Notes on the Notes – January 21, 2018

This Week’s Theme:

To Follow

This Week’s Scripture Readings:

Mark 1:14-20    1 Corinthians 7:29-31

This Week’s Music:

This week we will continue to explore our response to God’s call.   What does it mean to follow God – to follow Jesus?

“Jesus, Teacher Brave and Bold” (VU #605)

“Jesus, teacher, brave and bold,
Let us serve you, young and old.
Let us faith-filled workers be,
All around, you wisdom see.
Let us play and dance and sing,
Your goodness find in everything.

Jesus, friend, so strong and true,
Show us good, brave work to do.
Show us those who need a friend,
All things broken help us mend.
Free our minds and stretch our care,
Teach us to serve you everywhere.”

This hymn by Walter Farquharson and Ron Klusmeier was written in 1972.  The lyrics express the desire to be a follower of Jesus and to learn from Jesus’ teachings.  One of the earliest products of their collaboration, it was published as “Jesus, master, brave and bold” in Praise to the Lord (1973) and in a revised version as “Jesus, teacher, brave and bold” in Just Like Salt (1986) and Songs for a Gospel People (1987).

“One More Step Along the World I Go” (VU 639)

“One more step along the world I go…from the old things to the new, keep me traveling along with you:

and it’s from the old I travel to the new; keep me traveling along with you.

Round the corner of the world I turn, more and more about the world I learn; all the new things that I see you’ll be looking at along with me…

As I travel through the bad and good, keep me traveling the way I should; where I see no way to go you’ll be telling me the way, I know…

Give me courage  when the world is rough, keep me loving though the world is tough, leap and sing in all I do, keep me traveling along with you…

You are older than the world can be, you are younger than the life in me, ever old and ever new, keep me traveling along with you…”

This folk-hymn by Sydney Carter was written in 1971.  The words of the hymn emphasize that living a faith-filled life is more about the journey than about having all of the answers.  It also speaks of our desire to have God with us as we live and learn.

Hear the song at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PXV3dwaeNU

“Jesus, You Have Come to the Lakeshore” (VU #563)

“Jesus, you have come to the lakeshore looking neither for wealthy nor wise ones;
You only asked me to follow humbly.

You know so well my possessions; my boat carries no gold and no weapons;
You will find there my nets and labour.

You need my hands,full of caring through my labours to give others rest,
And constant love that keeps on loving.

You, who have fished other oceans, ever longed for by souls who are waiting,
My loving friend, as thus you call me:

O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,
And while smiling, have spoken my name;
Now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me;
By your side I will seek other seas.”

This hymn is written as an intimate response to Jesus from the perspective of the first fishermen called. The gentle rocking motion of the music is reminiscent of a boat rocking on the water. Written in Spanish by Cesdrea Gabardin in 1979, it was translated to English by Gertrude C. Suppe, George Lockwood, and Raquel Guiterrez–Achon in 1987.

Hear a beautiful two-part version of the song with a slightly different translation at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdsab4mm4nI&pbjreload=10

“I Will Make You Fishers of Men”

“When the Lord went down to the lake one day,
He saw Andrew and Simon working on the shore.
He said,“Take your nets, now, and put them away.
I will make you fishers of men.

I will make you fishers of men.
If you lay down your nets and you follow me,
I will make you fishers of men.”

So they left their nets and they followed Him.
And they walked by the Sea of Galilee
On that day when Jesus called out to them,
“I will make you fishers of men…”

Then they came to a boat floating on the sea.
There was James and John and father, Zebedee.
Jesus called to the brothers, “Come and follow me.
I will make you fishers of men…”

So just listen close, the Lord is calling you.
There’s a lot of work that is left to do.
Like those men of old, His message still rings true,
“I will make you fishers of men…”

This week’s anthem by Dave and Jean Perry is a retelling of the calling of the first disciples by Jesus. The song concludes with a reminder that we, too, can hear God’s call, and that there is still work for us to do in bringing God’s message to the world.

“Will You Come and Follow Me”  (VU #567)

“Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be know, will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?…

This hymn, also known as “The Summons” was written by John Bell of the Iona Community.  The first four verses contain the questions that Jesus poses to us – 1.  Will you come and follow me?… 2. Will you leave yourself behind?…  3.  Will you let the blinded see?…  4.  Will you love the “you” you hide?…  The final verse is our answer to Him:

“Christ, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.  Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.  In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show.  Thus I’ll move and live and grown in you and you in me.”

The tune is the traditional Scottish tune KELINGROVE.  Hear it sung by Robert Kochis at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0aAkOe87mo

 Bonus Video:  For a rock interpretation of the message, check out the video for the Newsboys song “Fishers of Men.”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU2N9kWGG-o