A Theology of the Sacraments Interpreted by John and Charles Wesley: Including Hymns for Baptism and Holy Communion with Commentary and New Musical Settings

By C. Michael Hawn

This volume brings together the theological interpretation of the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion as expressed in the writings and hymns of John and Charles Wesley.
-Section 1 addresses the Anglican-Methodist sacrament of baptism as interpreted by John Wesley with excerpts from his Treatise on Baptism.
-Section 2 contains commentaries on six of Charles Wesley's hymns on baptism. The commentaries seek to elucidate not only the theological emphases of the texts but also their meaning for the church today.
-Section 3 moves to the sacrament of Holy Communion and includes excerpts from John Wesley's sermon "On the Duty of Constant Communion." Charles Wesley expresses similar views in his treatise on Holy Communion, "And upon the first Day of the Week," and in his twenty-two stanza poem "Happy the Saints of Former Days."
-Section 4 includes the commentaries on sixteen Wesley hymns for Holy Communion.
-Section 5 includes new musical settings for all of the twenty-two Wesley hymns on baptism and Holy Communion included here by twenty contemporary composers from North and South America, Asia, and Europe. In a variety of musical styles they seek to capture the various theological emphases and nuances of the texts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Release date: Aug 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781666705676

Book preview

A Theology of the Sacraments Interpreted by John and Charles Wesley

Including Hymns for Baptism and Holy Communion with Commentary and New Musical Settings

edited by

S T Kimbrough, Jr.,

and

Dean B. McIntyre

foreword by

C. Michael Hawn

A Theology of the Sacraments Interpreted by John and Charles Wesley

Including Hymns for Baptism and Holy Communion with Commentary and New Musical Settings

Copyright ©

2021

S T Kimbrough, Jr. and Dean McIntyre. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers,

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Resource Publications

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paperback isbn: 978-1-6667-0565-2

hardcover isbn: 978-1-6667-0566-9

ebook isbn: 978-1-6667-0567-6

08/18/21

Table of Contents

Title Page

Foreword

Preface

Abbreviations

Section 1: Sacrament of Baptism as Interpreted by John Wesley

Section 2: Commentaries on the Hymns for Baptism by Charles Wesley

Section 3: The Sacrament of Holy Communion as Interpreted by John and Charles Wesley

Section 4: Commentaries on the Hymns for Holy Communion

Section 5: Hymns for Baptism and Holy Communion

Bibliography

Eighteenth-century Methodists had a theological library small enough to be carried in one hand: a hymnal. It was a tie that bound them to sacraments, service, and Scripture through theological, political, and ecclesiastical change. Kimbrough and McIntyre equip this generation of ‘Methodists’ with a Wesleyan sacramental theology that’s teachable, singable, and portable. Frame baptismal sermons around ‘pardon, and holiness, and heaven’ and feed hungry congregations with the Bread of Life found here.

—Heather Murray Elkins, Professor emerita, Drew Theological School

The church ecumenical owes Kimbrough and McIntyre a debt of gratitude for bringing these hymn texts into wider circulation. Charles Wesley’s vivid and poetic language, drawing as it does upon the treasury of the Holy Scriptures, is a gift to Christians of every tradition. We can all deepen our relationship with Christ through the piety and sacramental doctrine we discover in this fine collection.

—John Bauerschmidt, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee

Charles Wesley gifted Methodists with the richest collection of hymns on the Lord’s Supper and baptism of any Christian tradition. Sadly, only a few have found their way into present Methodist life and worship. That is what makes this resource so welcome. It gathers some of Wesley’s best texts, paired with engaging new musical settings and undergirded with insightful commentaries. It gives new hope and offers an avenue through which Methodists and other Christians can reclaim the full-bodied wisdom about these central means of grace that empowered the early movement!

—Randy L. Maddox, William Kellon Quick Professor emeritus of Wesleyan and Methodist Studies, Duke Divinity School

This volume brings together the memory of our Anglican-Methodist roots with new music, the latter being a sign that the Holy Spirit is still active and fulfilling its creative function in our lives. The wedding of passionate spirituality with fresh musical inspiration offers the possibility of authentic renewal. If you are looking for personal spiritual regeneration and communal worship renewal, reflect on the sacraments. Then sing these songs!

—C. Michael Hawn, University Distinguished Professor emeritus of Church Music, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University

What a rich array of new hymns Kimbrough and McIntyre have offered us in this volume! The texts are important to our United Methodist faith and heritage, and the new musical settings and tunes from some of today’s most creative composers are inspired. The commentaries for each text offer theological and scriptural context to complement some theological prose writings of John and Charles Wesley. Your faith will be expanded and your soul will soar as you read and sing these pages.

—Eileen Guenther, Professor of Church Music, Wesley Theological Seminary

Baptism and Holy Communion are our most holy means of grace. Wesleyan Christians who want a deeper understanding of how God works through these sacraments will find help in the words of Charles and John Wesley. Kimbrough and McIntyre have brought to life new hymns and given us tunes and commentary that help modern disciples reconnect with a Wesleyan approach to the sacraments.

—Scott J. Jones, Bishop, Great Plains Area, United Methodist Church

"The people who follow Jesus Christ under guidance by John Wesley are inexorably sacramental, though unhappily, Methodists sometime forget this fact of their identity. Kimbrough and McIntyre have done us the great service of setting before worshiping congregations Charles Wesley’s hymns for baptism and Holy Communion. The hymns are accompanied by rich commentary and by musical settings and supplemented by John Wesley’s A Treatise on Baptism and his sermon ‘The Duty of Constant Communion.’ The appearance of this book bodes well for the strengthening of the church’s sacramental life and the vitalization of its worship."

—M. Douglas Meeks, Cal Turner Chancellor Professor emeritus of Theology and Wesleyan Studies, Vanderbilt University Divinity School