I had the wonderful opportunity of participating in the Charles Wesley Tercentennial Pilgrimage in England last Summer (July 31-August 10, 2007). We walked in the footsteps of Charles and John Wesley as we visited many of the places they lived and worked. I jokingly told my church that I was taking a trip to the "Holy Land." Well, in many ways, we truly did travel to holy land.
We began and ended each day in worship. We sang hymns written by Charles and feasted on the Lord's Supper as a way of being immersed in the means of grace. I think the Wesleys would have been proud of us!
In Epworth, I touched the stone baptismal font where both John and Charles were baptized! That was a thrill for this United Methodist pastor! In the New Room in Bristol, I held my breath as I stood in the pulpit used by the Wesley brothers. In London I felt as though I was treading on sacred ground when I visited John's home where he spent the last years of his life. These experiences gave me a glimpse inside the personal lives of these faithful disciples, which is something you cannot get from reading a history book.
Even though over two-hundred years separate us from the Wesleys, the timelessness of the Word, liturgy, and sacraments along with the Spirit of God connect us in ways beyond my understanding. I was honored and humbled by this pilgrimage experience; honored in that I am serving as a pastor and will be ordained in a denomination with such a rich heritage; humbled in that I feel I am not worthy to follow in the Wesley's footsteps. I pray that God will grant me a portion of their enormous energy so that my ministry will bear much fruit for God's Kingdom.
I have always thought that small groups are important for growth in discipleship. Upon my return from England, I became more passionate about how my congregation would benefit from the small-group experience. With the help of the Rev. Flint Shea, I organized two types of small groups -- Covenant Groups and Wesley Groups. These 8-12 member discipleship groups meet weekly in peoples' homes. Their purpose is biblical and Wesleyan: to grow in loving God and neighbor and "to watch over one another in love." We currently have four groups going strong. They are making a difference in peoples' lives.
Perhaps God has already granted me a portion of the Wesley's spirit because I am not satisfied that there are only four groups! As we make the groups more visible to the congregation, my hope is that more people will feel God tugging at their hearts to become more active in going on to perfection in love.
I am very proud of our Methodist heritage, and I hope you are too!
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Shannon is Associate Pastor at University United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is a Probationary Elder in the Louisiana Annual Conference and will be ordained in June.
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