ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
What is saving your life right now? by Taylor
One of my favorite thought exercises comes via Barbara Brown Taylor in her book An Altar in the World. It is actually a fan favorite exercise among the staff at UBC (you might’ve heard us talk about it before) – and it is the question, “What is saving your life right now?” I have found that when the world is overwhelming and my brain starts to get swirly (swirly is the professional, technical term), “What is saving your life right now?” is often the perfect question to ask.
In An Altar in the World, Barbara Brown Taylor describes her introduction to this question by telling the following story:
Many years ago now, a wise old priest invited me to come speak at his church in Alabama. “What do you want me to talk about?” I asked him. “Come tell us what is saving your life now,” he answered.
It was as if he had swept his arm across a dusty table and brushed all the formal china to the ground. I did not have to try to say correct things that were true for everyone. I did not have to use theological language that conformed to the historical teachings of the church. All I had to do was figure out what my life depended on. All I had to do was figure out how I stayed as close to that reality as I could, and then find some way to talk about it that helped my listeners figure out those same things for themselves.
One of the reasons that I am so into this question is because it offers me the freedom that Taylor describes here. So often when I am in reflection or prayer I feel an old temptation to say or think just the right thing. As if saying or thinking the exact right combination of words will make my thoughts some how more holy. But the fact of the matter is that there is no combination of words or actions that I can complete that make me more holy. And the fact of the matter is that God has not asked for the holiest version of me. But God has asked for all of me, just the way that I am, and right now. And God has promised to take care of the rest.
So, with honesty in mind I’ll share you what’s saving my life right now: Dr. Pepper, my dog Ruthie, the fact that my sister puts up with the most annoying version of me and loves me anyways, the videos that the Mills have been posting of themselves singing while they drive their kids to school, an old ABC Family show called Greek, every glimpse of the sun, and the UBCMusic ep. I don’t know that that’s a particularly holy list. But I see God all the way through it. And that makes my brain just a little less swirly.
What’s saving your life right now?
As always, I’d love to talk to you about any of this if you have thoughts or questions or just want to get together. You can always email me at taylor@ubcwaco.org.
Connection Lunch
After church on Sunday, go grab some food and come back. We’re going to be eating together, getting to know each other, and discussing some of the data from this summer’s care survey.
Youth Halloween Party
Wednesday, October 31 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM we will have our all youth Halloween party. We will have dinner, a costume contest, fall games, and a Bible Ghost story. This event is for all youths 5th – 12th grade!!
All Saints Day Liturgy
On Thursday, November 1st, we’ll gather for an All Saints Day liturgy in the Backside at 5:30pm. This will be a time of prayer, remembering the dead who have been Christ to us, and reflecting on the living in our lives who reflect the light of Christ to us.
Cesar Chavez Halloween Festival
Friends, CCMS needs our help! They are having their annual Halloween Festival this Tuesday, and they still need two things:
- Candy - please bring any and all candy to UBC on Sunday to help with their festival
- Pumpkins - they will have a pumpkin painting station at the festival, and they would like a pumpkin for every kid. please bring a pumpkin to UBC on Sunday as well
BYFTCD (It is our first annual Bring Your Family to Church Day)
It will be Homecoming weekend at Baylor, so we will have a lot of families in from out of town. If you are student, what better way to show your family you are plugged into a church than to feed them! We will be having a breakfast for families at 9:30, on November 4th. UBC, we need your to help to provide for breakfast. On Sunday, please sign-up to bring some fruit, pigs n blanket, etc… There will be a sign-up sheet in the foyer, or you can email bheins@hot.rr.com for more information.
Random Pic To Generate Clickbait Traffic
Parishioner of the Week
Ricky “the dragon steamboat” Lhotan for being promoted to lieutenant jr. grade as a navy chaplain this past weekend. Ricky we are proud of you and pray that you will be a minister of peace in a violent world.
Work is Worship
Greeters: Blaylock
Coffee Makers: Bella Sacco
Mug Cleaners: Cooleys
Money Counter: Kuhl
Welcome Station: Broadduses
Announcements
Sermon Text: Job 42:1-9 “Formation Part 4: Mysticism”
10-27 Women’s college group service project
10-31 OOTP Halloween Party
11-1 All Saints Liturgy (Backside @ 5:30)
11-9 Youth Boys and Girls Night (7-12)
11-18 Youth Sunday
11-4 Bring Parents to Church Day
12/5 Pre-Pancake Party Mens and Womens college group
12-9 Last Sunday of the fall semester/Christmas Youth (5-6)
12-12 Last Wednesday of fall semester/Christmas party Youth (7-12)
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- Adam Winn: adamwinn68@yahoo.com
Byron Griffin: byrontgriffin@gmail.com
Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu
Emma Wood: emma.wood@yahoo.com
Bridget Heins: bheins@hot.rr.com
Jeremy Nance: Jeremy Nance
Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com
Student Position: Samuel Moore: samuel_moore2@baylor.edu
Student Position: Anna Carol Peery: anna_peery@baylor.edu
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
Hannah Kuhl: HannahKuhl@hotmail.com
Justin Pond: pondjw@gmail.com
Doug McNamee: douglas.mcnamee@gmail.com
Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.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.
Josh Blake: joshnblake@gmail.com
Ross Van Dyke: Ross_Vandyke@baylor.edu
Jared Gould: jared.gould1@gmail.com
Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com
Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com