#charles wesley

[percival-ignatius-weasley]

Ginny and Ron had a fight right before the photo shoot

[cbjustmusic]

Billy Strings, without the strings, performing “Am I Born to Die”, a hymn written by Charles Wesley sometime in the 1700’s. ____________________ Am I Born to Die Songwriter: Charles Wesley

And am I born to die? To lay this body down? And must my trembling spirit fly Into a world unknown? A land of deepest shade, unpierced by human thought, The dreary regions of the dead, Where all things are forgot?

Soon as from earth I go, What will become of me? Eternal happiness or woe Must then my portion be: Waked by the trumpet’s sound, I from my grave shall rise, And see the Judge, with glory crowned, And see the flaming skies!

Who can resolve the doubt That tears my anxious breast? Shall I be with the damned cast out, or numbered with the blest?  I must from God be driven, Or with my Saviour dwell: Must come at His command to heaven, Or else depart to hell?

O, Those who wouldst not have One wretched sinner die: Who didst Thyself my soul to save From endless misery Show me the way to shun Thy dreadful wrath severe; That when Thou comest on Thy throne I may with joy repent.

[mod-a-day]

Néro of BASS "Christmas My Way" (unknown year)

Note: This is a medley of several Christmas-related songs which includes:

Mykola Leontovych and Peter Wilhousky - "Carol of the Bells"

Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, and Felix Mendelssohn - "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"

Arthur Warrell - "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"

George A. Sanger, Howard Fredrics - "Main Theme" (Might and Magic III: Isle of Terra) (Just kidding.)

Phillips Brooks, Lewis Redner - "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

Néro of BASS - "Oh, Joyous Christmas" (original composition)

Isaac Walts - "Joy to the World"

[viksalos]

Tim Eriksen: Wayfaring Stranger

[fuzzysparrow]

The Hymns of Charles Wesley

Whilst John Wesley is famous as the founder of the Methodist movement, his brother Charles was equally important. During his life, Charles Wesley wrote around 6,500 hymns, many of which are familiar today.  Charles Wesley was the eighteenth child of Susanna and Samuel Wesley, born on 18th December 1707 in Epworth, Lincolnshire. Wesley followed in his father’s footsteps to become a rector and was…

[superminisan]

If God be for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his only son, but gave him up for all, shall he not with him freely give us all things? 

Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia! To his throne beyond the skies, Alleluia! Christ, the Lamb, for sinners giv’n, Alleluia! Enters now the highest heav’n, Alleluia!

Circled round with angels’ pow’rs, Alleluia! Their triumphant Lord and ours, Alleluia! Christ has conquered death and sin, Alleluia! Take the king of glory in, Alleluia!

Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia! To his throne beyond the skies, Alleluia! Christ, the Lamb, for sinners giv’n, Alleluia! Enters now the highest heav’n Alleluia! Shall he not with him freely give us all things? Alleluia!

- Exquisite arrangement by Dan Forrest, combining scripture from Romans 8 with the original hymn by Charles Wesley (1739).  Sung during communion today.

[harriehq]

"O Lovely Appearance of Death"

harriehq.neocities.org

or direct download here.

"A Funeral Hymn for a Believer" by Charles Wesley, first published 1746

[feastingonchrist]

I may or may have not spent 12 hours completely hyper-focused listening to videos on theology (debates, opinions on protestant worship, Christian psychology, and Christian denominations) and then visiting the Global Methodist Org website to learn more about it, reading the catechism and seeing which churches in my state/area are also apart of that on their map in case i ever wanna visit a new church when i'm in the area!! I saw my church on the map hehehe and so i went to our website and read a few of the Wesleyan beliefs the church adheres to!)

I did do it..... and i'll do it again. I had so much fun. It brought me joy to talk to God about it after i was finished. I'm obsessed.*

[tristansherwin]

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS (DAY 11)

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 men no more may die,born to raise us from the earth,born to give us second birth. Day 11… and I couldn’t resist this stunner. With words from the prolific hymn writer, Charles Wesley (1707-1788) combined with the music of musical…

[pilgrimjim]

Now in Flesh Appearing

What happens in Bethlehem doesn't stay in Bethlehem. A sermon for Christimas Day.

The Rev. James K. Friedrich (right) on the set of Child of Bethlehem (1940). For he is our childhood’s pattern;Day by day, like us He grew;He was little, weak and helpless,Tears and smiles like us He knew;And He feeleth for our sadness,And He shareth in our gladness. — Cecil Frances Alexander, “Once in Royal David’s City” My sisters and I each had an unusual childhood connection with the…

[his-beloved-sleep]

[firstumcschenectady]

"God is Good!" by Sylvester Doyer based on Psalm 150.

Introduction: This month of April in 2024 marks the 40 year anniversary of Sylvester's diagnosis with HIV. In 1984 the diagnosis was seen as a death sentence, and indeed almost everyone diagnosed then died. Somehow, and we don't know, Sylvester didn't. In 2007/8 he came very close, and was lying in a hospital bed with 1 T-cell left expecting the end had come. But, somehow, and we don't know how, it didn't. He celebrates the love of his long time partner and now husband Denis who was the embodiment of God's grace pulling him through. This sharing is in three pieces. First words written decades ago by now Bishop Karen Oliveto for World AIDS day; second a prayer combing the sermon with the baptism we'd shared in just before the sermon; and third the sermon itself. For those in need of a reminder that there can be hope when it seems like hope has fled, may these words of gratitude penetrate your very being. - Pastor Sara Baron

*Call to Worship1 “World AIDS Day Liturgies” Karen Oliveto

One:   How have you come to this time and place?

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   How has your heart weathered the many losses of ffriends and l overs?

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   How has your mind grappled with the constant specter of death?

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   How has your soul maintained wholeness?

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   It's not because of government support;

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   It's not because of the research and medical communities;

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   It's not because of the health insurance companies;

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   It's because of the grace of God.

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   It's because of the presence of Christ.

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   It's because of the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit.

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   We've come this far because the love of God is made visible through the care of lovers, friends, family, and caregivers.

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   We've come this far because nothing, nothing at all can separate us from this love.

Many: We've come this far by faith!

One:   We've come this far by faith, and we will go even farther, knowing that in every step we take,

Many: God hasn't failed us yet!

One:   In every burden we carry,

Many: God hasn't failed us yet!

One:   In every setback we face,

Many: God hasn't failed us yet!

One:   Our God is a constant presence on which we can lean.

Many: God hasn't failed us yet!

One:   We can trust in God's presence.

Many: God hasn't failed us yet!

One:   Alleluia! Amen!

Many: Amen and amen!

Prayer Before Sermon

We come before you Creator of all, thanking you for allowing us to see another day. Thank you for allowing us to plant our feet on solid ground and start on our way. We thank you and acknowledge that you didn’t have to allow us to wake this morning, but you did, and we thank you. In the mist of all that is happening in the world today we cry out Father I stretch my hand to thee and you hear us. As a reminder that you are ever near and ever listening to us Lord you are constantly giving us signs of your loving presence. This morning, we thank you for putting in our midst such a sign in the little one Koa, who we welcome into your family this morning through his baptism. We pray for his parents that they maybe a source of strength and guidance for Koa so that as he grows, he may know nothing but caring and love from them and everyone around him. Amen

Sermon

We all have a tendency when times get rough to seek comfort from anywhere and anyone around us. If you are spiritual, we usually turn to the man upstairs.

And I was no different when in those early days I didn’t know if I would be around to see the next day. That’s when I remember growing up with a Catholic and Southern Baptist background, I found myself seeking and drawing comfort more from my Southern Baptist background.

I recall going to church with my dad who was Southern Baptist and there was a group of women called the Mother Board who usually would stand and sing one of those old gospel songs that they called Dr. Watts song. There was this one elderly mother who would lead the song but before she would start, she witness, testify to and about the goodness and greatness of God.

I am here this morning to join mine witnessing and testimony to hers and to shout as she shouts God is good. Back then the words she was saying didn’t make much sense till later. When in those darkest hours your soul cries out seeking comfort, I remember just lying there sometimes and listening to my soul cry out in the words of that old gospel song, "Father, I stretch my hand to thee. No other help I know. If Thou withdraw Thyself from me Ah, where shall I go." Looking back as my soul cried out, "Father, I stretch my hand to Thee ….", even in those darkest moments he was listening because sitting next to my hospital bed was Denis, he put him there saying don’t give up, never, never, never give up.

My soul would cry all the louder, "Father I stretch my hand to Thee…." There in the room working through the medical team and everything else would be that voice, "don’t give up." The louder I’d cry, "Father I stretch my hand to Thee…..", the louder that voice would become.

I’m here to tell you, he showed himself to me in those around me but especially Denis who would get up in the morning walk the dogs; go to work all day; come home walk the dogs and then come up to the hospital and be that voice that whispered "don’t give up; never, never, never give up." They would let him sit sometimes way pass visiting hour.

My soul would cry out even more but it changed the song and cried out "I Love The Lord He Heard my cries, And pitied every groan; Long as I live, when troubles rise, I’ll hasten to His throne" the song goes on to say "My God has saved my soul from death and dried my falling tears; Now to his praise I’ll spend my breath and my remaining years." My heart this morning is full of joy, full of gratitude and thanksgiving. Last month my doctor reminded me that I’ve been living with HIV/AIDS now for 40 years this month.

There were those days when I wasn’t sure I was going to be here, but my soul cried out "Father I Stretch my hand to Thee", and he heard my cry. I’m here this morning to tell you He didn’t have to wake me up this morning, but He did. He didn’t have to plant my feet on solid ground, but He did. He heard my cry and let me see another day and I am here to thank Him. My soul this morning cries out even louder "I love the Lord; He heard my cry and pitied every groan." So, I’m here this morning to join my story, my testimony to that elderly mother and to let you know even in those darkest of times the soul cries out and it’s heard.

There is a song that sums up how I feel today and every day.

Now my soul cries out How I got Over. How I got over Well, how I got over Well, my soul look back and wonder Don't know how I got over (How I got over) How I got over I'm gon' thank him for how he brought me Well, I'm gon' thank him for how he taught me

Oh, thank him for how he kept me I'm gon' thank him 'cause he never left me I'm gonna thank him for heart felt religion I'm gonna thank him for a vision I'm gonna sing hallelujah Oh, shout all my trouble over I'm gon' thank him (Thank him for) All he's done for me Thank him for all he's done (He's done) For me

Amen

1Karen Oliveto “World AIDS Day Liturgies” in Shaping Sanctuary edited by Kelly Turney, 2000, page 140-1.

First United Methodist Church of Schenectady  603 State St. Schenectady, NY 12305  http://fumcschenectady.org/  https://www.facebook.com/FUMCSchenectady

Sylvester (left) and Denis (right) on their wedding day in 2013.

[timeszen]

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Lyrics – Charles Wesley

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Lyrics – Charles Wesley is one of the best songs for Christmas. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Lyrics [Verse 1]Hark! the herald angels sing:“Glory to the newborn King!Peace on earth and mercy mildGod and sinners reconciled”Joyful, all ye nations riseJoin the triumph of the skiesWith angelic hosts proclaim:“Christ is born in Bethlehem”Hark! the herald angels…

[bethf1300]

Loving and Longing

Remembering Do you remember when you first fell in love with your spouse? I do. Ron and I had a long-distance courtship – 200 miles. And because we are of a certain age, we don’t have any of the instant apps available today. We wrote love letters, made cassette tapes, and paid for long-distance phone calls. I longed to see him, and on the days when I knew he was coming to town, I awaited his…

[minnesotafollower]

“The Benediction Never Ends” at Westminster Presbyterian Church

On September 17, 2023, Rev. Dr. Tim Hart-Andersen, Senior Pastor at Minneapolis’ Westminster Presbyterian Church, delivered the second of his last seven sermons, “The Benediction Never Ends at Westminster Presbyterian Church,” before he retires at the end of October. Here is the text of that sermon along with a summary of this Sunday’s worship service. Call to Confession and Prayer of…