Notes on the Notes – May 19, 2024
Pentecost Sunday
This week’s music:
“Oh, a Song Must Rise” (MV #142)
“Oh, a song must rise for the spirit to descend
Oh, a song must rise once again
Singing out God’s praises and glory,
The faithful voices blend,
Oh, a song must rise for the spirit to descend.
From the mountains to the valleys,
From the desert to the sea,
A song must rise once again.
From the voices of our leaders,
The voice of you and me,
A song must rise for the spirit to descend.
From poverty and riches,
From the voice of young and old,
A song must rise once again.
From the free and the imprisoned,
The timid and the bold,
A song must rise for the spirit to descend.
From every house of worship,
In every faith and tongue,
A song must rise once again.
From the villages and cities
A new song must be sung,
A song must rise for the spirit to descend.”
The words and music for this lively song are by Paul B. Svenson (1995). The arrangement we will be using this week is by Bryn Nixon (2006) as it appears in More Voices.
See a teaching video of this song sung by choir and congregation at: https://youtu.be/Y4Q7XghWg-c
“Spirit of Life” (VU #381)
“Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea; move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.”
This sung prayer is by Carolyn McDade and was written in 1981. It was arranged by Grace Lewis-McLaren and published in 1993.
Hear the Harmony Singers:
“She Comes Sailing on the Wind” (VU #380)
“She comes sailing on the wind, her wings flashing in the sun;
On a journey just begun, she flies on.
And in the passage of her flight, her song rings out through the night,
Full of laughter, full of light, she flies on.
Silent waters rocking on the morning of our birth,
Like an empty cradle waiting to be filled.
And from the heart of God the Spirit moved upon the earth,
Like a mother breathing life into her child.
Many were the dreamers whose eyes were given sight
When the Spirit filled their dreams with life and form.
Deserts turned to gardens, broken hearts found new delight,
And then down the ages still she flew on.
To a gentle girl in Galilee, a gentle breeze she came,
A whisper softly calling in the dark,
The promise of a child of peace whose reign would never end,
Mary sang the Spirit song within her heart.
Flying to the river, she waited circling high
Above the child now grown so full of grace.
As he rose up from the water, she swept down from the sky,
And she carried him away in her embrace.
Long after the deep darkness that fell upon the world,
After dawn returned in flame of rising sun,
The Spirit touched the earth again, again her wings unfurled,
Bringing life in wind and fire as she flew on.”
This folk-style song was written by Gordon Light of the Common Cup Company, a group originally formed in Winnipeg and subsequently based in Burnaby, BC. in 1985. The verses lead us through the stories of Creation, Jesus’ birth, baptism, Easter and Pentecost, while the chorus emphasizes the eternal nature of God’s Spirit.
Hear the song sung by the Common Cup Company at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPSjTGzjUSI
“What Will We Promise, What Will We Give?”
“We are here together this day among these friends we know,
To thank the Lord for all these gifts we share.
When we’re here within this place where love and friendship grow,
We reach to one another in our prayers.
But what will we promise,
What will we give for those outside these walls?
Will our hearts be open?
Will we hear their call?
Will we reach beyond ourselves, as he taught us to live?
What will we promise,
What will we give?
In this warm, familiar place we share the hope and dream of living
in a world of love and peace.
But the things we do each day sometimes make it seem
we have no real concern for others’ needs.
So, what will we promise,
What will we give for those outside these walls?
Will our hearts be open?
Will we hear their call?
Will we reach beyond ourselves, as he taught us to live?
What will we promise,
What will we give?”
This week’s anthem was written by Don Besig (1983) and serves as a reminder that the actions of our faith mean little if they don’t include those in the world around us.
“We Give You But Your Own” (VU #542)
“We give you but your own,
Whate’er the gift may be,
All that we have is yours alone,
We give it gratefully.”
The words for our offering response were written by William Walsham How in 1858, and updated for use in Voices United. The music is by Johann Balthasar Konig (1738), with adaptations by William Henry Havergal (1847).
“Go, Make a Difference” (MV #209)
“Go make a difference. We can make a difference. Go make a difference in the world.
Go make a difference. We can make a difference. Go make a difference in the world.
We are the salt of the earth, called to let the people see the love of God for you and me.
We are the light of the world, not to be hidden but be seen. Go make a difference in the world.
We are the hands of Christ reaching out to those in need, the face of God for all to see.
We are the spirit of hope; we are the voice of peace. Go make a difference in the world.
So let your love shine on, let it shine for all to see. Go make a difference in the world.
And the spirit of Christ will be with us as we go. Go make a difference in the world.
Go make a difference. We can make a difference. Go make a difference in the world.
Go make a difference. We can make a difference. Go make a difference in the world.”
This lively song enthusiastically sends us out to carry our faith into the world. It was written by Steve Angrisano and Tom Tomaszek in 1997. The words reinforce the message from the gospel of Matthew.
Watch Steve Angrisano singing the song at: http://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=EQJ4TLRy1KI
“One More Step Along the World” (VU #639)
“One more step along the world we go,
One more step along the world we go,
From the old things to the new, keep us traveling along with you:
And it’s from the old we travel to the new; keep us traveling along with you.
We will be using one verse of this hymn, with adapted lyrics, as our benediction response during the month of May. The hymn was written by Sydney Carter was written in 1971. The words emphasize that living a faith-filled life is more about the journey than about having all of the answers. It also speaks of our desire to have God with us as we live and learn in a world that is constantly changing. We ask that God be with us, and we be with God, as we continue to move forward and change as Windsor Park United Church.
Bonus Video:
“Gather Me” – written by David Kai, sung by the Harmony Singers (2023)
