ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Easter
What to Love?
This past Sunday the word was brought to the herd by the twofold effort of one Brother Toph Whisnant and his trusty sidekick Fred Rogers, who came back to life as he does every graduation Sunday.
That Rog-Dog has an emotional A game is not something worth debating anymore. The proof is in the smorgasbord of mascara colors that run each year. Fred has a kindness game that rivals that of Barnabas. His instruction to love is so implicitly powerful in his demeanor and television show that you’d have to be nearly dead to miss it.
I was struck by a moment that I’m sure didn’t escape you. There’s a bit of foreshadow to set it up. Fred reveals to us that one of the most meaningful moments of his show was when he hosted Jeff Erlanger, a little boy in a wheelchair. Then the time machine of digital editing takes us back to that show. Jeff explains that a tumor severed his spine and rendered him paralyzed in his arms and legs. Then the moment. It’s the moment that Rog-Dog discovers that his lifetime achievement award will be presented to him by Jeff. What just kills me is the amount of joy that oozes off Fred’s face when he sees and is surprised by Jeff. You would have thought Jesus Christ walked onto the stage. I should tell you that I’ve been a Christian long enough and have read enough C. S. Lewis and other Christian bookstore best sellers to know what humility is supposed to be. To quote Clive, “It is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” That difference is powerful. My problem is that I always try to conjure things like humility, but humility won’t be conjured. It is or it is not. There is no try.
So I think about that moment on Fred’s big day and all the people in that room. It’s a big-deal room. TV hall of fame moments draw important crowds. And what always strikes me about Rog-Dog is how much more enamored he is by Jeff than by the celebrities around him. I want to be the kind of person who wants Jeff Erlanger to present him his lifetime achievement award, but the truth is, I’d rather have Brad Pitt do it. And my wanting Jeff to do it is like me trying to be humble.
So I’ve been wondering how it is that someone falls in love with all the right kinds of things and people so that we come out looking like Jesus at the end of life.
Theologian Emeritus and Super Ninja Stan Hauerwas wrote a book with Jean Varnier, who founded the L’Arche Community. The book is titled Living Gently in a Violent World. I’m going to paraphrase a story from that book. A deaf woman has a dream in which she sees Jesus in heaven. She wakes up and tells everyone about her dream, in which Jesus signs in the most beautiful way you’ve ever seen. Like French fingers or something dazzling. She is deeply moved by her dream. What strikes Varnier in processing her dream later is that her solution was not that her hearing was restored in heaven, it was that Jesus spoke her language. In other words, there was nothing for Jesus to heal. She was already whole.
The saints among us can see those things. Saints like Fred Rogers. A lifetime of choosing the Jesus way has formed their hearts in the shape of Jesus’ heart. What do you see?
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Parishioner of The Week
This week we have two teachers who have taken the Mr. Roger's message to the next level winning teacher of the year. Noel Carlson and Erin Balk are both winner champions who have turned the classroom into a holy space.
Study Hall - Mon/Tues
It’s that time of year again, when all your hard work pays off. This Monday/Tuesday, UBC will be open from 10am-midnight for our annual Study Hall. We will have snacks, drinks, coffee, and a mishmash of fun. And, as always, Chef Watlers will be making the best pancakes this side heaven at 10pm on Tuesday. Come study at UBC, your finals will be #blessed.
Sunday School
The last week of Sunday School is this Sunday, 4-29. However, the Cheers SS class has informed us that they would like to finish their study on Mark which will take three more weeks. So, their last class will be Sunday, May 13th.
Pastoral Associate Applications
Each academic year UBC employees two pastoral associates. While a modest stipend is offered to these individuals, the main goal is for interested persons to gain pastoral experience and be able to list this experience on a resume or other items. Pastoral associates begin work in July and finish the following May. Weekly responsibilities include attending staff meeting, helping with worship on Sunday mornings and other events as needed. Pastoral associates are also given one ministry to oversee such as Sunday School, community partner relationships, mi casa's etc.
Interested persons can apply here.
World Hunger Relief Fundraiser
UBC champions for the Lord! I have great news. This last Sunday I asked you for $2,500 to feed hungry people and waco with nutritious food and you came through!!!! All the tabs for the fundraiser were taken and half of that money came in that morning. If you have pledged to give you can do so a number of ways. Go to our easytithe page and select the "benevolence option." Or you can drop off cash or check in an envelope in our mail slot under the "UBC" letters on the building at any time. Thank you so much.
Children's Sunday
On April 29 - This Sunday! - our kids are going to be leading us in worship at UBC! We are so excited for them to have the opportunity to lead us in worship because we think that it will be a formative moment for them as well as a formative moment for our entire congregation and we are very excited about it! If you have any questions feel free to email taylor@ubcwaco.org to ask!
Work is Worship
Greeters: Blaylocks
Coffee Makers:
Mug Cleaners: UBC Youth
Money Counter: Anna Tilson
Welcome Station: Carlsons
Announcements
- Sermon Text: Children's Sunday
- 5-14 Finance Team Meeting
- 5/10-25 Thailand Mission Team in Thailand
- 6-3 Summer Grill After Church/Picnic Party
- 7-14 Trampoline Park Fun Day
- 8-5 Cameron Park Picnic
- SWCC Movie Days @ UBC: 6-18, 7-9, 7-23
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- Emma Wood: emmaj.wood@yahoo.com
Byron Griffin: byrontgriffin@gmail.com
Stan Denman: Stan_Denman@baylor.edu
Adam Winn: adamwinn68@yahoo.com
Bridget Heins: bheins@hot.rr.com
Sharyl Loeung: sharylwl@gmail.com
Jon Davis: jdavis83@gmail.com
Student Position: Samuel Moore: samuel_moore2@baylor.edu
Student Position: Leah Reed: Leah_Reed@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
Anna Tilson: Anna_Tilson@jrbt.com
Doug McNamee: douglas_mcnamee@baylor.edu
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.
Rob Engblom: Rob_Engblom@baylor.edu
Ross Van Dyke: Ross_Vandyke@baylor.edu
Jared Gould: jared.gould1@gmail.com
Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com
Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com