Notes on the Notes – March 19, 2023

Fourth Sunday in Lent

This week’s music: 

“I Need Thee Every Hour” (VU #671)

“I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.”

The author for “I Need Thee Every Hour,” Annie Sherwood Hawks (1835-1918), wrote over 400 hymns in her lifetime.  When speaking of writing this hymn, she said,  “I remember well the morning when in the midst of the daily cares of my home, I was so filled with the sense of the nearness of the Master, that wondering how one could live without him either in joy or pain, these words ‘I Need Thee Every Hour’ were ushered into my mind. The hymn was wafted out to the world on the wings of love and joy, rather than under the stress of great personal sorrow. It was not until long years after when the shadow of a great loss fell over my way that I understood something of the comforting in the words I have been permitted to write.”  The music for the hymn was written by Robert Lowry.

Hear Fernando Ortega sing the hymn at: https://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=58e9meQDbSg

Hear The Harmony Singers at: “I Need Thee Every Hour”

“Cares Chorus”

“I cast all my cares upon You.
I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet.
And anytime that I don’t know what to do,
I will cast all my cares upon You.”

This simple chorus was written by Kelly Willard in 1978.  Her “Cares Chorus” was based on 1 Peter 5:6-7, where Peter writes about how to handle hard things, especially when we don’t understand. Peter says: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.”

“Peter reminds us to pray in troubled times, something we often forget in painful circumstances. Writer Andree Seu Peterson was a young widow with four children who realized, “Thinking a lot is not the same as praying a lot.” Negative over-thinking and rumination is toxic. It leaves us feeling overwhelmed, pessimistic, and powerless. Peter says to throw all our anxieties, cares, concerns, and worries on God.” (Source: https://wohbm.org/all-your-anxieties/)

Hear the song at:  https://yout-u.be/zn7RHpQ6ots

“How Deep the Peace” (MV #95)

“How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose wrongs are forgiven.
How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose hearts are healed.”

Our response to the Words of Assurance is based on Psalm 32.  Having left our concerns with God through prayer, we hear of God’s unfailing love. This hymn was written by Linnea Good in 2004.

Hear The Praise Singers at: How Deep the Peace

“Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)”

“Amazing grace!  how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed! 

My chains are gone, I’ve been set free.
My God, my Savior has ransomed me, and like a flood, his mercy reigns;
Unending love, amazing grace.

The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures. 

My chains are gone…”

Today’s anthem, “Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone),” is a choral setting by Joel Raney of Chris Tomlin’s Praise and Worship Song from 2006.  The original “Amazing Grace” was written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton (1725-1807), published in 1779. Containing a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of sins committed and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God, “Amazing Grace” is one of the most recognizable songs in the English-speaking world.

Hear Chris Tomlin sing the song in concert at:  https://youtu.be/KKo3T0j9qqo

Hear Chris Tomlin talk about the creation of the song at:  https://www.facebook.com/christomlin/videos/facebook-live-amazing-grace-story-behind-the-song/10155340357236070/

“Jesus, Take All of Me (Just as I Am)” 

“Just as I am without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me.
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God I come, I come.

Just as I am Thou will receive,
Will welcome pardon, cleanse, relieve.
Because Thy promise I believe, 
O Lamb of God I come, I come. 

Jesus, take all of me.
I come to You, I run to You.
There is nothing that You don’t see.
You love me just as I am. 

Just as I am broken in two.
Just as I am, I come to You.
Because I know Your Word is true,
O Lamb of God I come, I come. 

Jesus, take all of me.
I come to You, I run to You.
There is nothing that You don’t see.
You love me just as I am. 

Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Has broken ev’ry barrier down.
Now to be Thine, yes, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God I come, I come. 

I come,
O sweet Lamb of God, I come,
I come.”

This week’s anthem combines the hymn “Just as I Am” by Charlotte Elliott with new words and music by Brenton Brown and Amy Grant.  We will be singing an arrangement of the song by Heather Sorenson (2012).

Although disabled at the age of thirty, Charlotte Elliott continued a long career of writing and editing.  The text for “Just as I Am” was published in her Invalid’s Hymn Book in 1836.  After her death, a file was found containing a thousand letters of thanks for this hymn.  Her brother, Henry Venn Elliott, later commented that she had ministered to more people through this hymn than he had in the entire course of his ministry.   The tune, WOODWORTH, was originally set to another hymn, but was subsequently printed with “Just as I Am” in 1860.  The hymn resonates as we come before God in all of our imperfections, trusting in God’s love and ability to once again give us a “clean heart.”

Hear “Just as I Am” by The Vagle Brothers at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lxqhPC1mNA

Hear Alan Jackson sing the hymn at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAnSmJecnEk

“Praise God Throughout These Forty Days” 

“Praise God throughout these forty days;
 Praise Christ, our Lord, whom God did raise;
And praise the Spirit who imparts
God’s love in Christ into our hearts.”

The Lenten words for our offering response were written by G.W. Dub Shepherd for the tune OLD 100TH, more familiar as the doxology, “Praise God from Whom All blessings Flow.”

“Open My Eyes” (VU #371)

“Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
place in my hand the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit Divine!

Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear;
and while the wave-notes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit Divine!

Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere;
open my heart and let me prepare love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!“

Clara H. Scott (1841-1897) provides us with a hymn of consecration that has been sung for over 100 years. The text of “Open My Eyes” was written in 1895 shortly before Scott’s death. Each stanza reveals an increasing receptiveness to the “Spirit divine.” Open eyes lead to “glimpses of truth.” Open ears lead to “voices of truth.” An open mouth leads to sharing the “warm truth everywhere.” An open heart leads to sharing “love to thy children.”  This week, we will be using a Praise Singers video recorded in 2021.

Sing along with the choir at First United Methodist Church in Valdosta, Georgia at: https://youtu.be/71jExPuxRBY

Hear The Praise Singers at: “Open My Eyes That I May See”

“Grace Alone”

“Every promise we can make,
Every prayer and step of faith,
Every difference we will make
Is only by His grace.

Every mountain we will climb,
Every ray of hope we shine,
Every blessing left behind
Is only by His grace.

Grace alone which God supplies,
Strength unknown He will provide.
Christ in us, our Cornerstone,
We will go forth in grace alone.

Every soul we long to reach,
Every heart we hope to teach,
Everywhere we share His peace
Is only by His grace.

Every loving word we say,
Every tear we wipe away,
Every sorrow turned to praise
Is only by His grace.

Grace alone which God supplies,
Strength unknown He will provide.
Christ in us, our Cornerstone,
We will go forth in grace alone.”

For the season of Lent, we will be using this song as our benediction response.  It was written by Scott Wesley Brown and Jeff Nelson.

Hear the song at:  https://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=mBaBacWu_bI