Notes on the Notes – August 17, 2025

This week’s music:

“How Great Thou Art” (Voices United #238, Songs for a Gospel People #50)

“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the works Thy hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
I hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul…

But when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul…

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, “My God, how great thou art!”

Then sings my soul,…”

A congregational favourite, the words of this hymn are an echo of the awe felt by the writer of Psalm 8.  The hymn How Great Thou Art travelled a long road before it ended up a favourite addition to English hymnals. The original version was a poem written by a Swedish pastor, Reverend Carl Boberg in 1886.   In 1933, English missionaries to Ukraine, Reverend and Mrs. Stuart K. Hine, heard the song for the first time, fell in love with it and sang it often throughout their missionary journeys. As they travelled the Carpathian Mountains, the couple was inspired by the incredible beauty to translate the first three verses of the song into English. When WWII broke out in 1939, the Hines returned to England carrying How Great Thou Art to its new home.  In the 1950s, the song was copyrighted and widely published in America, becoming more and more popular. When George Beverly Shea and the Billy Graham gospel choir, directed by Cliff Barrows, began to sing the song at virtually every crusade event, How Great Thou Art soon became one of the most recognized songs around the world. (source:  Share Faith website).  It is interesting to note that the hymn did not appear in a United Church hymn book until Songs for a Gospel People (1987), prior to its inclusion in Voices United.

Hear The Harmony Singers:

“Trust These Words”  (TLUS #78)

“Trust these words: you are forgiven!
Through Christ’s mercy, broken hearts can be restored;
Trust these words: you are forgiven! 
Live in peace, beloved, know you are adored;
Trust these words, trust these words, trust these words.

Trust these words: we are forgiven!
Through God’s mercy broken lives can be restored;
Trust these words: we are forgiven1
Live in grace and peace, oh, love and serve the Lord;
Trust these words, trust these words, trust these words.
Trust these words.”

Our response to the Words of Assurance for the month of August was written by Lisa Waites (2021).

“I Am a Child of God” (MV #157)

“I am a child of God, I am a glimpse of God’s new creation.
I am a child of God, I am a child of God. 

I am an endless prayer, I am a yearning for contemplation,
I am an endless prayer, I am an endless prayer.

I am an angry voice, I am compassion and consternation,
I am an angry voice, I am an angry voice.

I am a cry for peace, I am commitment and dedication,
I am a cry for peace, I am a cry for peace.

I am a song of joy, I am the moment of jubilation,
I am a song of joy, I am a song of joy.” 

This hymn was written by United Church musicians, Cheryl and Bruce Harding in 2002.  The words explore the multitude of facets and emotions of being a child of God.

Hear the hymn at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihNF4GJLYaA

“Forgive Us Lord, For Passing By (Let Justice Roll Like a River)” (TLUS #120)

“Forgive us, Lord, for passing by when children cry for bread.
Forbid it, Lord, that justice lie in tatters cold and dead.
Outside these walls run desperate streets where greed is law and life is cheap.
We bar the doors, refuse to see or hear the words you said:

Let justice roll like a river, like a river, let it roll.
Let justice roll like a river, like a river, let it roll.

Convict us, Lord, we dance and laugh, ignoring those who weep.
Correct us, Lord, our golden calf has lulled our hearts to sleep.
The gap between the rich and poor grows ever wider, shore to shore.
There’s racial hate, religious war, and wolves among the sheep.

Let justice roll like a river, like a river, let it roll.
Let justice roll like a river, like a river, let it roll.

Indwell us, Lord, and purify our hands to work for you.
Enlist us, Lord, to serve nearby, and ‘cross the waters, too.
Your image-bearers on the earth will never know how much they’re worth
unless we love and help them first and show the way to you.

Let justice roll like a river, like a river, let it roll.
Let justice roll like a river, like a river, let it roll.
Let justice roll like a river, like a river, let it roll.
Let justice roll like a river, like a river, let it roll.”

This week’s anthem is a hymn of confession, repentance and dedication with a plea for mercy and social justice.  The words were written by Bobby Gilles with the tune by Rebecca Elliott (2007).

Hear the song at: Let Justice Roll Like a River

“There’s Enough for All” (TLUS #60)

“There’s enough for all if we would learn to share it,
There’s enough for all, oh, help us to believe.
There’s enough for all.
Let’s bring our loaves and fishes, and offer them to Jesus. 
There’s more than enough for you and me.”

Our offering response for the month of August was written by Bryan Moyer Suderman (2024).

“When We Speak Truth to Power”

When we speak truth to power, our God is glorified;
in acts of holy boldness the Lord of all takes pride.
We’re called to seize the moment, to step beyond our fear
and speak the way of Jesus to those who need to hear.

At times the truths we utter the powerful might hate.
It’s then our God calls louder, “Speak up, don’t hesitate!
My Word will be your armor, my love will light your way;
I’ll walk this walk beside you, each step and every day.”

As immigrants are threatened and told they don’t belong
and trans folks are diminished, their truth dismissed as wrong,
the voice of Jesus beckons, as through all time it’s done:
“Go welcome in the stranger, find me in everyone!”

Great God of grace and mercy, of all that’s just and true,
each refugee you treasure, and every rainbow hue.
In these and other matters, equip us all to be
Your voice of truth to power that speaks out faithfully!

Our closing hymn has words written by Mark Gruber-Lebowitz (2025).  The first two verses encourage us to speak the truth of God’s word into the world.  The closing verses are specific in shining a light on important social justice issues that we are experiencing in the world today. The tune LANCASHIRE was composed by Henry T. Smart in 1835.

Hear the hymn tune at: LANCASHIRE hymn tune on piano

May the Peace of Christ” (TLUS #104)

“May the peace of Christ be with you.
May the love of God dwell deep in your heart.
May the Spirit enlighten your way.
May you walk in the comfort of God’s care.” 

Our benediction response for the month of August was written by Izumi Shiota in Japanese.  The English paraphrase we will be using today is by Lori True.

?? What does TLUS mean?  TLUS is short for “Then Let Us Sing,” the new worship resource published by the United Church of Canada.  This resource adds new music for the 21st century.  At WPUC, we will be using it in addition to “Voices United” and “More Voices.”