Notes on the Notes – November 12, 2023

This week’s music:

“God of the Bible” (MV #28)

“God of the Bible, God in the Gospel, hope seen in Jesus, hope yet to come,
You are our centre, daylight or darkness, freedom or prison, you are our home.

God in our struggles, God in our hunger, suffering with us, taking our part,
Still you empower us, mothering Spirit, feeding, sustaining, from your own heart.

Not by your finger, not by your anger will our world order change in a day,
But by your people, fearless and faithful, small paper lanterns, lighting the way.

Hope we must carry, shining and certain through all our turmoil, terror and loss,
Bonding us gladly one to the other, till our world changes facing the Cross.

Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise, God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise, God always faithful, you do not change.”

This hymn by Shirley Erena Murray was written in 1995 and set to music by Tony E. Alonso in 2001.   The original title was Fresh as the Morning.  Through the hymn Murray emphasizes her confidence in God’s faithfulness and encourages us in our journey to make the world God’s kingdom.  God is with us in the struggle.

Hear the hymn sung by Worship and Music leaders at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSVCzqIK5bE

“Caring Community”

“Imagine the dream of Creation,
Imagine the song of a thousand seas.
Sun and moon, the colours of dawning,
The Holy in all that we see.

Called to this covenant, called to the Dream,
Guided by Love we will be,
Gathered by Spirit, one body, one mind,
As a caring community.

Beyond all that’s broken and shattered,
Beyond all that tears us so far apart.
Still, our gifts, our healing, our wholeness,
Lie deep in the dream of your heart.

Called to this covenant, called to the Dream,
Guided by Love we will be,
Gathered by Spirit, one body, one mind,
As a caring community.

When justice cries out from the shadows,
When kindness and mercy have lost their way.
Lead us now, our faith turned to action,
With strength and with courage we pray.

Called to this covenant, called to the Dream,
Guided by Love we will be,
Gathered by Spirit, one body, one mind,
As a caring community.

We offer the work of our living,
And lift up the love of our open hearts.
Share the joy, the laughter, the daring,
Remembering all that we are.

Called to this covenant, called to the Dream,
Guided by Love we will be,
Gathered by Spirit, one body, one mind,
As a caring community.”

Today’s anthem was written by Pat Mayberry and Rev. Elisabeth Jones in 2016.  The arrangement is by David Kai (2021).  The words invite us, as faithful people, to care for the Creation and everything in it as part of our covenant with God.

Hear the song sung in worship by the Harmony Singers (2023):

“When I Needed a Neighbour” (VU #600)

“When I needed a neighbour, were you there, were you there?
When I needed a neighbour, were you there?
And the creed and the colour and the name won’t matter, were you there?

I was hungry and thirsty, were you there, were you there?
I was hungry and thirsty, were you there?
And the creed and the colour and the name won’t matter, were you there?

I was cold, I was naked, were you there, were you there?
I was cold, I was naked, were you there?
And the creed and the colour and the name won’t matter, were you there?

When I needed a healer, were you there, were you there?
When I needed a healer, were you there?
And the creed and the colour and the name won’t matter, were you there?

Wherever you travel I’ll be there, I’ll be there,
Wherever you travel I’ll be there.
And the creed and the colour and the name won’t matter, I’ll be there.”

This song, based on Matthew 25 (The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats), was written by Syndey Carter in 1962.  Carter saw the bringing of unity and peace in the world as central to his faith.   He wrote this song for the launch of Christian Aid Week in 1965, premiered by The Ian Campbell Folk Group at a rally in Trafalgar Square.  The first four verses are written from the perspective of the one needing help and challenge us to be the helper, no matter the creed, colour or name.  The final verse is a commitment to be there for all people in need.

“Grant Us, God, the Grace of Giving” (VU #540)

“Grant Us, God, the grace of giving,
With a spirit large and free,
That ourselves and all our living
We may offer faithfully.”

The text of our offering response comes from the Mennonite hymn book, “Hymnal: a Worship Book.”  The tune is a familiar one which is also used for the Advent hymn “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”  (VU #2).

“To Show by Touch and Word” (VU #427)

“To show by touch and word devotion to the earth,
To hold in full regard all life that comes to birth,
We need, O God, the will to find the good you had of old in mind.

Renew our minds to choose the things that matter most,
To speak and do the truth, creating peace and trust.
For every challenge that we face we need your guidance and your grace.

Let love from day to day be touchstone, guide, and norm,
And let our lives portray your Word in human form.
Now come with us that we may have your wits about us where we live.”

This hymn by Fred Kaan (1974) and Ron Klusmeier (1974) brings our worship to a close with a prayer to God.  As we are faced by the challenges of a world seeking to understand our impact on the Creation and each other, we ask for God’s presence and love.

Hear the hymn at: https://youtu.be/2rcs4iCL79I

“May the God of Peace” (MV #224) 

“May the God of peace and of all good,
May the God of peace and of all good
Be always with you.  Amen!
May God’s peace be with you.  Amen!”

This traditional Goun song comes from the country of Benin in Africa.  It’s original title is “Na Jijoho.”
The song was translated to English by S. T. Kimbrough, Jr.