ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Ordinary Time
Top Five
Over the next few weeks the staff will use the main part of the newsletter to share lists of top fives. The topics of these lists can range from books, to music, to thinkers.
A few things seem worth mentioning. This section of the newsletter is (loosely) given to thoughts that are about formation. As such it is worth mentioning that you will consistently see material that is sometimes labeled secular and material that is considered explicitly Christian. This is a not a bad place to remind ourselves and everyone else what we believe about truth and culture ... the sacred and the secular which can be read here.
UBC celebrates a diversity of voices and opinions. These are our opinions. As with any list there will be disagreement. Please use the comments section on Facebook and/or the comments feature on the website to provide your own feedback and lists.
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My Top 5 List of Children’s Books-That-Have-Taught-Me-About-God-Without-Even-Trying (& Some Scriptures To Back It Up)
By: Emily Nance
It goes without saying, that there is no way I’ve read every children’s book and I know there are plenty I have missed. But each one of these books below have either inspired me as they were read to me in my own childhood, or as I have read them to my children. In some way, at some time, they have all informed who God is to me and affirmed His love and truth. I hope you enjoy my list, but I’d love to hear what children’s books have inspired you and challenged you to look at God in a new way! Sincerely~ Emily
5. Beautiful Oops By: Barney Saltzberg
This book shows in a visual and tangible way how beautiful "mistakes" can be when we reimagine them. This reminds me that we are all created with purpose…every part of us, even the parts we don’t like! What we may see as our greatest flaws, God wants to use to teach us, transform us and use to display His beauty and power to the world around us, if we will just allow Him to reimagine it for us. Our shortcomings and weaknesses are simply incomplete masterpieces and only God can reveal their true purpose and beauty.
Jeremiah 18:1-6
This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Jeremiah, go down to the potter’s house. I will give you my message there.”
So I went down to the potter’s house and saw him working with clay at the wheel. He was making a pot from clay. But there was something wrong with the pot. So the potter used that clay to make another pot. With his hands he shaped the pot the way he wanted it to be.
Then this message from the Lord came to me: 6 “Family of Israel, you know that I can do the same thing with you. You are like the clay in the potter’s hands, and I am the potter.” This message is from the Lord.
4. Child's Introduction to the Night Sky: The Story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellations--and How You Can Find Them in the Sky By: Michael Driscoll
The words themselves are not particularly poetic or bedtime story-ish, but if you ever want to feel loved by God, take a look into space. The more I learn about God’s Creation, its beauty, its detail, its preciseness, its ease, its balance…the larger, more amazing and more loving God becomes to me. The way the gravity of everything in our Universe holds everything in our Universe in its place. The fact that Jupiter, which is too big and too gassy to be where it is in space (as far as Science can tell…) is like a magnet for almost every asteroid that passes it…which, by the way, shields us from the fate of the dinosaurs. I could go on and on about what inspires me in God’s Creation and frankly, I have no doubt that the field of Science will continue to make discoveries that demonstrate even more astounding things about the Universe and therefore, God. But I love that even in the vastness and seeming chaos of space, God’s love and power are spelled out for us.
Psalm 8
Lord our Lord, your name is the most wonderful in all the earth! It brings you praise everywhere in heaven.
From the mouths of children and babies come songs of praise to you. They sing of your power to silence your enemies who were seeking revenge.
I look at the heavens you made with your hands. I see the moon and the stars you created.
And I wonder, “Why are people so important to you? Why do you even think about them?
Why do you care so much about humans? Why do you even notice them?”
But you made them almost like gods and crowned them with glory and honor.
You put them in charge of everything you made. You put everything under their control.
People rule over the sheep and cattle and all the wild animals.
They rule over the birds in the sky and the fish that swim in the sea.
Lord our Lord, your name is the most wonderful name in all the earth!
3. Zero By: Kathryn Otoshi
In Otoshi’s book, Zero feels that it has no value. It looks around and feels that the other numbers count for something, but it just feels empty. It tries to look like the other numbers, twisting itself into various forms, but nothing seems to fit. Soon the wise number 7 helps Zero see that value is found on the inside, and when Zero finds its purpose, it ends up making EVERY number more valuable (*spoiler alert* you just might learn about place value, too!) This book reminds me that in God’s Kingdom, we all have individual purpose and value. When we serve God in our own way for His purpose, instead of comparing and conforming ourselves to look like everyone else, we find our true value and have an exponential impact for God’s Kingdom!
1 Corinthians 12:14-20
"And a person’s body has more than one part. It has many parts. The foot might say, “I am not a hand, so I don’t belong to the body.” But saying this would not stop the foot from being a part of the body. The ear might say, “I am not an eye, so I don’t belong to the body.” But saying this would not make the ear stop being a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, it would not be able to hear. If the whole body were an ear, it would not be able to smell anything. If each part of the body were the same part, there would be no body. But as it is, God put the parts in the body as he wanted them. He made a place for each one. So there are many parts, but only one body.
2. Where The Wild Things Are By: Maurice Sendak
Most of us are probably familiar with this book, just like most of us are probably familiar with Jesus’ story of the Prodigal Son. But I, for one, can never be reminded enough that God is faithful in my wanderings, and that forgiveness and restoration are always an option with God…no matter what. This book gives us such a sweet glimpse into human relationships and how our own temporary wants can blind us to our true, eternal heart’s-desire. But, thank God, once the party dies down, we realize the sweet smell of comfort, forgiveness and home is what we yearned for all along…and it’s waiting for us.
Luke 15:17-24
“The son realized that he had been very foolish. He thought, ‘All my father’s hired workers have plenty of food. But here I am, almost dead because I have nothing to eat. I will leave and go to my father. I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But let me be like one of your hired workers.’ So he left and went to his father.
“While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him coming and felt sorry for him. So he ran to him and hugged and kissed him. The son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring the best clothes and put them on him. Also, put a ring on his finger and good sandals on his feet. And bring our best calf and kill it so that we can celebrate with plenty to eat. My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!’
1. Is There Really A Human Race By: Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell
Honestly, anything written by this pair is sure to mean as much, if not more, to you than it will to the kids you’re reading it to! I LOVE their books! But this one in particular is a charming poem, told from the child’s perspective about the idea of a “human race.” The child asks all of the precious questions a child would ask like, “Where are we running?” and “Am I racing my sister?” and “What do I get if I win?" But the child begins to see through questioning that if there is a “human race” going on, maybe winning doesn’t mean coming in first. Maybe the “human race” is more about the help that we lend, the love that we share and the lessons we learn along the way. These are the real keys to a race well-run and for helping the whole “human race” win. I don’t want to get anyone in trouble for plagiarism, but I’m pretty sure Jesus said that first…but with fewer pictures and rhyming words!
Matthew 25:34-40
“Then the king will say to the godly people on his right, ‘Come, my Father has great blessings for you. The kingdom he promised is now yours. It has been prepared for you since the world was made. It is yours because when I was hungry, you gave me food to eat. When I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I had no place to stay, you welcomed me into your home. When I was without clothes, you gave me something to wear. When I was sick, you cared for me. When I was in prison, you came to visit me.’
“Then the godly people will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food? When did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you with no place to stay and welcome you into our home? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?’
“Then the king will answer, ‘The truth is, anything you did for any of my people here, you also did for me.’
Parents Night Out
UBC will be hosting a parents night out on Friday October 16th. Drop off your children and enjoy time together from 6-9 PM. For more information contact josh@ubcwaco.org.
Thailand Mission Trip - May 15-29, 2016
If you are interested in going on UBC’s first trip to Thailand in May, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org for more information. There are a limited number of spots available, and the cost for the trip is $2700.
SWCC Halloween Festival - October 20th
This will be our third year to help with the largest Halloween Festival in South Waco! This year the festival will be held on Tuesday night, October 20th, and we need your help. This year we are needing almost 100 volunteers, there will be a sign-up sheet in the foyer starting this Sunday. Be on the lookout for more information in the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org
Satan Slayers
The Satan Slayer lost again. I can't remember the scores and I don't care. I've gotten a lot of emails in response to last weeks op-ed. Some people claim that I see the problem the wrong way. Others that my reporting is inaccurate. "Fine," I say. You decide yourself. Here is a clip of Slayer highlights. By the way, when I just typed that last sentence I verbalized the word highlights and used my fingers to do that quote thing.
Work is Worship
Greeters: the Walters, Rick, Kelsey
Coffee Makers: emmy and stephen
Mug Cleaners: chase
Announcements:
Sunday Sermon Text: Matthew 15:21-28 "Favorite Stories from my Favorite Story Part 1"
Please be in prayer for our next leadership team meeting which is Sunday, October 25th.
Our next UBCYP event will be Friday October 16th. Contact jamie@ubcwaco.org for more information
We will be celebrating the life of Kyle Lake during our worship service on Sunday October 25th. Please invite friends that you think might be interested in joining us that day.
Do you have an Emergency? Do you Need to talk to a Pastor?:
254 498 2261
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- Kristin Dodson: kschwebke@prodigy.net
Joy Wineman: joy.wineman@gmail.com
Stan Denman: Stan_Denman@baylor.edu
David Wilhite: David_Wilhite@baylor.edu
Byron Roldan: Byron_Roldan@baylor.edu
Sharyl Loeung: sharylwl@gmail.com
Jon Davis: jdavis83@gmail.com
UBC Finance Team
Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members.
Tom Haines: thomas_haines@baylor.edu
Josh McCormick: Josh.McCormick@dwyergroup.com
Chris Kim: chris_kim@alumni.baylor.edu
Hannah Kuhl: HannahKuhl@hotmail.com
Justin Pond: pondjw@gmail.com
Lacy Crocker: lacykcrocker@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.
Maxcey Blaylock: maxceykite@gmail.com
Mathew Crawford: mathewcrawford@yahoo.com
Callie Schrank: Callie_Schrank@baylor.edu
Jeff Walter: Jeff_Walter@ubcwaco.org
Rob Engblom: Rob_Engblom@baylor.edu