ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Ordinary Time
Top Five (formative fiction books of all time)
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.
1. The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis - It should not be surprising that the top spot is given to one of the most celebrated Christian authors of all time. Lewis is a unique figure who has managed to simultaneously fill up evangelical bookstores and garner the respect of atheist critics. Perhaps there is some truth then to Tolkien's criticism that he is every man's theologian. Still, though I've grown up with and in some sense past C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce shaped the way I understand formation, choice, life, death, heaven and hell like nothing I've ever read. If I could only have one book to teach people about following God outside of the Bible, it would be this book.
2. Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry - Wendell Berry does so much with these characters in the Port Charles. In it you will find themes of agriculture, the destructive effects of technology, and healthy relationships. But all of those themes are subservient, in my opinion, to the larger story of the formational life of the community. We spend an entire life with Jayber. And while living in it with him, readers grow in faith, commitment, and care for the people around them. Jayber Crow was the first book to teach me how the transcendent is packed into the seemingly mundane nature of immanence.
3. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver - At some point I began to take apart the worldview I grew up with. It started in college when I began to see what people, that I respected, thought about the world in a way that was different than me. It has continued today. The process of discovering the new and consequently that you are continually wrong in your suppositions, is a painful and precious one. Kingsolver's book puts that process in a story that's moving, challenging and educational. And it's just sooooo good!
4. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens - I read A Tale of Two Cities because it was assigned to me in high school. I read A Christmas Carol because I love Christmas. The only other Dickens book I was crazy enough to try and read was this book. It was every bit as tedious and long as you might expect a Dicken's orphan novel to feel. It took me months, some of them agonizing, to get through it. And when I was done I found a reward. Like Jayber Crow, David Copperfield, took me on an adventure in which I got to observe the full scope of a narrative. With that vantage point I got to see how precious his life and the lives of those around him were.
5. Life of Pi by Yann Martel - I cruised through this book fairly quickly. It is interesting and obscure. You move with Pi, who is the son of a Zoo owner from India, across the ocean in a life boat with a tiger named Richard Parker. That story is interesting in and of itself. What blew my mind about this book is in the last twenty pages. Without telling you what happens I will tell you this. This book taught me something about reading scripture. There is fancy word, hermeneutics, that describes the lens or perspective from which we read a story. Life of Pi, shaped my hermeneutic for reading scripture.
This is my list, what is yours?
Family Weekend Breakfast - September 20, 2015
Bring your family to church next weekend and eat breakfast with us! The breakfast will be at 9:30 in the Backside. If you would like to help with breakfast, please sign-up on Sunday to bring a dish.
nUBC’ers Luncheon - September 27, 2015
If you are new to UBC in 2015, we would love to have you stay for lunch after church on the 27th. This will be a time you can hear more about the history of the church, our current initiatives, and ask any questions you may have. There will be a sign-up sheet in the foyer on the 20th. If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org
Town Hall - September 20th, 2015
We are having our quarterly town hall meeting after church on September 20th. We will give you a few minutes for people to connect after the service, as well as leaving time for those to leave who do not wish to stay for the town hall. If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org
College Retreat - October 8-9
The cost of the retreat is $50, which covers lodging, 3 meals, and UBC swag. There will be a sign-up sheet in the foyer on Sunday, please email toph@ubcwaco.org if you have any questions.
HR Team Member Needed
The fearless Jeff Walter is hanging up the jersey after a few years of serving on our HR squad. Are you interested in serving on the Human Resources/Staff Support committee or would you like to nominate someone you think would be good? Please send your name to josh@ubcwaco.org
Satan Slayers Recap
The Satan Slayers lost another close one to improve to 0 and 3 on the season. The Melody Ranch Ranch Hands dropped the Slayers like a bad habit in five innings. The 13-10 final communicates that the Slayers lost, but what it does not show is the heart of this team and the fierce comeback that they put on display at River Bend Stadium last Thursday.
When asked about the comeback Coach Roldan said, "This team has got a heart so big, it crushes this town ... that's what my buddy Tommy Petty always says."
Indeed the Slayers did show heart ... and knees. Skinned knees. Just ask shortstop Brad Rettler who left it all on the field including a couple of layers of the epidermis. Or how about Rob Engblom who bobbled a ball, but then used Jedi like concentration to haul it in. Or how about Amber Wilhite who consistently punished Ranch Hands trying to sneak onto home plate. These kids did it all on Thursday.
Roldan continued: "It doesn't matter the size of the dog in the fight, it matters what the size of the fight is in the dog."
and then after wiping a tear from his eye "there's no "i" in team."
After a few more t-shirt slogan answers I asked Roldan about the presence of Dani Miller in the dugout.
"Dani came to give emotional support. That's what good leaders do and that's what she is. Her hand is healing up nicely and we expect to see her in the next week or two."
Later that evening I caught up with Kelsey Lawson who remarked, "there's a sale at Penny's!"
Roldan kept himself off the diamond and then gave the starting nod to reliever Jacob Robinson. Robinson threw five frames walking 7 and giving up 22 hits, yielded 13 runs. Some people might have been discouraged by that 23.4 ERA, but not Jake. Here's what he had to say after the game.
"Hey do you know where that group is meeting in the parking lot? We were supposed to celebrate with some Zebra Cakes and and game of Settlers."
Work is Worship
Greeters: Kelsey, Rick, the Walters
Coffee Makers: Joy & Ryan (Dream Team)
Mug Cleaners: Emmy
Announcements:
Sunday Sermon Text: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23: "Matthew's Farm Part 2"
Pub Group this Wednesday at 5:30pm (note the time change) at the Dancing Bear. Come have a pint with some other UBCers and talk about stuff (and things). 21 and up.
On September 18, UBCYP (ubc young professionals) will meet at Jamie's house at 7 for food, fun, and good times. There will be a sign up sheet in the lobby starting this Sunday for those who are interested.
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