Notes on the Notes – March 3, 2024

Third Sunday in Lent 

This week’s music: 

“Great is Thy Faithfulness” (VU #288) 

“Great is thy faithfulness, God our Creator;
There is no shadow of turning with thee;
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
As thou hast been thou forever wilt be.

Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow –
Wondrous the portion thy blessings provide.
 
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!”

Thomas O. Chisholm, a Methodist minister, wrote the poem in 1923 about God’s faithfulness over his lifetime.  The conviction that God is always with us, through good times and bad, has always been a great source of comfort and strength for the faithful.  William Runyan set the poem to music, and it was published that same year and became popular among church groups. The song was exposed to wide audiences after becoming popular with Dr. William Henry Houghton of the Moody Bible Institute and Billy Graham who played the song frequently on his international crusades. The version in Voices United is from the Hymnal of the Evangelical United Brethren (1957).

Hear a quiet instrumental version of the hymn at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoFJzsEF3ZM

Hear the Praise Team sing “He’s Always Been Faithful to Me” (2021)

“How Deep the Peace” (MV #95)

            “How deep the peace, the confidence
            Of those whose hearts are forgiven.
            How deep the peace, the confidence
            Of those who hearts are healed.”

Our response to the Words of Assurance for the season of Lent 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.

“Ancient Words”

“Holy words long preserved for our walk in this world;
 They resound with God’s own heart,
 O, let the ancient words impart;

 Words of life, words of hope,
 Give us strength, help us cope;
 In this world where’er we roam,
 Ancient words will guide us home.

            Ancient words, ever true, changing me, and changing you;
            We have come with open hearts,
            O let the ancient words impart.

Holy words of our faith
Handed down to this age
Came to us through sacrifice
O heed the faithful words of Christ
Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world
They resound with God’s own heart
O let the ancient words impart…”

This lovely modern hymn was written by Lynn Deshazo.  It was made popular by Michael W Smith, as it was featured on his album, “Worship Again.”

When interviewed about the song, Lynn said, “The longer I walk with the Lord, the more love and appreciation I have for the Bible and for those whom God has used throughout the ages to make it available to me. I suppose that was the true impetus for my writing  “Ancient Words.”

Hear Michael W Smith sing the song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vmTkXNpwzs

“These Lenten Gifts We Bring”

“These Lenten gifts we bring,
Our living faith expressed,
We offer them, most lovingly,
And thus our hearts are blessed.

O loving God receive
These gifts we gladly give,
That show our faith and hope and trust;
Your way we seek to live.”

Our Lenten offering response uses the tune FRANCONIA (VU #542), which was written by Johann Balthasar Konig (1738) and adapted by William Henry Havergal (1847).

“How Beautiful”

“How beautiful the hands that served
 the wine and bread and the children of earth.
 How beautiful the feet that walked
 the long dusty roads and the hill to the cross.

How beautiful, how beautiful,
How beautiful is the body of Christ.

How beautiful the heart that bled,
That took all my sin and bore it instead.
How beautiful the tender eyes
That chose to forgive and never despise.

How beautiful, how beautiful,
How beautiful is the body of Christ.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

How beautiful the feet that bring
the sound of good news and the love of the King.
How beautiful the hands that serve
the wine and the bread and the children of earth.

How beautiful, how beautiful,
How beautiful is the body of Christ.”

This week’s anthem is an arrangement of  Twila Paris’s 1990 hit song “How Beautiful.”   Benjamin Harlan, arranger, also incorporates the hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” which was written by Isaac Watts, and published in Hymns and Spiritual Songs in 1707.  One of the greatest ways we can reflect Jesus Christ as his body is to serve – the world, one another, and Jesus – our greatest example of service.

See Twila Paris sing the original version of the song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ3SrJ-3VSE

“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.”

Our closing song was written by Scott Wesley Brown and Jeff Nelson.

Hear the song at:  https://youtu.be/b6lhilgWXIE

“From this Place of Prayer and Praising”

“From this place of prayer and praising, cross and table, well-worn pews,
God, we leave to work and witness, living every day for you.
Bless us on our Lenten journey, Loving Parent, Holy Friend;
Spirit, guide your people onward till once more we meet again.”

Our benediction response for the the season of Lent will be sung to the familiar hymn tune, BEACH SPRING (VU #374).