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05/31/2003 Entry: "John Wesley's Birthday"
In just a couple short weeks John Wesley will be 300 years old. Actually, what's left of him will be, but the heritage he has left us lives on. In many places Methodist type people are celebrating his birth with special services, pilgrimages to London and other Wesley sites and by other means.
At our Annual Conference where clergy and lay delegates gather each year for about 4 or 5 days in Lakeland, Florida, we celebrated in fine fashion. Dr. Reginald Mallett was our guest preacher for Tuesday and Wednesday nights and did a wonderful job of challenging us American, Floridian United Methodist Christians. He even preached in full Wesley garb (like Richard wore for the folks here in Fruitland Park). On Wednesday evening at our Historical Society meeting and dinner we were held captivated by Peggy Miller portraying Susanah Wesley in a very profound, moving and acurate way. She even through in how she thought dear Samuel and even John might have sounded in conversation with Susanah.
Our Archives Commission had a bust of John Wesely commissioned to help raise money for our new heritage center and we were able to distribute several of those as a part of the 300th anniversary.
It dawned on me that the way we conducted our conference, ordained our clergy and dealt with business all have their origins in the rules and regulations set down by John Wesley over 200 years ago. It's nice to feel connected to our heritage, both historically and theologically.
Happy Birthday, J.W., on June 17th!
Ivan The Crank
Replies:
We did a special study on Wesley early in the year on Wednesday nights and, if the medallion arrives before I leave a week from tomorrow, we're going to put the emblem of a circuit rider on the tombstone of a former pastor who served here at the end of the 19th century and the first couple of years of the 1900's. He and his family are buried in Shiloh Cemetery and this will let everyone know that he was a Methodist preacher. I'm not sure if my succesor is going to have anything special. I will definitely plan something for DeLand, but probably not a bike ride around the district (unless the bike is a motorcycle - ha!)
Ivan
Posted by Ivan the Crank @ 06/02/2003 04:20 AM CST
Are there any special celebrations planned in Fruitland Park ,Ivan? Or even in DeLand?
The ride is planned for August 9th. Bleh!
Posted by Richard @ 05/31/2003 11:07 PM CST
which reminds me, when's the famous bike ride??
Posted by alice @ 05/31/2003 10:05 PM CST
