Notes on the Notes – October 16, 2022

World Food Sunday

Service music for this week’s service will be led by the Worship Choir.

This Week’s Music:

“Give Thanks, My Soul, for Harvest” (VU #522)

“Give thanks, my soul, for harvest, for store of fruit and grain,
But know the owner gives so that we may share again.
Where people suffer hunger, or little children cry,
With gifts from God’s rich bounty may thankfulness reply.

Give thanks, my soul, for riches
Of woodland, mine, and hill,
But know that gold and timber
Are the Creator’s still.
God lends to us, as stewards,
Abundance we might share,
And thus provide earth’s children the blessing of God’s care.

Give thanks, my soul, for labours, that strength and days employ,
But know the Maker’s purpose brings toil as well as joy.
Show forth, O God, your purpose; direct our will and hand
To share your love and bounty with all in every land.”

This hymn was written in 1960 to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the department of Stewardship and Benevolence of the National Council of Churches (USA).  As with other contemporary harvest expressions, the words draw our attention in the midst of celebration to the need for sharing of resources and care of the earth.

The words are set to the German tune, MUNICH, which was in use as early as the 16th century.  It was adapted by J.S. Bach for Cantatas 24 and 71, and by Felix Mendelssohn for his oratorio Elijah (1846).  The tune is also used for the hymn, “O Christ, the Word Incarnate” (VU #499).

Hear the melody on organ at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w30Q6jDKNZE

“God of the Bible” (MV #28)

“God of the Bible, God in the Gospel, hope seen in Jesus, hope yet to come,
You are our centre, daylight or darkness, freedom or prison, you are our home.

God in our struggles, God in our hunger,
Suffering with us, taking our part,
Still you empower us, mothering Spirit,
Feeding, sustaining, from your own heart.

Not by your finger, not by your anger
Will our world order change in a day,
But by your people, fearless and faithful,
Small paper lanterns, lighting the way.

Hope we must carry, shining and certain through all our turmoil, terror and loss,
Bonding us gladly one to the other, till our world changes facing the Cross.

Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.”

This hymn by Shirley Erena Murray was written in 1995 and set to music by Tony E. Alonso in 2001.   The original title was Fresh as the Morning.  Through the hymn Murray emphasizes her confidence in God’s faithfulness and encourages us in our journey to make the world God’s kingdom.  God is with us in the struggle.

Hear the hymn sung by Worship and Music leaders at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSVCzqIK5bE

“Abundant Life”

“We cannot own the sunlit sky, the moon, the wildflowers growing,
For we are part of all that is within life’s river flowing.
With open hands receive and share the gifts of God’s creation,
That all may have abundant life in every earthly nation.

When children have no bread but tears, and fond hopes die a-borning,
When bodies shiver in the night and weary, wait for morning,
God calls humanity to wake, to join in common labour,
That all may have abundant life in oneness with their neighbour.

God calls humanity to join as partners in creating
A world that’s free from want and fear, life’s goodness celebrating,
That world, it beckons bright and fair, invites our gifts, our labour,
That all may have abundant life in oneness with their neighbour.

This week’s anthem has words written by Ruth Duck and music by Ron Klusmeier and reminds us of our role in sharing God’s abundance with all humanity.

“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).

“Draw the Circle Wide” (MV #145)

“Draw the circle wide.  Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
Standing side by side, draw the circle wide.

God the still-point of the circle,
‘Round whom all creation turns;
nothing lost, but held forever,
In God’s gracious arms.

Let our hearts touch far horizons,
So encompass great and small;
Let our loving know no borders,
Faithful to God’s call.

Let the dreams we dream be larger
Than we’ve ever dreamed before;
Let the dream of Christ be in us,
Open every door.”

This hymn of inclusion was written by Gordon Light of the Common Cup Company in 1994 and arranged by Michael Bloss in 1998.  If God’s love is the centre point of our lives, everything we do ripples out from God’s love and grows to encompass everyone we meet.

“Sent Out in Jesus’ Name” (MV #212)

“Sent out in Jesus’ name, our hands are ready now
To make the world the place in which the kingdom comes.

The angels cannot change a world of hurt and pain
Into a world of love, of justice and of peace.
The task is ours to do, to set it really free.
O, help us to obey, and carry out your will.

Sent out in Jesus’ name, our hands are ready now
To make the world the place in which the kingdom comes.”

The words and music are from the traditional song, Enviado soy de Dios, from Cuba.  The English translation is by Jorge Maldonado, who also arranged the song for More Voices in 2007.  As we leave worship, we are reminded that we are Christ’s hands in the world.