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Contents:
Top Ten Reasons Why United Methodists Should Sing Charles Wesley Hymns
by Steven W. Manskar
Charles Wesley, John's younger brother, will be 300 years old in 2007. He was the poet of the Methodist movement. Whenever the early Methodists gathered in their societies, classes, and bands, they sang Charles' hymns. British Methodist historian Henry Rack tells us, "Hymns, more than any other single source except the Bible, were the means by which the ordinary Methodist could obtain a knowledge of what Wesley thought Methodism taught" (Reasonable Enthusiast: John Wesley and the Rise of Methodism, page 414). Hymns were intended for singing at all Methodist gatherings and for personal reflection and meditation. Charles' hymns played a critical role in forming the faith of the people called Methodists.
The United Methodist Hymnal contains fifty-five of Charles Wesley's hymns. They may be found in nearly every section. This is a small sample of his vast body of work. The collection of Wesley hymns in our hymnal provides abundant choices for use in United Methodist worship and other occasions when members of the church gather.
I offer a modest proposal for this coming tercentennial year: Whenever the people called United Methodists gather, they shall sing at least one of Charles Wesley's hymns. There are enough in the hymnal for congregations to sing a different Wesley hymn each week. Encourage the members to take the hymn home with them for study, reflection, and meditation.
With apologies to David Letterman, here are the "Top Ten Reasons United Methodists Should Sing Charles Wesley Hymns Every Time They Gather." There is actually no order to this list. It is a list of ten simple reasons why United Methodist Christians will benefit from regularly singing, learning, and memorizing the hymns of Charles Wesley.
10. Charles Wesley hymns communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ.
9. Charles Wesley hymns get theology and belief into the head and the heart.
8. Charles Wesley hymns are beautiful and rich poems that elevate the heart and mind toward God and out into the world.
7. Charles Wesley hymns help people understand the dynamic of grace as prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying.
6. Charles Wesley hymns teach a vocabulary of Christian faith.
5. Charles Wesley hymns may be sung to a variety of common tunes. Many are written in meters that are meant to be easily sung.
4. Charles Wesley hymns, when made a regular part of worship, will create a common identity that communicates and forms community character.
3. Charles Wesley hymns help to teach the meaning of the sacraments.
2. Charles Wesley hymns help to teach the meaning of the seasons of the church calendar.
1. Charles Wesley hymns are one of the Wesleyan tradition's great gifts to the church of Jesus Christ.
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Steven W. Manskar is the Director of Accountable Discipleship for the General Board of Discipleship.
Charles Wesley Hymns in The United Methodist Hymnal
57-59,"O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing"
88,"Maker, in Whom We Live"
96,"Praise the Lord Who Reigns Above"
153,"Thou Hidden Source of Calm Repose"
173,"Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies"
181,"Ye Servants of God"
193,"Jesus! the Name High Over All"
196,"Come, Thou Long-Expected.Jesus"
240,"Hark! the Herald Angels Sing"
282,"'Tis Finished! The Messiah Dies"
287,"O Love Divine, What Hast Thou.Done"
302,"Christ the Lord Is Risen Today"
312,"Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise"
332,"Spirit of Faith, Come Down"
339,"Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast"
342,"Where Shall My Wondering Soul Begin"
346,"Sinners, Turn: Why Will You Die"
355,"Depth of Mercy"
363,"And Can It Be that I Should Gain"
372,"How Can We Sinners Know"
379,"Blow Ye the Trumpet, Blow"
384,"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"
385,"Let Us Plead for Faith Alone"
386-387,"Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown"
388,"O Come and Dwell in Me"
410,"I Want a Principle Within"
413,"A Charge to Keep I Have"
417,"O For a Heart to Praise My God"
422,"Jesus, Thine All-Victorious Love"
438,"Forth in Thy Name, O Lord"
449,"Our Earth We Now Lament to See"
479,"Jesus, Lover of My Soul"
501,"O Thou Who Camest from Above"
513,"Soldiers of Christ, Arise""
541,"See How Great a Flame Aspires"
550,"Christ, from Whom All Blessings Flow"
553,"And Are We Yet Alive"
554,"All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord"
561,"Jesus, United by Thy Grace"
562,"Jesus, Lord, We Look to Thee"
566,"Blest Be the Dear Uniting Love"
594,"Come, Divine Interpreter"
595,"Whether the Word Be Preached or Read"
603,"Come, Holy Ghost, Our Hearts Inspire"
606,"Come, Let Us Use the Grace Divine"
613,"O Thou Who This Mysterious Bread"
616, "Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast"
627, "O the Depth of Love Divine"
635, "Because Thou Hast Said"
650, "Give Me the Faith Which Can Remove"
656, "If Death My Friend and Me Divide"
699, "Come, and Let Us Sweetly Join"
709, "Come, Let Us Join Our Friends Above"
715-716, "Rejoice, the Lord Is King"
718, "Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending"
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