Notes on the Notes – March 31, 2024 – Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday

This week’s music:

“Joy Comes With the Dawn” (VU #166)

“Joy comes with the dawn;
Joy comes with the morning sun;
Joy springs from the tomb and scatters the night with her song,
Joy comes with the dawn.

Weeping may come;
Weeping may come in the night, when dark shadows cloud our sight.

Joy comes with the dawn…

Sorrow will turn,
Sorrow will turn into song, and God’s laughter makes us strong.

Joy comes with the dawn…

We will rejoice,
We will rejoice, and give praise, to the the One who brings us grace.

Joy comes with the dawn…”

This hymn was written by Gordon Light of the Common Cup Company in 1985.  After the solemnity and grief of Good Friday, it offers us hope in the joy of the dawn of Easter morning.

Hear the song at:  https://youtu.be/QKtDGXLq9xQ

“Alleluia” (MV #50)

“Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”

This short response has music written by Norah Duncan IV (1987).

“Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Give Thanks” (VU #179)

“Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give thanks to the risen Christ.
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give praise to God’s name.

Jesus is Lord of all the earth,
Firstborn of all creation.

Hallelujah…

Spread the good news o’er all the earth:
Jesus has died and is risen.

Hallelujah….

We have been crucified with Christ,
Now we shall live forever.

Hallelujah…

Come let us praise the living God,
Joyfully sing to our Saviour.

Hallelujah…”

The text of this hymn is a series of paraphrases from the letters of Paul.  The words and music are by Donald Fishel (1971) with descant by Betty Pulkingman (1987).   Darryl Nixon created this arrangement for publication in the United Church hymn supplement Songs for a Gospel People (1987).

See the hymn sung in worship at Strathroy United Church at:  https://youtu.be/0GWSdq8GVG8

“Sweet the Morning”

“Sweet the morning, deep was the dawning, the stone was rolled away.
Angels spoke to tell them the story, the soldiers ran away.
And outside the empty tomb, blessed silence filled the air.
And their hearts were filled with a joy and love to feel the Holy there.

Hallelujah, Christ is risen today. There’s a new light shines within.
Every heart rejoice, lift up every voice. This is resurrection day.
Hallelujah, Christ is risen today. There’s a new light shines within.
Every heart rejoice, lift up every voice. Love has found another way.

Tears had fallen, rivers to ocean, they took his life away.
Sorrow sifted deep to the shadows, and broke their hearts again.
Till they heard a voice that called, just a whisper on the air,
There is Life for all and the Spirit lives, a gift for all to share.

Hallelujah, Christ is risen today. There’s a new light shines within…

Sweet the morning, deep was the dawning, the stone was rolled away.
Light returning, sun soaked the morning and washed their tears away.
Holy One, Creator God, You the Healer of our souls,
May You gentle us into faith and hope, to Life renewed once more.

Hallelujah, Christ is risen today. There’s a new light shines within…“

The words and music for this anthem were written by Pat Mayberry in 2021 and are a retelling of the the story of the first Easter morning.  The chorus of the song emphasizes that, indeed, “Love has found another way.” The arrangement  is by David Kai (2021).

“Grant Us, God, the Grace of Giving” (VU #540)

“Grant Us, God, the grace of giving,
With a spirit large and free,
That ourselves and all our living
We may offer faithfully.”

The text of our offering response comes from the Mennonite hymn book, “Hymnal: a Worship Book.” The tune is a familiar one which is also used for the Advent hymn “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”  (VU #2).

“In the Bulb There is a Flower” (VU #703)

“In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be;
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery.
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity,
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory.
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.”

Natalie Sleeth composed “Hymn of Promise” as a choral anthem and later adapted it to congregational singing in 1986.  The anthem is dedicated to her husband, Donald Sleeth, a Methodist pastor and professor of homiletics, who was diagnosed with cancer not long after it was written.  The message of hope and trust in God continues to resonate.

“Amen” (VU #974)

“Amen, amen, hallelujah, amen!
Amen, amen, hallelujah, amen!”

Our benediction response this week was written by Jim Strathdee (1985).