2013 Golden Halo winner Frances Perkins prepares to hand over her halo
We embarked upon this Lent Madness journey over five weeks ago on “Ash Thursday.” With your help we have whittled the field of 32 saints down to two: Harriet Bedell and Charles Wesley. Who will walk away with the coveted Golden Halo of Lent Madness 2014? Only 24 hours and your voting participation will reveal this holy mystery.
Regardless of the ultimate outcome, we’ve met some truly remarkable holy people along the way. Perhaps you learned about some folks you’d never heard of or maybe you renewed acquaintances with saints who have long offered inspiration. Of course the entire notion of placing saints in a bracket is absurd — each “contestant” has already earned a crown of righteousness in addition to a “golden halo.” But at the heart of Lent Madness is the abiding conviction that encountering those who have come before us in the faith enriches and enlivens our own walk with the risen Christ.
In the process of this whimsical Lenten devotion we’ve all made some new online friends, encountered a community of believers who take their faith but not themselves too seriously, learned some things, were inspired by saintly witnesses, and had a lot fun along the way.
Of course we literally couldn’t have done this without our stellar Celebrity Bloggers to whom we offer sincere gratitude. Amber Belldene, Laurie Brock, Megan Castellan, David Creech, Laura Darling, Robert Hendrickson, Maria Kane, Penny Nash, Heidi Shott, and David Sibley. Thanks to Bracket Czar Adam Thomas for his stellar behind-the-scenes work in keeping the bracket updated daily. And we can’t forget the ever mysterious Maple Anglican who brought us the inimitable shenanigans of Archbishops Thomas and John. You all rock!
Speaking of Maple Anglican, here's the last Archbishop's Update. But before you watch it (or after) be sure to check out some Golden Halo fashion tips from Lent Madness fan and Vogue model (seriously) Julia Frakes.
Finally, thanks to all of you who participated by voting, commenting, drinking coffee out of Lent Madness mugs, filling in brackets, talking about saints at coffee hour, liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter, and allowing us to play a small role in your Lenten journey. We’ve loved having each one of you along for the “madness” and on behalf of the Supreme Executive Committee we wish you a blessed Holy Week and a joyous Easter.
Oh, wait, there’s one more thing before we set our face toward the Triduum. But first we should note that Heidi Shott has shepherded Harriet Bedell through the brackets while David Sibley has done the same for Charles Wesley. We've asked them for a single image and one quote. We've already heard a lot about them and from them -- click the bracket tab and scroll down to view their previous match-ups if you want to refresh your memory. And the, it's time.
The polls will be open for 24 hours and the winner will be announced at 8:00 am Eastern time on Maundy Thursday. Now go cast your vote — the 2014 Lent Madness Golden Halo hangs in the balance!
Harriet Bedell
-- Charlton Tebeau, Collier County historian, in "Florida's Last Frontier," 1966.
Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Vote!
NOTE: At 10:55 p.m. EDT, the Supreme Executive Committee banned three voters and removed 41 votes from Harriet Bedell, due to voting irregularity. Remember to VOTE ONCE ONLY.
The voters in question were in Buffalo, NY; Rochester, MN; and Gulfport, MS.
[poll id="107"]
218 comments on “For the Golden Halo: Harriet Bedell vs. Charles Wesley”
Wow. It's Florida v. the Methodists, and it's neck-and-neck....
Harriet! Harriet! Harriet!
The halo is VIRTUAL and will remain theirs as long as we keep them in our minds and hearts.
Besides, aren't WE the winners here, since OUR lives were enriched by the contestants, and commentators, this season?
Sniff...withdrawal is rough.
good point, Susan...and yes, LMW is terribly difficult!
I love them both. I had never heard of Harriet Bidell before, but she was definitely a saint to be reckoned with. Small in stature but big of heart, she served those who needed it most with the love of God in her heart. However, Charles Wesley, besides all those beautiful hymns, was not above getting down and dirty, when going into the fields to preach the good news of the Gospel. I voted for Charles.
I didn't realize how difficult this would
be as I love the witness and stories
of both of them. I am a former Methodist now Episcopalian and am happy Charles has a home in 3 denominations and admirers in many.
His music is a deep part of my spiritual journey but I am casting my vote for Harriet in admiration of her life, in memory of my mother, a great supporter of the Native American people and as an ex Floridian. I
also agree she needs to be known by more people and the halo will help. But this is a win win choice.
An excellent resource, although apparently out of print, is "Praising the God of Grace: The Theology of Charles Wesley's Hymns" by Charles Yrigoyen Jr. (Abingdon Press 2005). It gives a good introduction to Charles' thoughts and theology as expressed in the hymn lyrics he wrote.
http://www.amazon.com/Praising-Grace-God-Student-Theology-Charles/dp/0687038103
(Sung to the tune of 'I Sing a song of the saints of God'):
I sing a song of the saints of God, but I couldn't vote for two...
So I closed my eyes and clicked and prayed until the percents came through.
It was very very close, and I'll never never knows
Who my vote was really for, and my strategy to score
For the Golden Halo is in God's hands,
And I meant to be there too.
Like:)
Charles Wesley's hymn, "Your Duty Let the Apostle Show" shared in thanksgiving for the life of Harriet Bidell.
Work for the weak, and sick, and poor,
Clothing and food for them procure,
And mindful of God's word,
Enjoy the blessedness to give,
Lay out your substance to relieve
The members of your Lord.
Your labor which proceeds from love,
Jesus shall graciously approve,
With full felicity,
With brightest crowns your loan repay,
And tell you in that joyful day,
"Ye did it unto Me."
Judging by the tenor of the comments, one would think that all Charles Wesley did was write hymns and that hymns do not count for very much. 1) Charles Wesley along with his brother's role was much more than as a hymnwriter. While there are several recognized as hymnwriters specifically in the Lutheran Calendar, Charles Wesley and his brother are recognized as Renewers of the Church -- along with Martin Luther, and John Calvin, and Teresa of Avila and many others involved in changing and shaping the church through reformation and renewal. Even the Catholic Church gives recognition to this role of such people. The Wesley brothers, even though they never abandoned Anglicanism, helped found a whole denomination. Through their work they brought many, many souls to Christ! 2) One of the vehicles for doing his work, for Charles, was his hymns. Hymns and all sacred music have the power to move people, to uplift them, to help us overcome our sorrows and to rejoice in the Lord's presence, to give us all a real sense of that presence. Whenever my life has become rough and turned in a wrong direction, I found solace in music. Whenever things have gone well and I rejoice in the Lord, it is music that helps my spirits soar! When I sing "Jesus Christ is risen today! Alleluia!" this coming Sunday, it will be rejoicing knowing that one day I will be reunited with both of my parents, and my grandparents and others who have gone before me, and that one day I will realize the one dream that I know will come true -- that I will be able to sing praises to my Lord in person! ALLELUIA!
As I said hymns have power to convert souls, to make us better people, to teach us the Lord's presence and to help us follow him. Charles Wesley DID that and more with his hymns and through many other activities throughout his life. He was indeed a faithful servant of the Lord -- and most definitely, contrary to the opinion of some here, he was a DOER! That is why I voted for him and why he is deserving of the vote here of others!
everything you have said is so true. I love that he was both a doer and an accomplished songwriter. All of christendom has benefited from this.
As of 5 pm Eastern, the margin is 99 votes!!! Waiting for the white smoke!
I wish it was as easy for me to share my faith with others, as it was to share my love about Lent Madness. This is now my third year voting, and I have become an apostle. Perhaps in a way reading about these saints and their lives will make it easier for me to grow in faith in mine. Thank you to everyone who has left comments over this past weeks, and to all involved in making this happen each day. I have learned so much from all of you. It was a tough vote today, but in the end I will hold my new coffee cup high whomever is on it.
I sooo agree with you Laurie, it has been great fun and I have learned so much. Already looking forward to LM 2015.
Rellingrw, I agree that our culture (and church) is segmented and isolated along gender, racial, political, economic, religious and so many other lines. That's why I believe Harriet's victory could be a great boon for discussion and discernment regarding such issues. At the same time, Wesley's victory in an Episcopal sponsored competition could be seen as a good time to reflect upon ecumenism and worship or as a counter to a culture that is often too busy to go to the assembly for prayer, serve the poor together, etc. For Wesley served the poorest of the poor first hand as well as evangelized with his music. If folks want to lift up Harriet to help raise awareness and encourage service, I'm all for it. If someone is inspired by Wesley to take a first step in faith (or yet another), or perhaps find comfort during loss, etc., I'm all for that as well. If a deaconess wants to vote for a deaconess or a musician for a musician because they sense a connection and/or find inspiration, I'm for that too. Yet, to lift up one type of vocation while castigating another type of vocation is problematic. It can easily lead to a Corinthian worthy "super-Christian" mentality when Christ's light needs to be everywhere - on Wall Street or construction sites, as much in the reservations and the urban housing projects or rich suburbs of DC. Some here have explicitly devalued the monastics, mystics, musicians, and other's that they deemed were not "doing" enough, even though they have helped nurture faith, inspired others to service and sacrifice, or helped people wait for answers they sought in life. I'm arguing that those with that attitude should perhaps look at God's kingdom, purpose and plan another way. Whoever wins will be worthy of study as past of our Christian formation, and so they will be. I really will be happy with either candidate winning.
Yes, I agree with you. I am happy with both candidates. I agree with you that there are many ways to minister. Music is a very powerful ministry, and it certainly does move people to belief. We have no argument.
In my own circles in a few different dioceses, I have seen more people who are drawn to music, than are drawn to serving the least of these, or just those who have less and are different. And it seems to me that it is too often the case that those who are drawn to mission work are those who often believe in very conservative social values. It seems to me that Harriet was unusual because she had a more balanced view. On the one hand, she was concerned about economic viability, which led her to talk to Frances Perkins to stop the importation of the pseudo Indian artifacts. On the other hand, she seems to have made a kind of ecumenical peace with the beliefs fo the Seminoles, which allowed her to create such a fabulous translation of the 23rd Psalm.
Again, I will also be happy with either one as the Golden Halo winner.
"And for Protestants, especially Methodists, hymns are almost like icons to Eastern Orthodox, artistically offering a sacred window into Heaven."
http://juicyecumenism.com/2014/04/14/importance-of-enduring-hymns/
Charles was the greatest writer of all. (Not that I have any reason to be biased).
Charles is currently in the lead with 124 votes (3:06 PDT). Since I'm both an Episcopalian (and therefore an Anglican like Charles & John were) and a proud graduate of Southern Methodist University (#PonyUp), I cast my vote for the Rev. Charles Wesley.
[I would like to point out that even though the SMU Mustangs were not invited to March's other Madness event by the NCAA, the team that won that Madness was UConn, which was unable to defeat SMU during the regular season and therefore the Mustangs obviously have the better men's basketball team!]
Considering that U Conn's basketball program was suspended by the NCAA for a year prior to this for not having their academic programs up to snuff, I also suspect that SMU is much stronger academically as well! 😉
Voting Harriet all the way, but oh, that hymn quote from Wesley is just unfair!
Singing "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" in the car today gave me goosebumps. Both saints served God well and long, but Charles is my choice.
What a nail biter. Had to go with Harriet for the Halo.
I sometimes find myself waking up with the lines of Charles Wesley's hymns running through my head before I'm my fully awake. For these prayers of my heart, it's Rev Wesley!
Only 12 hours to go and the vote spread is 97 votes!
There are still people in the Everglades City area who remember the Deaconess and how determined she was to help "her Seminoles". But, she was also active in the local community and became a sort-of-grandmother to many.
The bell that tolls in the Everglades Community Church was at the original Glades Cross Mission (founded by Bishop Gray in 1898) and donated by the Deaconess so history is alive here and she is not forgotten.
For Harriet, who worked so long in the outback. (Is it too much to suggest Charles Wesley saying to Harriet, "You go, Girl!" Probably too much cross centuries confusion, but a loving thought, nevertheless.)
The comments are so sweet today! It seems no one is anxious to leave LM, even though fatigue has set in. We are all looking forward to a splendid Easter---Sunday and forever!
This has been glorious! So much to learn about our cloud of saints. I was evangelized through the music of our church, so I have to vote for Charles. But there are no "losers" here. I've been voting for Harriet all along because of her commitment to real people where ever she was sent. What an awesome testimony to God's work in us! Praise be to God for servants, preachers, musicians and leaders!
Thanks to all for providing a fun-filled for national and informational Lenten series. This is a toughie although I spoke in support of Harriet, I still feel I need to vote for Charles. I have been enriched by LM this year, even had folks checking online at noon today who had never heard of LM before-- some new converts no doubt! How about some Adent-ure fun come Dec? What a gift this is!
I think choirs everywhere are voting for Charles. I know I lobbied my own choir at my Episcopal church in McLean Virgina to vote for Charles. If you are a choir member, you can't NOT vote for Charles. He wrote the best some of the best hymns of al times and for millions of Christians its hard to imagine Easter or Christmas without the Wesley soundtrack he imagined. This is no small thing. Giving us a narrative with which to remember and understand our Holy days is a profound contribution to our faith. That's why he earned my vote.
A vote for Harriet in honor of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul. Harriet's life is an examplary one for all wo/men who choose a life devoted to the care of others in service to God.
Emrys E Jones, the headmaster in my first year in grammar school in Wood Green, Middlesex, England back in 1948 had his pupils sing often during assembly his favorite hymn, "Jesus, Lover of my soul". I will remember forever his last assembly before he retired. We raised the roof. I try to do that every time I hear it, now my favorite hymn. My vote is for Charles Wesley!
This has been a wonderful Lent season as I've learned and reflected on those who were in the brackets and on the comments left by some very thoughful people. What a wonderful world!!
I'm saddened that we once again have multiple voting issues. It's been a wonderful adventure once again this year. I've loved the match ups, have been disappointed and delighted as my favorites have moved forward or gone down in defeat. All already have their golden halos but still having the honor of wearing this special one on a coffee mug is an unmitigated honor. Please play fair, folks. Cheating would not be approved by Harriet or Charles.
Cheating again!? Wow! Come on!!!!!
Well, that's just tacky!! Have we not learned anything these 40 days about saintliness?? It's been a wonderful journey ~ thanks to all who made it so! ~ I am sad that some have missed the journey, being so focused on the end (by any means). Happy Lent, folks!
Imagine how many Harriets were inspired since Charles put pen to paper. My vote was for Wesley today. Good words inspire good works.