Methodists Seek Renewal and Celebration on Wesley Day

As the Methodist Church is preparing for the Methodist Conference 2004, a worldwide feast for all Methodists has just passed.

24th May, Wesley Day, is the day when the father of all the Methodist churches, John Wesley, an Anglican priest at that time, realised that the grace of God is the key to salvation. His spirit changed from trembling to a stage that he was able to rest in peace. His heart suddenly became warm and this experience is pursued and believed by all the Methodists in the world. Wesley Day is therefore considered as the birth of Methodism.

The day was also celebrated on the day known as 'Aldersgate Sunday'. The Methodist Church of Great Britain took this opportunity to give thanks to God for the work of the Wesley Brothers and for the people called Methodist.

The Methodists reviewed their achievements over the past few decades, which has seen the Methodist community increase from 42.4 million to 74 million members worldwide. They are encouraged by this amazing growth and have become more determined to move forward by faith. The World Methodist Church’s motto is “The world is my parish.” In bringing the Methodist Church to a new dimension, extending the tabernacle of God to the ends of the earth, a financial foundation strong enough to continue to support the work of the Council is a major vision to support continuous growth of the Methodist community.

Therefore, the main focus of this year’s Aldersgate Sunday was on the World Methodist Council and their “Achieving the vision” campaign. The campaign's aim was to create a financial foundation for the work of the World Methodist Council, which was founded in 1881.

The World Methodist Council unites the family of Methodists and related United Churches in 135 countries, providing the organisation, support, and the resources that enable the evangelical, ecumenical mission of churches in the Wesleyan tradition to come together and move forward. The Council is dependent on year-to-year support from its 73 member churches, each contributing voluntarily according to its ability.

On 24th May, Wesley Day, the Vice-President of the Conference, Judy Jarvis, acknowledged that the Methodist Church cannot be just satisfied with the past, and that the church still had to face up to fact that the church is shrinking or even dying.

Judy Jarvis added, "Wesley day is an important day in the year for all Methodists. Celebrating the date of John Wesley's 1738 conversion experience enables us to look back and re-engage with where we have come from, and to draw inspiration from the courage and values of our Methodist founders.”

She said, “But these are critical days for the Methodist Church, and for the Church of God at large. As a report entitled 'Priorities for the Methodist Church' will say this year at Conference, we must recover confidence in God's presence and action in the world and in the Church. So this Wesley day we will both celebrate the past, and pray for renewal."

She preached the sermon based on the account of the Ascension of Jesus in Acts 1:1-11. She addressed that at this time of change, the church has to face a lot of challenges. The church is looking forward to the coming of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost to renew and revitalise.

Eucharist service was held at the Wesley Chapel at 12:30. Later, worshippers proceeded across City Road to Bunhill Fields Cemetery to lay a wreath on Susannah Wesley’s grave. Jennifer Potter, Associate Minister at Wesley’s chapel, commented on this tradition: “It is a recognition of the great influence she had on her son’s, John and Charles. As long as she was alive they referred their doubts, sorrows and joys to her.”

There was also a wreath-laying ceremony at Wesley Statue in the North Piazza of St.Paul’s Cathedral. Even song in the Cathedral followed, where President of Conference, the Revd Dr Neil Richardson, offered greetings and lessons.