Notes on the Notes – January 15, 2023
Baptism of Christ
Second Sunday of the Season of Epiphany
This week’s music:
“Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart” (VU #378)
“Spirit of God, descend upon my heart:
Wean it from earth, thro’ all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, strength to me impart,
And make me love you as I ought to love.
I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of clay,
No angel visitant, no opening skies,
But take the dimness of my soul away.
Have you not bid me love you, God and King;
All, all your own, soul, heart, and strength and mind?
I see your cross: there teach my heart to cling.
O let me seek you and O let me find!
Teach me to love you as your angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame,
The baptism of the heaven-descended dove,
My heart an altar and your love the flame.”
George Croly, an Anglican minister from Dublin, went to London as a young man to serve a small congregation. While working there, Croly wrote the hymn, “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart.” The hymn is a prayer for God to change us — to change us from the inside out — to teach us how to love God as we ought to love – to allow us to seek God and to find him — and to teach us to love as the angels love. This hymn reflects Croly’s conviction that redemption is an inside job — that it begins not when our surroundings change but when God changes our heart.
Hear Sue Nixon sing the hymn at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeZcdxKKzOU
Hear the hymn played on piano at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIOwwihkVSQ
Learn more about the hymn’s history at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9vOXtWFGA4
“River” (MV #3)
“River, rush-a-down to the ocean blue,
River, from a mountain high.
River, as you do what rivers do,
River, draw the Spirit nigh.
Spirit, come-a-down to the riverside,
Spirit, spark of wondrous thought.
Spirit, I am free for you to guide,
Spirit, pray that I be taught!
Water, let me drink of your healing pow’r,
Water, strength and life you give.
Water, as I travel with each hour,
Water, help my body live.
River, flow-a-down where you ran before,
River, source of clearer view.
River, as I walk your rocky shore,
River, see my journey through.
See my journey through…”
This week we are reading about Jesus’ baptism at the Jordan River by John the Baptist. At this time, the heaven’s open and Jesus’ divinity is revealed. This hymn, written by Julian Pattison in 2003, asks that the river brings the Spirit close, so that we, too, may be taught and live Spirit-filled lives.
Hear the song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytaVS4DUtI8
“The Power of Your Love”
“Lord I come to You
Let my heart be changed, renewed
Flowing from the grace
That I have found in You
And Lord I have come to know
The weaknesses I see in me
Will be stripped away
By the power of Your love
Hold me close
Let Your love surround me
Bring me near
Draw me to Your side
And as I wait
I will rise up like the eagle
And I will soar with You
Your Spirit leads me on
In the power of Your love
Lord unveil my eyes
Let me see You face to face
The knowledge of Your love
As You live in me
And Lord renew my mind
As Your will unfolds in my life
In living every day
By the power of Your love…”
This week’s anthem was written by Geoff Bullock, a member of Australia’s Hillsong Church team. “In 2006 Angelica Del Vasto of Worship Leader Magazine wrote about Bullock’s song “The Power of Your Love” that it “encompasses the listener with… the empowering conviction that the Creator of the universe has done, and is doing, everything to convey His love to us. It compels us to face our own weaknesses and then fall into the arms of God.” … Bullock acknowledged its (the song’s) influence on his later life, saying “so many of the songs that I had written [earlier] were given new meaning as I had to live out their inspiration. It is far easier writing a song than having to live out its words.”
The song speaks directly to God as we ask for God’s love to surround us, change us, make us strong and give us the power to live our lives for God.
“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, with music by Neil Dougall (1831).
“I Have Called You by Your Name” (MV #161)
“I have called you by your name, you are mine;
I have gifted you and ask you now to shine.
I will not abandon you; all my promises are true.
You are gifted, called, and chosen; you are mine.
I will help you learn my name as you go;
Read it written in my people, help them grow.
Pour the water in my name, speak the word your soul can claim,
Offer Jesus’ body given long ago.
I know you will need my touch as you go;
Feel it pulsing in creation’s ebb and flow.
Like the woman reaching out, choosing faith in spite of doubt,
Hold the hem of Jesus’ robe, then let it go.
I have given you a name, it is mine;
I have given you my Spirit as a sign.
With my wonder in your soul, make my wounded children whole;
Go and tell my precious people they are mine.”
The lyrics of this hymn by Daniel Charles Damon have their root in Isaiah 43:1. This hymn is written from God’s perspective, saying “I have called you by your name, you are mine” and goes on to speak of God’s hope for us. It commissions us to have the courage to follow where God leads and reminds us of everyone’s value in God’s eyes.
Hear the hymn at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXEJmu_L5DQ
“Your Glory Shone at Jordan’s Stream” (VU #84 v. 3)
“Your glory shone at Jordan’s stream,
The font where we were born anew.
Attune your church to know you near;
Illumine all we say and do.”
We will be using the third verse of the hymn “O Radiant Christ, Incarnate Word” as our benediction response this week. The words were written by Ruth Duck (1991).
Bonus video:
