Notes on the Notes – January 18, 2026
This week’s music:
“Jesus Calls Us” (VU #562)
“Jesus calls us, o’er the tumult of our life’s wild restless sea,
Day by day his clear voice sounding, saying, “Christian, follow me.”
Long ago apostles heard it by the Galilean lake,
Turned from home and toil and kindred, leaving all for Jesus’ sake.
Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world’s golden store,
From each idol that would keep us, saying, “Christian, love me more.”
In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of ease,
Still he calls, in cares and pleasures, “Christian, love me more than these.”
Jesus calls us: by your mercies, Saviour, may we hear your call,
Give our hearts to your obedience, serve and love you best of all.”
This hymn is based on the calling of the first disciples of Jesus, as found in the Gospels. The words were written by Cecil Francis Alexander in 1852. The melody, GALILEE, was composed for this text by William Herbert Jude in 1874.
The first verse of this hymn begins, “Jesus calls us o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea”—acknowledging the call of those first disciples by the Sea of Galilee and also Jesus’ call to us. The second verse reminds us of what the disciples gave up in their following of the call. The third and fourth verses move to Jesus’ call to us and his requests of us – “Christian, love me more”—”Christian, love me more than these.” The closing verse is our response — to hear the call, accept the call and “serve and love thee best of all.”
Hear the song on piano at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vir9cxM1FGs
“Bathe Me in Your Light” (MV #82 v. 1)
“Bathe me in your light, O God of All, Creator;
Let it shine upon my soul with healing and with grace.
Be to me a beacon bright through shadows of life’s wounding,
Showing me the way to live in faith, in your embrace.”
The text of this new hymn was written by John Oldham in 2002. John served as a United Church minister for many years in Manitoba, including 14 years at Donnelly United Church in Winnipeg. As we respond to the Words of Assurance, we ask that we be bathed in light, love and grace, that we may live in God’s way.
The music is by Canadian composer Ron Klusmeier. Ron lives on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He composes, arranges, and edits new music for worship and serves as a resource consultant for churches throughout Canada and the U.S.
“Jesus, You Have Come to the Lakeshore” (VU #563)
“Jesus, you have come to the lakeshore looking neither for wealthy nor wise ones;
You only asked me to follow humbly.
O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,
And while smiling, have spoken my name;
Now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me;
By your side I will seek other seas.
You know so well my possessions; my boat carries no gold and no weapons;
You will find there my nets and labour.
O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,
And while smiling, have spoken my name;
Now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me;
By your side I will seek other seas.
You need my hands, full of caring through my labours to give others rest,
And constant love that keeps on loving.
O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,
And while smiling, have spoken my name;
Now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me;
By your side I will seek other seas.
You, who have fished other oceans, ever longed for by souls who are waiting,
My loving friend, as thus you call me:
O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,
And while smiling, have spoken my name;
Now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me;
By your side I will seek other seas.”
This hymn is written as an intimate response to Jesus from the perspective of the first fishermen called. The gentle rocking motion of the music is reminiscent of a boat rocking on the water. Written in Spanish by Cesdrea Gabardin in 1979, it was translated to English by Gertrude C. Suppe, George Lockwood, and Raquel Guiterrez–Achon in 1987.
Hear the Harmony Singers (2023): “Jesus, You Have Come to the Lakeshore”
“Servant Song”
“What do you want of me, Lord?
Where do you want me to serve you?
Where can I sing your praises?
I am your song.
I hear you call my name, Lord,
And I am moved within me.
Your Spirit stirs my deepest self.
Sing your songs in me.
Jesus, Jesus, you are my Lord.
Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.
Above, below, and around me,
Before, behind, and all through me,
Your Spirit burns deep within me.
Fire my life with your love.
You are the light in my darkness.
You are my strength when I’m weary.
You give me sight when I’m blinded.
Come, see for me.
Jesus, Jesus, you are my Light.
Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.
I am your song and servant,
Singing your praise like Mary.
Surrendered to your Spirit,
‘Let it be done to me.’
Jesus, Jesus, ‘Let it be done to me.’
Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.”
This week’s anthem was written by Donna Marie McGargill with keyboard accompaniment by Craig S. Kinsbury (1984).
“In Gratitude and Humble Trust” (VU #544)
In gratitude and humble trust we bring our best today
To serve your cause and share your love with all along life’s way
O God, who gave yourself to us in Jesus Christ, your Son,
Teach us to give ourselves each day until life’s work is done.
Our offering response text is the third verse of the hymn “As Those of Old Their First-fruits Brought” (VU #518). It was published in 1961 and is set to the tune FOREST GREEN, a traditional English folk tune arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1906.
“Would I Have Answered When You Called”
“Would I have answered when you called, “Come, follow, follow me!”?
Would I at once have left behind both work and family?
Or would the old, familiar round have held me by its claim
And kept the spark within my heart from bursting into flame?
Would I have followed where you led through ancient Galilee,
On roads unknown, by ways untried, beyond security?
Or would I soon have hurried back where home and comfort drew,
Where truth you taught would not disturb the ordered world I knew?
Would I have matched my step with yours when crowds cried, “Crucify!”
When on a rocky hill I saw a cross against the sky?
Or would I too have slipped away and left you there alone,
A dying king with crown of thorns upon a terrible throne?
O Christ, I cannot search my heart through all its tangled ways,
Nor can I with a certain mind my steadfastness appraise.
I only pray that when you call, “Come, follow, follow me!”
You’ll give me strength beyond my own to follow faithfully.”
The words for this hymn were written by Rev. Dr. Herman G. Stuempfle, Jr., an American hymn writer (1923-2007). He was known for his leadership in community and civic projects. Always taking an active stance on social issues, he participated in the creation of day care centers, served on the Gettysburg interchurch social action committee, helped create and support prison ministries and a homeless shelter, and tutored young people in the after school program of Christ Lutheran Church, where he was a long time member. (Source: Hymnary.org).
The words of the hymn ask us to put ourselves in the place of the first disciples. Would we have given up our lives and families to follow Jesus? Would we stand by him at the crucifixion, or slip away? The closing verse asks Jesus to “give me strength beyond my own to follow faithfully. Where is Jesus calling us to be in the world today?
We will be using the familiar tune, KINGSFOLD, with these words. Thought by some scholars to date back to the Middle Ages, KINGSFOLD is a folk tune set to a variety of texts in England and Ireland. The tune was published in English Country Songs [sic: English County Songs] (1893), an anthology compiled by Lucy E. Broadwood and J. A. Fuller Maitland. After having heard the tune in Kingsfold, Sussex, England (thus its name), Ralph Vaughan Williams introduced it as a hymn tune in The English Hymnal (1906) as a setting for Horatius Bonar’s “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say.”
See a violin arrangement of the tune at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGRvw2BzS3o
“Show Us Christ in One Another”
“Show us Christ in one another.
Make us servants strong and true.
Give us all your love of justice
So we do what you would do.
Let us call all people holy.
Let us pledge our lives anew.
Make us one with all the lowly.
Let us all be one in you.”
The words for our benediction response were written by Marty Haugen (1985) and come from the hymn “God of Day and God of Darkness.” We will be using the tune BEACH SPRING (1844).
Hear the tune on piano at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBFm1Q9iRwo
