Between Jan. 4 and Feb. 15 we will be doing a seven part sermon series on John and Charles Wesley, and I'll be using these DSE's as a way to prep you for those sermons and also give you an abbreviated history of the Wesleys. While we at Trinity are members of the larger Christian family, we have "tuned our souls," as it were, to many of the notes John and Charles Wesley sounded most fully in the Christian orchestra. They are often subtle nuances, though very important and I want you to know more about them, as I happen to believe that they are very much what the Church and the world still need today. Let's begin our seven week journey now.
I mention both John and Charles. John was the main preacher, and Charles was the primary poet, writing over 6,000 hymns. You can often tell it's a "Charles Wesley hymn" by the words of the hymn without even looking at the author because the distinctive elements of Wesleyan theology, like God's unrestrained love, searching grace, holy living, etc run throughout. I'll often finish my DSE with a verse or two from one of Charles's hymns, like this famous Christmas Carol:
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies;
With th'angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die,
Born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth.
-- Dan Johnson. 352-317-4409
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