Notes on the Notes – February 10 – Ash Wednesday

“What Wondrous Love is This” (VU #147)

“What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, that caused the Lord of life
To lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
To lay aside his crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing,
To God and to the Lamb I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb, who is the great I Am,
While millions join the theme I wil sing, I will sing;
While millions join the theme I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
And through eternity I’ll sing on.”

Words and music: American folk hymn (ca. 1811)

“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” (VU #333)

“Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down,
Fix in us thy humble dwelling,
All thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.

Come, almighty to deliver;
Let us all thy grace receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve thee as thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
Glory in thy perfect love.

Finish, then, thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee,
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.”

Words: Charles Wesley (1747) Music: Rowland H. Prichard (ca 1831)

“Dust and Ashes Touch Our Face” (VU #105)

“Dust and ashes touch our face,
Mark our failure and our falling.
Holy Spirit, come,
Walk with us tomorrow,
Take us as disciples,
Washed and wakened by your calling.

Dust and ashes soil our hands –
greed of market, pride of nation.
Holy Spirit, come,
Walk with us tomorrow,
As we pray and struggle through the meshes of oppression.

Dust and ashes choke our tongue in the wasteland of depression.
Holy Spirit, come,
Walk with us tomorrow,
Through all gloom and grieving to the paths of resurrection.

Take us by the hand and lead us,
Lead us through the desert sands,
Bring us living water,
Holy Spirit, come.”

Words: Brian Wren (1986) Music: Ron Klusmeier (1993)  http://www.musiklus.com/anthology/music-sample.php?type=ogg&id=6162

 A Daily Prayer for the season of Lent can be found at:  http://www.windsorparkunitedchurch.com/worship/patrick/daily-prayer-for-the-season-of-lent/