Notes on the Notes – September 29, 2013

This week’s scripture readings:                                                                       1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31

This week’s music:

“All Things Bright and Beautiful”      (VU #291) – The text, from Cecil Frances Alexander’s Hymns for Little Children (1846), is based on the phrase “Maker of heaven and earth” in the Apostles’ Creed.  The new words for verse four are particularly apt in the Canadian context.  The tune is an English traditional melody associated with the restoration of the Stuart monarchy in 1660.  The arrangement in Voices United is by Martin Shaw (1915).  The editors of “Voices United” also changed the words slightly in the interest of inclusivity.  The children in Bible Adventures have been working on learning the chorus:

“All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful:  in love, God made them all.”

To hear this hymn on pipe Organ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo1qW0q7wZU

Watch a beautiful video by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZNt4avXVcI

“Great is Thy Faithfulness” (VU #288) – Thomas O. Chisholm, a Methodist minister,  wrote the poem in 1923 about God’s faithfulness over his lifetime.  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).

Listen to Chris Rice singing this hymn at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k1WhFtVp0o

“On Eagle’s Wings – Psalm 91” (VU #808) – This hymn is the sung text of Psalm 91 and has long been a favorite at WPUC.  Michael Joncas, composer, is an assistant professor of Theology at the University of St. Thoman in St. Paul Minnesota.  This song was originally written as a vocal solo (1979) and was arranged as a hymn for The United Methodist Hymnal (1989).  It is interesting to note that in Voices United the words of the chorus are in the first person (quoting God) while in the original the point of view is in the third person.  Listen to the original version of this song at:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW0jDEM1Qxc

“A Song of Rejoicing” – The words and music of today’s anthem were written by Joseph M. Martin (2009).  The anthem is dedicated to the memory of Lawrence Kvamme, long-time choir member at WPUC.

“I will give thanks and lift an alleluia!   

         I will rejoice in the name of the Lord!       

    I will sing praise and raise a glad hosanna.        

 I will give honor and praise evermore.      

  I will sing to the Lord a new song, give to the Lord a new song for Christ alone is worthy of praise!      

 I will honor the Lord with music, worship the Lord with gladness, rejoice in the name of the Lord!        

O Jesus, you are my joy, my all.       

You are my music, my song of hope.       

 You are worthy.  You are holy.  You are God and God alone!”

 “Fight the Good Fight” (VU #674) – The text of this hymn is based on 1 Timothy 6:12.  It was first published in J.S.B. Monsell’s Hymns of Love and Praise for the Church Year (1863).  The tune PENTECOST was composed by William Boyd (1864).

“Fight the good fight with all your might! Christ is your strength, and Christ your right; Lay hold on life, and it shall be Thy joy  and crown eternally.

Run the straight race through God’s good grace, Lift up your eyes, and seek Christ’s face.  Life with its path before us lies, Christ is the way, and Christ the prize.

Cast care aside, lean on your Guide; God’s boundless mercy will  provide; Trust, and the trusting soul shall prove Christ is its life, and Christ its love.

Faint not nor fear, God’s arms are near; God changes not, and you are dear; Only believe, and Christ shall be your all in all eternally.”