ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Ordinary Time
It’s that time of year when church calendar nerds fight about the appropriate time and ways to celebrate Christmas. One might even accuse me of taking up this theme last week in my sermon on hope/waiting/gothic children/noah’s ark/apocalyptic readings. The truth is, I talk a big game on Sundays, but secretly start consuming all things Christmas in the middle of October. Shhh … don't tell the Anglicans or Jamie. In the spirit of waiting with tempered hope, joy, peace and love, I’d like to share with you my 4 favorite Christmas presents from my childhood? Because I think you care? No. Because nostalgia is powerful and I love googling things from my childhood? Yes.
4. Sega Genesis
Because creative desctruction is necessary for tech companies to survive, monsters like Nintendo, Sony Play Stations, and Xbox have made constant upgrades part of our American lifestyle. Joke is on them. I sit here typing at my desk next to an original NES. Still, I did fall prey once, and only once, to lie that my NES was not enough. I begged my parents for a Sega genesis. Mario sits on the throne of video game genius as the best thing that happened Xennials. Still Sonic the Hedgehod, the fearless warrior who set bunnies free and ran roller coaster courses with the ease of Usain Bolt, came in a close second. Sonic even got a movie this last year. So somewhere around the age of 12-13 I was gifted a Sega Gensis, and this 16 bit piece of artificial intelligence changed my life with it’s breathtaking graphics and sophistic game theories.
3. Super Mario Brothers 2
Since I often talk about growing up on a picturesque 3 acres on a lake in Northern, WI, let me continue with the video game theme. Prior to my Sega, I basked in the glory of Nintendo. I cut my teeth on games like Super Mario Brothers 1, Mike Tyson’s Punchout and Ice Hockey. Then after having been originally rolled out in Japan as Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, Super Mario Brothers 2 came to the states with a different look and new lead characters Mario and Luigi. I had to have it. That Christmas I opened presents, one after the other, like Ralphie looking for a red rider BB gun. I was continually disappointed by the things every 8 year old boy hates more than anything … clothes. Finally the last present was opened. No game. I pulled it together and feigned gratitude to my parents. I was good kid. Then on the eve of Epiphany, 1990, a holiday prior to this moment I had never heard of, my parents dropped another present in front of me after dinner. “An epiphany present,” they said. I unwrapped the paper, my heart now pulled in two directions. Gratefulness for having gotten the unexpected present, and dissapiontment, nay apathy … another Kohl’s box … the kind that could hold a sweater. Then I opened it and saw that there sat Mario, radish in hand, ready to thrash an unsuspecting turtle. I had never been so thankful for the 3 wisemen and now had a much better idea of how Jesus felt getting the frankincense.
2. Larry Johnson Rookie Sensation Basketball Card
every kid has to collect something. Since I wasn’t old enough to play in the NBA at age 12, I decided to do the next best thing, collect basketball cards. It was the first investment I made that I was sure was motivated by sound financial decision making. I read articles about how much an Honus Wagner rookie card was worth or what collectors were paying for Babe Ruth cards. Basically I was investing in what would extinguish my need for an actual retirement plan. Because I had already gotten a Duke starter jacket, I needed something to point out to people that my favorite NBA team was the Charlotte Hornets. They were new and they have amazing colors. Fresh off the near invisible UNLV Running Rebels, Larry Johnson was making waves as Grandmama in commercials and as a power forward in the NBA. What I wanted more than anything was his ‘92 Fleer rookie sensation basketball card. One problem it was $18 at Augie’s Collectables. So asked for it for Christmas and did the thing where, again, it was none of my presents. Then when Christmas seemed to have come to it’s conclusion, my dad asked me to read from a world history book on the shelf. When I opened it, guess what fell out? My LJ card. I arrived.
1. GI Joe Command Center
Every year my family would get a Sears Wish Book. Getting that catalogue was one of the great Carney Christmas traditions. Night after night I would stare at one page of the toy section. It contained the the GI Joe Mobile Command Center. A triple decker wonderland for my army men. It was $44 in the 1980s. I asked for it persistently, but without much real hope. I knew enough about our financial standing to have the proper amount of expectation. As you now know is the dramatic theme in our family, I opened all my presents … none of the the command center. But I knew I wasn’t getting it before then because I had scouted the size of all my presents. None of them could have been the command center. Still I did pretty good that year. Then as we were tossing wrapping paper into the fire place, my dad returned from the garage with a large Fleet Farm bag. He told me to open it. There inside was my command center. That was the moment I saw Clark Griswold’s Christmas star.
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UBCYP Christmas Party
We’re having a Christmas Party for “young” “professionals” on December 14th at 6pm. Sign up on Sunday or by emailing jamie@ubcwaco.org for more the details!
Study Hall - December 10 & 11 - 10am-midnight
It’s that time of year again, and you we have all your study essentials: wi-fi, coffee, snacks galore, and the ultimate pancake experience. UBC will be open from 10am-midnight next Tuesday and Wednesday for you to come study, and years of statistical research shows that studying at UBC improves every test score by at least one letter grade! We will have drinks and snacks throughout both days, and we will have our ultimate pancake experience at 9pm on Tuesday night. If you have any questions, contact toph@ubcwaco.org #yourbestfinalsnow #jesuswouldstudyatubc
Part Time Office Manager Position
UBC is looking to hire a part time (20 hour a week) office manager. The office manager need not be a member of the UBC community. They do need to be able to put up with the current staff and all their eccentricities, so please pray for us as that narrows the field significantly. Application and job description can be found by clicking this link.
Youth Word of the Week
The youth did not provide me with a word. I guess they aren’t as committed to the process as I am.
Parishioner of the Week
Betsy Bracken for calling an audible and jumping in to care for babies. Bri Childs for cleaning the towels in the kitchen and the clean team for making UBC a better place.
Announcements
Sermon Text:
UBC YP Christmas Party 12/14
Last youth group meetings/Christmas Party 12/15 & 12/18
Christmas Eve Service December 24th, 5:30 PM
Work is Worship
Greeters: Corntassel
Coffee Makers: Michael & Oliver
Mug Cleaners: Oliver & Michael
Money Counter: Carron
Leadership Team
If you have a concern or an idea for UBC that you’d like to share with someone that is not on staff, feel free to contact one of our leadership team members.
Chair: Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu
Byron Griffin: byrontgriffin@gmail.com
Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com
Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com
Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com
Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com
Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com
Student Position: Davis Misloski
Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy
UBC Finance Team
Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members.
JD Newman: JD_Newman@baylor.edu
Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com
Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com
Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com
George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@gmail.com
UBC HR Team
If you have concerns about staff and would like contact our human resources team, please feel free to email any of the following members.
Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com
Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com
Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com
Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com