Notes on the Notes – June 8, 2025

Pentecost
Centennial of the United Church of Canada!

This week’s music: 

“On this Day of Celebration”

“On this day of celebration, at this time when hopes are new,
God, we gather as your people, called to put our trust in you.
You have made the world we live in; you have worked through history.
In your plan we find our purpose, in your love, our unity.

Long ago, you sent our Savior to this world in deep despair.
In your Word made flesh you came, our life to know, our sins to bear.
Christ has died and Christ is risen! At this new year we proclaim:
Yesterday, today, forever — Jesus Christ is still the same!

Through two thousand years of changes, through these passing centuries,
You have called your church to witness to Christ’s love that claims and frees.
Each new generation hears you, each must find a fresh new way
To make known the life you offer, to the people in their day.

On this day, we pause and wonder what the future years will bring,
Yet we know you clothe each flower and you make each sparrow sing.
How much more will you protect us with your guiding, caring hand!
By your Spirit, lead us boldly in the future you have planned.”

The words for our opening hymn are by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (1999).  As we celebrate the centennial of the United Church of Canada, this hymn reminds us to trust that God has made the world and has worked though time.  Our role is to hear God’s word and witness to God in the world as we move to the future.  The tune we will be using is “HYMN TO JOY” by Beethoven (1824).

“Spirit of Life” (VU #381)

“Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea; move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.”

We respond to the words of assurance by praying that God’s Spirit will be with us.  The hymn was written by Carolyn McDade in 1981 and arranged by Grace Lewis-McLaren and published in 1993.

“A New Creed”

“We are not alone, we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others
by the Spirit.
We trust in God.

We are called to be the church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.”

The music for this setting of the New Creed was composed by Richard Hall.  The words are a statement of the beliefs of the United Church of Canada. They give us a centering point as we journey through our life of faith.  To learn more about the interesting history of this statement of faith, please go to:  http://www.windsorparkunitedchurch.com/a-new-creed/

To learn about the crest of the United Church of Canada go to: http://www.windsorparkunitedchurch.com/the-united-church-crest/

“Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness” (Voices United #375/Songs for a Gospel People #108)

“Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,
 Blow thro’ the wilderness calling and free;
 Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,
Stir me from placidness,
Wind, Wind on the sea.

You moved on the waters, you called to the deep,
Then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep;
And over the eons you called to each thing:
Wake from your slumbers and rise on your wings.

You swept through the desert, you stung with the sand,
And you goaded your people with a law and a land;
And when they were blinded with their idols and lies,
Then you spoke through your prophets to open their eyes. 

You sang in a stable; you cried from a hill;
Then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still;
And down in the city you called once again,
When you blew thro’ your people on the rush of the wind.

You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes,
From the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams,
Our women see visions, our men clear their eyes,
With bold new decisions your people arise.”

This popular hymn by songwriter James K. Manley grew out of a sabbatical leave at the School of Theology at Claremont, California.  The words of the hymn follow the movement of the Spirit from Creation through the life of Jesus to modern times.  The hymn was written in 1978 and first introduced to the congregation at WPUC in the hymn book supplement, “Songs for a Gospel People.”

Hear the song on piano at:  https://youtu.be/gNdbq8Bf1GQ

“Give Us a Vision”

“Come, O Lord, look on your people;
wand’ring and lost with no shepherd but you.
Without your light your people will perish.
Lift us again and make our hearts new.

Give us a vision, a vision of you.
Mold us and make us a people of truth.
Come Spirit, feed us and lead us to do
your holy mission, O give us a vision of you. 

We bring thankfulness for yesterday’s blessings;
We have hopes and dreams of days yet to be.
So God of Light, come lift all our blindness,
make your way plain until we can see.

Lord, come and give us a vision, a vision of you.
Mold us and make us a people of truth.
Come Spirit, feed us and lead us to do
your holy mission, O give us a vision;
O look on your people and give us a vision of you!
A vision of you, of you!”

This week’s anthem was written by Pepper Choplin, and was commissioned for the 150th anniversary of Mount Hermon Baptist Church in Virginia.

“For the Life That You Have Given”

“For the life that you have given, for the love in Christ made known,
with these fruits of time and labour, with these gifts that are your own:
Here we offer, Lord, our praises, heart and mind and strength we bring;
Give us grace to love and serve you, living what we pray and sing.” 

The words for our offering response were written by Carl P. Daw (1990).  The tune we will be using is BEACH SPRING.

“Faithful God, You Have Been Our Guide”

“Faithful God, you have been our guide, year by year walking by our side,
Blessing challenge and healing strife, leading us on the way of life.
Faithful God of the living covenant, lead us onward in this new day.
Faithful God of the living covenant, lead us onward in this new day.

You have called us to be a light, sign of justice and truth and right.
You have made us a rainbow sign, colours showing your peace design.
Faithful God of the living covenant, lead us onward in this new day.
Faithful God of the living covenant, lead us onward in this new day.

God, whatever the future holds, keep us faithful as life unfolds.
Write your covenant on our hearts; send the gifts that your love imparts.
Faithful God of the living covenant, lead us onward in this new day.
Faithful God of the living covenant, lead us onward in this new day.

Holy Spirit, come bless our feast; joining north and south, west and east.
Bless the gifts on our table spread: cup of covenant, living bread.
Faithful God of the living covenant, lead us onward in this new day.
Faithful God of the living covenant, lead us onward in this new day.”

This hymn was written by Ruth Duck in 1995 for the celebration the 125th anniversary of Covenant United Methodist Church in Evanston, Illinois.  Expressing a theology of covenant, it grew out of stories about the church’s history.  As we celebrate this special anniversary of the United Church, the words remind us that God has been with us along our journey and continues to be with us into the future.  It is sung to the tune, LINSTEAD, which is a Jamaican tune adapted by Doreen Potter for use with Fred Kaan’s text “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ” (VU #468).

“Kingsfold Communion Set” (MV #203-205)

Holy, Holy, Holy
O holy, holy, holy God,
O God of time and space.
All earth and sea and sky above bear witness to your grace.
Hosanna in the highest heav’n, creation sings your praise.
And blessed is the One who comes and bears your name always!

Memorial Acclamation
Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen,
Christ will come again!
Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen,
Christ will come again!

Great Amen
Amen, amen, O Holy One! Hosanna and Amen!
Amen, amen, O Holy One! Hosanna and Amen!

This musical setting of three elements of the communion liturgy is by William S. Kervin and Paul Stott, using the traditional melody, KINGSFOLD.

“A New Wellspring”

“Now then, let us lift our voices in this hymn of hope and grace.
We have listened to words spoken. Now we know the tasks we face.
Let us go forth with a strong heart, seeking how we now can bring
acts of courage, acts of caring, acts that make our spirits sing.

Boldly now, we join our voices, as we sing and as we say,
words that make us ponder deeply how to put these words in play.
Let us go forth with a strong heart, seeking how we now can bring
acts of justice, acts of daring, acts that make our hearts take wing.

As disciples, now, we’re willing to act boldly, when we dare,
hear the many who are helpless, those whose lives are in despair.
Let us go forth with a strong heart seeking how we now can bring
acts of sowing, acts of tending, acts that birth a new wellspring.” 

The words for our closing hymn were written by Doris Hollingsworth of Maynooth Madawaska P.C. in Maynooth, Ontario.  Note how the hymn text echoes the United Church’s Call and Vision: Deep Spirituality, Bold Discipleship, and Daring Justice. The tune we will be using is NETTLETON.

“With a Vision of Hope”

“With a vision of hope we move along.
Empowered by faith we carry on.
Reaching out far and wide, moving forward reaching high.
Filled with hope, filled with dreams, we journey on.”

As we look toward our future as a church, we go into the world singing the words of Mary-Ellen Kish (2008), encouraging each other to move forward in faith with God.