Notes on the Notes – September 28, 2025

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

“Spirit of the Living God” (VU #376, SFGP #91)

“Spirit of the living God,  move among us all.
Make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love:
Humble, caring, selfless, sharing.
Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love!”

Our sung response to the Words of Assurance is the second verse of the hymn “Spirit of the Living God.”  The words were written by Michael Baughen in 1982 as an additional verse to the words written by David Iverson in 1926. The arrangement in Voices United is the one written by Darryl Nixon for Songs for a Gospel People (1987), the first United Church hymn book where the hymn appeared.

“Deep in Our Hearts” (MV #154)

“Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;
Deep in our hearts there is a common song;
Deep in our hearts there is a common story,
Telling creation that we are one.

Deep in our hearts there is a common purpose;
Deep in our hearts there is a common goal;
Deep in our hearts there is a sacred message,
Justice and peace in harmony.

Deep in our hearts there is a common longing;
Deep in our hearts there is a common theme;
Deep in our hearts there is a common current,
Flowing to freedom like a stream.

Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;
Deep in our hearts there is a common song;
Deep in our hearts there is a common story,
Telling Creation that we are one.”

This hymn, with words by John Oldham and music by Ron Klusmeier, speaks to the human longing for the divine that is common across time and faith divisions.  It was written in 1996.

See the song, with Ron Klusmeier at the piano at:  https://youtu.be/YnZaO8udMcQ

“All My Relatives” 

“Listen my sister, listen my brother,
        So many features, so many colors;
        I have not loved you like I should love you if I believe that God is love.

Every face, all my relatives.
Every race, all my relatives.
Every place, all my relatives
Hear creation sing,
One with everything.

Where there is hurting,
We share the hurting,
Where there is justice,
We share the justice.
Where there is mercy,
We share the mercy if we believe that God is love…

Where there is suffering we share the suffering
Where there is praising, we share the praising
Where there is freedom, we share the freedom if we believe that God is love…”

This song was written by Larry Olson and Karol Baer in 1992.

“Amen, Amen, Amen” (VU #969)
The music for our sung response following The Song of Faith selection was composed by James A. Kriewald (1985).

“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.

“Grace Alone”

“Every promise we can make,
Every prayer and step of faith,
Every difference we will make
Is only by His grace.

Every mountain we will climb,
Every ray of hope we shine,
Every blessing left behind
Is only by His grace.

Grace alone which God supplies,
Strength unknown He will provide.
Christ in us, our Cornerstone,
We will go forth in grace alone.

Every soul we long to reach,
Every heart we hope to teach,
Everywhere we share His peace
Is only by His grace.

Every loving word we say,
Every tear we wipe away,
Every sorrow turned to praise
Is only by His grace.

Grace alone which God supplies,
Strength unknown He will provide.
Christ in us, our Cornerstone,
We will go forth in grace alone.”

Our closing song was written by Scott Wesley Brown and Jeff Nelson.

Hear the song at:  https://youtu.be/b6lhilgWXIE

“Send Us Out”

“Send us out in the power of Your Spirit, Lord,
May our lives bring Jesus to the world.
May each thought and word bring glory to Your name,
Send us out in Your Spirit, Lord, we pray.”

The words and music for our benediction response were written by Ruth Fazal (1993).