Notes on the Notes – June 5, 2022

Pentecost

PRIDE Sunday

Communion

This week’s music:

“Draw the Circle Wide” (MV #145)

“Draw the circle wide.  Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
Standing side by side, draw the circle wide.

God the still-point of the circle,
‘Round whom all creation turns;
nothing lost, but held forever,
In God’s gracious arms.

Let our hearts touch far horizons,
So encompass great and small;
Let our loving know no borders,
Faithful to God’s call.

Let the dreams we dream be larger
Than we’ve ever dreamed before;
Let the dream of Christ be in us,
Open every door.”

This hymn of inclusion was written by Gordon Light of the Common Cup Company in 1994 and arranged by Michael Bloss in 1998.  If God’s love is the centre point of our lives, everything we do ripples out from God’s love and grows to encompass everyone we meet.

“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 a choral arrangement of the song at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM-MHSKBL4g

“Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness” (VU #375)

“Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,
 Blow thro’ the wilderness calling and free;
 Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,
Stir me from placidness,
Wind, Wind on the sea.

You moved on the waters, you called to the deep,
Then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep;
And over the eons you called to each thing:
Wake from your slumbers and rise on your wings.

You swept through the desert, you stung with the sand,
And you goaded your people with a law and a land;
And when they were blinded with their idols and lies,
Then you spoke through your prophets to open their eyes. 

You sang in a stable; you cried from a hill;
Then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still;
And down in the city you called once again,
When you blew thro’ your people on the rush of the wind.

You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes,
From the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams,
Our women see visions, our men clear their eyes,
With bold new decisions your people arise.”

This popular hymn by songwriter James K. Manley grew out of a sabbatical leave at the School of Theology at Claremont, California.  The words of the hymn follow the movement of the Spirit from Creation through the life of Jesus to modern times.  This hymn was first introduced to the congregation at WPUC in the green hymn book “Songs for a Gospel People.”

Hear the song on piano at:  https://youtu.be/gNdbq8Bf1GQ

“Filled With the Power”

“Filled with the power, filled with the might,
Filled with the glory, the glory of the Lord!

We are filled with the power, we are filled with the might.
We are filled with the glory of the Lord!
We are filled with the wonder, we are filled with the light.
We are filled with the glory, the glory of the Lord!

When they came together to worship on that day,
A mighty wind swept over them; they saw those tongues aflame.
Though they spoke in languages from many different lands,
The Spirit moved among them, and they all could understand.

They were filled with the power, they were filled with might.
They were filled with the glory of the Lord!
They were filled with the wonder, they were filled with the light.
They were filled with the glory, the glory of the Lord!

Like those true believers, we gather here today
To celebrate and praise the Lord and worship in His name.
As we go into the world to witness and inspire,
The Spirit moves within us and will set our hearts afire.

We are filled with the power, we are filled with the might.
We are filled with the glory of the Lord!
We are filled with the wonder, we are filled with the light.
We are filled with the glory, the glory of the Lord, of the Lord!
We are filled with the glory of the Lord!”

This lively anthem by Nacy Price and Don Besig (2000) tells of the story of the first Pentecost and then leads us to our mission today as spirit-filled people.

“May We Rise”

“May we rise with all Creation as the Spirit gives us strength.
May we heed the inner wisdom that God’s loving knows no length.
May we be a faith filled people, living out compassion’s way.
May we find the heart-felt courage to embrace the dawning day.

May we rise. Let the songs of Love be sung.
May we rise. Sisters, brothers we are one, we are one.

May we walk to meet the shadows of our woundedness and grief.
May we trust the Holy Spirit to bring healing and relief.
May we live with Love and justice, bring Your messages of Peace.
May we know the guiding power of Your gift of Grace released.

May we rise. Let the songs of Love be sung.
May we rise. Sisters, brothers we are one, we are one.

May we reach beyond the bound’ries of the walls that do divide.
May we feel the gift of Presence in Life’s circle with no sides.
May we listen for Your calling, hearts be open to Your Way.
May we live as one in Christ. As one people, God we pray.

May we rise. Let the songs of Love be sung.
May we rise. Sisters, brothers we are one, we are one.

“May We Rise” was one of the songs selected by a Canadian ecumenical committee and the World Council of Churches to be part of the worship material for 2015′s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The song was written by Pat Mayberry and John Wesley Oldham (2012) and has been arranged for piano by David Kai.  Our online service will use a recording of the Praise Team from 2021.

“We are a Rainbow” (An Affirming Hymn)

“We’re the light of all the world, we are a city on a hill,
We’re a candle on a stand proclaiming light,
We not hide our lamp beneath a bushel anymore,
We will shine a ray of hope that’s burning bright.

We are a rainbow, sign of covenant and peace
For the flood of tears will finally cease to be,
Come shine your rainbow, splash your hues across the sky,
Paint the world in colours proud and bold and free.

We’re a coat of many colours, sewn from many different threads,
Covering all in warmth, in welcome and in grace,
God said, “Let there be light,” created every varied shade,
In the rainbow each of us can find a place.

We are a rainbow…

We are hope to still believe in tomorrow’s better day,
We are peace in a world that’s torn apart,
We are joy that will last in all the struggles that we face
We are love that blooms and grows in every hearts.

We are a rainbow…

When we face the storms of life, we will never be alone,
For our God will be with us on the way,
Hand in hand, side by side, we won’t be frightened anymore,
As the mourning night of tears breaks into day.

We are a rainbow, sign of covenant and peace
For the flood of tears will finally cease to be,
Come shine your rainbow, splash your hues across the sky,
Paint the world in colours proud and bold and free.

The words and music for this powerful song were written by David Kai in 2017.  Through the lyrics, David Kai makes many Biblical references to both the Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament.  The words speak to acceptance and pride in being ones true self, without fear or discrimination.  Our online service will close with the recording of the song made by the Praise Team for the service on August 8, 2021.