Notes on the Notes – March 26, 2023
Fifth Sunday in Lent
This Week’s Music:
“As Comes the Breath of Spring” (VU #373)
“As comes the breath of spring with light and mirth and song,
So does your Spirit bring new days brave, free, and strong.
You come with thrill of life to chase hence winter’s breath,
To hush to peace the strife of sin that ends in death.
You come like songs at morn that fill the earth with joy,
Till we, in Christ new-born, new strength in praise employ.
You come to rouse the heart from drifting to despair,
Through high hopes to impart life with an ampler air.
You breathe and there is health, you move and there is power,
You whisper, there is wealth of love, your richest dower.
Your presence is to us like summer in the soul,
Your joy shines forth and then life blossoms to its goal.”
The text for this hymn was written in 1929 by David Lakie Ritchie, Dean of United Theological College in Montreal, for The Hymnary (1930). The words compare the coming of spring to the new life found in being a follower of Christ. The tune was published in England in the Methodist Hymn Book (1904).
Hear the hymn at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX3EWoD8ZXI
“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 in worship on March 19 at: https://youtu.be/PgKTZInXynY?t=994
“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 again hear of God’s unfailing love. This hymn was written by Linnea Good in 2004.
Hear the Praise Singers at: https://youtu.be/4z6R_i1SizE
“Come, Let Us to the God of Love” (VU #653)
“Come, let us to the God of love with contrite hearts return:
Our God is gracious, nor will leave the desolate to mourn.
God’s voice commands the tempest forth, and stills the stormy wave;
And though God’s arm be strong to smite, ’tis also strong to save.
Long has the night of sorrow reigned, the dawn shall bring us light;
God shall appear, and we shall rise with gladness at that sight.
As dew upon the tender herb diffusing fragrance round,
As showers that usher in the spring and cheer the thirsty ground.
So shall God’s presence bless our souls and shed a joyful light,
That hallowed morn shall chase away the sorrows of the night.”
The Scottish Paraphrases were a response to a growing desire to sing words other than from the Psalms and were finally published in 1781. This version of Hosea 6:1-4 was by John Morison DD (1750-1798), minister of Canisbay. The words encourage us to return to God in our grief so that God’s presence might chase away our sorrow. The music is the tune, BELMONT, adapted from William Gardiner’s Sacred Melodies (1812).
Hear the hymn played on organ at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWOPLJtQBJk
“He Will See You Through”
“He will see you through; He’s promised.
He will see you through.
He will be for you a refuge,
He will see you through.
He will be your peace in the night.
He will be your strength in the fight.
He will see you through; He loves you.
He will see you through.
Our God is merciful and He is might.
He knows your need before you even call.
He is faithful to carry every burden.
He is able to see you through it all.
When we can’t see an answer, God’s still working.
His plan is greater than we can conceive.
He is faithful to carry out His purpose.
He is ready to meet your deepest need.
He will see you through…”
The words and music for this week’s anthem are by Ron and Cheryll Cochran (2003). The words of the song are a beautiful assurance of God’s faithfulness through the challenges in the our life’s journey. God is always with us.
“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.”
“When We are Called to Sing Your Praise”
“When we are called to sing your praise with hearts so filled with pain
That we would rather sit and weep or stand up to complain,
Remind us, God, you understand the burdens that we bear;
You, too, have walked the shadowed way and known our deep despair.
When we are called to sing your praise and cannot find our voice,
Because our losses leave us now no reason to rejoice,
Remind us, God, that you accept our sad laments in prayer;
You, too, have walked the shadowed way and known our deep despair.
When we are called to sing your praise and life ahead looks grim,
Still give us faith and hope enough to break forth in a hymn,
A thankful hymn, great God of Love, that you are everywhere;
You walk the shadowed way with us and keep us in your care.”
The lyrics for our closing hymn were written by Mary Nelson Keithahn, a retired United Church of Christ ordained pastor and church educator. She still works out of her home in Rapid City, South Dakota, as a free-lance writer. The words remind us that God walks with us in our grieving and holds us gently on our journey to wholeness. We will be using the tune, MACPHERSON’S FAREWELL, a tradition Scottish melody, arranged by David Iliff.
“This is a version of one of the great outlaw ballads of Scotland. The hero, James McPherson, was reputed to be the illegitimate son of a member of the great family of Inverseie and a gipsy woman. When his father died he joined his mother’s people and commenced his career of banditry. He was captured at Keith Market and executed at the Cross of Banff in 1700. McPherson was a famous fiddler, and was said to have composed and played this Rant at his gallows and then offered his fiddle to anyone in the crowd who would say a word in praise of him. No one having the courage to speak, he broke his fiddle and threw it into the open grave before mounting the scaffold.”
(Source: Mainly Norfolk: English Folk and Other Good Music)
Hear the tune with bagpipes and orchestra at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaOTtYS-jBI
“Grace Alone”
