Notes on the Notes – February 13, 2022

The Context of Our Lives

This Week’s Music:

“Jesus, Draw Me Close”

“Jesus draw me close; closer, Lord, to You.
Let the world around me fade away.
Jesus, draw me close; closer, Lord, to You. 
For I desire to worship and obey.”

Rick Founds wrote this song in 1990.  When asked about the writing of the song, he said:  “You’re not happy when they arrive. They are certainly NOT welcome. The sooner they’re gone, the better. We all have them. No, I’m not talking about the obnoxious relative, or that certain “difficult” person at work, but the trials that seem to invade our lives at the least opportune moment… The bad day… The tough week at work… The year you’d just as soon erase from your life… Or those times of loss, which are annoying at best, and tragic at worst… when you lose your car keys… or your job… or a close friend … or member of the family.  It was during one of “those” weeks, that the song, “JESUS DRAW ME CLOSE” was born. The flu was going around, everybody was suffering with it, and I had been blessed with a “double portion”. The car had decided to self-destruct, activities at work were busier than normal, expectations were high, energy and inspiration were low… I was not having a good week. I sat in my office, in an old and ugly, but very comfortable stuffed chair. (a cherished garage sale aquisition.) Nestled in my favorite “reading space”, with Alka-Seltzer fizzing in the glass nearby and my Bible, I picked up where I had left off in the Book of Psalms….Psalm 42

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God? ‘These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God… By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me– a prayer to the God of my life.” (Hear the song “As the Deer Pants for the Water at:  https://youtu.be/FBppKZ0eJlQ)

It was perfect. Just what I needed. The Lord, in His quiet and gentle way, was reminding me once again, that in this world of constantly changing circumstances, there is a place in the presence of the unchanging God, where I can go at any time… The profound simplicity of this truth prompted a simple and honest prayer; “JESUS, DRAW ME CLOSE… CLOSER LORD, TO YOU. LET THE WORLD AROUND ME FADE AWAY.” … Picking up my guitar, I put the prayer to an equally simple melody, and concluded with; “….. FOR I DESIRE TO WORSHIP, AND OBEY.” This week we will be using a Praise Team recording from January 2021.

Listen to Rick Founds sing the song at:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi9WrG1054k

“God Says” (MV #172)

“God says, “Be still so you may hear the words I whisper in your ear.
If you will listen, you will know I’m with you always where you go.”

God says, “Look up and see the prize I’ve placed here right before your eyes.
Find beauty in the things of earth, a cause for wonder and rebirth.”

God says, “Come here!  I need your voice.  Please teach my people to rejoice.
In who you are, in what you do, your life will show my love for you.”

God says, “Reach out!  The world’s in need and wants a word, a song, a deed.
I send you forth to speak, to sing, to act for Christ in everything.”

The words and music for this hymn were written by Mary Bittner in 1993.  The lyrics have God speaking directly to us.  First, we must be still, in order to hear the Word of God.  Then we must open our eyes to see the glory of God’s Creation.  God then asks us to share the love of God through our love for other’s and to reach out to act for Christ in everything we do.  Our worship team recording this hymn for worship in October 2020.

“Blest are They” 

“Blest are they, the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of God.
Blest are they, full of sorrow, they shall be consoled.

Blest are they, the lowly ones, they shall inherit the earth.
Blest are they who hunger and thirst; they shall have their fill.

Blest are they who show mercy, mercy shall be theirs.
Blest are they, the pure of heart, they shall see God!

Blest are they who seek peace; they are the children of God.
Blest are they who suffer in faith, the glory of God is theirs.

Blest are you who suffer hate, all because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, yours is the kingdom; shine for all to see.

Rejoice! and be glad!
Blessed are you, holy are you!
Rejoice! and be glad!
Yours is the kingdom of God!”

This week’s anthem, by David Haas with Michael Joncas, is a setting of The Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Plain, and reflects the words we are hearing from the Gospel of Luke this week.   Like the Sermon on the Mount found in the Gospel of Matthew, this section of scripture offers many messages and challenges for the believer:  messages of comfort and reflection on the lifestyle of those seeking to build the kingdom.

Hear the Notre Dame Folk Choir sing the song in worship at:  https://youtu.be/rzH-Vo4ocRo

“Go Make a Difference” (MV #209) 

“Go make a difference.
We can make a difference.
Go make a difference in the world.

We are the salt of the earth, called to let the people see
the love of God for you and me.  
We are the light of the world,
not to be hidden but be seen.
Go make a difference in the world.

We are the hands of Christ reaching out to those in need,
the face of God for all to see.
We are the spirit of hope;  we are the voice of peace.
Go make a difference in the world.

So let your love shine on, let it shine for all to see.
Go make a difference in the world.
And the spirit of Christ will be with us as we go.
Go make a difference in the world.”

This lively song encourages us out to carry our faith into the world.  The first verse is a direct reference to the Gospel of  Matthew.  The song was written by Steve Angrisano and Tom Tomaszek in 1997.  The Praise Team recording is from July 2021.

See Steve Angrisano sing the song at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQJ4TLRy1KI

“Lead Me, Lord” 

“Lead me, Lord, I will follow.
Lead me, Lord, I will go.
You have called me, I will answer.
Lead me, Lord, I will go.”

Our benediction response was written by Wayne and Elizabeth Goodine in 1994.   As we come to the end of worship, we again make our commitment to follow Jesus throughout the coming week. This week we will be using a recording made by the Harmony Singers in November 2021.