Notes on the Notes – January 26, 2025

Third Sunday after Epiphany

This week’s music:

“Eternal, Unchanging, We Sing” (VU #223)

“Eternal, Unchanging, we sing to your praise:
Your mercies are endless, and righteous your ways;
Your servants proclaim the renown of your name
Who rules over all and is ever the same.

Again we rejoice in the world you have made,
Your mighty creation in beauty arrayed,
We thank you for life, and we praise you for joy,
For love and for hope that no power can destroy.

We praise you for Jesus, our Master and Lord,
The might of his Spirit, the truth of his word,
His comfort in sorrow, his patience in pain,
The faith sure and steadfast that Jesus shall reign.”

The lyrics of this hymn bring to mind the infinite nature of God, and give thanks for the Creation and the gifts of Jesus and the Spirit.  This is one of R.B.Y. Scott’s early hymns, first published in 1938.   The tune, ST. DENIO, is a traditional Welsh melody adapted into a hymn tune during the Welsh revivals at the turn of the 19th century.  It is also the tune used by Ralph Vaughan Williams with the hymn “Immortal, Invisible.”  

Hear the melody on pipe organ at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqgQ3_VcaKw

“Gloria” (VU #37)

“Gloria, gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, gloria, alleluia, alleluia.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest!
Glory to God, glory to God, hallelujah, hallelujah!”

This music was written by Jacques Berthier for the Taize Community.  The English text by R. Gerald Hobbs and the music arrangement by Darryl Nixon were prepared for Songs for a Gospel People (1987).  We will be using it as a response to the Words of Assurance.

“Ancient Words”

“Holy words long preserved for our walk in this world;
 They resound with God’s own heart,
 O, let the ancient words impart;

 Words of life, words of hope,
 Give us strength, help us cope;
 In this world where’er we roam,
 Ancient words will guide us home.

            Ancient words, ever true, changing me, and changing you;
            We have come with open hearts,
            O let the ancient words impart.

Holy words of our faith
Handed down to this age
Came to us through sacrifice
O heed the faithful words of Christ
Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world
They resound with God’s own heart
O let the ancient words impart…”

This lovely modern hymn was written by Lynn Deshazo.  It was made popular by Michael W Smith, as it was featured on his album, “Worship Again.”

When interviewed about the song, Lynn said, “The longer I walk with the Lord, the more love and appreciation I have for the Bible and for those whom God has used throughout the ages to make it available to me. I suppose that was the true impetus for my writing  “Ancient Words.”

Hear Michael W Smith sing the song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vmTkXNpwzs

“In Your Presence”

“In your presence we are gathered
as the people called by Your Name.
We are longing for Your spirit
now to come and set our hearts aflame. 

We are longing to taste the fruits of the Spirit.
We are longing for vision that sees beyond the walls.
We are longing for the fragrance of sweet communion among us.
We are longing to hear again the everlasting call. 

In your presence we are gathered
as the people called by Your Name.
We are longing for Your spirit
now to come and set our hearts aflame. 

We long to touch the heart that made the mountains.
We long to touch the strength that made the sea,
To know the joy that made the human family,
to feel the power that sets the captive free. 

In your presence we are gathered
as the people called by Your Name.
We are longing for Your spirit
now to come and set our hearts aflame. 
Spirit, come and set our hearts aflame.”

This week’s anthem was written by Ken Medema in 1991 and expresses our longing to connect with God and the Holy Spirit.

“Grant Us, God, the Grace of Giving” (VU #540)

“Grant Us, God, the grace of giving,
With a spirit large and free,
That ourselves and all our living
We may offer faithfully.”

The text of our offering response for the season of Epiphany comes from the Mennonite hymn book, “Hymnal: a Worship Book.”  The tune is a familiar one which is also used for the Advent hymn “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (VU #2).

“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).  They challenge us to be Christ’s body in the world today, carrying on Jesus’ work of love, justice and compassion.

“Christ has no body but yours, no hands 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.

Hear the hymn at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fhhVfvWBqw

“Show Us Christ in One Another” 

“Show us Christ in one another.
Make us servants strong and true.
Give us all your love of justice
So we do what you would do.
Let us call all people holy.
Let us pledge our lives anew.
Make us one with all the lowly.
Let us all be one in you.”

The words for our benediction response were written by Marty Haugen (1985) and come from the hymn “God of Day and God of Darkness.”  We will be using the tune BEACH SPRING (1844).

Hear the tune on piano at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBFm1Q9iRwo