Notes on the Notes – August 12, 2018

This week, we will continue to explore the Book of Ruth, looking at Chapter 2.

We will be singing:

“Come and Find the Quiet Centre” (VU #374)

“Come and find the quiet centre in the crowded life we lead,
Find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed:
Clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes, that we can see
all the things that really matter, be at peace, and simply be.

Silence is a friend who claims us, cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us, knows our being, fact to face,
Making space within our thinking, lifting shades to show the sun,
Raising courage when we’re shrinking, finding scope for faith begun.

In the Spirit let us travel, open to each other’s pain,
Let our loves and fears unravel, celebrate the space we gain:
There’s a place for deepest dreaming, there’s a time for heart to care,
In the Spirit’s lively scheming there is always room to spare!”

This hymn was written by Shirley Erena Murray for a Presbyterian Women’s Conference on the theme of “Making Space.”

Listen to a beautiful rendition of this song by Gabrielle Toledo at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjB5-97zKaw

“Teach me, God to Wonder” (VU #299)

“Teach me, God, to wonder, teach me, God, to see;
Let your world of beauty capture me.

Let me, God, be open, let me loving be;
Let your world of people speak to me.

Let me, God, be ready, let me be awake,
In your world of loving my place take.

Teach me, God, to know you, hear you when you speak,
See you in my neighbour when we meet.

Praise to you be given, love for you be lived,
Life be celebrated, joy you give.”

This song has words by Walter Farquharson (1973) and music by Ron Klusmeier (1974).  Through the 5 verses we are led from seeing the beauty in God’s creation to speaking of opening our hearts and being ready to share God’s love with all people of the earth.  We celebrate God’s love by living in love with others.

“In the Quiet Curve of Evening” (VU #278)

“In the quiet curve of evening,
in the sinking of the days,
in the silky void of darkness, you are there.
In the lapses of my breathing,
in the space between my ways,
in the crater carved by sadness, you are there.
You are there, You are there, You are there.

In the rests between the phrases,
in the cracks between the stars,
in the gaps between the meaning, you are there.
In the melting down of endings,
in the cooling of the sun,
in the solstice of the winter, you are there.
You are there, You are there, You are there.

In the mystery of my hungers,
in the silence of my rooms,
in the cloud of my unknowing, you are there.
In the empty cave of grieving,
in the desert of my dreams,
in the tunnel of my sorrow, you are there.
You are there, You are there, You are there.”

The words and music for this hymn were written by Julie Howard in 1993.  The hymn was first published in We are the Circle. Through the words, we are reminded of the ever-present nature of God.

“Spirit, Open my Heart” (MV #79)

“Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving, Spirit, open my heart.

God, replace my stony heart with a heart that’s kind and tender.
All my coldness and fear to your grace I now surrender.

Write your love upon my heart as my law, my goal, my story.
In each thought, word, and deed, may my living bring you glory.

May I weep with those who weep, share the joy of sister, brother.
In the welcome of Christ, may we welcome one another.”

The words for this hymn were written by Ruth Duck in 1994. Many hymn-writers are passionately committed to developing a language whose style and tone is as reverent as it is relevant.  Ruth Duck’s powerful texts have emerged as the major part of the cutting edge of language that speaks of God in universal terms and in poetry that is as poignant as it is stoic.  (Source: GIA publications). The words are sung to the traditional Irish melody WILD MOUNTAIN THYME, which was arranged by Arthur G. Clyde in 1997.

Hear an instrumental version of the tune at: https://youtu.be/5UnHsbWZss4

Hear the hymn sung at Geneva Presbyterian Church at:  https://youtu.be/SrxqxL4_2qM

Hear the song on guitar at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BopRb9pdB00