The Faith We Sing-Charles Wesley for the Church Today

The In Deep Conference 2022 was an invitation to rediscover the richness of the Methodist tradition and its relevance to our worship through song and hymn. The collaboration between TRAC Board of Worship and Music (BOWM) and Methodist School of Music (MSM) focused on exploring "Charles Wesley for the Church Today".

When "Methodist tradition" and "Hymns" are put together, it is only natural that the name Charles Wesley comes to mind with hymns such as "And Can It Be That I Should Gain" and "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing", both written by the prolific songwriter. However, these are merely two out of the thousands of hymns and poems that were written by him in his lifetime. This was just one of the many insights which ST Kimbrough, the founding President of the Charles Wesley Society (USA) and the guest lecturer for the conference, shared with us.

The internationally renowned scholar also highlighted deep spiritual truths and insights about one's inner spiritual journey which are recurring themes from his study of Charles Wesley's texts. Finally, he challenged us to revisit our Methodist roots by studying all of Charles Wesley's hymns and poems, and to compose our own tunes from the texts to find new ways to express The Faith We Sing. In the late morning, the conference split up into various skills-training workshops, where the esteemed trainers equipped participants with knowledge and skills ranging from photography to worship leading, contemporary arrangements to choral ministry. No matter which worship ministry one was involved in, there was a workshop which left them with new knowledge and skills to better serve their ministries and churches.

During lunch, participants were given the precious opportunity to connect with fellow worship ministers across the Methodist churches. The air was filled with encouragement and laughter as participants formed bonds with each other over shared experiences.

After lunch, TRAC President Rev Stanley Chua encouraged the participants to consider how we can incorporate Wesleyan hymns, especially those which were not set to familiar tunes, into the worship services at our local churches. He further emphasised the need for our churches to reclaim the heritage that was left behind by the Wesley brothers and be cognisant of our distinctives as Methodists.

(left) TRAC President Rev Stanley Chua presiding over Holy Communion sacrament, assisted by Rev Jeremy Ong, PIC of Holland Village MC

(right) Choir comprising workshop participants leading in Charles Wesley hymns set to new arrangements

The conference concluded with a Song Festival featuring works by our local songwriters, all of which are Wesleyan hymns put to contemporary musical settings. Dr Calvin Chong narrated texts which guided our worship through movements about God's story: The Incarnation, The Death of Christ and the Resurrection of Christ, and Our Story. The choir, comprising workshop participants, led in singing "Let Earth and Heaven Combine" and "And Can It Be That I Should Gain" set to new musical arrangements which allowed us to reconsider the words of these familiar hymns. The Song Festival culminated in the celebration of the Lord's Supper presided by Rev Chua.

The conference was a helpful reminder of the rich musical heritage that we share as Methodists and how we can continue to steward this heritage by discovering new ways of expressing the hymns and poems written almost two and a half centuries ago. In many ways, those works continue to be relevant and meaningful for the world, the Church and God's people today.

(left) Dr Calvin Chong of Covenant Community Methodist Church narrating at the Song Fest

(right) Joshua Loke of Fairfield Methodist Church giving a workshop on Lyrics in Songwriting