Notes on the Notes – September 29, 2024
Fourth Sunday in the Season of Creation/
Sunday before the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
This week’s music:
“Many and Great, O God, Are Your Works” (VU #308)
“Many and great, O God, are your works, Maker of earth and sky.
Your hands have set the heavens with stars,
Your fingers spread the mountains and plains.
Lo, at your word the waters were formed;
Deep seas obey your voice.
Grant unto us communion with you, O star-abiding one.
Come unto us and dwell with us,
With you are found the gifts of life.
Bless us with life that has no end,
Eternal life with you.”
Our opening hymn is a hymn of praise to the Creator. The original text of the hymn is a paraphrase of Jeremiah 10:12-13, written in the Dakota language by Joseph R. Renville, a Metis fur trader who also worked on Bible translations at the Lac qui Parle Mission in Minnesota. The English paraphrase, written by Philip Frazier in 1929, uses Psalm 124:24 and Psalm 8:3-4 in addition to the original text. The hymn was also translated into Cree by Stan McKay, a former moderator of the United Church of Canada, for use in Voices United:
Katipeyiciket kisipaskamikaahk kiimekiw.
Osataw mina acakosak Manito ottenaw wiiya.
Ciist wiiyakapimaaciikoyahk epmiciwaki.
Opewii cewinaan Manito ispimihk ohci.
Ekosi wiicitaskeminaan. Kihcimekiwina maaka miiyinaan
kaakike pimaatisiwin ekote ispimik.
The tune is a traditional Dakota melody adapted for the hymn by Joseph Renville and harmonized by James R. Murray for the 1879 edition of Dakota Odowan (Dakota Hymnal).
Hear the hymn at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBdHeGJnWPE
“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. During the Season of Creation, we will be using the chorus as our response to the Words of Assurance. The words and music are by Caroly McDade and the arrangement is by Lydia Pedersen (2006).
Hear the full hymn, sung by the Harmony Singers:
“Spirit, Open my Heart” (MV #79)
“Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving, Spirit, open my heart.
God, replace my stony heart with a heart that’s kind and tender.
All my coldness and fear to your grace I now surrender.
Write your love upon my heart as my law, my goal, my story.
In each thought, word, and deed, may my living bring you glory.
May I weep with those who weep, share the joy of sister, brother.
In the welcome of Christ, may we welcome one another.”
The words for this hymn were written by Ruth Duck in 1994. The words are reminiscent of Psalm 51 verse 10 – “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Through this hymn, we come before God, asking that our hearts be opened to others and that, through this openness, we are able to love as God would have us love. The words are sung to the traditional Irish melody WILD MOUNTAIN THYME, which was arranged by Arthur G. Clyde in 1997.
Hear the hymn sung at Geneva Presbyterian Church at: https://youtu.be/SrxqxL4_2qM
Hear the song on guitar at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BopRb9pdB00
“Song of Community”
“We’ll weave a love that greens sure as spring,
then deepens in summer to the fall autumn brings.
Resting still in winter to spiral again,
Together, my friends, we’ll weave on, we’ll weave on.
We’ll weave a love that opens our eyes
to see one another beyond all disguise,
Where our trust like water will wash away lies,
Together, my friends, we’ll weave on, we’ll weave on.
A love that heals, friend, that bends, friend,
that rising and turning then yields, friend,
Like the mountain to rain, or frost in the spring,
or darkness that turns with the dawn.
It’s by turning, turning, turning, my friend,
by turning that love moves on.
We’ll weave a love that touches our pain,
that comes like the water to drought-fevered plains,
so the roots once withered sing praise to the rain,
Together, my friends, we’ll weave on, we’ll weave on.
We’ll weave a love that holds the despised,
the stranger who wanders, the focus of lies,
We’ll stand sure as mountains with earth’s victimized,
Together, my friends, we’ll weave on, we’ll weave on.
A love that heals, friend, that bends, friend,
that rising and turning then yields, friend,
Like the mountain to rain, or frost in the spring,
or darkness that turns with the dawn.
It’s by turning, turning, turning, my friend,
by turning that love moves on.
We’ll weave a love with roots growing deep
and sap pushing branches to wake from their sleep,
Bearing leaves burnt amber with morning’s full sweep,
Together, my friends, we’ll weave on, we’ll weave on.
A love that heals, friend, that bends, friend,
that rising and turning then yields, friend,
Like the mountain to rain, or frost in the spring,
or darkness that turns with the dawn.
It’s by turning, turning, turning, my friend,
by turning that love moves on.
It’s by turning, turning, turning, my friend,
by turning that love moves on.”
The words and music for this song were written by Carolyn McDade (1981). Through the lyrics we hear about community; with each other, with those who differ from us, and with all of creation. And we hear that what weaves all of life together is love.
Learn more about Carolyn McDade at: https://www.carolynmcdademusic.com/bio.html
“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.
“May We Rise”
“May we rise with all Creation as the Spirit gives us strength.
May we heed the inner wisdom that God’s loving knows no length.
May we be a faith filled people, living out compassion’s way.
May we find the heart-felt courage to embrace the dawning day.
May we rise. Let the songs of Love be sung.
May we rise. Sisters, brothers we are one, we are one.
May we walk to meet the shadows of our woundedness and grief.
May we trust the Holy Spirit to bring healing and relief.
May we live with Love and justice, bring Your messages of Peace.
May we know the guiding power of Your gift of Grace released.
May we rise. Let the songs of Love be sung.
May we rise. Sisters, brothers we are one, we are one.
May we reach beyond the bound’ries of the walls that do divide.
May we feel the gift of Presence in Life’s circle with no sides.
May we listen for Your calling, hearts be open to Your Way.
May we live as one in Christ. As one people, God we pray.
May we rise. Let the songs of Love be sung.
May we rise. Sisters, brothers we are one, we are one.
“May We Rise” was one of the songs selected by a Canadian ecumenical committee and the World Council of Churches to be part of the worship material for 2015′s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This is an action hymn. Through the lyrics, we are asking to do something. Each line starts with the words “May we…,” and the chorus asks that we rise in love and unity. The song was written by Pat Mayberry and John Wesley Oldham (2012) and has been arranged for piano by David Kai.
Hear a recording by The Praise Team:
“When You Walk from Here” (VU #298)
“When you walk from here,
When you walk from here,
Walk with justice, walk with mercy,
And with God’s humble care.”
Our benediction response was written by Linnea Good of Vancouver. It was published in Stickpeople (1993). The text is derived from Micah 6:8.
Hear the song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvd2PUoEj9g
