Notes on the Notes – June 21, 2020

When Fear Stops Us

Father’s Day

Genesis 21:8-21           Matthew 10:34-39

“We are All One People” (MV #141)

“We are all one people,
We all come from one creation way on high.
We are all one nation under one great sky,
You and I.
We are all one people.
We are all one colour in his eye.

We are all one people,
We all come from one creation way on high.
We are all one nation under one great sky,
You and I.
We are all one people.
We are all one colour in her eye.

We are all one people…
We are all one nation…
We are all one colour if we try.”

This song of unity is by Saskatchewan Cree composers Joseph Naytowhow and Cheryl L’Hirondelle. It was written in 2000.

“God of the Bible” (MV #28)

“God of the Bible, God in the Gospel,
Hope seen in Jesus, hope yet to come,
You are our centre, daylight or darkness, freedom or prison, you are our home.

God in our struggles, God in our hunger,
Suffering with us, taking our part,
Still you empower us, mothering Spirit, feeding, sustaining, from your own heart.

Those without status, those who are nothing,
You have made royal, gifted with rights,
Chosen as partners, midwives of justice, birthing new systems, lighting new lights.

Not by your finger, not by your anger will our world order change in a day,
But by your people, fearless and faithful, small paper lanterns, lighting the way.

Hope we must carry, shining and certain through all our turmoil, terror and loss,
Bonding us gladly one to the other, till our world changes facing the Cross.

Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.”

This hymn was written by Shirley Erena Murray in 1995 and set to music by Tony E. Alonso in 2001.   The original title was Fresh as the Morning.  Through the hymn Murray emphasizes her confidence in God’s faithfulness and encourages us in our journey to make the world God’s kingdom.  God is with us in the struggle.

Hear the hymn sung by Worship and Music leaders at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSVCzqIK5bE

“We Do Not Know What Lies Ahead”

“We do not know what lies ahead.
Will we meet storms, or sun instead?
Do we hope Christ will calm the waves,
Or is Our faith enough to save?

There will be times when we maintain
That all our efforts are in vain.
If we give up, what can we give?
For what we leave is how we’ve lived.

But Christ gives hope which makes us bold;
To take a risk, though trials unfold;
For love is patient, and sustains,
When we are lost, love still remains.

In welcome shared and kindness shown,
The love of God is truly known.
When we attempt to live shalom,
We find the road that leads us home.”

This song was written by Allan Baer in 2017 and arranged by S. Porter.

The story behind the song:

It was an overcast day. My wife had the car and I had an errand to run. The simplest way would be by bike, but I had no rain gear with me. So I took a chance and sure enough, I ran into a cloudburst 10 minutes before arriving back home. Would I have set out had I known that the storm would catch me mid-journey? Perhaps not, but my sodden clothes eventually dried, and my misadventure still yielded the beginnings of this song and a few lyrics that ran through my head as I cycled. That opportunity might not normally have arisen in my usual schedule. Christ often pointed out that his future and that of his disciples would not always be bright. But knowing the time and date of our troubles does not necessarily prevent them from arriving. Our instinct is to avoid such events, but in doing so, we may miss out on helping in a way that is uniquely ours. We may not know in advance what role we are to play. In fact, how we act – with compassion and generosity – may be more important than what we do. In God’s world, success as we know it may not be the object. But God’s kingdom is now and there is work to be done, even if we are not the ones to finish it. (Source:  https://www.crossroadsunited.ca/spirit/)

“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.  The music was written by William Kirkpatrick (1838–1921) of  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The hymn has always been closely associated with the Boys’ Brigade, which has the motto, “Sure and Steadfast”.  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

“Send us Out”

“Send us out in the power of your Spirit, Lord,
May our lives bring Jesus to the world.
May each thought and word bring glory to your name,
Send us out in your Spirit, Lord, we pray.”

The words and music for our benediction response were written by Ruth Fazal (1993).

Bonus videos: