Today we went to Epworth. This is the village where Samuel Wesley served as the priest of the Anglican church that was built in 1180. We saw the rectory where the family lived and walked the path between the two. We also sat in the Wesley Memorial Methodist church where John and Charles Wesley are memorialized in stain glass. The lovely ladies of this congregation fed us tea and lunch. Their hospitality was marvelous. I took a ton of pictures.
My favorite part was the Anglican church and seeing the baptismal font where Samuel baptized his children. It is made of stone and stands four feet high. I held the chalice that Samuel Wesley used to serve communion in this community. I saw the grave where Samuel was buried and John so famously stood to preach when he wasn’t allowed to preach in the church. I can not help thinking how much richer my ministry will be for having been in this place. When I teach membership classes or confirmation classes, I can talk about the places that we are reading about. When I quote John or Charles Wesley in a sermon, I can visualize where they were when they said these things. I wish I could adequately explain how powerful it is to feel connected to this bit of history. I have been inspired by their bravery to try new things and let God work through them. I have decided to let my fear of the future of my congregation and my denomination go. I just want to focus on what God is doing in this place. I want to help people live lives that have purpose and meaning by helping them fall in love with Jesus again. God will always be working and this trip today reminded me of that. I am just one small seed in the plan that God has.
The pastor’s wife at Wesley Memorial told us today that a family from Tonga traveled to Epworth to have their two children baptized in this place. She mentioned groups from Nigeria and Korea who have come to see where John and Charles began being shaped into the amazing motivators that they were. It was a little overwhelming to try to understand the scope of influence these two men have had on the Christian church. At the rectory they had maps laid out where you could insert a pin into your hometown. I couldn’t believe how many people from how vast a distance have made this same pilgrimage. It is truly amazing. Each year they replace the maps so I knew that all these people had come this year. I look forward to using Wesley inspiration on our new community. It has so much to offer us on how to really live a life of meaning and faithfulness..
by 
