Notes on the Notes – February 19, 2023

Transfiguration Sunday

This week’s music: 

“Open Our Eyes, Lord” 

“Open our eyes, Lord,
We want to see Jesus,
To reach out and touch him,
And say that we love him.
Open our ears, Lord,
And help us to listen.
Open our eyes, Lord,
We want to see Jesus.”

The words and music for this simple chorus are by Robert Cull (1976) and express our desire to connect with Jesus. This week we will be using an arrangement by Jack Schrader.

Listen to a piano performance of the song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r99xVX36CRU

“Longing for Light” 

“Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
Light for the world to see. 

Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has power to save us.
Make us your living voice.

Many the gifts, many the people,
Many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
Making your kingdom come.

Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts. 
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today. 

This hymn was written by Bernadette Farrell in 1993 and expresses our longing for the light of God to come into our lives, and through us,  into the world.  The first two verses express our yearning for light, truth, peace and hope.  The third verse reminds us that by working together as servants to each other, God’s kingdom can be here and now.

Hear the Harmony Singers at: https://youtu.be/3Sj8UvEafIg

“Shine On, Great Saviour”

“He called us up to the mountain.
We followed the Master’s call.
And we were changed forever by the glorious things we saw.
There came a light on the mountain,

His face shone like the sun,
And His robe was white with the glorious light,
The light of the Holy One.

Now shine on, great Saviour.
Come and make this a holy place.
Shine on, great Saviour,
And show us your power and grace.

There came Elijah, great prophet,
There was Moses, great man of law.
And there stood the great Messiah,
Who shone the brightest of all.
A bright cloud overwhelmed them.
From the cloud, a voice was heard,
“This is My Son, My Chosen One,
Now listen to His every word.”

I remember that day on the mountain as I live in this valley below.
And through all my days of darkness,
There’s one thing that I know.
There was glory on the mountain.
What wonder did I see!
And the glory on the mountain will forever be living in me.”

This Appalachian-flavored song retelling the Transfiguration story is by composer Pepper Choplin and comes from the cantata “Come, Touch the Robe” which was published in 2009.  The final verse of the song tells about the change in the singer after seeing the Transfiguration – “and the glory on the mountain will forever be living in me.” To be transfigured is to be changed forever, and to live our lives accordingly.

“Your Work, O God, Needs Many Hands” (VU #537)

“Your work, O God, needs many hands to help you everywhere,
And some there are who cannot serve unless our gifts we share.
Because we love you and your work, our offering now we make:
Be pleased to use it as your own, we ask for Jesus’ sake.”

Our offering response was written by Calvin Weiss Laufer in 1927, set to music composed by Neil Dougall (1831).

“Shine, Jesus, Shine”

“Lord, the Light of Your Love is shining,
In the midst of the darkness shining,
Jesus, light of the world, shine upon us,
Set us free by the truth You now bring us,
Shine on me. Shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine,
Fill this land with the Father’s glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze,
Set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow,
Flood the nations with grace and mercy.
Send forth Your word, Lord,
And let there be light.

Lord, I come to your awesome presence,
From the shadows into your radiance;
By the blood I may enter your brightness,
Set us free by the truth you now bring us,
Shine on me.  Shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine…

As we gaze on Your kingly brightness
So our faces display Your likeness.
Ever changing from glory to glory,
Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story.
Shine on me. Shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine…”

This popular praise & worship song was written by Graham Kendrick in 1987.   The inspiration for the song was the theme of the presence and holiness of God – the God who dwells in unapproachable light. The final verse of the song emphasizes the change in us as we see Jesus as the Son of God.

To listen to Graham Kendrick performing this song (2013) go to :  https://youtu.be/QGmT4Gsh8CU

“You Shall Be the Path That Guides Us” 

“You shall be the path that guides us; you the light that in us burns.
Shining deep within all people, yours the love that we must learn.
For our hearts shall wander restless ’til they safe to you return.
Finding you in one another, we shall all your face discern.”

The words for our benediction response were written by Marty Haugen in 1985 for the hymn “God of Day and God of Darkness.” As we go into the world, we are reminded that everyone we meet has the light of God within and that, if we are open, we can see the presence of God in one another.  We will be using the tune, BEACH SPRING (Sacred Harp, 1844).