Notes on the Notes – November 14, 2021

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

Watch the Gaither version of the hymn with Wes Hampton at:  https://youtu.be/yNZS5H9aNlY

“Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” (VU #357)

“Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear,
Things I would ask him to tell me if he were here:
Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

First let me hear how the children stood round his knee,
And I shall fancy his blessing resting on me;
Words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
All in the love-light of Jesus’ face.

Show me that scene in the garden of bitter pain;
And of the cross where my Saviour for me was slain.
Sad ones or bright ones, so that they be
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.”

“On the summer of 1885 a warmhearted Baptist businessman in Nottingham, England.  His mind settled on the young students in his Sunday school class. Wanting attention. Needing direction. Always tugging at him with one request: “Tell us another story.”   Before the day was over, William Parker had written the lyrics of this song made memorable by the soothing melody it later inspired, when a publisher ran a contest to find a fitting tune and chose the one submitted by Frederick Arthur Challinor …

I vividly remember one summer evening in 1985, just a hundred years after William Parker wrote “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus.” I was visiting my parents for a weekend, and another guest graced the house: my youngest niece, a toddler still in diapers, just beginning to string words into sentences. With granddaughter Elizabeth snuggled at his side, my father “read” through Peter Spiers Noah’s Ark picture book. Telling the story. Naming the animals. Walking the rainbow. Closing the book.  And then came Elizabeth’s supplication, as basic as it can be: “Read again.”

Repeat the stories. Our children need to hear them. Long ago and far away does matter. Here and now.

Lord, give me a new appreciation of the old, old story that you chose to leave with us. Your story. Our story. The Good-News story. Give me opportunity to tell the story in afresh way to someone—of any age—-who is eager to hear it.………………..”

From the book: “Spiritual moments with the Great Hymns” by Evelyn Bence

Hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at: https://youtu.be/EHOpxwmisLQ

“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

“Walk With Me” (VU #649)

“Walk with me, I will walk with you
And build the land that God has planned where love shines through.

When Moses heard the call of God he said, “Lord, don’t send me.”
But God told Moses, “You’re the one to set my people free.”

Walk with me, I will walk with you
And build the land that God has planned where love shines through.

Young Mary Magdalene was sure her life could be much more,
And by her faith she dared to let God’s love unlock the door.

Walk with me, I will walk with you
And build the land that God has planned where love shines through.

And when you share your faith with me and work for life made new,
The witness of your faithfulness calls me to walk with you.  

Walk with me, I will walk with you
And build the land that God has planned where love shines through.”

The lyrics of this hymn reference the stories of three Biblical characters who, at first, seemed unlikely to be important in the story of God, but who become major turning points in the faith journey.   The closing verse reminds us that walking together in faith leads us toward the kingdom of God on earth.  This hymn was written by John Rice in 1981.

“Lead Me, Lord”

“Lead me, Lord, I will follow.
Lead me, Lord, I will go.
You have called me, I will answer.
Lead me, Lord, I will go.”

Our benediction response was written by Wayne and Elizabeth Goodine in 1994.   As we come to the end of worship, we once again make our commitment to follow Jesus throughout the coming week.