Notes on the Notes – April 23, 2023

Earth Day Sunday

Third Sunday of Easter

This week’s music:

“It’s a Song of Praise to the Maker” (MV #30)

“It’s a song of praise to the Maker, the thrush sings high in the tree.
It’s a song of praise to the Maker, the gray whale sings in the sea,
And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

It’s a call of life to the Giver when waves and waterfalls roar.
It’s a call of life to the Giver when high tides break on the shore,
And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

It’s a hymn of love to the Lover; the bumblebees hum along.
It’s a hymn of love to the Lover, the summer breeze joins the song,
And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

It’s the chorus of all creation; it’s sung by all living things.
It’s the chorus of all creation; a song the universe sings,
And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.”

Ruth Duck and Ron Klusmeier collaborated on this song, which is based on Psalm 148. Ruth uses the Psalm as inspiration for this hymn, which encourages us to join with all creation to “sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.” It is a psalm which resounds with praise to the Lord God Almighty – the Creator of Heaven and the Earth. As the work of God’s hands, it is only right and proper that all of heaven and earth praise the Lord.

“O Beautiful Gaia” (MV #41)

“O beautiful Gaia,
O Gaia, calling us home.
O beautiful Gaia,
Calling us on.

Soil yielding its harvest,
O Gaia, calling us home.
Soil yielding its harvest,
Calling us on. 

Waves crashing on granite,…
Pine bending in windstorm,…
Loon nesting in marshland,…
Calling us on.”

The term Gaia (guy-ah) represents “Mother Earth,” inviting us to live into our care and respect for all creation. It asks us to consider our relationship to the earth in the context of our faith. The words (printed here in abbreviated form) and music are by Carolyn McDade, with verses created by singers gathered in Atlantic Canada in 2006. The musical arrangement is by Lydia Pedersen (2006).

Hear the song sung by the Harmony Singers at:  https://youtu.be/K9669Urv5Ss

“Caring Community”

“Imagine the dream of Creation,
Imagine the song of a thousand seas.
Sun and moon, the colours of dawning,
The Holy in all that we see.

Called to this covenant, called to the Dream,
Guided by Love we will be,
Gathered by Spirit, one body, one mind,
As a caring community.

Beyond all that’s broken and shattered,
Beyond all that tears us so far apart.
Still, our gifts, our healing, our wholeness,
Lie deep in the dream of your heart.

Called to this covenant, called to the Dream,
Guided by Love we will be,
Gathered by Spirit, one body, one mind,
As a caring community.

When justice cries out from the shadows,
When kindness and mercy have lost their way.
Lead us now, our faith turned to action,
With strength and with courage we pray.

Called to this covenant, called to the Dream,
Guided by Love we will be,
Gathered by Spirit, one body, one mind,
As a caring community.

We offer the work of our living,
And lift up the love of our open hearts.
Share the joy, the laughter, the daring,
Remembering all that we are.

Called to this covenant, called to the Dream,
Guided by Love we will be,
Gathered by Spirit, one body, one mind,
As a caring community.”

Today’s anthem was written by Pat Mayberry and Rev. Elisabeth Jones in 2016.  The arrangement is by David Kai (2021).  The words invite us, as faithful people, to care for the Creation and everything in it as part of our covenant with God.

“For the Gift of Creation” (VU #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.”

Our offering dedication is from the United Methodist Book of Worship (1991).  The composer, Steve Garnaas-Holmes is a United Methodist pastor in Montana.  We offer our time, talent and treasure in thanks to God for all of God’s gifts.

“To Show by Touch and Word” (VU #427)

“To show by touch and word devotion to the earth,
To hold in full regard all life that comes to birth,
We need, O God, the will to find the good you had of old in mind.

Renew our minds to choose the things that matter most,
To speak and do the truth, creating peace and trust.
For every challenge that we face we need your guidance and your grace.

Let love from day to day be touchstone, guide, and norm,
And let our lives portray your Word in human form.
Now come with us that we may have your wits about us where we live.”

This hymn by Fred Kaan (1974) and Ron Klusmeier (1974) brings our worship to a close with a prayer to God.  As we are faced by the challenges of a world seeking to understand our impact on the Creation, we ask for God’s presence and love.

Hear the hymn at: https://youtu.be/2rcs4iCL79I

“Creation Now Awaits” (VU #295 v. 3)

“Creation now awaits humanity’s rebirth
At last to claim one common aim: to nurture life on earth.
Awake, all humankind, the challenge now embrace;
Apply your strength, your voice, your means, as stewards of God’s grace.”

Our benediction response by Ruth Duck (1983) challenges us to go into the world to be active stewards of the earth, using all that we have to work toward a healthy planet.   We will be using the hymn tune, DIADEMATA, also known as the tune for the hymn “Crown Him with Many Crowns.”

Thank you to The Harmony Singers for providing music leadership this week.