Notes on the Notes – October 18, 2020
“Giving to God What is God’s”
Exodus 33: 12 – 23 Matthew 22: 15 – 22
This Week’s Music:
“Come and Find the Quiet Centre” (VU #374)
“Come and find the quiet centre in the crowded life we lead,
Find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed:
Clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes, that we can see
All the things that really matter, be at peace, and simply be.
Silence is a friend who claims us, cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us, knows our being, face to face,
Making space within our thinking, lifting shades to show the sun,
Raising courage when we’re shrinking, finding scope for faith begun.
In the Spirit let us travel, open to each other’s pain,
Let our loves and fears unravel, celebrate the space we gain:
There’s a place for deepest dreaming, there’s a time for heart to care,
In the Spirit’s lively scheming there is always room to spare!”
This hymn was written by Shirley Erena Murray for a Presbyterian Women’s Conference on the theme of “Making Space.” In our busy and chaotic world, it is a reminder to take the time to “be at peace, and simply be.”
Listen to a beautiful choral rendition of this song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jukLcHj3BA&list=RDPjB5-97zKaw&index=5
“God Says” (MV #172)
God says, “Be still so you may hear the words I whisper in your ear.
If you will listen, you will know I’m with you always where you go.”
God says, “Look up and see the prize I’ve placed here right before your eyes.
Find beauty in the things of earth, a cause for wonder and rebirth.”
God says, “Come here! I need your voice. Please teach my people to rejoice.
In who you are, in what you do, your life will show my love for you.”
God says, “Reach out! The world’s in need and wants a word, a song, a deed.
I send you forth to speak, to sing, to act for Christ in everything.”
The words and music for this hymn were written by Mary Bittner in 1993. The lyrics have God speaking directly to us. First, we must be still, in order to hear the Word of God. Then we must open our eyes to see the glory of God’s Creation. God then asks us to share the love of God through our love for other’s and to reach out to act for Christ in everything we do.
“All I Have”
“All I have I give to Jesus, all I am and all I hope to be.
There is nothing that I could give Him that would repay His gift of love to me.
All my praise I give to Jesus, ev’ry song I have to sing.
Through His name I live victorious, as I proclaim Him as my Lord and King.
Take my life and all it is; make it more completely yours.
Fill me now that I may live in your love forevermore.
Use me Lord, to do your Kingdom’s work; in your plan, Lord, let me have a part.
Make each day I live a tribute Lord, let your Spirit overflow my heart.
Help me find a place of service Lord, that I may show the way of truth.
All I am and all I hope to be, Lord, I give it all to you.”
This week’s anthem was written by Stan Pethel in 1995. The words express our commitment to live our lives in the service of Jesus.
“Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying” (VU #400)
“Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Send us love, send us power, send us grace!”
This week’s prayer response was written by Ken Medma in 1970. It comes from a longer anthem by the same name.
“Take My Life and Let it Be” (VU #506)
“Take my life, and let it be consecrated, all for thee;
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love;
Take my feet, and let them be swift and purposeful for thee.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from thee;
Take my intellect, and use every power as thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it thine; it shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne.
Take my love: and I will pour at thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for thee.”
Our closing hymn was written by Frances Ridley Havergal early in 1874 to celebrate a period of religious awakening at a household where she was visiting. The anonymous tune is derived from the “Kyrie” of a mass long thought to have been composed by Mozart. The words express our commitment to God as we go into the world.
Hear the hymn sung with piano accompaniment at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf11rReeWIs
“For the Harvests of the Spirit” (VU #227 v.3)
“For the harvests of the Spirit, thanks be to God.
For the good we all inherit, thanks be to God.
For the wonders that astound us, for the truths that still confound us,
Most of all that love has found us, thanks be to God.”
This week we continue to gather virtually in praise and thanksgiving for God’s goodness. We will be using the third verse of Fred Pratt Green’s harvest hymn as our benediction response. The words have been set to the traditional Welsh song “Ar Hyd Y Nos (All Through the Night), which was arranged as a hymn tune by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1906.
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