Notes on the Notes – April 19, 2026

This week’s music:

“The Spring Has Come” (VU #187) 

“The spring has come, let all the church be part of it!
The world has changed, and God is at the heart of it!
New light, new day, new colour after winter grey.
New light, new day, the spring has come, let all the church be part of it!

The sun is warm, let all God’s children play in it!
The world expands, let’s spread the Gospel way in it! 
New leaf, new thrust, new greening for the love of Christ.
New leaf, new thrust, the sun is warm, let all God’s children play in it!

The spring has come, new people are the flower of it.
Through wind and rain, new life is in the showers of it.
New bud, new shoot, new hope will bear the Spirit’s fruit.
New bud, new shoot, the spring has come, new people are the flowers of it!”

Our opening hymn, with words by New Zealand’s Shirley Erena Murray uses an unusual metre to capture the lightness in the air as we celebrate the coming of spring.  The tune, VERVACITY, composed by Colin Gibson also captures the joy of Easter and springtime by using changing time signatures throughout the music.  As the earth changes and starts to show new life, we too, both individually and as a church, are also called to show new life in Christ.

Hear the hymn at: https://youtu.be/Ppsu8ye2jjE?t=2

“Alleluia” (MV #50)

“Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”

We celebrate the Words of Assurance with a sung response written by Norah Duncan IV (1987).

“The Church is Wherever God’s People” (VU #579)

“The church is wherever God’s people are praising,
Singing God’s goodness for joy on this day.
The church is wherever disciples of Jesus
remember his story and walk in his way.

The church is wherever God’s people are helping,
Caring for neighbours in sickness and need.
The church is wherever God’s people are sharing
the words of the Bible in gift and in deed.”

The simple lyrics of this hymn remind us that “church” is not about the church building, but that we can be the church wherever we are by our words and actions as God’s people.   The words were written by Carol Rose Ikeler in 1959. The tune is based on a traditional English carol,  “Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day.”  The arrangement used in Voices United was made for The Hymn Book (1971) by F.R.C. Clarke, composer and organist at Sydenham Street United Church in Kingston, Ontario.

Hear the hymn at: The Church is Wherever God’s People Are – Voices United 579

Enjoy listening to a string arrangement of the tune at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t6HhlbNlL4

“All I Have” 

“All I have I give to Jesus, all I am and all I hope to be.
There is nothing that I could give Him that would repay His gift of love to me.
All my praise I give to Jesus, ev’ry song I have to sing.
Through His name I live victorious, as I proclaim Him as my Lord and King.

Take my life and all it is; make it more completely yours. 
Fill me now that I may live in your love forevermore. 

Use me Lord, to do your Kingdom’s work; in your plan, Lord, let me have a part.
Make each day I live a tribute Lord, let your Spirit overflow my heart.
Help me find a place of service Lord, that I may show the way of truth.
All I am and all I hope to be, Lord, I give it all to you…”

This week’s anthem was written by Stan Pethel in 1995.  The words express our commitment to live our lives in the service of Jesus.

“He is Lord”

“He is Lord!  He is Lord!  He is risen from the dead and He is Lord!
Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!”

The author and composer of this joyous Easter response are unknown.

“Amen, amen, hallelujah, amen!
Amen, amen, hallelujah, amen!”

Our benediction response this week was written by Jim Strathdee (1985).