Notes on the Notes – February 27, 2022

Transfiguration Sunday

This Week’s Music:

“Immortal, Invisible” (VU #264) 

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above,
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all, life thou givest, to both great and small,
In all life thou livest, the true life of all,
We blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree,
Then wither and perish; but naught changeth thee.

Thou reignest in glory, thou rulest in light;
Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
All praise we would render, O help us to see
‘Tis only the splendour of light hideth thee!”

The four verses of this hymn by Walter Chalmers Smith are a description of the glory and omnipotence of God.  As humans, we are not able to see God, hidden in light too bright to see through, yet God is forever with us.  The hymn, based on 1 Timothy 1:17, was first published in Smith’s Hymns of Christ and the Christian Life (1867).   ST. DENIO is a traditional Welsh melody adapted into a hymn tune during the Welsh revivals at the turn of the 19th century. It was arranged by John Roberts (Henllan) and published in the Welsh hymnal Caniadau y Cyssegr (1839).  This week we will be using a Worship Team recording from February 2021.

Hear an up-tempo version of this hymn by Steve Green at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0_vB1dFtC4

Hear a traditional organ prelude on the melody at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcWDS1yTkxM

“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, go 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.  We will be using a Harmony Singers recording from November 2021.

“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.

“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.

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

 “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.