Notes on the Notes – November 9, 2025

Thursday, November 6, 2025 Laura

Remembrance Sunday

This week’s music:

“God, Make Us Servants of Your Peace” (VU #676)

“God, make us servants of your peace:
Where there is hate, may we sow love;
Where there is hurt, may we forgive;
Where there is strife, may we make one.

Where all is doubt, may we sow faith;
Where all is gloom, may we sow hope;
Where all is night, may we sow light;
Where all is tears, may we sow joy.

Jesus, our Lord, may we not seek
to be consoled, but to console,
Nor look to understanding hearts,
but look for hearts to understand.

May we not look for love’s return,
but seek to love unselfishly.
For in our giving we receive,
and in forgiving are forgiven.

Dying, we live and are reborn
through death’s dark night to endless day;
God, make us servants of your peace
to wake at last in heaven’s light.”

Our opening hymn is based on the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, written around 1220. The paraphrase is by James Quinn. The tune WINSCOTT was written by Samuel Sebastien Wesley (1872).

“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).

“Peace for the Children” (MV #149)

“Peace for the children, peace, peace.
Peace for the children we pray.
Following the path of One of peace,
we work for healing, we work for peace;
Peace for the children today.

Peace for the nations, peace, peace.
Peace for the nations we pray.
Following the path of One of peace,
we work for healing, we work for peace;
Peace for the nations today.

Peace for the creatures, peace, peace.
Peace for the creatures we pray.
Following the path of One of peace,
we work for healing, we work for peace;
Peace for the creatures today.

Peace for our planet, peace, peace.
Peace for our planet we pray.
Following the path of One of peace,
we work for healing, we work for peace;
Peace for our planet today.”

The words and music for this meditative hymn are by Doreen Lankshear Smith (1993). It was arranged by David Abramsky in 1998.

Hear an anthem version of the hymn, sung in worship by the Harmony Singers (2022):

“Tribute to Veterans”

“We remember the years, we remember the tears.
We remember the cost, and the lives that were lost.
We will never forget. We remain in your debt.
As we sing, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Many years have gone by since you served in this land.
Many years have gone by since you felt the sea and sand.
Sailing on, flying high, marching on to victory
Guarding bravely what it means to be free.

We remember the years, we remember the tears.
We remember the cost, and the lives that were lost.
We will never forget. We remain in your debt.
As we sing, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

There is no greater love than to lay down your life.
For your friends, family, and for all humanity.
Sacrifices were made and with blood, the price was paid.
Guarding bravely what it means to be free.

Men and women go on keeping order and peace
In a world torn by strife, and by conflict and pain.
And the story goes on in the loves of those who serve.
Guarding bravely what it means to be free.

Doug Clorey wrote the song in 2004. When speaking about the song, he says, “I wrote the song in 2004, during the lead-up to the events marking the 60th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. At the time, I was working with Veterans Affairs Canada as the Department’s Director General of Canada Remembers, and was responsible for all of the events associated with marking this anniversary. The programming around marking this anniversary included events in Canada as well as an overseas event during which we travelled with a group of D-Day Veterans to Europe… In order to remain grounded, I always tried to remind myself of the reason for which we mark these anniversaries and why it is important for all Canadians to remember. As part of my own personal preparations, I began working on a song that would capture these sentiments. “Tribute to Veterans” was the result…

The refrain of the song allows the singer to pay tribute to those who served Canada and to assert that we will never forget. The first verse recalls the experience of those who served during D-Day and the Battle of Normandy…, while the second verse pays tribute to the immense sacrifice made by these brave men and women, to the point of laying down their lives… The third verse links up the past with the present, and points to the fact that “the story goes on” in the lives of the men and women who continue to serve in the Canadian Forces, “guarding bravely what it means to be free”….” (Source: http://www.legion.ca/media/tribute-to-veterans/)

Hear the song sung by Chiquesa by clicking below:

1. “Tribute to Veterans” — Doug Clorey

“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, STUTTGART, is a familiar one which is also used for the Advent hymn “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (VU #2).

“Let There Be Peace on Earth” (SFGP #128)

“Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me;
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God our creator, children all are we;
Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now,
With every step I take let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me;
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God our creator, children all are we;
Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.

Sy Miller and Jill Jackson were a husband and wife songwriting team. In 1955 they wrote a song about their dream of peace for the world and how they believed each one of us could help create it. Sy Miller wrote in his own words about the creation of the song: “One summer evening in 1955, a group of 180 teenagers of all races and religions, meeting at a workshop high in the California mountains locked arms, formed a circle and sang a song of peace. They felt that singing the song, with its simple basic sentiment – ‘Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me,’ helped to create a climate for world peace and understanding. ‘When they came down from the mountain, these inspired young people brought the song with them and started sharing it. And, as though on wings, ‘Let There Be Peace on Earth’ began an amazing journey around the globe. It travelled first, of course, with the young campers back to their homes and schools, churches and clubs. Soon the circle started by the teenagers began to grow…It was taped, recorded, copied, printed in songbooks, and passed by word of mouth.”

Hear the song sung at Voices Without Borders at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO5CqyMPL8Q

Hear the combined 450 voices of The St. Louis Children’s Choirs come together on stage at Powell Hall in St. Louis in 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fjh6R8GixM

“Danish Amen” (VU #967)

“Amen, amen, amen.”

Our 3-fold choral amen is also referred to as the Danish Amen, although the composer is unknown.