Notes on the Notes – May 5, 2019

Living Easter Day Today!

This week’s scripture reading:

Acts 9:1-20

This week’s music:

“I Danced in the Morning” (VU #352)

I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
And I came from heaven and I danced on the earth;
At Bethlehem I had my birth.

Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

I danced for the scribe and the pharisee,
But they would not dance and they would not follow me;
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John;
They came with me and the dance went on.

Dance, then…

I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame;
The holy people said it was a shame,
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me high,
And left me there on a cross to die.

Dance, then…

I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black;
It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back;
They buried my body and they thought I’d gone,
But I am the dance and I still go on.

Dance, then…

They cut me down and I leap up high;
I am the life that will never, never die;
I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he.

Dance, then…”

Folk singer Sydney Carter first published this song in 1963.  The tune is an 18th-century Shaker melody.  The Shakers were a pacifist religious group who celebrated their faith through song and communal dancing.  They originated in England and a group later settled near Albany, New York.   This hymn gained popularity in the United Church after being published in The Hymn Book (1971). In addition of telling the story of Jesus life, death and resurrection, the words of the hymn reference Psalm 30:11-12:

11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.

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

Hear John McDermott sing the song at:  https://youtu.be/xdlsqfyxjvc

A Gaither version of the song can be seen at:  https://youtu.be/ZsRE37jpUOw

“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).   Darryl Nixon created this arrangement for publication in the United Church hymn supplement Songs for a Gospel People (1987), with the descant being composed by Betty Pulkingham.

See the hymn sung in a worship service at:  https://youtu.be/0GWSdq8GVG8

“Christ is Alive”

“Christ is alive, and goes before us
To show and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings;
Our God is making all things new,
Our God is making all things new.

This is day of new beginnings,
Time to remember, and move on,
Time to believe what love is bringing,
Laying to rest the pain that’s gone.

For by the life and death of Jesus,
Love’s mighty Spirit, now as then,
Can make for us a world of difference,
As faith and hope are born again.

Then let us, with the Spirit’s daring,
Step from the past, and leave behind
Our disappointment, guilt, and grieving,
Seeking new paths, and sure to find.”

The words for this hymn were written by Brian Wren in 1983.  The music is by Lori True (2003).

“I Will Rise”

“There’s a peace I’ve come to know
Though my heart and flesh my fail
There’s an anchor for my soul
I can say “It is well”
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

There’s a day that’s drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
“Worthy is the Lamb”
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
“Worthy is the Lamb”

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise”

This week’s anthem is dedicated in memory of Angela Moodie.   It was arranged by Mary McDonald (2001).  Chris Tomlin wrote the song with Louie Giglio, MattMaher and Jesse Reeves  in 2008.   The song was written to give hope to people going through a time of loss, hurt or struggle.

Tomlin says, “I wrote down a little line that he (Louie) said, ‘the grave is overwhelmed.’ That’s the line that he was carrying. I took that one line, ‘The grave is overwhelmed,’ and built the song around it. So, ‘Jesus has overcome/And the grave is overwhelmed/Victory is won/He’s risen from the dead.’ And that became a song of real hope for people who lose someone and know that this is not the end. That this life, the physical flesh is not the end, but God has given us life everlasting spirit, that’s our hope.” (Source:  www.songfacts.com)

The song also references readings from Isaiah 40:31 (rising on eagle’s wings) and Revelations 5:11-14 (the angels singing “worthy is the Lamb.”)

Watch Chris Tomlin perform the song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKRF8UihM5s

“Holy, Holy, Holy are You” (VU #932)

“Holy, holy, holy are you,
God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the one who comes in your name.
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest!”

This setting of the traditional Sanctus and Benedictus, used for communion, is by Marty Haugen.

“Every morning is Easter Morning” 

“Every morning is Easter morning from now on!
Every day’s resurrection day, the past is over and gone!
Goodbye guilt, goodbye fear, good riddance!
Hello Lord, hello sun!
I am one of the Easter People!
My new life has begun!

Every morning is Easter morning from now on!
Every day’s resurrection day, the past is over and gone!
Daily news is so bad it seems
the Good News seldom gets heard.
Get it straight from the Easter People:
God’s in charge!  Spread the word!

Every morning is Easter morning from now on!
Every day’s resurrection day, the past is over and gone!
Yesterday I was sad and lonely; but today look and see!
I belong to the Easter People!  Life’s exciting to me!

Every morning is Easter morning from now on!
Every day’s resurrection day, the past is over and gone!
Every morning is Easter morning,
Every morning is Easter morning,
Every morning is Easter morning,
From    now    on!”

This Easter song was written by Richard K. Avery and Donald S. Marsh in 1972.  The words remind us that Easter is not just one Sunday a year, but changes how we live our lives going forward.

See a children’s choir sing this song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7lq3pTeAnA

To ponder:

When have you welcomed change in your life?
When has change been scary?