Notes on the Notes – September 19, 2021

Season of Creation 3

Sky

This Week’s Music:

“O Beautiful Gaia” (MV #41)

“O beautiful Gaia, O Gaia, calling us home.
O beautiful Gaia, calling us on.”

The term Gaia (guy-ah) represents “Mother Earth,” inviting us to live into our care and respect for all creation. It asks us to consider our relationship to the earth in the context of our faith. We will be using the chorus of this song by Carolyn McDade (2006) as our sung response after the lighting of the Christ candle during the season of Creation. The musical arrangement is by Lydia Pedersen (2006).

“Morning Has Broken” (VU #409)

“Morning has broken like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing!  Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing fresh from the world!

Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven,
Like the first dew fall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness where God’s feet pass.

Ours is the sunlight!  Ours is the morning
Born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
God’s recreation of the new day!”

Did you know that the hymn, “Morning Has Broken” was first published in 1931?  In the publication, Songs of Praise Discussed, the editor explains that, as there was need for a hymn to give thanks for each day, English poet and children’s author Eleanor Parjeon had been “asked to make a poem to fit the lovely Scottish tune.” The words were inspired by the beauty seen in the village of Alfriston in East Sussex, England, then set to a traditional Scottish Gaelic tune, BUNESSAN (first seen in print in 1888).

English pop musician and folk singer, Cat Stevens, included a version on his album Teaser and the Firecat in 1971 and then released the song as a single in 1972. The song became identified with Stevens due to the popularity of this recording.  The piano arrangement on Stevens’ recording was composed and performed by Rick Wakeman, a classically trained keyboardist who joined the English progressive rock band, Yes, soon afterwards. (Source:  Wikipedia)

Hear Cat Stevens sing the song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXWI6ISkzlI

“Down to the River to Pray”

“As I went down to the river to pray,
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the starry crown.
Good Lord, show me the way.
O sisters, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down.
O sisters, let’s go down, down to the river to pray.

As I went down to the river to pray, 
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way 
And who shall wear the robe and crown.
Good Lord, show me the way.
O brothers, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down.
Come on brothers, let’s go down, down to the river to pray.

As I went down to the river to pray,
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the starry crown,
Good Lord, show me the way.
O fathers, let’s go down, let’s go down, com on down.
O fathers, let’s go down, down to the river to pray.

As I went down to the river to pray,
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the robe and crown.
Good Lord, show me the way.
O mothers, let’s go down, come on down, don’t-cha wanna go down.
Come on mothers, let’s go down, down to the river to pray.

As I went down to the river to pray, 
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the starry crown.
Good Lord, show me the way.
O sinners, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down.
O sinners, let’s go down, down to the river to pray.

As I went down to the river to pray, 
Studyin’ about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the starry crown.
Good Lord, show me the way.”

This week our anthem will be from an arrangement of the traditional song by Sheldon Curry (2002).  While it is hard to pinpoint the exact origins of the song, “Down to the River to Pray” has been referred to as a hymn, a spiritual and an Appalachian song. Some believe it was a Native American Tribal song that was adapted to include Christian lyrics. It is attributed to George H. Allan in the Slave Songbook of 1867, and Alison Krauss popularized it in the 2000 film, O Brother, Where Art Thou? The song also is known by alternate titles such as “Down in the Valley to Pray,” “Come, Let Us All Go Down” and “The Good Old Way.” Whatever the title might truly be, the deeply spiritual song is about keeping the faith in a time of darkness. (Source: https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/down-to-the-river-to-pray.html)

“Called by Earth and Sky” (MV #135)

“Called by earth and sky, promise of hope held high,
This is our sacred living trust,
Treasure of life sanctified,
Called by earth and sky.

Precious these waters, endless seas,
Deep ocean’s dream,
Waters of healing, rivers of rain,
The wash of love again.

Precious this gift, the air we breathe;
Wind born and free.
Breath of the Spirit, blow through this place,
Our gathering and our grace.

Precious these mountains, ancient sands;
Vast fragile land.
Seeds of our wakening, rooted and strong,
Creation’s faithful song.

Precious the fire that lights our way,
Bright dawning day.
Fire of passion, sorrows undone,
Our faith and justice one.

Called by earth and sky…”

This beautiful song by Pat Mayberry and Margaret Stubbington (2005) is a call to live with respect in Creation, celebrating the ancient tradition of the four elements: water, air, earth and fire.

Hear the song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGIYVfEaATA

“Touch the Earth Lightly” (VU #307)

“Touch the earth lightly, use the earth gently,
Nourish the life of the world in our care:
Gift of great wonder, ours to surrender,
Trust for the children tomorrow will bear.

We who endanger, who create hunger,
Agents of death for all creatures that live,
We who would foster clouds of disaster,
God of our planet, forestall and forgive!

Let there be greening, birth from the burning,
Water that blesses and air that is sweet,
Health in God’s garden, hope in God’s children,
Regeneration that peace will complete.

God of all living, God of all loving,
God of the seedling, the snow and the sun,
Teach us, deflect us, Christ reconnect us,
Using us gently and making us one.”

The words for this hymn were written by Shirley Erena Murray in 1991.  Shirley Erena Murray (born 31 March 1931) is a New Zealand hymn lyrics writer.  In the words, she contrasts the harm being done to the earth with the hope for  “a new heaven, and a new earth,”  where we turn from our current path of destruction to return to God’s way of caring for Creation and each other.   Hear the hymn sung at Church of the Redeemer in worship at:  https://youtu.be/EcwyMmf3q0g

“Like a Rock” (MV #92)

“Like a rock, like a rock, God is under our feet.
Like the starry night sky, God is over our head.
Like the sun on the horizon, God is ever before.
Like the river runs to ocean, our home is in God evermore.”

The words for this song are by Keri K. Wehlander (1998), adapted to music by Linnea Good (1998).  We will be using this song as our benediction response during the season of Creation to express our confidence in the eternal nature of God.