Notes on the Notes – May 11, 2025

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 Laura

Fourth Sunday of Easter/
Sunday Following Red Dress Day

This Week’s Music:

“Blest Be the Tie That Binds” (Voices United #602/Songs for a Gospel People #9/The Hymnary #376)

“Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;
The unity of heart and mind is like to that above.

We share each other’s woes, each other’s burdens bear;
And often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.

This glorious hope revives our courage on the way;
That we shall live in perfect love in God’s eternal day.”

This familiar hymn was written in 1782 by John Fawcett, an English Baptist pastor, school master, and author. Fawcett spent his entire ministry in Wainsgate, Yorkshire, and most of his hymns were written to follow his sermons. He published this hymn in his Hymns Adapted to the Circumstances of Public Worship and Private Devotion. The tune, arranged by Lowell Mason, is attributed to Johann G. Naegeli. It’s interesting to note that after first being seen in The Hymnary, this hymn did not make it into The Hymn Book. However, it was added to the supplement, Songs for a Gospel People, and then returned to the main hymn book, Voices United. The words are a reminder of the unity and strength we find in the love of God.

Hear an instrumental rendition of the hymn at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTJ0T6-O9CY

Hear an a cappella choral version at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNOfw1NVAyo

“How Deep the Peace” (MV #95)

“How deep the peace, the confidence
            Of those whose hearts are forgiven.
            How deep the peace, the confidence
            Of those who hearts are healed.”

Our response to the Words of Assurance is based on Psalm 32. Having left our concerns with God through prayer, we hear of God’s unfailing love. This hymn was written by Linnea Good in 2004.

Hear the song below:

“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. The hymn is an plea to God to (re-)open our hearts to the natural feelings of the human life that, over time, we may have become less responsive to. It reminds us that, if God’s love for all people is our guiding principle, we will live our lives and respond to others differently. This hymn connects to Psalm 51, which expresses the desire to have God create in us a clean/new heart, to better serve God and the world.

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

“Song of Community”

“We’ll weave a love that greens sure as spring,
then deepens in summer to the fall autumn brings.
Resting still in winter to spiral again,
Together, my friends, we’ll weave on, we’ll weave on.

We’ll weave a love that opens our eyes
to see one another beyond all disguise,
Where our trust like water will wash away lies,
Together, my friends, we’ll weave on, we’ll weave on.

A love that heals, friend, that bends, friend,
that rising and turning then yields, friend,
Like the mountain to rain, or frost in the spring,
or darkness that turns with the dawn.
It’s by turning, turning, turning, my friend,
by turning that love moves on.

We’ll weave a love that touches our pain,
that comes like the water to drought-fevered plains,
so the roots once withered sing praise to the rain,
Together, my friends, we’ll weave on, we’ll weave on.

We’ll weave a love that holds the despised,
the stranger who wanders, the focus of lies,
We’ll stand sure as mountains with earth’s victimized,
Together, my friends, we’ll weave on, we’ll weave on.

We’ll weave a love with roots growing deep
and sap pushing branches to wake from their sleep,
Bearing leaves burnt amber with morning’s full sweep,
Together, my friends, we’ll weave on, we’ll weave on.

The words and music for this song were written by Carolyn McDade (1981). Through the lyrics we hear about community; with each other, with those who differ from us, and with all of creation. And we hear that what weaves all of life together is love.
Learn more about Carolyn McDade at: https://www.carolynmcdademusic.com/bio.html

“Your Work, O God, Needs Many Hands” (Voices United #537/The Hymn Book #290)

“Your work, O God, needs many hands to help you everywhere,
And some there are who cannot serve unless our gifts we share.

Because we love you and your work, our offering now we make:
Be pleased to use it as your own, we ask for Jesus’ sake.”

Our offering response was written by Calvin Weiss Laufer in 1927, set to music composed by Neil Dougall (1831). As we present our offering, we bring forward our gifts in support of the life and work of the church.

“Would You Bless Our Homes and Families” (Voices United #556/Songs for a Gospel People #28)

“Would you bless our homes and families, source of life who calls us here;
In our world of stress and tension teach us love that conquers fear.
Help us learn to love each other with a love that constant stays;
Teach us when we face our troubles, love’s expressed in many ways.

When our way is undemanding, let us use the time that’s ours
To delight in simple pleasures, sharing joys in gentle hours.
When our way is anxious walking and a heavy path we plod,
Teach us trust in one another and in you, our gracious God.

From the homes in which we’re nurtured, with the love that shapes us there,
Teach us, God, to claim as family everyone whose life we share.
And through all that life may offer, may we in your love remain;
May the love we share in families be alive to praise your name.

Let us reach beyond the boundaries of our daily thought and care
Till the family you have chosen spills its love out everywhere.
Help us learn to love each other with a love that constant stays;
Teach us when we face our troubles, love’s expressed in many ways.”

This hymn, by Walter Farquharson and Ron Klusmeier, was published in Worship the Lord (1977), a collection of hymns by Walter Farquharson, Fred Kaan, and Ron Klusmeier. It was also a popular selection in the United Church Hymnary supplement, Songs for a Gospel People (1987).

“When You Walk from Here” (VU #298)

“When you walk from here,
When you walk from here,
Walk with justice, walk with mercy,
And with God’s humble care.”

Our benediction response was written by Linnea Good of Vancouver. It was published in Stickpeople (1993). The text is derived from Micah 6:8 and reminds us to walk with God as we head into a new week.

Hear the song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvd2PUoEj9g