Notes on the Notes – December 14, 2014

Spiritual Adventure – Advent 3

This week’s readings:  Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, John 1: 6-8, 19-28

This week’s music:

“The Virgin Mary Had  a Baby Boy” (VU #73) 

“The virgin Mary had a baby boy;
The virgin Mary had a baby boy,
The virgin Mary had a baby boy
And they say that his name is Jesus.

The angels sang when the baby was born…

The shepherds came where the baby was born,…

He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
Oh, yes! believer! Oh, yes! believer!
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.”

This West Indian Christmas carol comes from the Edric Conner Collection of West Indian Spirituals  (1945).  He collected it from James Bryce, who gave his age as 94, in 1942. The refrain may be older than the verse, perhaps coming from an African folk song.  It was arranged by John Barnard for Hymns for Today’s Church in 1982.

Hear the Kingston Trio at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=A7zivz_XIqE

See the Gaither version at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wgO14-LGsHs

“Travel On, Travel On”  (VU #647)
“Travel on, travel on, there’s a spirit that is playing,
The spirit plays like music every day.
Travel on, travel on, with the spirit that is playing,
The spirit will be with us all the way.
Travel on, travel on, with the music that is playing,
The spirit will be with us all the way.”

We continue our Advent adventure with the third verse of this Sydney Carter hymn.

“All Earth is Waiting” (VU #5)

“All earth is waiting to see the Promised One, and open furrows await the see of God.
All the world, bound and struggling, seeks true liberty; it cries out for justice and searches for the truth.

Thus says the prophet to those of Israel, “A virgin mother will bear Emmanuel.”
One whose name is “God with us,” our Saviour shall be, through whom hope will blossom once more within our hearts.

Mountains and valleys will have to be made plain, open new highways, new highways for our God,
Who is now coming closer, so come all and see, and open the doorways as wide as wide can be.

In lowly stable the Promised One appeared. Yet, feel that presence throughout the earth today,
For Christ lives in all Christians and is with us now; again, on arriving, Christ brings us liberty.”

This song comes from Catalonia, in Spain.  Both the words and music were written by Alberto Taule, a Catholic priest, in 1972.  The English traslation and arrangement were prepared for the United Methodist Hymnal in 1989.    The theme of a captive world awaiting liberation through the coming of the Saviour is a familiar one to Latin America, where this hymn has become very popular.

Hear the carol in Spanish at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZAVPjWkWno8

“Every Valley” –  The words for this week’s anthem by Patti Drennan, are adapted from Isaiah 40:4-5.  The theme is preparing for the birth of the Messiah, when every valley will be raised, every mountain made low, and every crooked path make straight.  Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed.  Patti Drennan is Choral Director at Norman High School in Norman, Oklahoma.  Active in the music program at Norman First Baptist Church, she also sings with the Oklahoma Singing Churchwomen and frequently records as a studio musician.

“Every valley shall be exalted, every mountain and hill made low,
the crooked straight and the rough places plain;
and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed;
And all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.”

“Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” (VU #35)

Hear a Celtic band play the tune at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=69DGHaSbixs

Smalltown Poets perform a contemporary Christian version at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=L2rImijx7jU

Hear the song in the original Latin/German by York Minster Choir at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HAHe1i27U6c

“Joy is a Candle”

“Joy is a candle on our journey. Joy is the swinging and the leap!
Under the clouded skies of winter, this laughing flame of Joy we’ll keep.
For we are a people of a Story – of stars that sing and Love that cries.
And though these nights are getting longer, the path is lit before our eyes.
For joy…”

This week we will sing the third verse from Linnea Good’s song “Hope is a Candle.”

“The third Sunday in Advent and we light the candle of joy. When Jesus was preparing the disciples for his approaching death, he reminded them of his purpose in coming: “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete”.  Joy in the midst of sadness may seem incongruous yet so often joy and sorrow are intertwined…Those who have tasted the sadness of loss or pain seem to understand  more clearly the joy that is not superficial but reaches down deep within us assuring us of the love that will not let us go.”

(Source:  http://www.lifeandwork.org/features/features/view/46–hope-is-a-candle–moderator-s-advent-reflections)