Notes on the Notes – March 31, 2019

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Getting What We Deserve?

This week’s scripture readings:

    Joshua 5:9-12           Psalm 32            Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

This week’s music:

“Just as I Am” (VU #508)

“Just as I am, without one plea,
But that thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bidd’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

 Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in thee I find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

 Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be thine, yea, thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”

Although disabled at the age of thirty, Charlotte Elliott continued a long career of writing and editing.  This text was published in her Invalid’s Hymn Book (1836).  After her death, a file was found containing a thousand letters of thanks for this hymn.  Her brother, Henry Venn Elliott, later commented that she had ministered to more people through this hymn than he had in the entire course of his ministry.    The tune, WOODWORTH, was originally set to another hymn, but was subsequently printed with “Just as I am” in 1860.  The hymn resonates as we come before God in all of our imperfections, trusting in God’s love and ability to once again give us a “clean heart.”

Hear the hymn by The Vagle Brothers at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lxqhPC1mNA

Hear Alan Jackson sing the hymn at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAnSmJecnEk

“Softly and Tenderly”

“Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Come home, come home,
Ye who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?

Oh! for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me;
Tho’ we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.

Come home…”

Learn about the hymn at:  https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/the-story-behind-softly-and-tenderly.html

Hear the hymn at:  https://youtu.be/Qf_glkmbNbQ

Hear Glen Campbell at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3VKSpprzew

Hear Anne Murray at:  https://youtu.be/0FQ4ehq0Jvs

“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.

“Everlasting Love”

“God has loved with everlasting love!
We are the children of the One who draws us to His side.
Sing your praise to the Author of our Days;
God has saved us by His grace.
In His love abide.

Nothing separates us from the love of God
In heaven nor earth below:
No worries for today nor the days to come,
But by our faith we know

God has loved with everlasting love!…

Though heaven and earth may pass away,
The sun and stars may fade,
Our faith is sure in God’s embrace.
Rejoice, lift up your voice and sing to the King!
Celebrate redeeming grace!

God has loved with everlasting love!…

O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

We are the children of everlasting love.”

This week’s anthem explores our relationship with God and God’s love for us.  The words and music are by Lloyd Larson (2014).  The lyrics are based on Jeremiah 31:3 and Romans 8:38-39.  Larson also incorporates one verse of Albert L Peace and George Mathson’s hymn “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go” (1884).  The anthem was dedicated in memory of Ken Hodgson in 2015.

“Come, Let Us Sing of a Wonderful Love” (VU #574)

“Come, let us sing of a wonderful love, tender and true, tender and true,
Out of the heart of the Father above, streaming to me and to you
Wonderful love, wonderful love dwells in the heart of the Father above.

Jesus the Saviour this gospel to tell joyfully came, joyfully came,
Came with the helpless and hopeless to dwell, sharing their sorrow and shame,
Seeking the lost, seeking the lost, saving, redeeming at measureless cost.

Jesus is seeking the wanderers yet; Why do they roam?  Why do they roam?
Love only waits to forgive and forget; home, weary wanderers, home!
Wonderful love, wonderful love dwells in the heart of the Father above.

Come to my heart, O thou wonderful love! Come and abide, come and abide,
Lifting my life till it rises above envy and falsehood and pride:
Seeking to be, seeking to be lowly and humble, a learner of thee.”

This hymn was written by Robert Walmsley, a jeweler in Manchester and a Congregationalist leader of the Manchester Sunday School Union, in 1900.  Adam Watson’s WONDERFUL LOVE is the tune known to Canadian congregations for Robert Walmsley’s text.  The hymn leads us from the eternal love of God for us, through the coming of Jesus, who tells of us God’s love and searches for the lost, to the yearning for God’s continuing love.

Hear the hymn sung at Strathroy United Church at:  https://youtu.be/AYRsRdZLD64

To ponder:  

What do you think you deserve from others and from God?

Why?