Notes on the Notes – March 20, 2016 – Palm Sunday

Hungering and Thirsting for Living Water

 This week’s scripture readings:

Luke 19:28-40,  Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

This week’s music:

“All Who are Thirsty” (MV #4)

“All who are thirsty
All who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the streams of life

Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away
In the waves of his mercy
As deep cries out to deep, we sing

Come Lord Jesus, come
Come Lord Jesus, come
Come Lord Jesus, come
Come Lord Jesus, come”

This song was written by Brenton Brown in 1998.  Brenton Brown, born in South Africa, is a Christian songwriter and worship leader. He was part of Vineyard music (UK), and during this time Brenton was the worship pastor at Oxford Vineyard, UK, and the coordinator of the Vineyard (UK) Worship Development Team.

In John 7:37b-39, Jesus said, “‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’

Are we thirsty? Humans inherently feel that there is something more to life than just living and dying, or gaining reputation and amassing great wealth. There is a deep hunger and thirst for some spiritual meaning in our lives.   Jesus satisfies us.   Through the lyrics of this song,  all who are “thirsty” are invited to come, and He will give us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide, and pour forth great joy and life, in and through our lives.

“Messiah”

“Someone’s shouting from the desert.
Someone’s shouting from the sea.
Someone’s shouting from the mountain.
Someone’s shouting from the valley.

Messiah, come and be our King.

Someone’s shouting from the city,
“I am young, I am cold.”
Someone’s shouting from the country,
“I am lonely, I am old.”

Messiah, come and be our King.

Someone’s shouting “I am broken.”
Someone’s shouting “Make me whole.”
Someone’s shouting “Come and change me.”
Someone’s shouting “Save my soul.”

Messiah, come and be our King.”

This song was written by Larry Olson in 1989.   Just as the ancient Israelites longed for a Messiah, this longing continues today.

“Hosanna”

“Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

Lord, we lift up Your name
With hearts full of praise.
Be exalted, O Lord my God,
Hosanna in the highest.

Glory, glory, glory to the King of kings.
Glory, glory, glory to the King of kings.

Lord, we lift up Your name
With hearts full of praise.
Be exalted, O Lord my God,
Glory to the King of kings.”

As we celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the Praise Team and Bible Adventures children will be joining together for this popular praise chorus written by Carl Tuttle.

Sing along with the song at: https://youtu.be/FDplqb_AxlQ

“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” (VU #123)

“Hosanna, loud hosanna the happy children sang;
Through pillared court and temple the joyful anthem rang;
To Jesus, who had blessed them close folded to his breast,
The children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.

From Olivet they followed ‘mid an exultant crowd,
The victory palm-branch waving, and singing clear and loud;
The Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state,
Content that little children should on his bidding wait.

“Hosanna in the highest!” That ancient song we sing,
For Christ is our Redeemer; earth, let your anthems ring.
O may we ever praise him with heart and life and voice,
And in his humble presence eternally rejoice!”

The text for this hymn is based on Christ’s triumphal entry on Palm Sunday and the children’s role in that event. The text was written by Jeannette Threlfall (b. Blackburn, Lancashire, England, 1821; d. Westminster, London, 1880) in an “idle moment” (as she says she wrote all of her hymns, all others of which have been forgotten). Undoubtedly, Threlfall had Mark 11 in mind when she wrote this text, but she also alludes to Jesus’ welcoming of the children in Mark 10:13-16. Stanzas 1 and 2 tell how the children shared in the songs during Christ’s procession into Jerusalem. Stanza 3 is our cue to participate in praising our Redeemer.

Threlfall’s life was extremely difficult: she was orphaned at an early age, and two serious accidents caused her to be an invalid for life. But she bore her misfortune with grace and fortitude and maintained a ministry to many people who came in contact with her.

The melody, ELLACOMBE, is a Roman Catholic tune from late 18th-century Germany, which was first published in 1874.

Hear the hymn with organ and trumpeter Timothy Moke at: https://youtu.be/yOAsWh316kY

“Living Water”

“I am filthy from my travels;
I am thirsty from the heat;
I am tired and worn and wasted in defeat.

You come offering Your water,
Saying “Come, believe and drink.”
In my heart, You’ll be an everlasting stream.

Living Water, flood my soul;
Fill me till I overflow.
Living Water, pour through me
To a thirsty world in need of Living Water.

Lord, I want to be Your witness,
Tell the world how I love You,
How Your grace has cleansed,
Your hope has made me new.

On my own, I am not worthy;
I am barren, I am dry,
Yet Your love in me springs forth an endless supply.

Living Water, flood my soul;
Fill me till I overflow.
Living Water, pour through me
To a thirsty world in need of Living Water.

Cleanse me,
Renew me,
Sustain me,
Flow through me.

Living Water,…”

This Praise Team anthem was written by Sarah Moore (2010) and has been arranged by Mary McDonald.

“Forever”

Water rushing down the rivers.
Water rushing to the sea.
Water comes to us, so precious.
Living water makes us free.

Water springing from the dry place.
Water springing in the sun.
Water comes to us, so precious.
Living water for each one.

Drink deep this source of life.
Drink deep and know.
For living water sings, and living water brings
The love that makes our spirit grow.”

This hymn has words and music by jim hannah (2003). It was arranged by David Melhorn-Boe in 2006.