MARCH 1
GEORGE HERBERT, PRIEST AND POET, died 1633
Herbert (1593 – 1633) an Anglican priest wrote several favorite hymns such as “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” and “Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life.” His poems collected in the Temple and the Country Parson are classics of the English Language.
MARCH 1
JOHN AND CHARLES WESLEY, REFORMERS OF THE CHURCH
The Wesley brothers were reformers in the Anglican Church. In 1735, John and Charles both went to the Colony of Georgia. Their preaching against the slave trade alienated the colonists and, in 1736, they returned to England. On May 24, 1738, John heard a reading from Martin Luther’s Preface to Romans at a meeting on Aldersgate Street and had an intense experience of God’s grace. John spent the rest of his life in evangelistic work resulting in the Methodist movement. Charles remained faithful to the Anglican Church and was upset by John’s “illegal” ordinations. Charles wrote powerful hymns for the faith such as “Oh for a Thousand Tongues to Sing’, “Love Divine All Love’s Excelling”, and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
MARCH 7
PERPETUA, MARTYR
In 202AD, the Roman Emperor Lucius outlawed conversions to Christ. Perpetua and other African converts were imprisoned, and after their baptism, were condemned to execution in the arena at Carthage. According to tradition, Perpetua and Felicity survived the wild beasts and were killed by the sword after sharing the kiss of peace in Christ.
MARCH 10
HARRIET TUBMAN AND SOJOURNER TRUTH, RENEWERS OF SOCIETY
Harriet Tubman (died 1913), born into slavery, helped about 300 others escape slavery until the institution was abolished in the United States. Sojourner Truth (died 1883), whose birth name was Isabella, was freed after slavery was abolished, and discerned a call to be a preacher and set out to share faith in Christ with others.
MARCH 12
GREGORY THE GREAT, BISHOP AND TEACHER, died 604AD
Gregory (540 – 604 AD) one of the greatest leaders of the 6th century was a bridge between the Roman and medieval worlds. He gave up worldly prestige to serve as the Bishop of Rome (the Pope), helping Rome survive plague, attacks from the Lombard’s after the collapse of civil authority, and the trials of famine. He helped standardize the Western Liturgy (the Holy Communion Service), developed Gregorian chant, and sent Augustine of Canterbury to spread the good news of Christ to Britain. Gregory considered his call as Pope to be a “servant to the servants of God.”
MARCH 17
PATRICK, MISSIONARY, died 461AD
Patrick (389 – 461AD) was born in Britain but was captured during a raid and made a slave of the Irish at age 16. After six years, he escaped returning home but God called him to go back to Ireland. In 432, Patrick returned founding churches and preaching the good news of Jesus to the Irish people. Patrick’s Confession is his testimony revealing God’s call to him to share the faith. Patrick is considered the apostle to the Irish.
MARCH 19
JOSEPH, THE GUARDIAN OF OUR LORD
The husband of the Virgin Mary was a carpenter who is portrayed in Scripture as a faithful man, a protector and provider for his wife and the Christ Child. Joseph is not mentioned in the adult life of Jesus and is believed to have died before the public ministry began.
MARCH 21
THOMAS CRANMER, BISHOP AND MARTYR
Cranmer’s lasting achievement is contributing to and overseeing the creation of the Book of Common Prayer, which remains (in revised form) the worship book of the Anglican Communion. He was burned at the stake under Queen Mary for his support of the Protestant Reformation.
MARCH 22
JONATHAN EDWARDS, TEACHER AND MISSIONARY, died 1757
After a powerful conversion experience to the way of Christ, Edwards (1703 – 1757), became an influential preacher, leading to widespread religious revival in the American northeast, mission work to Native Americans in Massachusetts, and serving as president of Princeton University.
MARCH 24
OSCAR ROMERO, BISHOP AND MARTYR
Romero was deeply concerned with injustices evident toward the poor and powerless in El Salvador, and worked forthrightly against political repression. He was assassinated while presiding at the Eucharist in a chapel near the cathedral in San Salvador.
MARCH 25
THE ANNUCIATION OF OUR LORD
This festival celebrates the angelic announcement to Mary of the coming birth of the Christ Child. The date is determined by Christmas, being exactly nine months before the festival of our Lord’s birth.
MARCH 29
HANS NIELSEN HAUGE, RENEWER OF THE CHURCH, died 1824
Hauge (1771 – 1824) had a mystical experience of the Lord that gave him peace and a call to preach the way of Christ to his “sleeping country” Norway. He advocated what he called “the living faith” which was a personal commitment to the Lord Jesus which transforms the believer’s life. As a lay preacher, Hauge was arrested several times and persecuted by his church. Nevertheless, he persisted emphasizing a person’s vocation as a service to God and urged his followers to remain faithful to the national church.
MARCH 31
JOSEPH
Joseph was the son of the patriarch Jacob and Rachel. The favorite son of his father, he incurred the jealousy of his older brothers, who sold him into slavery in Egypt and told their father he was dead (read Genesis 37). In Egypt he became the chief servant in the home of Potiphar, a military official. Because Joseph refused to commit adultery with his master’s wife, he was unjustly accused of attempted rape and thrown into jail (read Genesis 39). Years later, he interpreted dreams for Pharaoh, who then freed him from prison and placed him in charge of the entire country. When his brothers came from Canaan to Egypt in search of food, they did not recognize him. He eventually revealed his identity to them, forgave them, and invited both them and his father to live in Egypt. He is especially remembered and honored for his moral uprightness (read Genesis 39) and for his willingness to forgive his brothers (read Genesis 45 and 50).
MARCH 31
JOHN DONNE, POET, died 1631
After finishing his education at Oxford University, Donne seemed headed for a career in the English public service. But a series of circumstances led him into the ordained ministry. He is well known as a writer of both secular and sacred poetry.
