Notes on the Notes – February 16, 2020

This week’s scripture readings:

Psalm 119:1-8        1 Corinthians 3:1-9

This week’s music:

“Serve the Lord”   

“Serve the Lord, serve the Lord with gladness,
Serve the Lord, serve the Lord with gladness.
O ye people who’ve been waiting for so long, serve the Lord.

Trust the Lord, the Lord will always lead you…

Thank the Lord for God’s mighty actions…

Love the Lord and there is your freedom…

Serve the Lord, serve the Lord with gladness….”

This catchy tune was written by Jim Strathdee in 1977 and reminds us that our faith is action-based.

Here the song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV-U-hIqLtk&index=11&t=0s&list=PLel38UQxkWUbuUH3AcFhB8jNi4shVZqsh

“Joyful, Joyful We Adore You” (VU #232)

“Joyful, joyful we adore you God of glory, life and love;
Hears unfold like flowers before you, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the gloom of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day.

All your works with joy surround you,
Earth and heaven reflect your rays,
Stars and angels sing around you,
Centre of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain,
Sound their praise eternally.

You are giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Source of grace and fount of blessing, let your light upon us shine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals join the mighty chorus, which the morning stars began;
God’s own love is reigning o’er us, joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing march we onward, victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward in the triumph son of life.”

This hymn of joy celebrates the constancy of God’s love for and in creation.  The words are not a translation of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” but were written in 1907 by Henry van Dyke as a gift to his host, James Garfield, president of Williams College, Massachusetts (and later president of the United States), while van Dyke was a guest preacher at the college.  The text was altered in the interest of inclusivity when it was published in Voices United.

Hear the hymn at the Royal Albert Hall in London:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMY3ivdNzwE

See Libera perform the song at:  https://youtu.be/MAkXHhs9vOc

“True Faith Needs No Defence” (MV #139)

“True faith needs no defence, it echoes in the soul;
A faithful life gives evidence of grace that makes us whole.

True faith, like music, soars beyond cathedral walls;
On city streets and ocean shores, from age to age faith calls.

Expect your faith to grow; begin by being still,
And in the quiet come to know God’s living, breathing will.

To live the faith we find, is all that love can ask;
To sing God’s praise with heart and mind, and rise to meet the task.”

The text and music for this hymn are by Daniel Charles Damon (2004). The words encourage us to have patience on our faith journey, but also to act in faith and share our faith with the world.

“Follow the Way of the Lord”

“On each journey that you take, follow the way of the Lord.
In every single choice you make, follow the way of the Lord.
Climbing up the mountainside, or swimming hard against the strongest tide,
Christ is there to be your guide, follow the way of the Lord.

Through the vale where shadows fall, follow the way of the Lord.
Jesus answers when you call, follow the way of the Lord.
As the Saviour’s path unfolds come and walk the straight and narrow road.
Christ will lighten up your load, follow the way of the Lord.

Follow and pray; follow today; follow the way of the Lord.
Follow His grace, follow in faith; follow the way of the Lord.

In everything you say or do, follow the way of the Lord.
The Savior watches over you, follow the way of the Lord.
On that morning when you rise Christ will lead you home up to the skies,
All the way to paradise, follow the way of the Lord.

Will you decide no to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.…”

Written in 2009, today’s anthem by Bert Stratton and Lloyd Larson brings us an inspiring call to discipleship.  The words remind us that being a follower of Jesus requires us to make that choice over and over throughout our life.  The anthem also quotes the song “I have decided to follow Jesus,”  a Christian hymn originating from India.

“Walk With Me” (VU #649)

“Walk with me, I will walk with you and build the land that God has planned where love shines through.

When Moses heard the call of God he said, “Lord, don’t sent me.”
But God told Moses, “You’re the one to set my people free.”

Now Peter was a most unlikely man to lead the flock,
But Jesus knew his holiness and he became the Rock.

Young Mary Magdalene was sure her life could be much more,
And by her faith she dared to let God’s love unlock the door.

And when you share your faith with me and work for life made new,
The witness of your faithfulness calls me to walk with you.

Walk with me…”

The lyrics of this hymn reference the stories of three Biblical characters who, at first, seemed unlikely to be important in the story of God, but who become major turning points in the faith journey.   The closing verse reminds us that walking together in faith leads us toward the kingdom of God on earth.  This hymn was written by John Rice in 1981.

To ponder: 

Is your life in tune with God’s kingdom, where compassion, justice, and integrity meet?