Notes on the Notes – January 24, 2016

This week’s theme:  A corporate job description

This week’s scripture readings:

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a – God creates a “body” with all the right parts

Luke 4:14021 – Jesus returns to Nazareth and proclaims his mission

This week’s music:

“Many Are the Lightbeams” (VU #588)

“Many are the lightbeams from the one light.
Our one light is Jesus.
Many are the lightbeams from the one light;
We are one in Christ.

Many are the branches of the one tree.
Our one tree is Jesus.
Many are the branches of the one tree;
We are one in Christ.

Many are the gifts given, love is all one.
Love’s the gift of Jesus.
Many are the gifts given, love is all one;
We are one in Christ.

Many ways to serve God, the Spirit is one,
Servant spirit of Jesus.
Many ways to serve God, the Spirit is one;
We are one in Christ.

Many are the members, the body is one,
Members all of Jesus.
Many are the members, the body is one;
We are one in Christ.

In 1972, Anders Frostenson, a Swedish pastor and hymn writer, wrote this paraphrase of a passage from “De Unitat ellesiae” by Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage (252 A.D.). The English translation is by David Lewis (1983). The tune was written by Swedish composer Olle Widestrand and arrranged by Leonard Lythgoe of Vancouver. This hymn was sung extensively at the Vancouver and Canberra Assemblies of the World Council of Churches. Its message of diversity of gifts used in unity of purpose strikes a healing note in a fractured world.

“Christ Has No Body Now but Yours” (MV #171)

The words of this hymn were adapted by Stephen C. Warner in 2003 from the original poem by St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582).

 “Christ has no body but yours.
Here on this earth, yours is the work, to serve with the joy of compassion.

No hands but yours to heal the wounded world, no hands but yours to soothe all its suffering, no touch but yours to bind the broken hope of the people of God.

No eyes but yours to see as Christ would see, to find the lost, to gaze with compassion; no eyes but yours to glimpse the holy joy of the city of God.

No feet but yours to journey with the poor, to walk this world with mercy and justice. Yours are the steps to build a lasting peace for the children of God.

Through ev’ry gift, give back to those in need; as Christ has blessed, so now be his blessing, with ev’ry gift a benediction be to the people of God.”

Born in Spain, Teresa entered a Carmelite convent when she was eighteen, and later earned a reputation as a mystic, reformer, and writer who experienced divine visions. She founded a convent, and wrote the book The Way of Perfection for her nuns. The music used in More Voices was written in 2006 by Rick Gunn, a United Church musician from Bedford, Nova Scotia.

“The Spirit of the Lord”

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
Because God has anointed me
To preach good news to the poor.
God has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
And recovering of sight to the blind
To set at liberty those who are oppressed,
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

This song by Jim Strathdee was written in 1965.  Strathdee uses the words that Jesus speaks in the temple, where he first proclaims his mission by speaking words from the book of Isaiah.

“Praise You”

 “Lord, I come to You today with a simple prayer to pray,
In everything I do, let my life, oh Lord, praise You.

Lord, You formed me out of clay, and for Your glory I was made.
Use this vessel as You choose. Let my life, oh Lord, praise You.”

This week’s anthem has words and music by Wayne and Elizabeth Goodine (1993).

“We are Members of Christ’s Body”

“We are members of Christ’s body,
Joined by faith in unity:
One in calling, joy, and suffering,
Wholesome in diversity.
We will work with gifts that differ
Towards the Kingdom’s destiny.
Towards the Kingdom’s destiny.

Ear and eye to one another,
We have need of every part;
Hands and feet belong together,
Guided by a loyal heart;
Tendons, bones, and flesh embody
What the Spirit’s breath imparts.
What the Spirit’s breath imparts.

When one member suffers hardship,
We will shoulder all the pain;
When another part is honored,
Joys throughout the body reign’
For our common love is pulsing
Towards the growth of Christ’s domain.
Towards the growth of Christ’s domain.

The words for this hymn were written by Bert Polman (1990).  The tune we will be using this week is CWM RHONDDA, most familiar as the tune for the hymn “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” (VU #651).