Notes on the Notes – February 21

Lent 1

This week’s music:

“You Shall Be the Path”

“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
Till they safe to you return;
Finding you in one another,
We shall all your face discern.”

The words for our candle liturgy response are from the fourth verse of the hymn “God of Day and God of Darkness” by Marty Haugen (1985). The tune we will be using is the familiar tune, BEACH SPRING, written in 1844.

“Come Join the Sacred Journey”

“Come join the sacred journey as pilgrims on the road.
Our purpose sets our story, our faith will bear our load.
When love’s the destination, let footprints that we leave
Show Christ as our companion and hope in threads we weave.

In paths we take by chance or missteps we can’t foresee,
Our lives are rounded answers that face infinity.
With those who also travel, we share our joys or grief.
When plans seem to unravel, friends offer us relief.

In unexpected places, God quietly appears.
Light seeps through broken spaces to counteract our fears.
‘Mid chaos or rejection, grace enters in each day,
To give to us direction and guide us on our way.”

Our opening hymn has words written by Allan Baer in 2014. We will be using the tune AURELIA, more commonly known as the tune for the hymn “The Church’s One Foundation,” written by Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1864). As we begin the season of Lent, we are reminded not only that God and Christ walk with us, but that we are on a journey together.

“How Deep the Peace” (MV #95)

“How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose wrongs are forgiven.
How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose hearts are healed.”

This short response is based on Psalm 32.  It was written by Linnea Good in 2004.

“To the Desert Jesus Came” (VU #113)

“To the desert Jesus came, to wrestle and to seek God’s way.
Sun and moon rose high above to watch him as he’d fast and pray.
Together through the valley, the tempter led him around.
Together through the valley, so Jesus answers found.

Like the Hebrews long ago who ventured through the desert sand,
Did he find a rock of faith, where streams of living waters ran?
Together through the valley, so shall we make our way.
Together through the valley, we’ll walk for forty days.

In the desert we may find the mystery of who we are,
Following a faithful God, so very close and yet so far.
Together through the valley, we’ll gather our dreams in prayer,
Together though the valley, and find God’s presence there.

From the ashes to the hill, we’ll travel on our Lenten road.
Hand in hand we’ll cross this sand, and share each other’s heavy load.
Together through the valley, we’ll watch the changing sky.
Together through the valley, as Easter’s dawn draws nigh.”

Also by Linnea Good (1992), this hymn connects us to the story of Jesus in the wilderness.  The lyrics remind us that we will also be travelling the road to Easter during this season.  What would we find if we chose to spend time alone, contemplating our relationship with God?

“Pilgrims”

“As pilgrims we are walking,
Walking to a promised day;
We struggle with our baggage
With temptation’s call to stay.
We find the journey tiring and confusing in demand;
We long for safer travel, charts and maps of promised land.

As pilgrims we are talking,
Talking with our family here;
We struggle with our language, and the changes that we fear.
We find the journey frees us from the strictures of the past;
We seek new understandings and community to last.

As pilgrims we are seeking,
Seeking grace from you our God;
We need to know your presence, guide us with Christ’s shepherd rod.
Give us strength to serve you truly as we move from place to place;
Let us journey on as pilgrims while relying on your grace.”

This week’s anthem was written by Walter Farquharson and Ron Klusmeier. Walter Farquarson says this about the writing of the song: “The song was written for an annual meeting of Saskatchewan Conference of the United Church of Canada (1979), at a time when significant changes were taking place in the world, in our country, in our communities and our churches. For some that was exciting, challenging, all something to be welcomed. For others it was frightening. Some fled for safer places, some tried to hunker down and prevent change from happening, some felt hurt, or angry, judged from many sides.

More voices were speaking of the church less as an institution comfortably settled in a society that liked having it around to speaking of a church as a pilgrim people, a people on the journey, a people often declared to be strangers, aliens, up-setters of the status quo.

Since the writing of this song, changes have continued happening. Not all have been healthy for the church. Numbers supporting local churches have dramatically declined in our country and certainly in our denomination. We’re an aging crew. Concern for survival has, in many locations, overtaken concern for service to community and to the forgotten or pushed aside of the world. Sometimes it seems we put more energy into proclaiming what we do not believe than we do into what we do believe. There is a tendency to be cut off from our past biblically, historically, liturgically. As a people, we have less and less contact or knowledge of the great themes of creation, exodus, exile. We may forget that love has been defined for us in the ministry of Jesus and in the narratives of God’s working in and through the people over the ages…” (Source: Musiklus)

“Spirit God, Be Our Breath” (MV #150)

“Spirit God: be our breath, be our song.
Blow through us, bringing strength to move on.
Our world seems inward, defensive, withdrawn…
Spirit God, be our song.

Patient God: soothe our pride, calm our fear.
Comfort us.
When we know you are near we grow more certain, our vision is clear.
Patient God, calm our fear.

Loving God: be our voice, be our prayer.
Reaching out, joining hands as we share,
We seek your guidance through friendship and care.
Loving God, be our prayer.

Spirit God: be our breath, be our song.
Blow through us, bringing strength to move on.
Through change, through challenge, we’ll greet the new dawn.
Spirit God, be our song.”

This song, with words and music by Bruce Harding, was written in 1997.   The lyrics are a sung prayer that God be with us through the changes that we will see as we move forward in faith.

Hear the song: http://www.windsorparkunitedchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Spirit-God-Be-Our-Breath-Embracing-Change.m4a?_=1

“May the Christ Who Walks on Wounded Feet” 

“May the Christ who walks on wounded feet
Travel with you all your journey through.
May you see Christ’s face in all you meet
And may all you meet see Christ’s face in you.”

Our benediction response for the season of Lent was written by Allan Baer in 2013 and arranged by S. Porter. The words are adapted from a traditional Celtic prayer.