Graduation Sunday

Bulletin Letter for June 2, 2013

Dear Friends,

Congratulations to our graduates whom we honor this morning and congratulations to our many family members and friends who are celebrating graduations this spring.

I am reminded of the “founder of American Methodism”, Francis Asbury, who had an unlikely “graduation.” When Asbury was born in England in 1745, his mother determined that he would serve God is a remarkable way. She believed that he would someday lead the Church of England; he would become the Archbishop of Canterbury. From his infancy, Asbury’s mother read the Bible to him, sang hymns and prayed over him. His education prepared him to go to university and then become a minister.

But in his late teens, Asbury went to a preaching house and heard a Methodist preacher. By the time he was 18, he was preaching at Methodist gatherings across southwest England. He was 26 when John Wesley called for preachers to go to America. He set sail and never returned to England.

Asbury “graduated” from ministry training in his homeland as America settlement was expanding west. In 1776, when war broke out, he was the only Methodist pastor who did not return to England. For 45 years, he preached, founded churches, and was one of the first bishops in the American Methodist Church. It is estimated that he averaged 6,000 miles per year on horseback bringing Christ wherever he went. When Asbury came to America there were 10 Methodist pastors and 600 Methodists. When he died in 1816, there were 695 pastors and 214,300 Methodists.

Our graduates today may have a plan; they may even be doing what their family expects of them. But where God is concerned, there can be surprises. God can use our gifts and our skills to change the world. My prayer for our graduates and for each of us is that we would be open to the call of God.

Blessings,

Pastor Sherry