Notes on the Notes – August 6, 2017
This week’s theme:
What is enough?
This Week’s Scripture Readings:
Isaiah 55:1-5 – come to the waters all those who are thirsty
Matthew 14-13:21 – Loaves and fishes
This Week’s Music:
“Come, Just as You Are”
“Come just as you are,
Hear the Spirit call.
Call just as you are –
Come and see, come, receive, come and live forever
Life everlasting and strength for today
Taste the living water and never thirst again.”
Hear Crystal Lewis sing the song at:
“Lord, Prepare Me” (MV #18)
“Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true; with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you.”
This song of preparation for prayer was written by John W. Thompson and Randy Scruggs in 1982. The lyrics of “Sanctuary” are a simple request for God to purify oneself. In addition to calling on God, it is implied that one must take some step to be purified. The end result is that a person will be a living sanctuary for God. This powerful song has impacted people for over thirty years, and it is sure to continue on this path for years to come.
To listen to this song go to: https://youtu.be/4LiTy7ndOzw
“For the Crowd of Thousands” (VU #355)
“For the crowd of thousands sitting on the ground,
Seven is sufficient, seven will go round.
Seven is sufficient, fish and loaves of bread;
Jesus, for our hunger, gives us life instead.
Jesus makes his offer: fish and bread as food.
Make us truly thankful, make our living good.
If we give to Jesus bread to bless and break,
Five and two will feed us seven days a week.
What we give to Jesus, and with others share,
Will at last be gathered: ever and to spare!”
This hymn, first published in 1968, was created by Fred Kaan from a text by Dutch poet and pastor, Wilhelmus Barnard. The tune, ERNSTEIN, was composed by James Frederick Swift in 1892.
“All Who are Thirsty” (MV #4)
“All who are thirsty
All who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the streams of life
Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away
In the waves of his mercy
As deep cries out to deep, we sing
Come Lord Jesus, come
Come Lord Jesus, come
Come Lord Jesus, come
Come Lord Jesus, come”
This song was written by Brenton Brown in 1998. Brenton Brown, born in South Africa, is a Christian songwriter and worship leader. He was part of Vineyard music (UK), and during this time Brenton was the worship pastor at Oxford Vineyard, UK, and the coordinator of the Vineyard (UK) Worship Development Team.
In John 7:37b-39, Jesus said, “‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’
Are we thirsty? Humans inherently feel that there is something more to life than just living and dying, or gaining reputation and amassing great wealth. There is a deep hunger and thirst for some spiritual meaning in our lives. Jesus satisfies us. Through the lyrics of this song, all who are “thirsty” are invited to come, and He will give us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide, and pour forth great joy and life, in and through our lives.
“Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ” (VU #468)
“Let us talents and tongues employ,
Reaching out with a shout of joy:
Bread is broken, the wine is poured,
Christ is spoken and seen and heard.
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again, pass the Word around:
Loaves abound!
Christ is able to make us one,
At the table he sets the tone,
Teaching people to live to bless,
Love in word and in deed express.
Jesus calls us in, sends us out,
Bearing fruit in a world of doubt,
Gives us love to tell, bread to share:
God (Immanuel) everywhere!
Jesus lives again…”
This hymn is entitle “Communion Calypso” in Break No the Circle (1975), a collection of songs prepared by Fred Kaan and Doreen Potter. The music is an arrangement of a Jamaican folk song.
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