Notes on the Notes – September 23, 2018

This weeks theme:

“To be a Servant”

This week’s readings:

Mark 9:30-37

This week’s music:

“We are the Church”

“I am the church!
You are the church!
We are the church together!
All who follow Jesus all around the world –
Yes! We’re the church together!

The church is not a building,
The church is not a steeple,
The church is not a resting place,
The church is a people!

We’re many kinds of people with many kinds of faces,
All colours and all ages, too,
From all times and places.

And when the people gather, there’s singing and there’s praying,
There’s laughing and there’s crying sometimes,
All of it saying…

I count if I am ninety,
Or nine, or just a baby;
There’s one thing I am sure about
And I don’t mean maybe…”

This week’s gathering song was written by Richard Avery and Donald Marsh in 1972.  The lyrics are based on the scripture readings from 1 Peter 2:5 and Acts 2:1-4, 17:24.

“All Things Bright and Beautiful” (VU #291)

This classic text, from Cecil Frances Alexander’s Hymns for Little Children (1846), is based on the phrase “Maker of heaven and earth” in the Apostles’ Creed. The new words for verse four are particularly apt in the Canadian context. The tune, ROYAL OAK, is an English traditional melody associated with the restoration of the Stuart monarchy in 1660, arranged by Martin Shaw (1915). The editors of Voices United also changed the words slightly in the interest of inclusivity.

“All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful
in love, God made them all.

Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings,
God made their glowing colours, God made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountains, the river running by,
The sunset and the morning that brightens up the sky.

The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden: God made them every one.

The rocky mountain splendor, the lone wolf’s haunting call,
The great lakes and the prairies, the forest in the fall.

God gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell how great is God our maker, who has made all things well.”

Watch a beautiful video by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir:

“Jesus Loves Me” (VU #365)

“Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so,
Little ones to him belong, in his love we shall be strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!  Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!  The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me, this I know, as he loved so long ago,
taking children on his knee, saying, “Let them come to me.”

Jesus loves me still today, walking with me on my way,
Wanting as a friend to give light and love to all who live.”

This popular song has been loved among children and adults alike since it was written in 1860. Anna B. Warner wrote the original version and later David Rutherford McGuire added stanzas two and three.  Anna’s sister Susan had asked her to write a song for a Sunday School teacher who wanted to cheer a dying boy.  The song first appeared in a novel, Say and Seal. In 1862, William B. Bradbury composed the music and added the refrain.  In Voices United have a modernized version of the lyrics.

Hear the hymn with traditional lyrics:

“God is pleased”

“God is pleased when we worship together,
Worship together, worship together.
God is pleased when we worship together,
God is pleased.

God is pleased when we live in love,
Live in love, live in love.
God is pleased when we live in love,
God is pleased.

God is pleased when we share with each other,
Share with each other, share with each other.
God is pleased when we share with each other,
God is pleased.

God is pleased when we learn God’s ways,
Learn God’s ways, learn God’s ways.
God is pleased when we learn God’s ways.
God is pleased.”

This children’s hymn is sung to the tune of the children’s song, “Here we go round the mulberry bush.” 

“Jesus Laughed out Loud” (MV #133)

“Jesus laughed out loud to see the children play;
His joyful presence drew a crowd we could not send away.

Jesus healed a child by asking her to rise,
And doubtful people wept and smiled to see her open eyes.

Jesus felt the need; we made the crowd sit down.
A boy had faith and all were fed, though we were far from town.

Jesus climbed a hill to pray and rest alone;
We wondered why we felt the chill of wind and wood and stone.

Jesus called my name when he was passing by;
My life will never be the same; this love will never die.

This song was written by Daniel Charles Damon in 1994.  Each verse references an event in Jesus ministry.

“I Will Joyfully Sing”

“I will joyfully sing in the morning;
I will joyfully sing all the day;
I’ll sing praises to Thee in the morning,
For the Lord is the strength of my day.

I will lift up my eyes in the morning,
For the Lord will not turn me away;
I’ll sing praises to Thee in the morning,
For the Lord is the strength of my day.

I will sing!
I will sing!
I will sing of praises, His goodness to me.
I will sing!”

This week’s lively anthem is by Mary McDonald (1985/2009).  The words are adapted from Psalm 59:16.

“Serve the Lord”   

“Serve the Lord, serve the Lord with gladness,
Serve the Lord, serve the Lord with gladness.
O ye people who’ve been waiting for so long, serve the Lord.

Trust the Lord, the Lord will always lead you…

Thank the Lord for God’s mighty actions…

Love the Lord and there is your freedom…

Serve the Lord, serve the Lord with gladness….”

This catchy tune was written by Jim Strathdee in 1977 and reminds us that our faith is action-based.

Here the song at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV-U-hIqLtk&index=11&t=0s&list=PLel38UQxkWUbuUH3AcFhB8jNi4shVZqsh

To ponder: What does it mean to “come as a child?”