Editing Methodism (section)

==Prayer, worship, and liturgy==
[[File:Wesley's Chapel during Wikimania 2014 by-RaBoe 68.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|[[Communion table]] behind the [[Communion rail|rail]] in [[Wesley's Chapel]], London.]]
With respect to public worship, Methodism was endowed by the Wesley brothers with worship characterised by a twofold practice: the ritual liturgy of the ''[[Book of Common Prayer]]'' on the one hand and the non-ritualistic preaching service on the other.<ref name="Firth">{{cite web|last1=Firth|first1=Richard|title=Methodist Worship|url=http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/4416/1/Firth13PhD.pdf|publisher=University of Birmingham|date=2013|access-date=7 February 2016}}</ref> This twofold practice became distinctive of Methodism because worship in the Church of England was based, by law, solely on the ''Book of Common Prayer'' and worship in the [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|Nonconformist]] churches was almost exclusively that of "services of the word", i.e. preaching services, with [[Holy Communion]] being observed infrequently. John Wesley's influence meant that, in Methodism, the two practices were combined, a situation which remains characteristic of the tradition.<ref name="Firth" /><ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Westerfield Tucker |editor-first=Karen B. |title=The Sunday Service of the Methodists: Twentieth-Century Worship in Worldwide Methodism |date=1996 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York |chapter=Form and Freedom: John Wesley's Legacy for Methodist Worship|isbn=978-0687011346}}</ref> Methodism has heavily emphasized "offerings of [[Extemporaneous|extempore]] and spontaneous prayer".<ref name="Nichols2012">{{cite book |last1=Nichols |first1=Bridget |title=The Collect in the Churches of the Reformation |date=12 May 2012 |publisher=SCM Press |isbn=978-0-334-04207-5 |page=85 |language=en}}</ref> To this end, Methodist [[Revival meeting|revival service]]s and [[camp meetings]] have been characterized by groaning and shouting, as people sought the fullness of salvation that Methodists taught to be embodied by the experience of [[Christian perfection|entire sanctification]].<ref name="Richey2015">{{cite book |last1=Richey |first1=Russell E. |title=Methodism in the American Forest |date=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-935962-2 |page=155 |language=en |quote=Cookman described this one and three other camp meetings in a longish article for Methodism's ''Christian Advocate''. "Two leading facts met myobservation at all these meetings," he insisted. "First, the interest in the mind of the Church respecting the experience of personal holiness. Every where ministers and people were groaning for full redemption in the blood of the Lamb. I have seen hundreds at the same moment prostrated before God in the spirit of entire consecration, and concerned to appropriate Jesus as their full and perfect Saviour."}}</ref><ref name="Synan1997">{{cite book |last1=Synan |first1=Vinson |title=The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition: Charismatic Movements in the Twentieth Century |date=25 August 1997 |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |isbn=978-0-8028-4103-2 |page=9 |language=en |quote=At times the emotions of the sanctified Methodists would exceed the limits of control. "Some would be seized with a trembling, and in a few moments drop on the floor as if they were dead; while others were embracing each other with streaming eyes, and all were lose in wonder, love and praise," wrote one observer. Another noted that some wept for grief while others shouted for joy "so that it was hard to distinguish one from the other." At times the congregations would "raise a great shout" that could be heard for miles around.}}</ref> To outsiders, Wesleyans were labeled as "Shouting Methodists" due to their free expression during worship.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Lillian C. |last2=Beasley |first2=Erin |last3=Coleman |first3=Justin |last4=Caldwell-Gross |first4=Jevon |last5=Lightsey |first5=Pamela R. |last6=Johnson |first6=F. Willis |last7=Ross |first7=Vance P. |last8=Graves |first8=Rodney Lorenzo |last9=Butler |first9=Tori C. |last10=Rasmus |first10=Rev Rudy |title=I'm Black. I'm Christian. I'm Methodist. |date=3 November 2020 |publisher=Abingdon Press |isbn=978-1-7910-1710-1 |language=en |quote=In the earliest days of Methodism, God's Spirit moved mightily. In John Wesley's lifetime, it was reported that when he preached, conviction of the Holy Spirit would manifest mightily and people would subsequently fall out, experience the shakes, and experience a holy laughter. Many people were reportedly "slain in the Spirit." In one instance, John Wesley recounts the following incident in his journal on Thursday, April 25, 1739, "Immediately one, and another, and another sunk to the earth: they dropped as if they were thunderstruck. One of them cried aloud." His journals also record him praying to expel demons. The openness to free expression in worship may have been an additional reason that free and enslaved Africans were attracted to the Methodists in America. That free expression continued into the next century. In the 1800s, Methodists were derided with the label "Shouting Methodists". Methodists were initially known for their enthusiasm. American evangelist, pastor, and teacher R.A. Torrey (1856-1928) wrote the following to describe an encounter he had with the Holy Spirit: "Sometime after this experience (I do not recall just how long after), while sitting in my room one day...suddenly...I found myself shouting (I was not brought up to shout and I'm not of a shouting temperament, but I shouted like the loudest shouting Methodist), Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God,' and I could not stop."}}</ref>
[[File:Methodistcommunion2.jpg|upright|thumb|United Methodist minister breaking bread during a Communion service]]
Historically, Methodist churches have devoutly observed the [[Lord's Day]] (Sunday) with a morning [[Church service|service of worship]], along with an evening service of worship (with the evening service being aimed at seekers and focusing on "singing, prayer, and preaching"); the holding of a midweek prayer meeting on Wednesday evenings has been customary.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tucker |first1=Karen B. Westerfield |title=American Methodist Worship |date=27 April 2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-045420-3 |pages=24–25 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="WFMC2024"/>  18th-century Methodist church services were characterized by the following pattern: "preliminaries (e.g., singing, prayers, testimonies), to a 'message,' followed by an invitation to commitment", the latter of which took the form [[altar call]]—a practice that a remains "a vital part" of worship.<ref name="Tucker2011"/><ref name="Coleman">{{cite web |last1=Coleman |first1=Robert E. |title=The Origin of the Altar Call in American Methodism |url=https://place.asburyseminary.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2132&context=asburyjournal |publisher=[[Asbury Theological Seminary]] |access-date=22 May 2024 |language=English}}</ref> A number of Methodist congregations devote a portion of their Sunday evening service and mid-week Wednesday evening prayer meeting to having congregants share their prayer requests, in addition to hearing personal [[Testimony#Religion|testimonies]] about their faith and experiences in living the Christian life.<ref name="POF1948">{{cite book |title=Catechism of the Pillar of Fire Church |date=1948 |publisher=Pillar of Fire Church |pages=39–40}}</ref> After listening to various members of the congregation voice their prayer requests, congregants may kneel for [[Intercession#Christianity|intercessory prayer]].<ref name="WFMC2024">{{cite web |title=Prayer |url=https://wilmorefmc.org/worship/prayer/ |publisher=Wilmore Free Methodist Church |language=English |date=2024 |quote=We gather each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. for singing, joyful thanksgiving, sharing, and prayer. Anyone is welcome to come and share a burden for us to bear together or a blessing for us to celebrate together.}}</ref> The [[Lovefeast]], traditionally practiced quarterly, was another practice that characterized early Methodism as John Wesley taught that it was an apostolic [[Ordinance (Christianity)|ordinance]].<ref name="Tovey2016"/> Worship, hymnology, devotional and liturgical practices in Methodism were also influenced by [[Pietism|Pietistic Lutheranism]] and, in turn, Methodist worship became influential in the [[Holiness movement]].<ref>{{cite book |author-last=Ruth |author-first=Lester |title=The Oxford Handbook of Methodist Studies |date=2011 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0199696116 |editor1-last=Kirby |editor1-first=James E. |location=[[Oxford]], England and [[New York City]] |pages=324–329 |chapter=Worship: Sacraments, Liturgy, Hymnody, Preaching – Liturgical Revolutions |doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199696116.013.0018 |lccn=2009926748 |editor2-last=Abraham |editor2-first=William J. |editor2-link=William J. Abraham |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D5AOZwZ8n_oC&pg=PA324 |s2cid=152440716}}</ref>

Early Methodism was known for its "almost monastic rigors, its living by rule, [and] its canonical hours of prayer".<ref name="Hurst1902">{{cite book|last=Hurst|first=John Fletcher|title=The History of Methodism|year=1902|publisher=Eaton & Mains|pages=310}}</ref> It inherited from its [[Daily Office (Anglican)|Anglican patrimony]] the practice of reciting the [[Daily Office]], which Methodist Christians were expected to [[Christian prayer|pray]].<ref name="Jones2019">{{cite book |last1=Jones |first1=Susan H. |title=Everyday Public Worship |year=2019 |publisher=SCM Press |isbn=978-0-334-05757-4 |language=en}}</ref> The first prayer book of Methodism, ''[[The Sunday Service of the Methodists|The Sunday Service of the Methodists with other occasional Services]]'' thus included the canonical hours of both Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer; these services were observed everyday in [[early Christianity]], though on the [[Lord's Day]], worship included the Eucharist.<ref name="Bercot2021">{{cite book |last1=Bercot |first1=David W. |title=Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs: A Reference Guide to More Than 700 Topics Discussed by the Early Church Fathers |date=28 December 2021 |publisher=Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. |isbn=978-1-61970-168-7 |language=English |quote=Morning and Evening Prayer were liturgical services held each day at the local church, during which psalms were sung and prayers were offered to God.}}</ref><ref name="Jones2019"/><ref name="Beckwith2005">{{cite book |last1=Beckwith |first1=Roger T.|author-link1=Roger T. Beckwith |title=Calendar, Chronology And Worship: Studies in Ancient Judaism And Early Christianity |date=2005 |publisher=[[Brill Academic Publishers]] |isbn=978-90-04-14603-7 |page=193 |language=en}}</ref> Later Methodist liturgical books, such as the ''Methodist Worship Book'' (1999) provide for Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer to be prayed daily; the [[United Methodist Church]] encourages its communicants to pray the canonical hours as "one of the essential practices" of being a disciple of Jesus.<ref name="MWB"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Praying the Hours of the Day: Recovering Daily Prayer |url=https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/praying-the-hours-of-the-day-recovering-daily-prayer |publisher=[[General Board of Discipleship]] |access-date=6 September 2020 |date=6 May 2007}}</ref> Some Methodist religious orders publish the Daily Office to be used for that community, for example, ''The Book of Offices and Services of The Order of Saint Luke'' contains the canonical hours to be prayed traditionally at [[fixed prayer times|seven fixed prayer times]]: [[Lauds]] (6 am), [[Terce]] (9 am), [[Sext]] (12 pm), [[Nones (liturgy)|None]] (3 pm), [[Vespers]] (6 pm), [[Compline]] (9 pm) and [[Vigil]] (12 am).<ref>{{cite book|title=The Book of Offices and Services|date=6 September 2012|publisher=[[Order of St. Luke]]}}</ref> Some Methodist congregations offer daily Morning Prayer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Philosophy of St. Paul's |url=http://www.stpaulsfmc.org/guiding-philosophies.html |publisher=St Paul's Free Methodist Church |access-date=17 May 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

In America, the United Methodist Church and [[Free Methodist Church]], as well as the [[Primitive Methodist Church]] and [[Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection|Wesleyan Methodist Church]], have a wide variety of forms of worship, ranging from [[high church]] to [[low church]] in [[Christian liturgy|liturgical]] usage. When the Methodists in America were separated from the Church of England because of the American Revolution, John Wesley provided a revised version of the ''Book of Common Prayer'' called ''[[The Sunday Service of the Methodists; With Other Occasional Services]]'' (1784).<ref name="Coe1996">{{cite book|last=Coe|first=Bufford W.|title=John Wesley and Marriage|year=1996|publisher=[[Lehigh University Press]]|language=en|isbn=978-0934223393|page=11}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=White |first=James F. (introduction) |title=John Wesley's Sunday service of the Methodists in North America |publisher=Quarterly Review |year=1984 |isbn=978-0687406326 |location=Nashville, Tennessee |language=en-us}}</ref> Today, the primary [[liturgical book]]s of the United Methodist Church are ''[[The United Methodist Hymnal]]'' and ''[[The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992)|The United Methodist Book of Worship]]'' (1992). Congregations employ its liturgy and rituals as optional resources, but their use is not mandatory. These books contain the liturgies of the church that are generally derived from Wesley's ''Sunday Service'' and from the 20th-century [[Liturgical movement|liturgical renewal movement]].

The [[Methodist Church of Great Britain|British Methodist Church]] is less ordered, or less liturgical, in worship. It makes use of the ''Methodist Worship Book'' (similar to the Church of England's ''[[Common Worship]]''), containing set services and [[rubric]]s for the celebration of other [[Rite (Christianity)|rite]]s, such as marriage. The ''Worship Book'' is also ultimately derived from Wesley's ''Sunday Service''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Methodist Publishing: Resources Catalogue|url=http://www.methodist.org.uk/media/469949/methodist-publishing-catalogue-2013.pdf|publisher=Methodist Publishing|access-date=24 March 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324142640/http://www.methodist.org.uk/media/469949/methodist-publishing-catalogue-2013.pdf|archive-date=24 March 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

A unique feature of American Methodism has been the observance of the [[liturgical year|season]] of [[Kingdomtide]], encompassing the last 13 weeks before Advent, thus dividing the long season after Pentecost into two segments. During Kingdomtide, Methodist liturgy has traditionally emphasized charitable work and alleviating the suffering of the poor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kingdomtide |url=https://firstchurchorlando.org/news/2013/kingdomtide/ |publisher=First United Methodist Church of Orlando |access-date=17 January 2020 |date=7 September 2013 |archive-date=22 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522164500/https://firstchurchorlando.org/news/2013/kingdomtide/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A second distinctive liturgical feature of Methodism is the use of [[Covenant Renewal Service|Covenant Services]]. Although practice varies between national churches, most Methodist churches annually follow the call of John Wesley for a renewal of their [[covenant (religion)|covenant]] with God. It is common for each congregation to use the Covenant Renewal liturgy during the [[watchnight service]] in the night of [[New Year's Eve]],<ref name="Sweet2014">{{cite book |last1=Sweet |first1=Leonard |title=The Well-Played Life |date=2014-02-21 |publisher=[[Tyndale House Publishers]] |isbn=978-1-4143-9080-2 |page=62 |language=English}}</ref> though in Britain, these are often on the first Sunday of the year. Wesley's covenant prayer is still used, with minor modification, in the order of service:

{{blockquote|Christ has many services to be done. Some are easy, others are difficult. Some bring honour, others bring reproach. Some are suitable to our natural inclinations and temporal interests, others are contrary to both ... Yet the power to do all these things is given to us in Christ, who strengthens us.

...I am no longer my own but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you or laid aside for you, exalted for you or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing; I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.<ref name="MWB">{{cite book |title=The Methodist Worship Book |date=1999 |publisher=Methodist Publishing House |location=Peterborough, Eng. |isbn=1858521165}}</ref>{{rp|290}}}}

[[File:Camp meeting of the Methodists in N. America J. Milbert del M. Dubourg sculp (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Methodist preachers were known for promulgating the doctrines of the [[Born again#Methodism|new birth]] and [[entire sanctification]] to the public at events such as tent revivals, brush arbor revivals and camp meetings (''depicted here in an engraving''), which they believe is the reason that God brought them into existence.<ref name="Gibson">{{cite web|url=https://ucmpage.org/sgca/wesley01.htm|title=Wesleyan Heritage Series: Entire Sanctification|last=Gibson|first=James|publisher=South Georgia Confessing Association|language=en|access-date=30 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529053529/http://ucmpage.org/sgca/wesley01.htm|archive-date=29 May 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>]]
As John Wesley advocated outdoor evangelism, [[revival meeting|revival services]] are a traditional worship practice of Methodism that are often held in churches, as well as at [[camp meeting]]s, [[brush arbor revival]]s, and [[tent revival]]s.<ref name="Dresser2015">{{cite book|last=Dresser|first=Thomas|title=Martha's Vineyard: A History|year=2015|publisher=Arcadia Publishing Incorporated|language=en|isbn=978-1625849045|page=57}}</ref><ref name="CensusHunt1910">{{cite book|last=Durand|first=E. Dana |title=Religious Bodies: 1906|year=1910|publisher=Government Printing Office|language=en|page=484}}</ref><ref name="ChilcoteWarner2008">{{cite book|last1=Chilcote|first1=Paul W.|last2=Warner|first2=Laceye C.|title=The Study of Evangelism: Exploring a Missional Practice of the Church|date=2008|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing|language=en|isbn=978-0802803917|page=206}}</ref>