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Charles Wesley Celebration Devotionals
In honor of Asbury Seminary's Charles Wesley's tercentennial celebration we are providing weekly devotionals that lead up to Christmas week. Use these special devotions for personal quiet time, in small groups, Sunday school or even as a church-wide Advent celebration.
Each weekly devotion was written by a member of the Asbury Seminary faculty or staff and focuses on a different Charles Wesley hymn. Please enjoy this gift commemorating this special celebration of Charles Wesley.
Week 1: Lover of My Soul, devotion by Lee Strawhun
Week 2: Arise, My Soul Arise, devotion by Ruth Rambo
Week 3: Christ, From Whom All Blessings Flow, devotion by Jeffrey Hiatt
Week 4: I Want the Spirit of Power Within, devotion by Don Demarray
Week 5: O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing, devotion by Dr. Steve Harper
Prisoners of Hope CD: Mid-November Release Date
Prisoners of Hope, a new CD of Charles Wesley hymns, is currently available. For more details, visit prisonersofhopecd.com. Order your copy of some of Wesley's most beloved songs, remixed and redone in a fresh contemporary style. Place your order today by calling 1.866.855.8252. Cost: $14 (plus shipping & handling).
This CD has been produced in honor of Charles Wesley's 300th birthday celebration. Musicians and artists from Asbury College and Asbury Seminary (students and alumni) have come together to honor Wesley's music and heritage.
Sixteen beloved hymns of Wesley have been adapted in a variety of contemporary tunes and styles, ranging from folk to rock, from "indie" to electronic. This collection features not only several of his biggest hits such as "And Can it Be" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," but also a number of less familiar ones such as "Prisoners of Hope, Arise," from which the title comes.
The collage of songs follows the liturgical year from Advent to Ascension. Some songs will be new; others will be an old favorite, done in a new way. Proceeds to benefit student scholarships at Asbury Seminary.
Cover Art: Blood & Water, by Shannon Steed '07
Art Show
Blood and Water new paintings by Shannon Steed
A visual exploration of Wesleyan theology through Charles Wesley's hymns.
(Project based on Master's thesis entitled Visual Hymnology: The Aesthetics of Charles Wesley, Asbury Theological Seminary, May 2007.)
September 24-October 19; Reception: 6-8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 19,
Asbury College Art Gallery
ZT Johnson Student Center
1 Macklem Drive, Wilmore, KY
Why Celebrate?
Why be concerned with Charles Wesley after all these years? It’s been 300 since his birth (1707) and 219 since his death (1788) for goodness’ sake. But, despite this passage of time, Wesley’s influence not only lingers in but permeates the church.
Go to a church on Christmas morning. What will you hear? “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” proclaims Wesley’s trust that, in Christ, God and sinners have been reconciled. Go to a service as Easter dawns. What will you hear? Wesley has given us the words to triumph in Love’s redeeming work being done. Go to worship on any Sunday of the year, on any continent, and what will you hear? Christ-exalting lyrics penned by Charles Wesley but still sung by thousands of tongues.
Despite the distance between his time and ours, Wesley’s presence saturates our worship. Indeed, open virtually any church’s hymnal and turn to the index of composers. Look at how many songs were written by Wesley. How do the others compare? Only a few authors, if any, might be as prominent.
Even if this was not true, we would have other reasons to celebrate the 300th anniversary of his birth. Charles was a key partner with his brother, John, in developing the Methodist movement. His songs allowed Methodism’s grace-giving doctrines to penetrate the heart. Moreover, he was a prolific poet, a faithful preacher of the Gospel, and a dedicated clergyperson in the Church of England.
Why celebrate the 300th anniversary of Charles Wesley’s birth? Because doing so gives us a chance to remember him as an exemplary man of God whose work allows so many of us to become “lost in wonder, love, and praise” to the God revealed in Jesus Christ.
Asbury Seminary Resources
Amazing Love, by Dr. William Goold, as appeared in Winter 2007 issue of The Asbury Herald
Bibliography of Charles Wesley Sources, compiled by Dr. Kenneth Kinghorn
Bibliography of John Wesley Sources, compiled by Dr. Ken Collins
Asbury Faculty Testimonials: Asbury faculty members share how Charles Wesley's hymns have impacted their spiritual formation and ministry.
Other Resources
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?loc_id=639&act=nav_loc
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/resources/globalpraise/
www.wesleysociety.org