Notes on the Notes – May 25, 2025
This week’s music:
“The Church is Wherever God’s People” (VU #579, The Hymn Book #148)
“The church is wherever God’s people are praising,
Singing God’s goodness for joy on this day.
The church is wherever disciples of Jesus
remember his story and walk in his way.
The church is wherever God’s people are helping,
Caring for neighbours in sickness and need.
The church is wherever God’s people are sharing
the words of the Bible in gift and in deed.”
The simple lyrics of this hymn remind us that “church” is not about the church building, but that we can be the church wherever we are by our words and actions as God’s people. The words were written by Carol Rose Ikeler in 1959. The tune is based on a traditional English carol, “Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day.” The arrangement used in Voices United was made for The Hymn Book (1971) by F.R.C. Clarke, composer and organist at Sydenham Street United Church in Kingston, Ontario.
Enjoy listening to a string arrangement of the tune at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t6HhlbNlL4
“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.
“There’s a Spirit in the Air” (VU #582, Songs for a Gospel People #30)
“There’s a spirit in the air, telling Christians everywhere:
“Praise the love that Christ revealed, living, working in our world.”
Lose your shyness, find your tongue, tell the world what God has done:
God in Christ has come to stay. Live tomorrow’s life today!
When believers break the bread, when a hungry child is fed,
Praise the love that Christ revealed, living working in our world.
Still the Spirit gives us light; seeing wrong and setting right:
God in Christ has come to stay. Live tomorrow’s life today!
When a stranger’s not alone, where the homeless find a home,
Praise the love that Christ revealed, living working, in our world.
May the Spirit fill our praise, guide our thoughts and change our ways.
God in Christ has come to stay, live tomorrow’s life today.
There’s a Spirit in the air, calling people everywhere,
Praise the love that Christ revealed, living, working, in our world.”
Brian Wren (b.1936) was one of the earliest of the contemporary hymn writers, an English Congregationalist minister who, before going to America in 1991, worked in the field of development and justice and peace issues, and then, in a freelance capacity, in the enabling of new forms of worship. “There’s a Spirit in the Air” was written in 1969, and set to music by John Wilson. The United Church included the hymn in the supplement “Songs for a Gospel People,” as well as “Voices United.” This hymn is considered to be one of the simplest and finest of the later 20th-century hymn texts appropriate for the celebration of Pentecost. According to Dr. Wren, this hymn was written to celebrate the Holy Spirit “working in our world.”
Hear the hymn at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNwfljTraFU
“We are People of Faith”
“We are people of faith.
We are sisters and brothers sharing God’s promise wherever we go.
As we live every day, we reach out to others,
Showing them kindness and bringing them hope.
Share God’s love, rejoice in God’s Word.
Go and carry God’s light into all of the world.
Joined as one, our voices we raise in a song of God’s glory and praise.
We are people of Christ.
We are working together,
Sharing the blessings He offers each day.
We will give Him our lives, and serve Him forever,
Trusting our Savior to show us the way.
Share God’s love…”
This week’s anthem is by Don Besig and Nancy Price (2013). The words are based on I Corinthians 16:13, Ephesians 6:16, and Ephesians 2:8-9. The lyrics affirm the community of faith and our role as ambassadors for Christ as we go into the world.
“Your Work, O God, Needs Many Hands” (VU#537/The Hymnary #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).
“God, You Wrap Your Love Around Us”
“God, you wrap your love around us like a blanket, soft and warm.
You give rest when we are weary. You protect us from the storm.
May the children who find shelter in these blankets that we share
Also feel the joy and comfort of your love’s protecting care.”
Our sung response as we bless the bedding donated for Sleep in Heavenly Peace comes from the first verse of the hymn by the same name written by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (1999.) The tune FRIENDSHIP, was composed by Charles Crozat Converse (1868), and is familiar as the tune for the hymn “What a Friend we Have in Jesus” (VU #664).
“Go, Make a Difference” (More Voices #209)
“Go make a difference. We can make a difference. Go make a difference in the world.
Go make a difference. We can make a difference. Go make a difference in the world.
We are the salt of the earth, called to let the people see the love of God for you and me.
We are the light of the world, not to be hidden but be seen. Go make a difference in the world.
We are the hands of Christ reaching out to those in need, the face of God for all to see.
We are the spirit of hope; we are the voice of peace. Go make a difference in the world.
So let your love shine on, let it shine for all to see. Go make a difference in the world.
And the spirit of Christ will be with us as we go. Go make a difference in the world.
Go make a difference. We can make a difference. Go make a difference in the world.
Go make a difference. We can make a difference. Go make a difference in the world.”
This lively song enthusiastically sends us out to carry our faith into the world. It was written by Steve Angrisano and Tom Tomaszek in 1997. The words reinforce the message from the gospel of Matthew.
Watch Steve Angrisano singing the song at: http://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=EQJ4TLRy1KI
“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.
When you go from here,
When you go from here,
Live with justice, love with mercy,
Humbly walk in God’s care.”
Our benediction response was written by Linnea Good of Vancouver. It was published in Stickpeople (1992). The text is derived from Micah 6:8 and reminds us to walk with God as we head into a new week. We see the continued evolution of the lyrics with the addition of a second set of words, added later.
Hear the song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvd2PUoEj9g
