ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Lent
The Daughter that Left
I’ve been thinking all week about MAB’s sermon and how the Father didn’t go after the son. In both the other parables the people search for what was lost, but when the son left by his own choice the father did not chase after him. What does this mean? That God won’t come after us when we leave?
When I finished my junior year at The University of Oklahoma I didn’t believe that Jesus was God. I took a couple classes in my Religious Studies major and couldn’t make sense of anything anymore: Jesus, sin, heaven/hell, etc. I told my Christian sorority, my church, and my parents that I was no longer a Christian.
I didn’t dabble in anything too serious, but I was the daughter that left. I didn’t want anything to do with my Father’s house anymore, and I didn’t want to pretend to live by God’s rules—which I didn’t believe. I still believed in one God (and almost converted [reverted] to Islam), but I didn’t know what that meant. And I didn’t think I’d ever want to come back home.
But I did.
I don’t think God chased after me. I think God waited until I was ready to come back home. And that is beautiful and meaningful and incredibly confusing when we hear that God will come after us and then doesn’t. I think we are granted time for doubt, for complete disbelief, and for running away. But this doesn’t mean God doesn’t want us back—just waiting for us to want to be back.
So UBC, may you be encouraged when you run away and don’t feel God’s presence. May you be encouraged when you are home and God is blessing your sibling that has come back. May you be encouraged that no matter how long you are gone, God desires you.
If you want to meet and talk about anything I’ve mentioned, feel free to email me at Kim@ubcwaco.org.
Town Hall
As you might have observed UBC has spent a large amount of effort this semester on our LGBTQ conversation. Alas, there are other things going on in the life of the church. We will have our quarterly town hall on Sunday April 14th after church.
Children’s Sunday
Parents reminder that children’s Sunday is Sunday April 14th.
Pastoral Associate Application
Hello potential pastoral associates. If you would like to work with the UBC staff on a volunteer basis for 5-10 hours a week, we’d love for you to consider applying to be one of our pastoral associates. The pastoral associate commitment is a 13 month commitment from June-June in which PAs will help staff with various ministerial tasks and take on formal leadership roles within the church. Please use this link to apply.
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Cesar Chavez Support - April 6
Make plans to support the kids and teachers of CCMS on April 6, from 10-12:30. We will encourage them as they prepare for their state exams, and enjoy some time playing together. If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org
College Retreat - April 12-14th - $30
This will be a relaxing weekend away were we dive into some spiritual practices and work our way through some communal brainstorming as well. The cost includes lodging and all meals. Last day to sign-up is on Sunday. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org
South Waco Community Center Easter Egg Hunt - April 13, 11am
We are helping out with the annual easter egg hunt for our community at the SWCC. We need your help. You would arrive around 10:15am, and we would be done by 11:30am. Also, they are in need of prize baskets for the Easter Egg Hunt. We would like to get $20. See Toph on Sunday morning for a slip to buy and bring it by church next week.
Cuba Partnership - July
(two trips - last two weeks - each trip is a week)
We are headed to Cuba this summer, and we will have two teams going. The dates will be the last two weeks of July, we will finalize exact dates in a few weeks. There will be an informational meeting after church this week, so please come if you have any questions. The cost will be somewhere around $1500, which includes everything. If you have any questions before Sunday, shoot toph@ubcwaco.org an email.
Announcements
Sermon Text: Philippians 3:4b-14
Work is Worship
Greeters: Harris’s
Coffee Makers: Jessica Washington
Mug Cleaners: Order of the Phoenix
Money Counter:
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
Bridget Heins: bheins@hot.rr.com
Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com
Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com
Kathy Krey: kathykrey@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