This past August I was given the opportunity to write several email devotions for The Fellowship of United Methodist in Music and Worship Arts national membership. I have placed them below.
Fellowship Advent/Christmas Devotionals
December 9th, 2007
Matthew 3:1-2
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 3:2, NRSV)
Well, we are now truly immersed in Advent! Amidst all of the extra (for Argyle we could change this to say, “demands on our time:”) services, the busyness, the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to lose focus on why we do what we do.
The kingdom of heaven has come near! Stop. Read that again. What incredible, revolutionary, and beautiful words! The hope for the wholeness and healing of God’s Creation, the absolute love of God, has come near!
In this busy season may God grant us the vision and the strength to use our art (for Argyle, “lives”) to proclaim and further God’s Reign on earth so that all of God’s Creation can become what God wishes it to be.
Prayer: God of the eternal, and God of the here and now, renew in our hearts and eyes your vision for your Creation, so that we might play our roles in furthering your good work through the gifts you have given us. Amen.
Rev. Joe Stobaugh, O.S.L.
Associate Pastor/Minister of Music, Worship, and the Arts
Argyle United Methodist Church
Argyle, Texas
December 16th, 2007
Matthew 11:2-11
“Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.” (Matthew 11:4-5, NRSV)
What good news, indeed! Jesus brings healing and new life to those on the margins of society. Praise be to God that our God doesn’t see the world like we do! Jesus has given us the responsibility and the privilege to proclaim this news to all! What are we doing in our (strike “worship” for Argyle) worship and in our day-to-day lives that radiates this good news to the world?
May God help us to lovingly proclaim the prophetic message of Christ for the world during this rich season of Advent!
Prayer: God of all, the One who truly leaves no one behind, thank you for loving all of us. May our worship glorify you and your desire for unconditional love and justice in all things, in all places, and in all times.
Rev. Joe Stobaugh, O.S.L.
Associate Pastor/Minister of Music, Worship, and the Arts
Argyle United Methodist Church
Argyle, Texas
December 23rd, 2007
Matthew 1:18-25
“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, ‘God is with us.’” (Matthew 1:23, NRSV)
John Wesley got it right, didn’t he? Wesley’s last words in his earthly life were these: “the best of all is, God is with us.” Amen and amen!
May your entire being embrace this reality in new and deeper ways these next few days. Let us, (perhaps here we could say for Argyle purposes, “in our daily lives, with our friends, family, and in our work point to this reality for the world and ourselves this week.”) in our dancing, visual arts, preaching, singing, and playing, point to this reality for the world and ourselves this week.
Prayer: Gracious, living God, we recognize the enormous opportunity we have before us this week: an opportunity to demonstrate your presence, your grace, and your steadfastness to a world that is in desperate need of it. Give us the strength to push through these next few days, filled with your Spirit and faithful to the end! We pray this in your Son’s holy name, Jesus. Amen.
Rev. Joe Stobaugh, O.S.L.
Associate Pastor/Minister of Music, Worship, and the Arts
Argyle United Methodist Church
Argyle, Texas
December 30th, 2007
Matthew 2:13-23
“When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all of the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.” (Matthew 2:16, NRSV)
This passage from the Gospel of Matthew was enlivened for me two years ago, when my daughter, Eleanor Grace, was born in the early hours of Christmas Day, 2005. What a joyous moment that was for our family, friends and our congregation! In the midst of that joy however, this word from Matthew was juxtaposed powerfully on the day of mourning for the Holy Innocents. I can’t imagine the shock and grief of those parents, whose children were slaughtered to continue the work of the domination system.
In this time of great joy for so many, may we remember these children, and all the children of our world today, who live in fear and who die by the thousands each day from entirely preventable causes. May we remember that love is costly and that we all have a role and responsibility to alleviate the sufferings of God’s Creation.
Prayer: Holy God, in the midst of these days, may your kingdom come! Help us to claim our responsibility as your partners in establishing your empire on earth: an empire of love, and of justice, not like the empires of this world of violence and coercion. Empower our art for your glory and for your Reign! Let us not turn away nor shield our eyes from the hard things in this life but rather let us work to alleviate them, one person and one community at a time! We pray this in the name of Christ! Amen!
Rev. Joe Stobaugh, O.S.L.
Associate Pastor/Minister of Music, Worship, and the Arts
Argyle United Methodist Church
Argyle, Texas
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