Notes on the Notes – April 17, 2016

This Week’s Theme:  Peter Begins His Ministry

This Week’s Scripture Reading:

Acts 9:36-43

This Week’s Music:

“In the Bulb There is a Flower”  (VU #703)

“In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be;
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery.
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity,
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory.
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.”

Natalie Sleeth composed “Hymn of Promise” as a choral anthem and later adapted it to congregational singing (1986).  The anthem is dedicated to her husband, Donald Sleeth, a Methodist pastor and professor of homilectics, who was diagnosed with cancer not long after it was written.  It was first sung at his funeral service.   The message of hope and trust in God continues to resonate.

Hear the song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkLw6i56Rzw

“Praise God for This Holy Ground” (MV #42) 

“Praise God for this holy ground, place and people, sight and sound.

Praise God in whose word we find food for body, soul and mind.

Praise God who through Christ makes known all are loved and called God’s own.

Praise God’s Spirit who befriends, raises, humbles, breaks and mends.

Though praise ends, praise is begin where God’s will is gladly done.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
God’s goodness is eternal.”

This song offers gratitude for the physical space and identifiable people on which and among whom worship takes place. It was written by John L. Bell in 2002.

“As Comes the Breath of Spring” (VU# 373)

“As comes the breath of spring with light and mirth and song,
So does your Spirit bring new days brave, free, and strong.
You come with thrill of life to chase hence winter’s breath,
To hush to peace the strife of sin that ends in death.

You come like dawning day with flaming truth and love,
To chase all glooms away, to brace our wills to prove
How wise, how good to choose the truth and its brave fight,
To prize it, win or lose, and live on your delight.

You come like songs at morn that fill the earth with joy,
Till we, in Christ new-born, new strength in praise employ.
You come to rouse the heart from drifting to despair,
Through high hopes to impart life with an ampler air.

You breathe and there is health, you move and there is power,
You whisper, there is wealth of love, your richest dower.
Your presence is to us like summer in the soul,
Your joy shines forth and then life blossoms to its goal.”

The text for this hymn was written in 1929 by David Lakie Ritchie, Dean of United Theological College in Montreal, for The Hymnary (1930).  The tune was published in England in the Methodist Hymn Book (1904).

“A Song of Rejoicing”

“I will give thanks and life an alleluia!
I will rejoice in the name of the Lord!
I will sing praise and raise a glad hosanna.
I will give honor and praise evermore.

I will sing to the Lord a new song,
Give to the Lord a new song
For Christ alone is worthy of praise!
I will honor the Lord with music,
Worship the Lord with gladness,
Rejoice in the name, the name of the Lord!

O Jesus, You are my joy, my all.
You are my music, my song of hope.
You are worthy. You are holy.
You are God and God alone!”

This week’s anthem was written by Joseph M. Martin in 2009.

“Unbounded Spirit, Breath of God”  (MV #155)

“Unbounded Spirit, breath of God, refreshing water, cleansing flame,
We give allegiance, through your call, to Christ, and to no other name.

Receive and open for review the work we do, the word we preach,
And school us, as we teach and learn, in careful thought and truthful speech.

Uncover all the hopeless ways we run, resist, rebel, or hide.
Unwrap with love and bathe in light our pain, our sadness, adn our pride.

Assemble, leaven, mix, and knead our clashing norms, opposing views
And bake a loaf of joy and peace that hungry hearts will not refuse.

Inscribe on every growing skill, on every action, every vow,
The living name of Jesus Christ, beginning here, beginning now.”

This hymn, with words by Brian Wren and music by Jane Best, was written in 2004 for the 150th anniversary of Chicago Theological Seminary.