July 12, 2026 – "A New Name" – Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes

July 12th marks the 7th Sunday after Pentecost. This week, in the sermon series,

"The Wrestler", Rev. Dr. Sam Parkes' sermon "A New Name" will focus on

Genesis 32:22–31.

  Hymn notes:

         “Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown” (UMH 386)

Last Sunday, Jeff Harris sang and today WE sing what many consider Charles Wesley's masterpiece. Written in 1742, just four years after his own life-changing conversion, the hymn retells the mysterious story of Jacob wrestling all night with a Stranger at the river Jabbok (Genesis 32). Wesley originally titled it "Wrestling Jacob," and it ran a full fourteen stanzas — a whole drama in verse.

The wrestler becomes every one of us, clinging to God in the dark and refusing to let go until we receive a blessing — until we learn the Stranger's name. And when dawn breaks, the answer comes: "Thy nature and thy name is Love." No less a figure than Isaac Watts, the father of English hymnody, reportedly said this one poem was worth everything he himself had ever written.

The hymn has appeared in every Methodist hymnbook since 1780. Why has it endured? I think it’s because it tells the truth about faith: that it is less often a stroll in the sunshine than a struggle in the night. Wesley gives us permission to bring our doubts, our griefs, and our stubborn questions right into God's grip — and to hang on.

The tune we sing today, CANDLER, has a story of its own. It began life as a Scottish folk melody, best known as the setting for a poem by Robert Burns. The melody crossed the Atlantic and Methodists paired it with Wesley's text, giving it the name CANDLER in honor of Bishop Warren A. Candler (the same Candler whose name graces my “alma mater” seminary in Atlanta). It's a fitting match: the tune's gentle, haunting rise and fall carries both the ache and the hope of Jacob's long night. Jacob limped away from the Jabbok wounded but blessed, carrying a new name. As we complete our journey through "The Wrestler," may this hymn become our own midnight prayer: hold on, ask boldly, and trust that the One we wrestle with is, in the end, pure Love.

                                                                                    Pastor Sam

Meditation on "Just a Closer Walk With Thee"  arr. Bernadine Johnson for the prelude. Worship Service will also include the hymns He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought, Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown and Be Thou My Vision. A Musical Offering, In the Garden arr. Anthony Giamanco, Kylonna Leevy, Soloist.

May today's music inspire gratitude, hope, and trust in the God who continues to guide us.

Come join us at 9:00 a.m. as we Worship Together this Sunday. We hope something in this music and message uplifts and strengthens your spirit. You are always welcome here.

📺 Watch the full service here: Link

📖 Download the bulletin: Link