ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Epiphany
Casserole Diplomacy
UBC turned 25 this month. We had a party to celebrate on Sunday. If you made it, thanks for coming. If you couldn’t, I understand.
I mentioned in the sermon that UBC is 25, I have been worshiping here for 15.5 of those years, and that I have been a pastor for 12.5 of those years. That is enough time to feel growth and change. I have been here long enough to think of UBC in small eras. That could be lectionary cycles, four year cycles of certain Baylor classes that were especially meaningful to me, or the hard things that have happened. There are a number of ways to divide up the time. Regardless of how one is inclined to do that, one thing remains true about time, it keeps going.
I will tell you a secret that all pastors know. People come and go from congregations. In my monthly pastor group meeting, we joke that we have trading cards. When people leave the church you are pastoring, it is hurtful, but less so the longer you do it. Because you stop caring? No. Because you learn it is inevitable? Yes. Sometimes I read articles about this and the author rants and raves at how the church has fallen prey to the same kind of consumerism that marks everything else in our world. Perhaps that's true, but I think it more likely that people change and that accommodating the change in ourselves can be a healthy thing.
In my reflecting on time and change I slowed down last week to think about who is still at UBC that was there before I started. That list, in so far as my memory serves me well, is very small. Without asking their permission I’m going to print their names right here in this newsletter:
Emily & Jeremy Nance
Kristen & Mike Dodson
Marshall Cook
Wade Mackey
Craig Nash
Holly & Britt Duke
Jana & Jack Parker
A few have gone and returned. That is, they were here before I was here and come back, but this is the small list of people who were here before I started and are still here. Sunday after the party during the clean up time, I got up from a table of lingering folks and saw that Jeremy & Emily and Jack & Jana were cleaning. I was deeply touched by that, both because we can always use help with that kind of a thing, but also because I realized how much their presence means to me in a way that is intangible.
A few years ago Craig and I were talking about community and he was paraphrasing a quote he’d seen recently. It went something like this: if you want a thirty years of community then you have to be somewhere for thirty years. If you want twenty years of community you have to be somewhere for twenty years …
Today I was talking to someone about twenty and thirty year communities. That’s not what she called it, but that’s what she meant. She said they lived in Waco for a few years, but it wasn’t until this last year until they had community. “You know the kind where people don’t knock anymore and just come over any time, that kind of community.”
I don’t know how to wrap up my thoughts on meaningful community other than to offer you this Terry Tempest Williams quote that has come to mean a great deal to me.
“It just may be that the most radical act we can commit is to stay home. What does that mean to finally commit to a place, to a people, to a community. It doesn't mean it's easy, but it does mean you can live with patience, because you're not going to go away. It also means commitment to bear witness, and engaging in 'casserole diplomacy' by sharing food among neighbors, by playing with the children and mending feuds and caring for the sick. These kinds of commitment are real. They are tangible. They are not esoteric or idealistic, but rooted in the bedrock existence of where we choose to maintain our lives.That way we begin to know the predictability of a place. We anticipate a species long before we see them. We can chart the changes, because we have a memory of cycles and seasons; we gain a capacity for both pleasure and pain, and we find the strength within ourselves and each other to hold these lines.That's my definition of family. And that's my definition of love.”
Terri Tempest Williams “A Voice In The Wilderness: Conversations with TTW”
Image to Generate Clickbait Traffic
Meet Our Newest UBCer
Name: Russell Broxton Thornton
Birthday: 11/16/19
Birth weight: 3lb 10oz (now is over 7lb!)
Birth height: 16” (now almost 19”!)
Enneagram Number: 4
Leadership Team Nomination
Friends, one Byron Griffin’s stint on the leadership team is coming to an end. During his term, Byron got Griff-Care passed, helped balance the church budget and was instrumental in shaping for our foreign policy in Cuba as we withdrew from the Thailand. Thanks for the years of service Byrondo. That means we are looking for leadership team nominations. If you would like to nominate someone for the leadership team, please do so by using this link to fill out the form.
(A) Purpose. The Leadership Team shall be the primary decision-making body of UBC. The Leadership Team will oversee all the business and property of the church, as well as make the final decisions regarding hiring and dismissal of staff and the acquisition and selling of assets that are beyond budgetary provisions.
(C) Qualifications. Each member of Leadership Team shall have been a member of UBC for at least one year, exhibited an understanding and commitment to the mission and values of the church, and be willing to fulfill all responsibilities in the Leadership Team job description.
(E) Term. Members of Leadership Team may serve for a duration lasting up to three years. While they are encouraged to remain the full three years, members may voluntarily remove themselves from their position at any time
Spiritual/Religious Trauma
Dear Toph,
My name's Alice Fry- we've met a couple times. I wanted to share this event with you that I'm hosting at the Good Neighbor House. At the Trauma Informed Care luncheon UBC hosted last year, this was the topic and I know you mentioned that you recognize this among some of your member's stories. I thought it might be a resource you could use.
Here's a blurb if you need more information:
"Sometimes our search for meaning, purpose, and the divine can become a weary burden. Whether our experience is with organized religion or spirituality, we can become victims of damaging beliefs and toxic systems that continue to cause lasting hurt and suffering long after the event itself is over. Compassionate listening can help. Join us in this 6 week, peer led support group as we trace the paths we've taken to get us here and envision our own paths forward, together. Regarding interest in attending the group or any questions you may have, please contact Alice Fry at ally_otis@baylor.edu."
One Heart - Mentoring Opportunity
One Heart is a ministry which seeks to engage college-aged students in mentorship with youth aged 12-16 who have exited the criminal justice system in McLennan County. Through building relationships and the influence of positive role models One Heart shoes to see a reduction in recidivism rates and break the prison cycle. You can learn more about One Heart’s mission and goals: here If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org
Vote for Ubcmusic in the JFH Awards
Ubcmusic, Vol. 2 is up for Contemporary Album of the Year and Independent Album of the Year in the JFH Awards. Is that a big deal? Probably not. But would it be fun to win? Absolutely. Will we likely win if all of Ubc casts a vote? Yes. You can vote here.
UBC Missions Committee
Over the next few months, we will be looking at UBC’s engagement with what God is doing in the world and discussing UBC’s missional philosophy. If you would like to be a part of this committee, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org for more information.
Parishioner of the Week
Luca Meehan for his monster basketball shot at last Tuesdays WMS game.
Work is Worship
Greeters: Harris
Coffee Makers: David Rehfeld
Mug Cleaners: Ron Miller
Money Counter: JD Newman
Announcements
Sermon Text: Special Guest Preacher Sean Palmer
2-9 (week of) Mi Casa’s Resume
Youth Schedule
February 29 - Leap Year Celebration (Movie/Game Night)
March 11 - NO YOUTH (Spring Break)
March 27 - TBD (Talent Show?)
April 19 - 5/6 Family Game Night
April 26 - After Church Picnic
May 13 - Last Youth
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: Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu
Byron Griffin: byrontgriffin@gmail.com
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: Davis Misloski
Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy
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.
Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com
Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com
Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com
Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com