Notes on the Notes – April 2, 2017

LENT 5

Becoming Whole

This week’s scripture:

Ezekiel 37:1-14 – the valley of dry bones

Psalm 130 – Up from the depths I cry to God

John 11:1-45 – Lazarus is brought back to life

This week’s music:

“Up from the Depths I Cry to God” (VU #852)

“Up from the depths I cry to God;
O listen, Lord, to me;
O hear my voice in this distress, this mire of misery.
I wait for God with all my heart, my hope is in his word;
And more than watchmen for the dawn I’m longing for you, God.

If you, my God, should measure guilt who then could ever stand?
But those who fear your name will find forgiveness from your hand.
I wait for God with all my heart, my hope is in his word;
And more than watchmen for the dawn I’m longing for you, God.

O Israel, set your hope on God whose mercy is supreme;
The nation mourning for its sin he surely will redeem.
I wait for God with all my heart, my hope is in his word;
And more than watchmen for the dawn I’m longing for you, God.”

This hymn is a paraphrase of Psalm 130, written by Christopher Idle in 1975 and included in the collection Psalms for Today (1990).  The melody, MACPHERSON’S FAREWELL, is an arrangement by David Iliff of a traditional Scottish folk melody.

Hear the melody on bagpipes at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaOTtYS-jBI

“Spirit, Open My Heart” (MV #79)

“Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living. As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving, Spirit, open my heart.

God, replace my stony heart with a heart that’s kind and tender. All my coldness and fear to your grace I now surrender.

Write your love upon my heart as my law, my goal, my story. In each thought, word, and deed, may my living bring you glory.

May I weep with those who weep, share the joy of sister, brother. In the welcome of Christ, may we welcome one another.”

The words for this hymn were written by Ruth Duck in 1994. Many hymn-writers are passionately committed to developing a language whose style and tone is as reverent as it is relevant. One of the leaders in this movement is Ruth Duck, professor of worship at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Her powerful texts have emerged as the major part of the cutting edge of language that speaks of God in universal terms and in poetry that is as poignant as it is stoic. Before coming to Garrett in 1989, she served as pastor at United Church of Christ parishes in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. (Source: GIA publications). The words are sung to the traditional Irish melody WILD MOUNTAIN THYME, which was arranged by Arthur G. Clyde in 1997.

Hear an instrumental version of the tune at: https://youtu.be/5UnHsbWZss4

“Your Hands, O Christ” (VU #622)

“Your hands, O Christ, in days of old were strong to heal and save;
They triumphed o’er disease and death, fought darkness and the grave.
To you they went, the blind, the mute, the palsied and the lame,
The leper set apart and shunned, the sick with fevered frame.

And lo! your touch brought life and health, gave speech and strength and sight;
And youth renewed and health restored owned you, the Lord of light.
So, living Christ, draw near to bless, compassionate as before;
That we may touch your garment’s fringe, walk in our streets once more.

O be our gracious healer still, our God in life and death;
Restore and strengthen, soothe and bless with your life-giving breath.
To hands that work and eyes that see teach wisdom’s healing lore,
That whole and sick, and weak and strong, we praise you evermore.”

This hymn was written in 1864 for King’s College Hospital in London.  The text originally started with the words “Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old,” but was revised by Gerald Hobbs for inclusion in Songs for a Gospel People (1987).  The melody, HAYDN, is attributed to Franz Joseph Haydn and is also associated with the hymn I Sing the Might Power of God” (VU # 231).

“Healer of My Heart”

“God of light, take away the dark of night.
Fill me with Your pure delight, touch me with Your hand.
God of grace, flow into this holy place.
Listen as Your children pray,
Take me as I am.

Healer of my heart,
Lover of my soul,
Maker of the stars, the earth, the sky,
Come and make me whole.
Savior of this world,
My voice praises You alone,
Healer of my heart,
Lover of my soul.

Emmanuel, lead me to the deepest well,
Where never-ending love prevails, drinking from You cup.
Prince of Peace, forever live inside of me.
Keeper of eternity, O Lord, revive me with Your touch.

Healer of my heart,
Lover of my soul,
Maker of the stars, the earth, the sky,
Come and make me whole.
Savior of this world,
My voice praises You alone,
Healer of my heart,
Lover of my soul…”

Composer Robert White Johnson says “Our song ‘Healer Of My Heart’ was first recorded when my co-writer (Jim Robinson) and I decided to demo it. Not long after, I was set to produce The Martins for Spring Hill Music. When I played the song for The Martins, they fell in love with it immediately, and Jonathan sang it for their project. We were honored in them doing so. What happened next was everyone really liked the feel of the demo. I had recorded it ‘live’ so to speak (w/o a click track etc). My dear friend, the very talented Jimmy Nichols (Faith Hill, Reba, Carrie Underwood) played the piano in one take. We later added Jonathan’s voice and sweetened the track further. Since then, the song has been recorded by over 50 various artists. In addition there have been 4 different choral/octavo arrangements (including one by Tom Fettke). Lillenas, Word, and Hal Leonard have all published the song, and it is now being performed in churches around the world…  (Source: Healer of my Heart –  Facebook)

“Fill My Cup, Lord”

“Like the woman at the well I was seeking for things that could not satisfy.
And then I heard my Savior speaking: “Draw from my well that never shall run dry.”

Fill my cup, Lord,
I lift it up, Lord.
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.

There are millions in this world who are craving the pleasure earthly things afford.
But none can match the wondrous treasure that I find in Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Fill my cup, Lord,
I lift it up, Lord.
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.

So, my brother, if the things this world gave you leave hungers that won’t pass away.
My blessed Lord will come and save you if you kneel to Him and humbly pray:

Fill my cup, Lord,
I lift it up, Lord.
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.”

Life was never to be a bed of roses for Richard Blanchard.   A severe lung problem developed, and Blanchard was left with one-third of his lung capacity. But a diminished physical well-being did not stop young Blanchard.     In 1953, he became the pastor of a church in Coral Gables, Florida, and one day, was asked by a young couple to perform their marriage ceremony. However, the couple was quite late for their counseling appointment.   Blanchard told his secretary, I will wait for thirty minutes and I’m leaving. He then went to a nearby Sunday school room and sat down to play the piano for a while.   He later said, “When I was not in the mood to be used of God, God was in a mood to use me.” In less than thirty-minutes, as he waited for the young couple, God gave him the inspiring song Fill My Cup, Lord.

As Richard Blanchard looks back over his life, he declares,  “Even though God chose in his providence to impair my physical being, he has in so many other ways ‘Fill’d My Cup.’”

Hear the song at:  https://youtu.be/s4l2yY2r95g

“I am the Resurrection”

“I am the resurrection and the life,
All who believe in me will never die,
I am the resurrection and the life,
All who believe in me will live a new life.

I have come to bring the truth,
I have come to bring you life,
If you believe… then you shall live.

I am the resurrection and the life,
All who believe in me will never die.
I am the resurrection and the life,
All who believe in me will live a new life.

In my word all will come to know
It is love which makes the spirit grow;
If you believe…then you shall live.

I am the resurrection and the life,
All who believe in me will never die.
I am the resurrection and the life,
All who believe in me will live a new life.

Keep in mind the things that I have said;
Remember me in the breaking of the bread;
If you believe…then you shall live.

I am the resurrection and the life,
All who believe in me will never die,
I am the resurrection and the life,
All who believe in me will live, will live a new life!

This classic by Ray Repp is from 1966.  Repp is a Roman Catholic singer-songwriter credited with introducing folk music into Catholic masses with his 1965 album Mass for Young Americans that formed the earliest stirrings of Contemporary Christian music.

The chorus of this song is a direct quotation from John 11:25, where Jesus speaks to a grieving Martha after the death of her brother, Lazarus.

Hear the original recording at:  https://youtu.be/4mcnJdm4SzM