Notes on the Notes – December 10, 2017

This week’s theme:

Advent 2/Peace/White Gift Sunday

This week’s scripture readings:

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13    Peter 3:8-15a

This week’s music:

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

“O come, O come, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lowly exile here until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high and order all things, far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show and cause us in her ways to go.

O come, Desire of nations, bin all peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease, fill the whole world with Heaven’s peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!”

This beautiful setting of the Latin plainsong is by Thomas Helmore, arranged by Camp Kirkland (2003).   “O come, O come, Emmanuel” is a well-known Advent hymn. While it is most commonly known by that English title, it is in fact a translation of the original Latin, “Veni, Veni, Emmanuel.” 

Hear the song by Selah to scenes from The Nativity at:

See The Piano Guys with scenes from the life of Jesus at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tP9U42m2wsI 

“Light a Candle, Bright and Tall”

“Light a candle bright and tall for the Peace we wish to know, 
Peace on Earth for great and small –
God’s Good News to us bestows.
Shine within our hearts today.
Come, O Peace, to us, we pray.”

This week we will be using the second verse of this song as our candle-lighting response.

“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (VU #2)

Charles Wesley published this hymn in 1744. He intended it as a Christmas hymn, but its theme of awaiting the arrival of the long-expected redeemer makes it suitable for Advent as well. Like so many of Wesley’s texts, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” alludes to one or more Scripture passages in virtually every phrase. The double nature of Advent is reflected in this text, in which we remember Christ’s first coming even while praying for his return. Stanzas 1 and 2 recall Advent prophecies in the Old Testament; stanza 3 speaks of Christ’s birth and kingdom, and stanza 4 is a prayer for Christ’s rule in our hearts.

“Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set they people free:
From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art,
Dear desire of every nation, joy of ever longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver; born a child and yet a king;
Born to reign in us for ever; now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne.”

Hear the hymn at:  https://youtu.be/huHEA3n1Lu8

“Love Song”

“Mary, she sang a love song,
Mary, she sang a love song,
And Mary, she sang a love song,
She sang a love song to her baby.

Jesus, he sang a love song,
Jesus, he sang a love song,
And Jesus, he sang a love song,
He sang a love song to everybody.

Everybody, come sing the love song,
Everybody, come sing the love song,
Everybody, come sing the love song,
Sing the love song, the song of Jesus.”

The children of Bible Adventures will be sharing this song by Jim Manley (1980).

“Longing for Light”

“Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
Light for the world to see.

Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has power to save us.
Make us your living voice.

Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
Shared until all are fed.

Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others,
Walls made of living stone.

Many the gifts, many the people,
Many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
Making your kingdom come.

Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.”

This hymn was written by Bernadette Farrell in 1993.  ‘Longing for light’ is one of a number of hymns by Bernadette Farrell that express a hope (underlying or overt) for peace and justice in God’s world.  Each verse of this hymn follows a similar pattern, moving from a statement of what many long for yet don’t have – basic human rights and the fundamentals everyday living – to our commitment to share what we do have and respond to the needs of others. In this way, we may be a ‘light for the world to see, servants endeavouring to make Christ’s kingdom visible on earth.

Bernadette Farrell is a British Catholic hymn writer born in West Yorkshire in 1957. Since the 1970s, she has become well-known across all Christian denominations for her challenging texts and memorable melodies. She says, however, that “writing wasn’t my intention or plan. It was a practical response to the needs around me” – as this hymn demonstrates.

Bernadette’s personal commitment to social action is seen in her work as a community organizer for South London Citizens, part of Citizens UK – an organization that seeks to empower groups and individuals to work together to change their communities for the best.  (Source: http://www.singingthefaithplus.org.uk/?p=1786)

Sing along with the song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y5N6oxIKH0

“Be a Gift to a World in Need”

“Late in December the year is dying,
Yet in the darkness we hear bells ring.
And to a world that’s cold and empty, they call to us a song to sing.

Remember all the hearts that love you,
Then freely give as you receive,
And you will find what you were made for:
To be a gift to a world in need.

A broken father without a family,
A troubled stranger who lives alone,
A grieving mother with hungry children,
They need a loving word from home.

Remember all the hearts that love you,
Then freely give as you receive,
And you will find what you were made for:
To be a gift to a world in need.

There is a Giver who always loves us;
There is a Gift beyond all price.
We are the way the world receives it:
Love to melt a heart of ice.

So be the hands that reach in healing,
Embracing arms that hold with care.
And be the voice that sings with feeling this song of hope, a Christmas prayer.

Remember all the hearts that love you
Then freely give as you receive,
And you will find what you were made for:
To be a gift to a world in need,
To be a gift to a world in need.”

Our Praise Team will share this beautiful song by Tom S. Long.  The music was written by Allen Pote (2006).

“Oh, What a Wonderful Gift”

“Oh, what a wonderful gift!
Oh, what a wonderful gift!
God gives lives of hope and love,
Oh, what a wonderful gift!

“Arise, your light has come!”
The world in stillness lay,
To hear the songs that lit the night
And brought us Love’s new day.

Today we bring a light,
As Advent comes anew,
But hope and peace and love and joy
Are gifts for all year through.

For all that we receive,
For all the love we hold.
We answer with our thanks to God,
And share them with the world.

So, as we bring our gifts,
And offer them with prayer,
May we be people seeking peace and justice everywhere.

Oh, what a wonderful gift…”

Our closing song this week comes from Linnea Good’s collection entitled “Sometimes Christmas.”  It was written in 1992.  “Linnea Good’s life journey is an example of how faith can empower a person to become something bigger and more beautiful than they ever could have imagined. The eldest daughter of an accountant and a librarian, her early start on a music career was as a children’s animator at the local church in New Brunswick. She was 12 years old then and has hardly looked back since in her quest to create music that is memorable, faithful and socially relevant. Thirty-five years later and now living in the west, she has written songs that have become contemporary classics, recorded 10 albums, traveled the world with her music, married and had three children with musical partner David Jonsson. While her career journey has taken her down many paths, Good has always set a consistent example by challenging people, through her music and stories, to ask the hard questions of themselves and seek authentic joy in their lives.” – Angie Gallop