ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Ordinary Time
Add It To Your Life
At Kid’s Camp this summer we talked briefly about 2 Peter 1:5-8 and it has since become a passage of importance for me. It says this, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I have found this passage meaningful for several reasons. 1) It begins with the reminder that God has already provided and will continue to provide for all needs. “For this very reason…” at the beginning of verse 5 is referring to v.1-4 which clearly states that God is willingly providing for all needs so that people can follow God. Because we can count on God to provide we can pursue these other things. 2) I love a good list – and so I am very into the idea of developing these qualities in myself and in those around me. And, 3) I love that v.8 leaves room for growth – understanding that we will increase in these qualities as we grow in our relationship with God.
I think I sometimes forget that that throughout the course of my life I should continue to be formed more and more into the image of Christ. Every day I am being formed in new and different ways – and if I am not conscious and careful then that formation will still occur, but it will just form my life in ways that I don’t wish to be formed. So passages like 2 Peter 1:5-8 are important – to help us understand what we’re working towards. So that we will not cease to be – as v.8 says – effective and productive in our knowledge of Jesus Christ.
We all possess these qualities naturally in different measure. I am currently working on adding the discipline of perseverance to my life. I have a tendency to quit when thing get hard or when I sense that I might fail. I want to learn to push through that because I think that hard times and failure are where growth happens. So I am learning to embrace the discipline of perseverance even as it leads me into hard things and failure.
What are you looking to add into your life right now? I would love to know. Please send me an email at taylor@ubcwaco.org. I’d love to talk about this in person over lunch or coffee. Let’s help each other grow in faith and in discipline.
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Meet Our Newest UBCer
Name: Millicent Jane Griffin
Enneagram Number: 7
Birthday: July 29
Birth Weight: 7.0 lbs
Birth Height: 21 inches
SUNDAY SCHOOL STARTS THIS WEEK
Sunday School will begin at 9:30am this Sunday. Check out the class options below. Also, yes, there is childcare during Sunday School.
The Story of YHWH: Seeking God in the Old Testament
Leaders: Kieran and Vanessa Cressy
Location: Rock-n-Roll Room
There’s plenty of weird, wonderful, and deeply challenging stories in the Old Testament. From Job to Rahab, Ezekiel to Esther, in this class we’ll explore some of the themes that make the Old Testament so rich, so vivid, and so difficult. We may not always agree, or even find answers—but we will come together in community, to hear a spectrum of voices, considering and respecting new perspectives as we allow the Spirit to guide us through these themes each week.
The Universal Christ
Leader: Ben Raley
Location: Blue Room
We’ll be reading and discussing The Universal Christby Richard Rohr. Drawing on scripture, history and spiritual practice, Rohr articulates a transformative view of Jesus Christ as a portrait of God’s constant, unfolding work in the world. ‘God loves things by becoming them,' he writes, and Jesus’ life was meant to declare that humanity has never been separate from God – except by its own negative choice. When we recover this fundamental truth, faith becomes less about proving Jesus was God, and more about learning to recognize the Creator’s presence all around us and in everyone we meet. Ubc is not providing books, so you’ll want to get a copy.
The Problem of Evil and the Goodness of God
Leader: Mathew Crawford
Location: Red Room
Let’s gather and talk about God and evil. We will probably have more questions than answers, but perhaps we will find which questions are helpful and which are not. We will read scripture, address historical and contemporary arguments, and hopefully learn something along the way.
A Night Of Belonging - September 19th - 8pm
If you are a college student or young adult, please join us on Thursday night, September 19th at 8pm. We will be gathering to sing some songs together, reflect on scripture, and to hang out. Mark your calendars now. If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org
Foster Care Opportunity
If you are interested in potentially fostering unaccompanied children from the border please note there will be an informational session on Tuesday, September 10, at 6:30pm at Maranatha Church, 1000 Ashleman St, Waco, TX 76705.
Student Leadership Team Positions
There are two student positions on the leadership team. These spots are reserved specifically for college students. If you are a student who has been worshipping atUBC for at least one year and consider UBC your home, or if there is someone you know who meets this qualifications that you think would be a good fit, could you please send your nomination to Toph@ubcwaco.org.
Parishioners of the Week
the 13 champions4theLord that came up before church on Sunday and set up chairs.
Announcements
Sermon Text: Luke 14:25-33
UBCYP cookout: 9/14
All youth picnic 9/22
Backside 9/27
Homecoming Breakfast 10/13
UBC Kids Teacher Training:
Check In Team, Nurture Room, and Sprout Room - September 8 after church
Bloom Room and Branch Room - September 29 after church
Root Rooms - October 20 after church
Work is Worship
Greeters: Corntassel
Coffee Makers: Kareem
Mug Cleaners: Kareem
Money Counter: George Thornton
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.
Byron Griffin: byrontgriffin@gmail.com
Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu
Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com
Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com
Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com
Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com
Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com
Student Position,
Student Position,
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
Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com
Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com
Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com
George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@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.
Ross Van Dyke: Ross_Vandyke@baylor.edu
Jared Gould: jared.gould1@gmail.com
Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com
Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com