Notes on the Notes – January 9, 2022

Baptism of Jesus

“To Be Named!”

This Week’s Music: 

“Arise, Your Light is Come” (VU 79 v.1)

“Arise, your light is come!
The Spirit’s call obey;
Show forth the glory of your God,
Which shines on you today.”

The lyrics for this hymn are inspired by words found in the book of Isaiah and written by Ruth Duck in 1974. The tune, FESTIVAL SONG was first published in 1872 in a hymn book for the Episcopal Church of the USA called Hymnal with Tunes Old and New.  We will be using the first verse of the hymn after the lighting of the Christ candle.

“A Light is Gleaming” (VU #82)

“A light is gleaming,
Spreading its arms throughout the night,
Living in the light.
Come share its gladness,
God’s radiant love is burning bright,
Living in the light.

When light comes pouring into the darkest place,
It hurts our eyes to see the glow.
Sometimes a word of hope reminds us of our fears,
Our memories and tears...

When night is round us and every shadow grows,
A star is there to light our way.
It tells a story of Jesus who came near to say:
“God’s light will ever stay.”…

And Jesus showed us a brighter path to walk.
He showed us things we hadn’t seen.
Now we, like Jesus, can help creation shine,
And this will be a sign:…

So let us live in the brightness God has giv’n,
And let us rise to see the dawn.
We trust that God is here a-sparkle and ablaze,
Warming all our days.

A light is gleaming,
Spreading its arms throughout the night,
Living in the light.
Come share its gladness,
God’s radiant love is burning bright,
Living in the light.“

The words of this beautiful song remind us that Jesus is the light and that, through following his way, we too can be a light in the world.  The song was first published in 1992 in Stickpeople, a collection of songs by the Canadian composer Linnea Good.

Hear Linnea Good sing the song:

“Jesus Bids Us Shine” (VU #585)

“Jesus bids us shine with a pure, clear light,
Like a little candle burning in the night.
In this world is darkness, so let us shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine.

Jesus bids us shine first of all for him;
Well he sees and knows it if our light grows dim:
Jesus walks beside us to help us shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine.

Jesus bids us shine, then, for all around,
Many kinds of darkness in the world are found:
Sin, and want and sorrow; so we must shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine.”

This hymn, by American novelist Susan Warner, was first published in 1868 in a children’s magazine titled The Little Corporal.  An interesting side note is that the author’s younger sister, Anna Barlett wrote the hymn “Jesus Loves Me.”   The tune was written by Edwin O. Excell, an American composer of gospel hymns.

“Down to the River to Pray”

“As I went down to the river to pray,
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the starry crown.
Good Lord, show me the way.
O sisters, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down.
O sisters, let’s go down, down to the river to pray.

As I went down to the river to pray, 
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way 
And who shall wear the robe and crown.
Good Lord, show me the way.
O brothers, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down.
Come on brothers, let’s go down, down to the river to pray.

As I went down to the river to pray,
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the starry crown,
Good Lord, show me the way.
O fathers, let’s go down, let’s go down, com on down.
O fathers, let’s go down, down to the river to pray.

As I went down to the river to pray,
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the robe and crown.
Good Lord, show me the way.
O mothers, let’s go down, come on down, don’t-cha wanna go down.
Come on mothers, let’s go down, down to the river to pray.

As I went down to the river to pray, 
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the starry crown.
Good Lord, show me the way.
O sinners, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down.
O sinners, let’s go down, down to the river to pray.

As I went down to the river to pray, 
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the starry crown.
Good Lord, show me the way.”

This week our anthem will be from an arrangement of the traditional song by Sheldon Curry (2002).  While it is hard to pinpoint the exact origins of the song, “Down to the River to Pray” has been referred to as a hymn, a spiritual and an Appalachian song. Some believe it was a Native American Tribal song that was adapted to include Christian lyrics. It is attributed to George H. Allan in the Slave Songbook of 1867, and Alison Krauss popularized it in the 2000 film, O Brother, Where Art Thou? The song also is known by alternate titles such as “Down in the Valley to Pray,” “Come, Let Us All Go Down” and “The Good Old Way.” Whatever the title might truly be, the deeply spiritual song is about keeping the faith in a time of darkness. (Source: https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/down-to-the-river-to-pray.html)

Hear Alison Krauss sing the song with scenes from the movie,  O Brother, Where Art Thou? at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fztz_Vr9uHk 

“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

“O Radiant Christ, Incarnate Word” (VU #84 v.4)

“O Light of Nations, fill the earth;
Our faith and hope and love renew.
Come, lead the peoples to your peace,
As stars once led the way to you.”

We will be using the fourth verse of the hymn “O Radiant Christ, Incarnate Word” as our benediction response this week. The words were written by Ruth Duck (1991).