Notes on the Notes – December 17, 2017
This week’s theme:
Advent 3 – Joy
This week’s scripture readings:
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
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
“Light a Candle, Bright and Tall”
“Light a candle bright and tall for the Joy this season brings.
Joy like fountains brimming full. Through our world now let it ring!
Shine within our hearts today.
Come, O Joy, to us, we pray.”
This week we use the third verse as our candle-lighting response.
“Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” (VU #35)
“Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice!
Give ye heed to what we say: News! News! Jesus Christ is born today.
Ox and ass before him bow, and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today! Christ is born today!
Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice!
Now ye hear of endless bliss: Joy! Joy! Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath opened heaven’s door, and we are blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!
Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice!
Now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all to gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!”
This hymn was translated by John Mason Neale from a 14th-century carol, written in German and Latin, and was included in his Carols for Christmas-tide (1853). The text has been revised to make it more inclusive and thus more useable in contemporary worship, although the original translation remains more popular outside of the church.
Hear the Wissman Family:
Hear an upbeat version on piano and fiddle at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBL4ZACPyEE
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://youtu.be/qWoqEig1c8U
Hear the song in the original Latin/German by York Minster Choir at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HAHe1i27U6c
“The Spirit of the Lord”
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
Because God has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
God has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
And recovering of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed,
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
The words for this hymn are taken directly from our Isaiah reading. The hymn was written by Jim Strathdee in 1965. It can be found in the United Church hymn book supplement Songs for a Gospel People.
“The King is Coming Soon”
“Let the angels sing. Let the bells in heaven ring,
For the King is coming soon.
Let the stars on high lend their glory to the sky,
For the King is coming soon.
Every valley shout for joy.
Let every mountain ring.
Let the rivers clap their hands in praise.
Let the nations of the world rejoice and sing everlasting song of joy,
Everlasting songs of joy, for the King is coming soon.
Let the ocean waves lift a tuneful hymn of praise,
For the King is coming soon.
Let the seas rejoice. Every river lift its voice,
For the King is coming soon.
Let the world as one sing the glory of the Son,
For the King is coming soon.
With a joyful song let creation sing along,
For the King is coming soon…”
This week’s anthem is a celebration of the coming of Jesus. It was written by Jon Paige in 2002.
“Christmas Time”
“God we ask for joy this Christmas:
Lift our thought to you above.
Faith will heal our hurts and troubles
In our search to find great love.
Lead us on through joy and sorrow
At this wondrous Christmas time,
At this wondrous Christmas time.
Give us help, O God, in choices,
Guide us onward on our way.
May we find in you an answer
When we’re tested day by day.
Through our prayers may strength be given;
Fill our church with power and love.
Fill our church with power and love.
This Christmas hymn was written by Edna E. Stevenson of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. We will be using the tune CWM RHONDDA, more commonly known as the tune for the hymn, “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah.”
*A little Christmas bonus: a gospel quartet singing “A Wonderful Christmas Song” https://youtu.be/SzXJ3vuCzCc
* Another Bonus: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” by the Five Strings: https://youtu.be/XI2c9yptr4U
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