Notes on the Notes – March 15, 2026
Fourth Sunday in Lent
This week’s music:
“Come, Let Us to the God of Love” (VU #653)
“Come, let us to the God of love with contrite hearts return:
Our God is gracious, nor will leave the desolate to mourn.
God’s voice commands the tempest forth, and stills the stormy wave;
And though God’s arm be strong to smite, ’tis also strong to save.
Long has the night of sorrow reigned, the dawn shall bring us light;
God shall appear, and we shall rise with gladness at that sight.
As dew upon the tender herb diffusing fragrance round,
As showers that usher in the spring and cheer the thirsty ground.
So shall God’s presence bless our souls and shed a joyful light,
That hallowed morn shall chase away the sorrows of the night.”
The Scottish Paraphrases were a response to a growing desire to sing words other than from the Psalms and were finally published in 1781. This version of Hosea 6:1-4 was by John Morison DD (1750-1798), minister of Canisbay. The words encourage us to return to God in our grief so that God’s presence might chase away our sorrow. The music is the tune, BELMONT, adapted from William Gardiner’s Sacred Melodies (1812).
Hear the hymn played on organ at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWOPLJtQBJk
“How Deep the Peace” (MV #95)
“How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose wrongs are forgiven.
How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose hearts are healed.”
Our response to the Words of Assurance is based on Psalm 32. Having left our concerns with God through prayer, we again hear of God’s unfailing love. This hymn was written by Linnea Good in 2004.
Hear the Praise Singers at: https://youtu.be/4z6R_i1SizE
“Psalm 23 – The Lord’s My Shepherd” (VU #747)
“The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me down to lie in pastures green;
He leadeth me, the quiet waters by.
My soul he doth restore again;
And me to walk doth make within the paths of righteousness,
Even for his own name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill;
For thou art with me; and thy rod and staff me comfort still.
My table thou hast furnished in presence of my foes;
My head thou dost with oil anoint, and my cup overflows.
Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me;
And in God’s house for evermore my dwelling-place shall be.”
Jessie Seymour Irvine (1836–1887) was the daughter of a Church of Scotland parish minister who served at Dunottar, Peterhead, and Crimond in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Her most famous tune is CRIMOND, which is best known as one of the most popular settings for the (paraphrased) words of Psalm 23: “The Lord’s my Shepherd”. It is believed that Irvine wrote the tune while still in her teens, as an exercise for an organ class she was attending. The tune first appeared in The Northern Psalter where it was credited to David Grant. It was subsequently revealed, however, that Grant had only arranged and not composed the tune, and the 1929 Scottish Psalter credits Irvine.
Sing along at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZnj8yifvsw
“Jesus Teach Me”
“Jesus, teach me what I need to know.
Guide and lead me where I need to go.
In everything I say and do, teach me how to love like You.
Shine Your heavenly light.
Touch me and open my eyes.
As I go through the day, Lord, let me follow Your way.
Lord, the sound of Your voice fills me with comfort and joy.
Now I know I must start listening with all of my heart….”
This week’s anthem is by Bert Stratton and Vicki Tucker Courtney. It was published in 2010. The simple melody and words are a prayer for Jesus to help us to know and live by his teachings.
“These Lenten Gifts We Bring”
“These Lenten gifts we bring,
Our living faith expressed,
We offer them, most lovingly,
And thus our hearts are blessed.
O loving God receive
These gifts we gladly give,
That show our faith and hope and trust;
Your way we seek to live.”
Our Lenten offering response uses the tune FRANCONIA (VU #542), which was written by Johann Balthasar Konig (1738) and adapted by William Henry Havergal (1847).
“Christ, You Made the Blind Man See”
“Christ, you made the blind man see; with some mud you healed his eyes.
So you acted lovingly, bringing health and changing lives.
Yet it was a Sabbath Day; rules were all that some folks saw;
They were quick to scorn the way you put love before the Law.
Christ, you came to judge the earth, bringing truth and life and light,
Showing humble ones their worth, giving vision, bold and bright.
Those who proudly think they see are the ones who often find
Though they act quite boastfully, they, in fact, are really blind.
God, we pray that we will be people filled with light and grace.
Show us what we need to see in this culture, time and place:
We are called to be your light, telling how you’ve changed us here.
Love can make the darkness bright; faith in you makes all things clear.”
Our closing hymn has words by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2017) based on John 9:1-41. As we reflect on the story of Jesus healing the blind man, we ask God to show us how we, too, are called to be God’s light in the world. The tune used is ABERYSTWYTH, composed by Joseph Parry in 1879.
“May the Christ Who Walks on Wounded Feet”
“May the Christ who walks on wounded feet
Travel with you all your journey through.
May you see Christ’s face in all you meet
And may all you meet see Christ’s face in you.”
Our benediction response was written by Allan Baer in 2013 and arranged by S. Porter. The words are adapted from a traditional Celtic prayer.
Hear the song at: May the Christ Who Walks WPUC
