Notes on the Notes – September 18, 2022

Third Sunday in the Season of Creation 

“Grief and Loss”

This Week’s Music:

“A Voice is Heard”

“Come, let us praise our God, come let us sing for joy,
With a heart of thanks we give honour.
You are a mighty God, you are the source of life.
Creator God, we give praise. From the deepest seas – a voice is heard.
From the highest hills – a voice is heard.
From the rich dark earth – a voice is heard.
All creation sings! God is heard!

Come, let us praise our God, come let us sing for joy,
With a heart of thanks we give honour.
You are a mighty God, you are the source of life.
Creator God, we give praise.

Through the darkest night – a voice is heard.
Through the breaking dawn – a voice is heard.
Through the heart of life – a voice is heard.
All creation sings! God is heard!

Come, let us praise our God, come let us sing for joy,
With a heart of thanks we give honour.
You are a mighty God, you are the source of life.
Creator God, we give praise.”

This joyful songs expresses our belief that God’s voice is everywhere and, as a part of Creation, we too, can hear God’s voice. Whether or not we hear it depends on if we are listening for it. This song by Australian Catholic composers Trisha Watts and Monica O’Brien, was written in 1998.

“Mother Earth, Our Mother Birthing” (MV #39)

“Mother Earth, our Mother birthing every creature from the ground.
Jesus too was flesh and breathing, kin to all that’s green and brown.
Celebrate with all creation: God has formed the web of life.

Sister Air, our Sister lifting every creature born with wings;
Jesus shared the breath of forests, breath that makes our spirits sing.
Celebrate with all creation: God has formed the web of life.

Brother Water, Brother pulsing deep through every vein and sea,
Jesus drank the very raindrops for our wine and in our tea.
Celebrate with all creation: God has formed the web of life.

Father Fire, our Father burning with the sacred urge to live.
Jesus’ death completes the cycle, bringing life beyond the grave.
Celebrate with all creation: God has formed the web of life.”

This hymn celebrates the four traditional elements of creation and the interconnectness of the Creation through time and place.   The words were written by Norman Habel in 1999.  In introducing the song, Habel says, “The occasion for this song was the 40th anniversary of the ordination of Rev. John Sabel, who is a poet and a disciple of St. Francis of Assisi.  The poem honours St. Francis by acclaiming Earth, Air, Water and Fire as our kin, components we have in common with planet Earth and with Jesus of Nazareth.”  How would our actions change if we truly felt we were but one part of Creation and that the elements were our relatives?  We will be using the hymn tune, LAUDA ANIMA, more commonly known as the tune for the hymn “Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven.”

“The Time is Now” 

“Hear the sound of glaciers cracking, falling to the warming sea
Feel the temperature arising, no more time for compromising
Endless data analyzing, what more do we need?

The time is now, the day is here
The earth cries out, the choice is clear
The world has changed for one and all
Creation groans, Creator calls.

See the species fast declining, lost forever to our greed
No time lift for temporizing, softly sentimentalizing
Time for holy organizing, truth put into deed.

The time is now, the day is here
The earth cries out, the choice is clear
The world has changed for one and all
Creation groans, Creator calls.

Stop our fossil fuel pollution spewing carbons to the skies
Seek alternative solutions, lobby hard our institutions
Risking our own revolutions as we change our lives. 

The time is now, the day is here
The earth cries out, the choice is clear
The world has changed for one and all
Creation groans, Creator calls.

This song was written by Jim Manley in 2007 and speaks to the ongoing challenge of humanity’s role in the changing climate, as well as our responsibility as faithful people of God.

“For the Gift of Creation” (VU #538)

“For the gift of creation, the gift of your love,
And the gift of the Spirit by which we live,
We thank you and give you the fruit of our hands.
May your grace be proclaimed by the gifts that we give.”

Our offering dedication is from the United Methodist Book of Worship (1991) and is especially appropriate during the season of Creation.  The composer, Steve Garnaas-Holmes is a United Methodist pastor in Montana.

“Spirit God, Be Our Breath” (MV #150)

“Spirit God: be our breath, be our song.
Blow through us, bringing strength to move on.
Our world seems inward, defensive, withdrawn…
Spirit God, be our song.

Patient God: soothe our pride, calm our fear.
Comfort us.
When we know you are near we grow more certain, our vision is clear.
Patient God, calm our fear.

Loving God: be our voice, be our prayer.
Reaching out, joining hands as we share,
We seek your guidance through friendship and care.
Loving God, be our prayer.

Spirit God: be our breath, be our song.
Blow through us, bringing strength to move on.
Through change, through challenge, we’ll greet the new dawn.
Spirit God, be our song.”

This song, with words and music by Bruce Harding, was written in 1997.   The lyrics are a sung prayer that God be with us through the changes that we will see as we move forward in faith.

“O Beautiful Gaia” (MV #41)

“O beautiful Gaia,
O Gaia, calling us home.
O beautiful Gaia,
Calling us on.

The term Gaia (guy-ah) represents “Mother Earth,” inviting us to live into our care and respect for all creation. It asks us to consider our relationship to the earth in the context of our faith. This week we will be using the chorus as our benediction response.  The words and music are by Caroly McDade and the arrangement is by Lydia Pedersen (2006).