The Song Forever New: Lent and Easter with Charles Wesley
Overview
A daily devotional inspired by the hymns of Charles Wesley, this new 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 54 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.
Top Highlights
“‘I am as you find me, but this is not who I want to be. Change me.’” (Page 16)
“Am I too far gone for God to accept my prayer? Is God no longer merciful? What will it take for God to hear and respond to my desperate yearning for reconciliation and peace?” (Page 16)
“forgiveness of our sins and the restoration of our relationship with God” (Page 87)
“can be nothing but grace because love is God’s essence” (Page 102)
Reviews
1 rating
Glenn Crouch
4/24/2017
I enjoyed the Author leading me through devotional time during Lent and Easter using the Hymns of Charles Wesley. He nicely combines a bible passage, a hymn, a short devotional and a prayer into each day. Since I enjoyed the Author's similar devotional for Advent / Christmas. I do recommend taking on some additional, festival-specific devotionals - especially for Lent + Easter and Advent + Christmas.