Notes on the Notes – Lent 4 – March 11, 2018

Theme:  To Stand in Judgement!

gavel

Scripture:

Psalm 145:10-13     John 18:28-40

Music:

All of the music this week centers around the theme of Jesus giving up his life for us and our response to that gift.

“Here I Am to Worship”here i am to worship“Light of the world You stepped down into darkness.
Opened my eyes, let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days oh, so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came to the earth You created
All for love’s sake became poor

Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me

I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross

Here I am to worship…”

This praise and worship song was written by Tim Hughes.  When speaking about the song, he says, “The main motivation behind the song was simply trying to capture a response to Jesus giving up his throne in Heaven to walk upon the earth and ultimately to die upon a cross.”  To learn more about the creation of the song, go to http://www.crosswalk.com/church/worship/song-story-here-i-am-to-worship-1227531.html

Hear the song by Hillsong at: https://youtu.be/YXg2ztge8f0

“How Great Thou Art” (VU #238)

“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the works Thy hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!How great thou art
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul…

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul…”

A Praise Team and congregational favourite, the words of this hymn are an echo of the awe felt by the writer of Psalm 8.   The hymn How Great Thou Art travelled a long road before it ended up a favorite addition to English hymnals. The original version was a poem written by a Swedish pastor, Reverend Carl Boberg in 1886.   In 1933, English missionaries to the Ukraine, Reverend and Mrs. Stuart K. Hine heard the song for the first time, fell in love with it and sang it often throughout their missionary journeys. As they traveled the Carpathian Mountains, the couple was inspired by the incredible beauty to translate the first three verses of the song into English. When WWII broke out in 1939, the Hines returned to England carrying How Great Thou Art to its new home.  In the 1950s, the song was copyrighted and widely published in America, becoming more and more popular. When George Beverly Shea and the Billy Graham gospel choir, directed by Cliff Barrows, began to sing the song at virtually every crusade event, How Great Thou Art soon became one of the most recognized songs around the world. (source:  Share Faith website)

Here are just a few of the amazing variety of interpretations of this much-loved hymn:

Our own WPUC Praise Singers: https://youtu.be/PkFeEXd_Wr0

George Beverly Shea at a Billy Graham crusade event:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNVbMooaH0s

A vintage 1971 clip of the Statler Brothers:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GmO6kQP_B0

“Be the Centre”

be the centre

“Jesus, be the centre,
Be my source, be my light, Jesus.

Jesus, be the centre,
Be my hope, be my song, Jesus.

Be the fire in my heart,
Be the wind in these sails,
Be the reason that I live, Jesus, Jesus.

Jesus, be my vision,
Be my path, be my guide, Jesus.

Be the fire in my heart,
Be the wind in these sails,
Be the reason that I live, Jesus, Jesus.

Be the fire in my heart,
Be the wind in these sails,

Be the reason that I live, Jesus, Jesus.”

The words and music for this song are by Michael Frye (1999).  The song expresses the desire to move our own needs and wants from being our primary priority, to having Jesus and his teachings at the center of our lives.

Hear the song sung by the composer at:  https://youtu.be/MERQ0P6O0CE

“Oh, How He Love You and Me”

“Oh, how He loves you and me,how he loves
Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more could He give?
Oh, how He loves you;
Oh, how He loves me;
Oh, how He loves you and me!”

This song was written by Kurt Kaiser in 1975.  To learn more about the song, go to:  http://dianaleaghmatthews.com/o-how-he-loves-you-and-me/

Hear the a cappela group On Pointe sing the song at:  https://youtu.be/CNCtcITOP0w

“Run to You”

“A light in the room
It was you who was standing there
Tried it was true
As your glance met my stare
But your heart drifted off like the land split by searun to you
I tried to go
To follow
To kneel down at your feet

I’ll run,
I’ll run,
I’ll run, run to you.
I’ll run,
I’ll run,
I’ll run, run to you.

I’ve been settling scores
I’ve been fighting so long
But I’ve lost your war and our kingdom is gone
How shall I win back your heart which was mine
I have broken bones and tattered clothes
I’ve run out of time

I’ll run,
I’ll run,
I’ll run to you.
I’ll run,
I’ll run,
I’ll run to you.

I will break down the gates of heaven
A thousand angels stand waiting for me
Take my heart and I’ll lay down my weapons
Break my shackles to set me free.

I’ll run,
I’ll run,
I’ll run to you.
I’ll run,
I’ll run,
I’ll run to you. “

The words and music for this song are by Kevin Olusola, Avi Kaplan, Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado and Ben Bram (aka Pentatonix).  It was written in 2013.  Listening to the song through a Christian lens, how does it fit with the gospel of John, which we have been hearing during Lent?  In our own lives, what or who would be important enough to risk sacrificing ourselves for?

See Pentatonix perform the song at:  https://youtu.be/sp7PS_UN8Lo

“Once Again”

“Jesus Christ, I think upon Your sacrifice
You became nothing, poured out to death
Many times, I’ve wondered at your gift of life
I’m in that place once again
I’m in that place once again

And once again I look upon the cross where You died
I’m humbled by Your mercy and I’m broken inside
Once again I thank You,
Once again I pour out my life

Now You are exalted to the highest placecross
King of the Heavens, where one day I’ll bow
But for now, I’ll marvel at Your saving grace
I’m full of praise once again
Oh I’m full of praise once again

And once again I look upon the cross where You died
I’m humbled by Your mercy and I’m broken inside
Once again I thank You
Once again I pour out my life

Thank you for the cross
Thank you for the cross
Thank you for the cross, my friend…”

This praise and worship song was written by Matt Redman in 1995.  Matt Redman (born 14 February 1974) is an English Christian worship leader, singer-songwriter and author based in Brighton, West Sussex, United Kingdom.

Hear the song at:  https://youtu.be/yIqmh_DIu5k

“Let it Be Said of Us”

“Let it be said of us that the Lord was our passion
That with gladness we bore every cross we were given
That we fought the good fight, that we finished our course
Knowing within us the power of the risen Lord

Let the cross be our glory and the Lord be our song
By mercy made holy, by the Spirit made strong
Let the cross be our glory and the Lord be our song
‘Till the likeness of Jesus be through us made known
Let the cross be our glory and the Lord be our song

Let it be said of us we were marked by forgiveness
We were known by our love and delighted in meekness
We were ruled by his peace, heeding unity’s call
Joined as one body that Christ would be seen by all

Let the cross be our glory….”

This song was written by Steve Fry.

Hear the Maranatha Singers at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Owf7Axv5WqA

Hear the Bethel Presbyterian Church Choir at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmktC8IayC4

Let the cross be our glory

 

 

Categories: Notes on the Notes