Notes on the Notes – March 28, 2021

Palm Sunday

This week’s music:

“You Shall Be the Path”

“You shall be the path that guides us,
You the light that in us burns;
Shining deep within all people,
Yours the love that we must learn,
For our hearts shall wander restless
Till they safe to you return;
Finding you in one another,
We shall all your face discern.”

The words for our candle liturgy response are from the fourth verse of the hymn “God of Day and God of Darkness” by Marty Haugen (1985). The tune we will be using is the familiar tune, BEACH SPRING, written in 1844.

“Hosanna Hosanna”

“Hosanna, Hosanna
Blessed is He who comes
Hosanna, Hosanna
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

Let’s lift a shout in one accord for all that He has done
Let’s lift a shout in praise to God for all the vict’ries won
If we don’t praise the rocks will cry out “Hosanna’s to the King.”
So lift your voice in praise to God and let your voices sing.

Hosanna, Hosanna
Blessed is He who comes
Hosanna, Hosanna
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Mark Cole recorded this joyous tune on his album Move in This City (2000).  The words come from this week’s gospel reading from the book of Luke.  The word Hosanna is an expression of joy and praise for deliverance granted or anticipated.

Hear the song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JKumxllHKM

“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.”

This short response is based on Psalm 32.  It was written by Linnea Good in 2004.

“He Came Riding on a Donkey” (VU #124)

“He came riding on a donkey, he came riding into town;
Slow and easy kind of lowly he came riding with the dawn.
His disciples walked beside him, staying close, a little shy;
Not too sure where he would guide them, on to live or on to die.
But all the morning sang his praises; waking birds and dancing wind,
Here he is, the Son of David; riding on to take his throne.

Then the children gathered, singing, shouts of laughter, bursting cheer;
In the streets their song was ringing, “Hosannas” filled the morning air.
Timid adults strained to see him, caught the Spirit, joined the song;
Spread their cloaks along before him, branches flashing in the sun.
So all the city sang his praises; waking street and dancing crowd;
Here he is, the Son of David; our Messiah, Son of God.

In our fasting, and our feasting, called to follow in his way;
Called to walk his road to Easter, called to live his cross today.
Hosanna to the Son of David, hosanna in the heavens above;
Blessed is he who comes to save us, blessed is he who brings his love.
Let us join to sing his praises; open hearts and souls to God;
He is with us, Son of David; God’s Messiah, Christ the Lord.

Gordon Light of the Common Cup Company composed the text and tune of this song in 1986.

Enjoy the palm parade at Strathroy United Church in 2011 at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQqSkH971E4

“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 in 1873.    The first two verses tells how the children shared in the songs during Christ’s procession into Jerusalem. The closing verse is our cue to also participate in praising our Redeemer.

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

“Hosanna”

“Praise is rising, eyes are turning to You, we turn to You
Hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for You, we long for You
‘Cause when we see You we find strength to face the day
In Your presence all our fears are washed away, washed away

Hosanna, Hosanna
You are the God who saves us
Worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, Hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus

Hear the sound of hearts returning to You,
We turn to You
In Your Kingdom broken lives are made new,
You make us new
‘Cause when we see You we find strength to face the day
In Your presence all our fears are washed away, washed away

Hosanna, Hosanna…”

Paul Baloche says the song “Hosanna” was birthed while he and fellow songwriter Brenton Brown were thinking about Palm Sunday. They visualized Jesus seated upon a donkey, entering Jerusalem as the crowds cast down their cloaks and branches before him, shouting “Hosanna.”
Paul said they meditated on this tableau compared with our own sense of excitement and expectancy as we enter into worship. Like the crowd that day in Jerusalem, we come before the Lord, crying “Hosanna” as we celebrate our Savior, the One who is “worthy of all our praises.”  (Source:  http://www.newreleasetoday.com/article.php?article_id=874)

Hear Paul Baloche singing this song at:  https://youtu.be/oAaQ5EEXidc

“Lead Me to Calvary”      

We close our service this week with a song that leads us into reflection in preparation for Good Friday.   The words are by Jennie Evelyn Hussie with music by Don Chapman.  “Lead Me to Calvary” first appeared in New Songs of Praise and Power in 1921.  Don Chapman composed this arrangement in 2002.

“King of my life, I crown Thee now, Thine shall the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorny crown, lead me to Calvary.

Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget, O Lord, Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.

Show me the tomb where Thou wast laid, tenderly mourned and wept;
Angels in robes of light arrayed guarded Thee whilst Thou slept.

Lest I forget Gethsemane, 
Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget, O Lord, Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.

May I be willing, Lord, to bear daily my cross for Thee;
Even Thy cup of grief to share, Thou hast borne all for me.

Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget, O Lord, Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.”