Notes on the Notes – June 19, 2022

“Music & Worship”

This week’s music: 

“Be the Centre” 

“Jesus, be the centre,
Be my source, be my light, Jesus.

Jesus, be the centre,
Be my hope, be my song, Jesus.

Be the fire in my heart,
Be the wind in these sails,
Be the reason that I live, Jesus, Jesus.

Jesus, be my vision,
Be my path, be my guide, Jesus.

Be the fire in my heart,
Be the wind in these sails,
Be the reason that I live, Jesus, Jesus.

Be the fire in my heart,
Be the wind in these sails,

Be the reason that I live, Jesus, Jesus.”

We open our worship this week with this song by Michael Frye (1999).  The song expresses the desire to move our own needs and wants from being our primary priority, to having Jesus and his teachings at the center of our lives.

Hear Michael Frye sing the song at:  https://youtu.be/MERQ0P6O0CE

“How Great Thou Art” (VU #238)  

“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the works Thy hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul…

But when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul…

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, “My God, how great thou art!”

Then sings my soul,…”

A congregational favourite, the words of this hymn are an echo of the awe felt by the writer of Psalm 8.

Here are just a few of the amazing variety of interpretations of this much-loved hymn:

See the group, Anthem Lights, sing this hymn at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48i4l1715uc

See Carrie Underwood sing the hymn at:  https://youtu.be/Yf6C0L_7-CA

Head back to 1972 with a performance by Elvis Presley: https://youtu.be/XlfcvUtUoOM

“Lord Prepare Me” (MV #18)

“Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living
Sanctuary for you.”

This simple song was written by John W. Thompson and Randy Scruggs in 1982.    The lyrics of “Sanctuary” are a request for God to purify oneself.   We come before God as flawed individuals, trusting in God’s love and grace.  Safe in this love, we thankfully become a living vessel for God.

To listen to the song go to:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LiTy7nd

“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

“She Walked in the Summer” (VU #12) 

“She walked in the summer through the heat on the hill.
She hurried as one who went with a will.
She danced in the sunlight when the day was done.
Her heart knew no evening who carried the sun.

Fresh as a flower at the first ray of dawn,
She came to her cousin whose morning was gone.
There leaped a little child in the ancient womb,
And there leaped a little hope in every ancient tomb.

Hail, little sister, who heralds the spring.
Hail, brave mother, of whom prophets sing.
Hail to the moment beneath your breast.
May all generations call you blessed.

When you walk in the summer through the heat on the hill,
When you’re wound with the wind and one with Her will,
Be brave with the burden you are blessed to bear,
For it’s Christ that you carry everywhere, everywhere, everywhere.”

This song is a thought-provoking narration of the the encounter between Mary and her older cousin Elizabeth, when Elizabeth is pregnant with John the Baptist and Mary is carrying Jesus. The music is simple, arising from the folk song revival in the late 1960s. Sister Miriam Therese Winter wrote the song in 1968 for the feast of the Visitation, then celebrated in the summer. The text was altered for more inclusive language and re-published in Woman Prayer, Woman Song (1987).

“In the Garden”

“I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear;
The Son of God discloses.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me,
Within my heart is ringing.

I’d stay in the garden with Him
Tho’ the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; thro’ the voice of woe,
His voice to me is calling.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.”

“In the Garden” is a gospel song that was written by American songwriter C. Austin Miles in 1912.   It was inspired by John Chapter 20.  Miles claimed to have had a vision, where he witnessed the weeping Magdalene being comforted by the resurrected Savior. As soon as he awoke he wrote the lyrics as quickly as they could be put down on paper, and exactly as they appear in the song. Later that night he wrote the music.  The intimacy of the lyrics have made it a much-loved song over the past century.

Sing along with Alan Jackson at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F1o8m-VGqQ

Hear an acapella version at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv68Xj2lJL8

“There is No One Like Jesus”

“O there is no one like my Jesus,
O there is no one like my Jesus,
O there is no one like my Jesus,
Forever and ever it will be! Sing halleluia!

I’ve walked around and there’s none like Him.
I’ve searched around and there’s non like Him.
I’ve gone around and there’s none like Him.
Forever and ever it will be! Sing halleluia!”

This traditional East African Song is arranged by Joseph M. Martin. It is a popular worship song in Kenya. The words are an assurance that, even after all of our searching and looking, there is truly no one like Jesus.

“Lead Me, Lord”  

“Lead me, Lord, I will follow.
Lead me, Lord, I will go.
You have called me, I will answer.
Lead me, Lord, I will go.”

Our benediction response was written by Wayne and Elizabeth Goodine in 1994.   As we come to the end of worship, we again make our commitment to follow Jesus throughout the coming week.