 |
 |
As this newsletter lands in your Inbox, my own church is preparing for what we call the “Season of Remembrance”.
We will begin November with the feast of All Saints, who will include members and friends who have recently died. Remembrance Sunday will follow on the 13th (see below); and Transgender Remembrance is marked a week later, in a year when attacks on individuals because of their gender identity have spiked significantly. This same day, 20 November, is also designated Women against Violence Sunday, for which a special service has been prepared.
It is easy to forget that, in our worship, these moments of remembrance – often sad and sobering; maybe leaving us feeling despondent – are placed firmly within the context of God’s present, embracing love. That embrace reveals itself as increasingly determined and passionate in the season of Advent that follows at the end of the month.
Remembrance and Advent waiting – two conjoined aspects of God’s love perhaps?
|
|
There is Room
The first Sunday in Advent this year is on 27 November. In 2022, the Methodist Church is celebrating the Christmas message that Jesus’ birth made room for all in God’s Commonwealth of love.
The There is Room page offers a wealth of materials and visual resources. These include worship materials for each Sunday through Advent, continuing through Epiphany. Each Sunday explores a different perspective on the theme, and includes appropriate hymn suggestions for the day. (And because there is an emphasis on the words of the prophet Isaiah, here’s a reminder that Bible Month 2022 was devoted to those very words.)
We have updated our One stop shop for Advent – and will add further resources as they become available. For even more hymns and suggestions, search our themed Advent and Christmas menu.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Acts of remembrance
StF+’s Remembrance Sunday resources are among our most used. If you are looking for fresh ways of marking this day, try starting with our Remembrance Sunday page. For an overview of possible hymns, see Remembering Conflict – singing for peace. And see our themed list of Remembrance resources.
This year, Resources from Armed Forces Chaplains has been updated. Material is mainly from Methodist Armed Forces Chaplains, including reflections by chaplains themselves, suggested Bible readings and songs/music, and poems and prayers.
A small number of contributions have been made available in video format to provide greater flexibility. These can be found at Resources for Methodists.
|
|
God’s love is global
In a world that we often experience as fractured – by war, climate challenges or political rhetoric – remembering our global relationships as Methodists reminds us of God’s world-wide presence and activity.
New Global Relationships worship resources reflect the Methodist Way of Life commitment that in our worship “we will look and listen for God in Scripture, and the world”.
And if you are looking for worship resources for children and young people that explore global mission, why not try the JMA Commissioning Service resources? This worship material can be used throughout the year and not just for commissioning services. With a selection of prayers, hymn/worship song suggestions, the authors say “you can just ‘pick n mix’ and use what is useful for you as you lead worship”.
This year the theme for Rainbow magazine (downloadable as a PDF) and JMA Commissioning Service is Love One Another, inspired by the theme of the Methodist Prayer Handbook 2022/2023: The Greatest Commandment.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
The Wesleys for modern ears
Following our mention of Resound Worship’s new album, Sing A Hymn, in the September newsletter, we were contacted about Wesley – Eternal Depth, a collection of 20 John Wesley hymns set to new music by Canadian musician Wendy Edwards Beardall-Norton and arranged by Christopher Norton. The project was inspired by the Revd Dr John Haley, a Methodist minister in the Launceston Area Circuit, who is committed to making even Wesley’s lesser-known hymn translations accessible and popular again. Reviewing the collection, the Revd Brian Hoare noted that the settings are “more traditional than contemporary in style” but that the tunes are “enhanced and have been given a more contemporary feel by Christopher Norton’s characteristically imaginative arrangements of his wife’s melodies.”
We recently reported that one of Charles Wesley’s hymns has also come in for some refreshment, this time with a new setting of his hymn Being of beings, God of love (StF 490) by the Revd Leslie Newton. Now, hymn writer Andrew Brown has collaborated with Leslie to produce a sensitive update of Wesley’s words. Both words and the new tune are available on the Being of beings hymn post.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
