us at Windsor Park United Church!

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