Notes on the Notes – April 11, 2021

What if…?

This week’s music:

“Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Give Thanks” (VU #179)

“Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give thanks to the risen Christ.
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give praise to God’s name.

Spread the good news o’er all the earth:
Jesus has died and is risen.

Hallelujah….

Come let us praise the living God,
Joyfully sing to our Saviour.

Hallelujah…”

The text of this hymn is a series of paraphrases from the letters of Paul.  The words and music are by Donald Fishel (1971).   Darryl Nixon created this arrangement for publication in the United Church hymn supplement Songs for a Gospel People (1987).

See the hymn sung at Strathroy United Church worship at:  https://youtu.be/0GWSdq8GVG8

“He is Lord”

“He is Lord!  He is Lord!  He is risen from the dead and He is Lord!
Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!”

The author and composer of this traditional Easter response are unknown.

“Forever”

“Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever

Sing praise, sing praise

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm
His love endures forever
For the life that’s been reborn
His love endures forever

Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise

Forever, God is faithful
Forever, God is strong
Forever, God is with us
Forever, forever

From the rising to the setting sun
His love endures forever
And by the grace of God we will carry on
His love endures forever

Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise…”

This contemporary Christian song was written by Chris Tomlin.  It is a song of praise for the enduring nature of God’s love.

Hear Chris Tomlin sing this song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjrAeWCOg6Q

“Share the Easter Joy”

“Go tell the news of the risen Lord,
Alleluia!  Lift up your voice!
Go tell the news of the risen Lord,
Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Go share the Easter joy!

Christ is risen from the grave. Alleluia! Alleuia!
Let the joyful song be raised, Alleluia, Alleluia!”

This joyful Easter anthem was written by Mark Patterson in 1999.

“I Danced in the Morning” (VU #352)

I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
And I came from heaven and I danced on the earth;
At Bethlehem I had my birth.

Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

I danced for the scribe and the pharisee,
But they would not dance and they would not follow me;
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John;
They came with me and the dance went on.

Dance, then…

I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame;
The holy people said it was a shame,
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me high,
And left me there on a cross to die.

Dance, then…

I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black;
It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back;
They buried my body and they thought I’d gone,
But I am the dance and I still go on.

Dance, then…

They cut me down and I leap up high;
I am the life that will never, never die;
I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he.

Dance, then…”

Folk singer Sydney Carter first published this song in 1963.  The tune is an 18th-century Shaker melody.  The Shakers were a pacifist religious group who celebrated their faith through song and communal dancing.  They originated in England and a group later settled near Albany, New York.   This hymn gained popularity in the United Church after being published in The Hymn Book (1971). In addition of telling the story of Jesus life, death and resurrection, the words of the hymn reference Psalm 30:11-12:

11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.

Hear the song sung by Heath Mount school choir at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV15StV6TK0

Hear John McDermott sing the song at:  https://youtu.be/xdlsqfyxjvc

“Christ is Alive” (VU #158 v5)

“Christ is alive, and comes to bring good news to this and every age,
till earth and sky and ocean ring with joy, with justice, love and praise.”

The words for our benediction response come from the closing verse of the hymn by the same name written by Brian Wren in 1968.  The words are sung to TRURO, an anonymous melody from the second volume of Psalmodia Evangelica (1789) compiled by Thomas Williams.

Bonus Video: