Notes on the Notes – March 3, 2013

This Sunday is the third Sunday of our Lenten journey.

Theme:  Reaffirming the covenant.

Readings: Isaiah 55:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10: 1-5, 11-13

Todays music:

“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” (VU #220) – Joachim Neander rebelled against his family’s piety, but was converted at age twenty at St. Martin’s Church in his native city of Bremen.  This hymn was written in 1680, the year of his death at age thirty from tuberculosis.  The text is based on Psalm 103: 1-6 and Psalm 150 and is a joyful, truimphant expression of praise to God for his sovereign care over his creation and for his people.  .   The tune, LOBE DEN HERREN is an adaptation by Neander of an anonymous German chorale tune firs published in 1665.

One interesting page in history is Neander’s roots, and the later use of his name. He often taught in a valley near the Düssel river, and over 100 years after his death the valley was named after him. It was in that valley that bones were later found, from which we get the name “Neanderthal.” One wonders what Neander would have thought of this development!

“Let Us With a Gladsome Mind” (VU #234) –

Let us, with a gladsome mind,

Praise the Lord, for he is kind;

For his mercies aye endure,

Ever faithful, ever sure.

(NOTE:  The “aye” in this case is pronounced with a long a –– rhymes with “weigh.”  It means “ever” and not “yes” –– from George William Rutler, Brightest and Best)

These words were written by a fifteen year old schoolboy, John Milton, who grew up to be a famous poet –– author of the epic poem, “Paradise Lost.”

Milton based “Let us with a gladsome mind” on Psalm 136.  He hadn’t intended to write a hymn, but his poem was set to music by a church organist, John Bernard Wilkes, long after Milton’s death, using a tune written originally by John Antes, a Moravian composer. The tune was arranged by John Lee in 1824 for a collection of Moravian hymn tunes published in Manchester.

“This Cup of Grace” – This anthem by Mark Patterson, reminds us of the grace given through Christ.  The lyrics are:

This cup of grace, poured out for you, is filled with love beyond all measure.

So drink this day and be renewed; this cup of grace, the love of  Christ poured out for you.

This cup of grace is freely giv’n from God above, through Christ our Lord,

That all who come may be renewed, this cup of grace, the love of  Christ  poured out for you.

Come all who seek forgiveness; God’s mercy has no end.

Come all who thirst for righteousness; come and let the feast begin.

Come eat this bread, come drink this cup, come share the love of Jesus Christ.

“Sent Forth By God’s Blessing” (VU 481) – Omer Westendorf, an organist, composer and music publisher in Cincinnati, Ohio, was the compiler of The People’s Mass Book (1964), the first vernacular hymn and service book published in the United States after the Second Vatican Council approved the implementation of vernacular liturgies in Roman Catholic worship.  This arrangement of “Llynn Onn,” a traditional Welsh folk tune, is by Leland Sateren, an American Lutheran organist and composer.  We know the tune as THE ASH GROVE.