Thursday, September 27, 2007

Been a while...

Once again, I have managed to neglect the old blog. It's been one of those months. I am preparing to leave my current appointment, Travis Park UMC on October 14th and start a new appointment at Argyle UMC (in Argyle, Texas, and yes, I do know you have no idea where it is!). The decision to take the appointment was a tough choice for many reasons, which I'll go into another post. I am very excited about the new opportunities in Argyle and sad to leave Travis Park. Well, I just finished writing some devotionals for The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts and I've got to head to the Apple Store to get some things taken care of on the mac and to get a power adaptor so I better hit the road!
Later!

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Liturgy for this past Sunday

Scripture Passage: 2 Timothy 1:1-14
Sermon Title: "Rekindle the Gift"
Some original liturgy for ya from Joe...


Call to Worship
Leader: God, in the mists of life our fire for you can often be extingushed.
People: We have come together to worship you and to have the gift of living faith rekindled in our lives in in our community of faith.
Leader: We worship through words and song,
People: Though acts of love, reconciliation, and justice,
People: May our worship of you, O God, give you honor and glory and may the gift of living faith be re-kindled in our lives!

Opening Prayer:
Loving God, who works for good in all things, we give thanks for this day. Open our hearts, ears, and our minds this morning that we might recieve the gift of living faith in our souls and in our church so that we may re-present your Son, Jesus Christ, to the world in new and powerful ways. Amen.

Confession:
Gracious God, you know us and you know our hearts. Forgive us, when we've used our doubts as an excuse to keep from doing and saying what you ahve shown us to be true. Strengthen us when we lose the fire of living faith and continue to grant us opporutnities to demonstrate your lvoe to our neighbors as we grow in our connection with you. Amen.

Saturday, September 8, 2007

The Joy's of Choir Retreat

Today I led our adult sanctuary choir in our annual fall retreat. We rehearsed for several hours, fellowshiped over good coffee, donuts and a wonderful lunch (created by the incredible Connie Marshall) and then ended the day with a dedication and commiunion service.
After the retreat I offciated at a wedding at Travis Park. The wedding went really well and the couple was blessed! All in all, a good day!

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

New and, so far, Good Music!

Yesterday I made a pilgrimage to the Christian music store, which is always hit or miss. O.K., it's usually a miss. Yesterday, however, was different! Israel and New Breed dropped a new album yesterday, Live from a Deeper Level, which I had to pick up! We do a ton of his stuff at Travis Park and so whenever he comes out with something new it's more a matter of responsibility for me to get it!!!
What makes his latest project so potentially impactful for me, however, is that it's a justice themed album! One of the biggest challenges I face at TPUMC is finding music that grooves, that's singable, and that matches up theologically with what our preachers (myself included) preach. The last point, of matching musical texts with the themes is pretty difficult. There's lots of social justice themed music out there but it's usually of the 60's folk genere (1960's, naturally) and our second service does primarily contemporary gospel. A fun challenge, but a challenge none-the-less.
All in all, I'm hopeful for this album to yeild useful fruit for TPUMC. I only had the chance to check out two cuts last night so we'll see what it has to offer soon!
I did experince a nice suprise at the Christian music store yesterday: a new Cademon's Call album that has Derek Webb reunited with his old bandmates! I've been out of that scene for a while but I really love Webb's current direction and focus so I'm looking forward to checking that out as well!
Love the first Tuesday of the month! Next Tuesday, kanye's new album comes out, so that will be interesting for sure (probably not as useful for church!).

New and Good books!

Thank goodness things have slowed down a bit! I love having lots of gigs and work but I'm finding I'm really good at overextending myself! Lately, though, I've had a chance to read a bit more, which has been refreshing for the mind and the soul!
I'm in process on Dick Staub's latest book (which has a really long title) about the Christians can influence pop culture in an age (and I love this) of "Christianity-lite." Some good stuff! Martin Marty suggests in his review that Staub has a "rather worked-out worldview" which is certainly true but at least it's interesting! More thoughts on that as I get through it.
I'm also in process on Leonard Sweet's "The Gospel According to Starbucks": the title is frigthenting to me even though I love St. Arbucks coffee. Much like Staub, Sweet has something to say and a compelling way to say it! Plus, he always documents things very well. The statistics of the worlds use of coffee from the introduction is great! Did you know the world consumes four hundred billion cups of coffee a year? FOUR HUNDRED BILLION CUPS!!!! Good stuff! (I'm on my third this morning, so I'm doing my part, are you?)
Finally, I just finished Tony Dungy's memoir "Quiet Strength." I loved it! Even though he and I are in different spots theologically, I have incredible respect for him, from what I've seen and heard of him and now read, and the way he leads, lives his life, and conducts himself. A classy, classy, guy who truly has his priorities right. I learned a lot from this book about how to prioritize in one's life (faith, family, and work), how to priortize for success and also picked up many good quotes. After I read the introduction (provided by Denzel Washington) I got my pencil out and began to underline quotes and I intend to go back tonight and type up the salient points. I haven't done that since seminary and I've read lots of good books in the past four years!
Once I get through Sweet's book I am looking forward to begin Anne Lamott's new book "Grace Eventually" and finishing "Golf in the Kingdom." I've also recently picked up a collection of Christian Mystic writings that I look forward to diving into! Sermons from mystics with coffee: no better way to start the morning!
After I get done with those I think I'll check out Clinton's new book.
Happy reading!!!