Notes on the Notes – August 9, 2020

To Wrestle with God

This week’s music:

“As the Deer Pants for the Water” (VU #766)

As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you;
You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship you.

You alone are my strength, my shield,
To you alone may my spirit yield,
You alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship you!

Day and night I cry, my heart is breaking, tears my only food;
While my enemies jeer and taunt me, saying “Where is Now your God?”

Why am I so sad, so troubled, why must suffering be so long?
I will hope in you, my God and saviour, praise you with a song!”

This setting of Psalm 42 was written by Martin Nystrom (1983) with additional verses by Lydia Pedersen in 1995.

Hear an instrumental version of the song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VprrJ35Bx04

“Open My Eyes” (VU #371)

“Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
place in my hand the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit Divine!

Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear;
and while the wave-notes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit Divine!

Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere;
open my heart and let me prepare love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!”

Clara H. Scott (1841-1897) provides us with a hymn of consecration that has been sung for 125 years. The text of “Open My Eyes” was written in 1895 shortly before Scott’s death. Each stanza reveals an increasing receptiveness to the “Spirit divine.” Open eyes lead to “glimpses of truth.” Open ears lead to “voices of truth.” An open mouth leads to sharing the “warm truth everywhere.” An open heart leads to sharing “love to thy children.”

Sing along with the choir at First United Methodist Church in Valdosta, Georgia at: https://youtu.be/71jExPuxRBY

“Rain Down”

“Rain down, rain down,
Rain down your love on your people.
Rain down, rain down,
Rain down your love, God of life.

Faithful and true is the word of our God.
All of God’s works are so worthy of trust.
God’s mercy falls on the just and the right;
Full of God’s love is the earth.

Rain down…

God of creation, we long for your truth;
You are the water of life that we thirst.
Grant that your love and your peace touch our hearts,
All of our hope lies in you.

Rain down…”

This week’s anthem is based on Psalm 33.  It was written by Jaime Cortez in 1991.

“When We Gather at the Table” (MV #198)

“Come, invited, now draw nearer,
Join this holy celebration.
Here be strengthened, called to justice,
Living now God’s new creation.

Christ, your coming and your hosting
Gives us place at widening table
Now embracing world and neighbour
Spirit strong, by love enabled.”

The words for this communion hymn were written by Walter Farquharson in 1995. The music was written by Ron Klusmeier in 2006. This week, verses 4 & 5 of the hymn will be used during the taking of the elements of communion.

“Like a Healing Stream”  (MV #144)

“Like a healing stream in a barren desert,
Spirit water bringing life to dusty earth,
God is trickling through our lives as in a dream unfolding,
Promising revival and rebirth…
Like a healing stream.

Like a gentle rain on a thirsty garden,
Spirit water come to nourish tiny seed,
God is bubbling through the soil to coax a new creation,
Yearning for an end to want and need…
Like a gentle rain.

Like a river strong with a restless current,
Spirit water rushing on to distant shore,
God is carving out a channel in a new direction,
Calling for an end to hate and war…
Like a river strong.

Like a mighty sea reaching far horizons,
Spirit water with a love both deep and wide,
God is working in our hearts to shape a new tomorrow;
God will always challenge and provide!
Like a mighty sea,
Like a river strong,
Like a gentle rain,
Like a healing stream.”

Our closing hymn was written by Bruce Harding in 2003.  Each of the 4 verses compare God to a different form of water, and picture the movement of God bringing a newness to life in the form of healing, fullness, peace and love.   If you were to consider God as water, which verse would best explain either the role of God’s presence in your life or God’s presence in the world today?

Hear the hymn sung by Bruce and Cheryl Harding at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrOlxtY-4HU 

“Praise God, Praise God”

“Love God, love God,
Love in the morning, love in the noon time,
Love God, love God,
Love when the sun goes down.”

Our benediction response this week is the third verse of the hymn “Praise God, Praise God.”

Bonus Video: