Notes on the Notes – August 24, 2025

This week’s music:

“Teach Me, God, to Wonder” (Voices United #299, Song for a Gospel People #36)

“Teach me, God, to wonder, teach me, God, to see;
Let your world of beauty capture me.
Praise to you be given, love for you be lived,
Life be celebrated, joy you give.

Let me, God, be open, let me loving be;
Let your world of people speak to me.
Praise to you be given, love for you be lived,
Life be celebrated, joy you give.

Let me, God, be ready, let me be awake,
In your world of loving my place take.
Praise to you be given, love for you be lived,
Life be celebrated, joy you give.

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.”

Through the words of this hymn, we ask to be made open to God’s presence in the beauty of Creation as well as God’s presence in the people we meet.  We celebrate God’s love by living in love with others. This song was a collaboration between Walter Farquharson (lyrics – 1973) and Ron Klusmeier (music – 1974).  The hymn first appeared in United Church hymn books in the hymn book supplement Songs for a Gospel People.

Hear the hymn sung by St. John’s United Church at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A00i9ThXdxI

“Trust These Words”  (TLUS #78)

“Trust these words: you are forgiven!
Through Christ’s mercy, broken hearts can be restored;
Trust these words: you are forgiven! 
Live in peace, beloved, know you are adored;
Trust these words, trust these words, trust these words.

Trust these words: we are forgiven!
Through God’s mercy broken lives can be restored;
Trust these words: we are forgiven1
Live in grace and peace, oh, love and serve the Lord;
Trust these words, trust these words, trust these words.
Trust these words.”

Our response to the Words of Assurance for the month of August was written by Lisa Waites (2021).

“Give to Us Laughter” (VU #624, Songs for a Gospel People #107)

“Give to us laughter, O Source of our life.
Laughter can banish so much of our strife.
Laughter and love give us wholeness and health.
Laughter and love are the coin of true wealth.

Give to us laughter as sign of deep joy,
Let us in laughing find Christian employ,
Joining with stars and with bright northern lights,
Laughing and praising and sharing delights.

Why do we worry that we will lose face?
Why act like king for the whole human race?
Often in family and often with friend,
Laughing at pride causes anguish to end.

Even in sorrow and hours of grief,
Laughter with tears brings most healing relief.
God, give us laughter, and God, give us peace,
Joys of your presence among us increase.”

This hymn was first published in Worship the Lord (1977), an anthology of hymn texts by Walter Farquharson and Fred Kaan, set to music by Ron Klusmeier. Ten years later, it was included in Songs for a Gospel People (1987).

“There’s Enough for All” (TLUS #60)

“There’s enough for all if we would learn to share it,
There’s enough for all, oh, help us to believe.
There’s enough for all.
Let’s bring our loaves and fishes, and offer them to Jesus. 
There’s more than enough for you and me.”

Our offering response for the month of August was written by Bryan Moyer Suderman (2024).

“My Love Colours Outside the Lines” (More Voices #138)

“My love colours outside the lines,
Exploring paths that few could ever find;
And takes me into places where I’ve never been before,
And opens doors to worlds outside the lines.

My Lord colours outside the lines,
Turns wounds to blessings, water into wine;
And takes me into places where I’ve never been before
And opens doors to worlds outside the lines.

We’ll never walk on water if we’re not prepared to drown,
Body and soul need a soaking from time to time.
And we’ll never move the gravestones if we’re not prepared to die,
And realize there are worlds outside the lines.

My soul longs to colour outside the lines,
Tear back the curtains, sun, come in and shine;
I want to walk beyond the boundaries where I’ve never been before,
Throw open doors to worlds outside the lines.”

This song is by Gordon Light (1995) of the Common Cup Company, arranged for More Voices by Andrew Donaldson.  It speaks to our longing to follow God’s call, and gently encourages us to overcome our fear of stepping out of our comfort zone in order to do so.  Read a blog post on the subject of colouring outside the lines at:  https://indianapolisfaith.org/2019/05/05/coloring-outside-the-lines/

Hear the song recorded by the Praise Team in 2021: My Love Colours Outside the Lines

“May the Peace of Christ” (TLUS #104)

“May the peace of Christ be with you.
May the love of God dwell deep in your heart.
May the Spirit enlighten your way.
May you walk in the comfort of God’s care.” 

Our benediction response for the month of August was written by Izumi Shiota in Japanese.  The English paraphrase we will be using today is by Lori True.

?? What does TLUS mean?  TLUS is short for “Then Let Us Sing,” the new worship resource published by the United Church of Canada.  This resource adds new music for the 21st century.  At WPUC, we will be using it in addition to “Voices United” and “More Voices.”