Notes on the Notes – June 18, 2023
Third Sunday after Pentecost/Father’s Day
This week’s music:
“Sing Your Praise to God Eternal” (VU #244)
“Sing your praise to God eternal, sing your praise to God the Son,
Sing your praise to God the Spirit, living and forever One.
God has made us, God has blessed us, God has called us to be true.
God rules over all creation, daily making all things new.
Join the praise of every creature, sing with singing birds at dawn;
When the stars shine forth at nightfall, hear their heavenly antiphon.
Praise God for the light of summer, autumn glories, winter snows,
For the coming of the springtime and the life of all that grows.
Praise God on our days of gladness for the summons to rejoice;
Praise God in our times of sadness for the calm, consoling voice.
God our Maker, strong and loving, Christ our Saviour, Leader, Lord,
Living God, Creator Spirit, be your holy name adored!”
As we begin our time of worship, we will be singing this joyful hymn of praise to the trinity. The words remind us of God’s presence with us always – through all times and all places. God is not only with us in the good times, but also walks with us during times of struggle. Our response is to sing our praise with all of Creation. This hymn, by R.B.Y. Scott, was first published in The Hymn Book in 1971. The tune, ARFON, is derived from a Welsh folksong dating from at least the 18th century with possible French origins.
Hear the hymn sung in worship at Trinity United Church in PEI (the hymn occurs at minute 17, but feel free to enjoy “visiting” another church – love the choir gowns!) https://youtu.be/LQSKmuNJGBw
“Spirit of Life” (VU #381)
“Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea; move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.”
This sung prayer is by Carolyn McDade and was written in 1981. It was arranged by Grace Lewis-McLaren and published in 1993.
Hear the Harmony Singers at:
“God it Was”
“God it was who said to Abram, “Pack your bags and travel on!”
God it was who said to Sarah, “Smile and soon you’ll bear a son!”
Trav’ling folk and aged mothers, wand’ring when they thought they’d done –
This is how we find God’s people, leaving all because of One.
God it was who said to Moses, “Save my people, part the sea!”
God it was who said to Miriam, “Sing and dance to show you’re free!”
Shepherd saints and tambourinists doing what God knew they could –
This is how we find God’s people, liberating what they should.
God it was who said to Joseph, “Down your tools and take your wife!”
God it was who said to Mary, “In your womb I’ll start my life!”
Carpenter and country maiden, leaving town and trade and skills –
This is how we find God’s people, moved by what their Maker wills.
Christ it was who said to Matthew, “Leave your books and follow me!”
Christ it was who said to Martha, “Listen first, then make the tea!”
Civil servants and housekeepers, changing places at a cost –
This is how Christ summons people, calling both the loved and lost.
In this crowd which spans the ages, with the saints whom we revere,
God wants us to share their purpose, starting now and starting here.
So we celebrate our calling, so we raise both heart and voice,
As we pray that through our living more may find they are God’s choice.”
This hymn was written by John L. Bell in 1989. The words were adapted by Graham Maule in 2017 in an effort to make the hymn more inclusive. This week we will be using words from both versions of the hymn. The hymn references many people who have been called by God or Jesus. In all cases, those who have felt called had to change from their everyday lives, and leave the idea of who they thought they were behind in order to make a choice to follow God. The last verse of the hymn challenges us to live into our calling, making the changes in our own lives that are necessary to be true followers. We will be using the hymn tune HOLY MANNA, which has been attributed to William Moore (1825), and arranged by David Kai (1994).
“The Greatest of These”
“Tho I may speak with the tongues of angels,
Tho I speak with a voice of peace.
And tho I seek all the gifts of heaven,
Or behold all its mysteries,
If I’m not with Love’s compassion,
If I speak without Love’s voice,
My lofty words and noble actions, are as Noise.
Tho I have faith to remove a mountain,
Tho I’ve faith to command the hills,
And if I dare, in the face of danger, my own body to offer still,
But if I’ve not Love’s understanding,
If I’m lost to Love’s own songs,
My lovely words and thrilling actions are as Gongs.
The breath of Time rushes ever onward, prophecy shall pass away.
Our grandest words and our greatest knowledge shall be gone at the break of Day.
For the wisest of our wisdom, and the boldest prophet’s call
Are merely shadows of the Holy, One-in-All!
For now we see only a glimpse of the things to be.
As thro’ a mirror dimly, ’til Time and Earth are free.
Faith, Hope and Love abide below, abide above,
But ever new, and ever true, the greatest of these is Love!”
This song, by Canadian composer Linnea Good, quotes from 1 Corinthians 13:1-12. Linnea says, “Through a glass darkly; through a mirror dimly…Whether we are looking at the convolutions of the world outside or the percolations of the world inside, it is good to know that God’s creation is not locked into the confine of human imagination and perception!”
In referencing this song, Linnea also shares the following story about Winnipeger, Karen Ridd: “Karen Ridd clowned her way from the United Church to El Salvador, to work with refugees fleeing the bombing of their homes by the military. As a member of Peace Brigades, she became part of an ancient tradition of offering sanctuary in the house of God. One night, she and her Columbian co-worker were apprehended by the military and taken to be interrogated about their work. Told that they would be taken to ‘el puerto del diablo’ or the current body-dump, they were spirited away to a prison and questioned. When they finally told Karen that she could leave, it was without her co-worker. Karen said she wouldn’t leave without her. Her response left her interrogators baffled, and they reminded her that this would mean that the blindfold would go back on her. ‘But, you know how it is,’ she said. ‘When you have a buddy who’s in trouble, you can’t leave them.’ They eventually found themselves out on the early morning sidewalk. I still wonder what experiences I will have to look death straight in the eye and answer it as if it still held the possibility of life.”
Hear Karen Ridd speak about Peace Building at: https://youtu.be/vDTQklX0YaE
“What Can I Do?” (MV #191)
“What can I do? What can I bring?
What can I say? What can I sing?
I’ll sing with joy. I’ll say a prayer.
I’ll bring my love. I’ll do my share”
This joyful song of offering and dedication was written by Paul Rumbolt and Michele McCarthy (2005). The arrangement in More Voices is by Alan C. Whitmore. We will be using it as our offering response for the month of June.
“Spirit God, Be Our Breath” (MV #150)
“Spirit God: be our breath, be our song.
Blow through us, bringing strength to move on.
Our world seems inward, defensive, withdrawn…
Spirit God, be our song.
Patient God: soothe our pride, calm our fear.
Comfort us.
When we know you are near we grow more certain, our vision is clear.
Patient God, calm our fear.
Loving God: be our voice, be our prayer.
Reaching out, joining hands as we share,
We seek your guidance through friendship and care.
Loving God, be our prayer.
Spirit God: be our breath, be our song.
Blow through us, bringing strength to move on.
Through change, through challenge, we’ll greet the new dawn.
Spirit God, be our song.”
This song, with words and music by Bruce Harding, was written in 1997. The lyrics are a sung prayer that God be with us through the changes that we will see as we move forward in faith.
“A Benediction”
“May the grace of Christ attend us,
And the love of God surround us,
And the Holy Spirit keep us,
Now and ever, always.
Amen, amen, forever and ever,
Amen.”
Our benediction response was written by Jeeva Sam.
Thank you to members of the Worship Choir and Harmony Singers
for providing music leadership for this week’s service.
