Notes on the Notes – May 18, 2025
This week’s music:
“He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” (The Hymn Book #84)
“He’s got the whole world in his hands,
He’s got the big round world in his hands,
He’s got the whole world in his hands,
He’s got the whole world in his hands.
He’s got the wind and the rain in his hands,
He’s got the sun and moon in his hands,
He’s got the wind and the rain in his hands,
He’s got the whole world in his hands.
He’s got the tiny little baby in his hands,
He’s got the big round world in his hands,
He’s got the tiny little baby in his hands,
He’s got the whole world in his hands.
He’s got you and me brother, in his hands,
He’s got you and me sister, in his hands,
He’s got you and me brother, in his hands,
He’s got the whole world in his hands.
He’s got everybody in his hands,
He’s got the big round world in his hands,
He’s got everybody in his hands,
He’s got the whole world in his hands.”
“He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” is a traditional African-American spiritual, first published in 1927. It became an international pop hit in 1957–58 in a recording by British singer Laurie London, which is one of the best-selling gospel songs of all time. The song has also been recorded by many other singers and choirs, including Mahalia Jackson, Marian Anderson, Judy Garland and Nina Simone. Due to its popularity at the time, it was included in The Hymn Book in 1971.
See Laurie London on the Ed Sullivan show (1958): https://youtu.be/mYbnDWg0IF4
See Mahalia Jackson at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEH7jyt1eoo
“How Deep the Peace” (More Voices #95)
“How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose wrongs are forgiven.
How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose hearts are healed.”
This short response is based on Psalm 32. It was written by Linnea Good in 2004.
“In Christ There is No East or West” (Voices United #606, Songs for a Gospel People #111, The Hymn Book #149, The Hymnary #252)
In Christ there is no east or west, in him no south or north,
But one great family of love throughout the whole wide earth.
In him shall true hearts everywhere their high communion find;
His service is the golden cord close binding humankind.
Join hands, then, people of the faith, whate’er your race may be;
All children of the living God are surely kin to me.
In Christ now meet both east and west, in him meet south and north;
All Christ-like souls are one in him throughout the whole wide earth.
The words of this hymn come from The Pageant of Darkness and Light (1908), a musical production of the London Missionary Society. Over the century since it was first written, the focus of this hymn has shifted from world missions in the early 20th century to a great hymn of Christian unity for the 21st-century church. The hymn has been with us throughout the history of the United Church, but has undergone changes with the changing times. It was first published with the original words in The Hymnary (tune ST PETER VU #344) and The Hymn Book (tune MCKEE). In Songs for a Gospel People, the tune was changed back to ST PETER, and the words were made more inclusive (updated words are italicized above). In Voices United, the hymn tune MCKEE, based on an African-American spiritual and used in The Hymn Book, was brought back again with the updated words.
Hear the hymn tune MCKEE at: In Christ There is No East or West
“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
“Love One Another”
“Love is patient, love is kind.
Love is gentle, love divine.
Love forgives, is never rude.
Love rejoices in the truth.
Love one another, as God has also loved you.
Love one another, as God has also loved you.
Love is faithful, love is pure.
Love is hopeful, love endures.
Love is humble, love is strong.
Love is such a joyous song.”
This week’s anthem is based on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and John 13:34. The words are by Roger Thornhill with music by Brad Nix.
“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).
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” (Voices United #333/The Hymn Book #241/The Hymnary #330)
“Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven to earth come down,
Fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation, enter every trembling heart.
Come, almighty to deliver; let us all thy grace receive;
Suddenly return, and never, nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, service thee as thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise thee, without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.
Finish, then, thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee,
Changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise.”
This hymn was written by Charles Wesley in 1747. Charles Wesley was an English leader of the Methodist movement, one of the founding faiths of the United Church of Canada. Charles Wesley wrote over 6500 texts and was known as the “sweet singer of Methodism.” The text is derived from John Dryden’s “Fairest Isle, all isles excelling” in Henry Purcell’s opera King Arthur (1691). Note that in the third verse, we become the “new creation” as we are transformed from “glory into glory.” Also of note is that the Wesley’s language from 1747 has been retained through all the hymn books. The tune used is HYFRYDOL, composed by Rowland Hugh Pritchard (1831).
Hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing this hymn at: https://youtu.be/yRF4KKx7czU
“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
You must be logged in to post a comment.