Notes on the Notes – June 12, 2016
This week’s scripture reading:
Galatians 2: 15-21
This week’s music:
“This is the Day” (MV #122)
“This is the day that God has made;
We will rejoice and be glad!
This is the day that God has made;
We will rejoice and be glad!
Singing hallelu! Singing hallelu! Singing hallelu!
We will rejoice and be glad!
Singing hallelu! Singing hallelu! Singing hallelu!
We will rejoice and be glad!
Voici le jour que Dieu a fait;
Nous le vivrons dans la joie.
Chantant Allelu! Nous le vivrons dans la joie!”
This hymn by Bruce Harding (2003) is inspired by the words of Psalm 118:24. Harding wrote both the text and music, which was translated to French by David Fines in 2005. To hear the song go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88a-8OXGYk4
“Come, All You People” (MV #2)
“Come all you people, come and praise your Maker…
Come now and worship the Lord!”
This lively chorus was written by Alexander Gondo of Zimbabwe. The English paraphrase is by I-to Lah. The arrangement we will be using is by John L. Bell (1995)
Hear the song at: https://youtu.be/lA-iFOEgPrI
“Will Your Anchor Hold” (VU #675)
“Will your anchor hold in the storms of life, When the clouds unfold their wings of strife? When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain, Will your anchor drift or firm remain?
Will your anchor hold in the straits of fear, When the breakers roar and the reef is near? While the surges rave and the wild winds blow, Shall the angry waves then your bark o’erflow?
Will your eyes behold through the morning light, The city of gold and the harbour bright? Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore When life’s storms are past for evermore?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul Steadfast and sure while the billows roll; Fastened to the rock which cannot move, Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.”
Priscilla Jane Owens of Baltimore, Maryland, wrote this hymn, most likely for a youth service in 1882. It was first published, with the tune by William James Kirkpatrick, in “Songs of Triumph: adapted to Prayer Meetings, Camp Meetings, and All Other Seasons of Religious Worship (1882). Priscilla Owens (1829–1907) was a Sunday School teacher at the Union Square Methodist Episcopal Church. She wrote a number of hymns and songs for her pupils; this is the best known today. The music was written by William Kirkpatrick (1838–1921) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a member of the same Christian denominiation as Owens, and was a prolific writer of hymn tunes and compiler of hymn collections. The hymn has always been closely associated with the Boys’ Brigade, which has the motto, “Sure and Stedfast”. The Boys’ Brigade (BB) is an interdenominational Christian youth organization, conceived by Sir William Alexander Smith to combine drill and fun activities with Christian values.
Hear the song at: https://youtu.be/UQQO8v-0VBo
“Lift High the Name of Jesus”
“Lift high the name of Jesus, of Jesus, our King.
Make known the power of His grace, the beauty of His peace.
Remember how How mercy reached as we cried out to Him
He lifted us to solid ground, to freedom from our sin.
O sing, my soul, and tell all He’s done,
Till the earth and heavens are filled with His glory.
Lift high the name of Jesus, of Jesus, our Lord.
His power in us is greater than, is greater than this world;
To share the reason for our hope; to serve with love and grace;
That all who see Him shine through us might bring the Father praise.
O sing, my soul, and tell all He’s done,
Till the earth and heavens are filled with His glory.
Lift high the name of Jesus, of Jesus, our Light.
No other name on earth can save, can raise our soul to life.
He opens up our eyes to see the harvest He has grown.
We labor in His fields of grace as He leads sinners home.
O sing, my soul, and tell all He’s done,
Till the earth and heavens are filled with His glory.
Till the earth and heavens are filled with His glory!
Lift high His name!”
This week’s anthem has words and music by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Fionan de Barra and Ed Cash. It has been arranged by Mary McDonald (2013).
A thought from Kristyn
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.Is the hope I profess with my lips written in my life? And then when I am asked about it, do I have something to say? When I’m sitting at the hair salon, when I’m paying for my groceries, when I talk about things around the dinner table, when I am in a meeting at work, when I’m playing sport, when I’m planning my daily schedule… Can people see the Lordship of Christ in my heart?
This verse in 1 Peter presupposes that my life reveals my hope to be in Christ in such a way that people notice and so ask questions. It seems that while there are Bible verses that exhort us to plainly share our faith, we are told even more that a greater part of the ‘telling’ is the significance of the witness of a Christian life sincerely and purposefully lived, of a life that makes the gospel beautiful and attractive to people around them. Then as we do this, we remember all the while that He is the Lord of the harvest; He makes things grow; He saves so that we’re neither discouraged nor arrogant but know the privilege of being part of the work of His kingdom.
These were some of the key thoughts behind the writing of this song – lives sharing the new life they have been given with those around them. I remember going as a young girl to a friend’s house and seeing this little phrase on their kitchen notice board: “blossom where you’re planted.” I always thought that was a helpful way of thinking about the Christian life and evangelism – making the most of the path beneath your feet, serving best the people immediately around you, seeing the light of eternity in the ordinary of your life. A life that lifts high the name of Jesus will always bear the best and most enduring fruit.”
See Kristyn Getty sing the song at: https://youtu.be/M8ZULrY9HlI
“The Love of Christ Jesus is Urging Us On”
“The love of Christ Jesus is urging us on,
For we find our life in what Jesus has done.
He died and is risen; now we’re dead to sin!
No longer our own, we have new life in him.
The love of Christ Jesus is changing our view;
In valleys of death, we see God’s reign break through.
Where others seek vengeance, Christ calls us to live
Forgiven in him — able, then, to forgive.
The love of Christ Jesus leads Christians to care;
When people are hungry, he calls us to share.
He gives us a job — to get out of our pews,
To work for God’s justice and live the good news.
The love of Christ Jesus is urging us on
When others grow weary or say hope is gone.
He calls us to serve him again and again;
No longer our own, all our life is in him.”
These new words were written by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette in 2012, based on 2 Conrinthians 5:14-17. Carolyn wrote this hymn at the Massanetta Springs Bible Conference after hearing a sermon by the Rev. Dr. Syngman Rhee, the Special Assistant to the President for Global Ministry and Advancement at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA. They are sung to the melody ST DENIO, commonly known as the tune for the hymn “How Firm a Foundation.” ST DENIO is a traditional Welsh melody adapted into a hymn tune during the Welsh revivals at the turn of the 19th century.
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