The Song Forever New: Lent and Easter with Charles Wesley

(Paperback)

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A daily devotional inspired by the hymns of Charles Wesley, this book paves the way for spiritual pilgrimage throughout this sacred period of the Christian year. Wesley's lyrical theology and hymns represent a monumental devotional treasure within both the Anglican and Methodist heritage.

Sacred texts from Wesley's Redemption Hymns and Resurrection Hymns are particularly well suited to the themes of Lent and Easter. Selections from both these collections are featured in the volume, including "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling," as well as hymns, such as "Christ the Lord is Risen Today," drawn from a wider selection of Wesley's works.

The hymns are arranged around themes tied to scriptural texts proper to each day. Each of the fifty-four meditations includes a biblical text, the Wesley hymn selection (with a recommended tune for singing from the Episcopal Hymnal 1982), a brief meditation, and a prayer for the day. Suggestions are also provided for the use of these materials in a pattern of either Morning or Evening Prayer.

Reviews

"Without the Wesleys, wed still be singing metrical psalms as the primary music of our worship. Truly, it was the Wesleys and their zeal for evangelism that changed the entire flavor of our music in church. We went from a dry, Puritan-influenced, one-note-to-a-syllable approach and a concern that we not look too 'enthusiastic' to music of desire, hymns that touched the heart, and called for conversion."
The Rev. S. Elizabeth Searle, Rector, Christ Church, Ridgewood

Author Bio

Paul Wesley Chilcote is president of the Charles Wesley Society and professor of historical theology and Wesleyan studies director, Center for Applied Wesleyan Studies, at Ashland Theological Seminary. His publications include popular devotional spirituality books.