Notes on the Notes – November 5, 2023

Remembrance Sunday

This Week’s Music:

“God!  As with Silent Hearts” (VU #527)

“God!  As with silent hearts we bring to mind
How hate and war diminish humankind,
We pause, and seek in worship to increase
Our knowledge of the things that make for peace.

Hallow our will as humbly we recall the lives of those who gave and give their all.
We thank you, God, for women, children, men
Who seek to serve in love, today as then.

Give us deep faith to comfort those who mourn,
High hope to share with all the newly born,
Strong love in our pursuit of human worth:
‘Lest we forget’ the future of this earth.

So, Prince of Peace, disarm our trust in power,
Teach us to coax the plant of peace to flower.
May we, impassioned by your living Word, remember forward to a world restored.”

Of Dutch birth, Fred Kaan was ordained into the Congregational Church (now the United Reformed Church) in 1955.  This hymn is from “Planting Trees and Sowing Seeds” (1975), a collection written by Kaan with the late composer Doreen Potter.  The words of the hymn invite us into a time of reflection about times of war and the struggle to move into a world of peace.  The tune is LANGRAN, well-known as the tune from the communion hymn “Here, O My Lord, I See You Face to Face.”

See the hymn used in worship at Strathroy United Church (2011) at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCA8XCAFugI

“Come and Fill Our Hearts” (MV #16)

“Come and fill our hearts with your peace.
You alone, O Lord, are holy.
Come and fill our hearts with your peace,
Alleluia.”

This short song of centering and healing prayer comes from the Taize Community, with music by Jacques Berthier (1982).

Take a few moments to relax and breathe at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYfW2BBtAos

“Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” (VU #684)

“Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your healing power,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved, as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved, as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
In giving of ourselves that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.”

The “Prayer of Saint Francis,” is a widely known Christian prayer for peace.  It has been attributed to St. Francis and was likely written around 1220, just over 800 years ago.  It has been frequently set to music by notable songwriters and quoted by prominent leaders, and its broadly inclusive language has found appeal with diverse faiths encouraging service to others.  The prayer was heavily publicized during both World War I and World War II.  The hymn is an anthem of the Royal British Legion and is often sung at Remembrance Day services.

Hear the song sung in worship at Windsor Park United Church (2022):

Hear the interfaith medley from the musical “Come From Away” that includes the hymn at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO8uT90qNoQ

“We wait for God”

“We wait for God, creation longs to see a new day dawn.
And though the night is dark and deep, we dare to sing our song.
We wait for God; creation longs, we dare to sing our song.

We watch for God, the earth cries out, “Will violence ever cease?”
The one who saw the signs is seen in ways that make for peace.
We watch for God; the earth cries out for ways that make for peace.

We work for God, the nations need each one to do their part.
The Spirit works through everyone, each hand and head and heart.
We work for God; the nations need each hand and head and heart.

We worship God, the people pray that love will cast out fear.
We wait and watch and work to see the Day of God draw near.
We worship God; the people pray, the Day of God draws near.” 

This new hymn has words by William S. Kervin and music by Deborah Park and Tom Reynolds (2023).  Although written as an Advent song, the text is fitting for our current unsettled time of war.  The song comes from the sampler for the new hymn project Then Let Us Sing!

“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).

“Let There Be Light” (VU #679)

Robert and Margaret Fleming encouraged members of St. George’s Anglican Church in St. Anne-de-Bellvue to write new hymns for use in worship at the church.  Frances Wheeler Davis, a poet and choir member, responded to that invitation with “Let There be Light.”  It was first published in 1968 in a private church publication where it was set to CONCORD, a tune newly composed for it by the Canadian composer, Robert Fleming.   In verses one to five, all four lines of the verse begin with the same word, producing a powerful cumulative effect.  Verse six summarizes the prayers of the previous verses.

“Let there be light,
Let there be understanding,
Let all the nations gather,
Let them be face to face;

Open our lips,
Open our minds to ponder,
Open the door of concord,
Opening into grace;

Perish the sword,
Perish the angry judgment,
Perish the bombs and hunger,
Perish the fight for gain;

Hallow our love,
Hallow the deaths of martyrs;
Hallow their holy freedom,
Hallowed be your name;

Your kingdom come,
Your spirit turn to language,
Your people speak together,
Your spirit never fade;

Let there be light,
Open our hearts to wonder,
Perish the way of terror,
Hallow the world God made.”

Hear the song sung in worship at Strathroy United Church (2013):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDkIXQ-_kG0

“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. 

Hear the song with a slightly different English translation at: https://youtu.be/s-j-EXvZzG8

Bonus Video: