Notes on the Notes – October 26, 2025

This week’s music:

“Come and Seek the Ways of Wisdom” (MV #10) 

“Come and seek the ways of Wisdom, she who danced when earth was new.
Follow closely what she teaches, for her words are right and true.
Wisdom clears the path to justice, showing us what love must do.

Listen to the voice of Wisdom, crying in the marketplace.
Hear the Word made flesh among us, full of glory, truth, and grace.
When the word takes root and ripens, peace and righteousness embrace.

Sister Wisdom, come, assist us; nurture all who seek rebirth.
Spirit-guide and close companion, bring to light our sacred worth.
Free us to become your people, holy friends of God and earth.”

The words for this hymn were written by Ruth Duck in 1993.  She says, “In my sophomore Bible class at Rhodes College in Memphis, I learned about Lady Wisdom, an intriguing image of God found in Proverbs, Matthew, 1 Corinthians, and literature between the testaments.”   She created this hymn to attempt to express a trinitarian theology with this image. Sophia is the biblical Greek word for Wisdom, which is why Wisdom is often portrayed as female. In this hymn we see Wisdom as Creator, Word-with-us, and Spirit-guide.  The music is by Donna Kasbohm, a composer from the Twin Cities.

Sing along with the hymn at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_8iQmLXzag

“We Long to Know Her” (TLUS #56)

“We long to know her, the maker of heaven,
Knitter of sinews and planter of grains,
Guardian of sheep and the founder of vineyards:
She is the strong-hold who gently sustains.
She is the sculptor who carved earth from darkness,
Architect building creation from dust.
She is the potter who formed us and made us,
Gave us her breath, and now years for our trust.

We long to hear her, bold thunder of heaven:
Voice among voices that summon the soul;
Without her presence, there is no completeness;
With her unheard, heaven cannot be whole.
We know her laughter is piecing the cosmos;
We know she judges injustice on earth.
Shelter and shield of the hopeless and helpless,
From her we learn of our infinite worth.

We long to see you, veiled wonder of heaven:
Hidden from view, be revealed in the light.
Open our eyes to your wisdom around us;
Author of beauty, enliven our sight.
Heart of the holy and hands of the sacred,
God-head uniting compassion and might:
Bearing your likeness, impatient to greet you,
We come to worship in awe and delight!”

The hymn ‘We Long to Know Her’ was written by Jacque B. Jones (2019). The tune, STAR IN THE EAST, was published in Southern Harmony in 1835 and arranged by Alice Parker in 1990.

Hear the hymn at: https://youtu.be/V63Oci7Lf2g

Click here for the music: tlus056 LL we long to know her

“Song of Fellowship”

“We are here this day to share God’s love;
We have come with burdens and cares,
For within this place we are bound as one
In this fellowship we share.

Whether weak or strong, whether old or young,
When we’re feeling lost and alone,
There is comfort here in this family of God
Where love and friendship grow.

Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.
There fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.

May the peace of God be with us all
To guide our hearts and minds,
And help us reach beyond these walls
To share the friendship we find.
Blest be the tie that binds.”

This week’s anthem was written by Don Besig and Nancy Price in 1986.  Along with original words and music, the song also incorporates the first verse of the hymn Blest Be the Tie That Binds by John Fawcett and Johann G. Naegeli.  John Fawcett, an English Baptist pastor, school master, and author, spent his entire ministry in Wainsgate, Yorkshire, and most of his hymns were written to follow his sermons.  It is alleged that he wrote the text for this hymn after a last-minute decision not to leave his pastorate to go to a church in London.  The hymn was first published in 1782.

“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).

“Who will Speak a Word of Warning” (TLUS #130)

“Who will speak a word of warning
to a world whose wealth expands,
as the growing wealth is gathered 
into ever fewer hands?
Christ, you speak a word of warning
for the church to know and tell:
Greed is death and life is giving;
hands that give receive as well.

Who will speak a word of wisdom
to a world where truth gives way,
As the claims of pow’r and priv’lege 
shift and shape the truth each day?
Christ, you speak a word of wisdom
for the church to heed and share:
Truth is not the claims of power!
Truth is hurt and hope and prayer.

Who will speak a word of welcome 
to the greatest and the least,
calling those with pow’r to service,
calling all to share the feast?
Christ, you speak a word of welcome
for the church to tell and live:
All who hunger, come, be seated;
take what Christ is here to give.”

The powerful words of our closing hymn were written by Richard Leach in the year 2000.  Twenty-five years later, the hymn has been included in our newest hymn resource, Then Let Us Sing, and feel like they have been written for the times we are experiencing now.  The famous Welsh hymn tune, EBENEZER, was composed by Thomas John Williams in 1890, and has appeared in multiple United Church hymn books with a variety of words.

Hear the tune on organ at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wdkv_QptY3E