Notes on the Notes – October 30, 2022

“Our Saints Day” 

Music for this service will be led by The Worship Choir. 

This week’s music:

“Eternal, Unchanging, We Sing” (VU #223)

“Eternal, Unchanging, we sing to your praise:
Your mercies are endless, and righteous your ways;
Your servants proclaim the renown of your name
Who rules over all and is ever the same.

Again we rejoice in the world you have made,
Your mighty creation in beauty arrayed,
We thank you for life, and we praise you for joy,
For love and for hope that no power can destroy.

We praise you for Jesus, our Master and Lord,
The might of his Spirit, the truth of his word,
His comfort in sorrow, his patience in pain,
The faith sure and steadfast that Jesus shall reign.”

The lyrics of this hymn bring to mind the infinite nature of God, and give thanks for the Creation and the gifts of Jesus and the Spirit.  This is one of R.B.Y. Scott’s early hymns, first published in 1938.   The tune, ST. DENIO, is a traditional Welsh melody adapted into a hymn tune during the Welsh revivals at the turn of the 19th century.  It is also the tune used by Ralph Vaughan Williams with the hymn “Immortal, Invisible.”  

Hear the melody on pipe organ at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqgQ3_VcaKw

“A New Creed”

“We are not alone,
We live in God’s world,
We believe in God,
Who has created and is creating,
Who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh,
To reconcile and make new,
Who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.

We are called to be the Church,
To celebrate God’s presence,
To live with respect in Creation,
To love and serve others,
To seek justice and resist evil,
To proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
Our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.”

The music for this setting of the New Creed was composed by Richard Hall.  The words are a statement of the beliefs of the United Church of Canada. They give us a centering point as we journey through our life of faith.  To learn more about the history of this statement of faith, please go to:  http://www.windsorparkunitedchurch.com/a-new-creed/

“I Will Serve the Lord All My Days”

Today’s anthem, by Don Besig and Nancy Price,  focuses on our dedication and service to God, who is a faithful presence by our side throughout our life’s journey.

“Each day I live, I will walk with the Lord;
I will follow Him wherever He may lead.
He will take my hand, He will understand;
His grace is all that I need.

Each day I live, I will talk with the Lord,
I will come to Him in worship and in prayer.
He will hear my plea, He will comfort me;
His love will always be there.

Alleluia, alleluia!
My heart sings with glory and with praise.
Alleluia, alleluia!
I will serve the Lord all my days.

Each day I live, I will sing to the Lord,
I will lift my voice to glorify His name.
Singing clear and strong, I will raise my song.
His wondrous love, I’ll proclaim!

Alleluia,…

I will serve my Savior and my Lord, all my days!”

This song was written in 2000 in honor of Miss Frances M. Shope for 24 years of dedicated service as Director of Music, First United Methodist Church, Clarion, PA.  In 2001, the anthem was dedicated in memory of Muriel Weldon,  long-time member of Windsor Park United Church.

“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).

“Those Hearts That We Have Treasured” (VU #494)

“Those hearts that we have treasured, those lives that we have shared;
Those loves that walked beside us, those friends for whom we’ve cared,
Their blessing rests upon us, their life is memory,
Their suffering is over, their spirits are set free.

They still give hope and comfort, they did not lose the fight;
They showed us truth and goodness, they shine into our night.
Remember days of gladness; remember times of joy;
Remember all the moments that grief cannot destroy.

From hearts that we have treasured, from lives that we have shared,
From loves that walked beside us, from friends for whom we’ve cared,
We’ve learned to treasure kindness, we’ve learned that grace provides,
We’ve learned to be together, we’ve learned that love abides.”

Sylvia Dunstan wrote this text in 1991.  The melody, RESIGNATION, is an American hymn tune published in Southern Harmony in 1835.  Sylvia Dunstan began writing songs in the early seventies and soon after met Sister Miriam Theresa Winter, who encouraged her to write songs based on Scripture.  In 1980, she was ordained by the Hamilton Conference of the United Church of Canada. During her career she served as a minister, a prison chaplain, and editor of a Canadian worship resource journal, Gathering.

Sylvia Dunstan died on July 25, 1993, almost four months after being diagnosed with liver cancer. She left behind a ministry that combined a compassionate concern for the needy and distraught with a consuming love of liturgy.

Hear the hymn sung at Peninsula United Church at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sql89d3p2HY

“Peace Be with You” (MV #215)

“Peace be with you, peace forever,
Peace be with you, my friends.
Till we meet again, may God be with you.
Peace, peace, peace.”

Our benediction response was written by Alison L. Wesley (Slaats) in 2000.

Hear the song on piano at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU1saI3YD-0