ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Lent
The Creative Renaissance Started in Quarentine
A few months ago, I told you about a theory I learned about. It was about our brains and mapping reality. The claim is that 90% of what we see is actually constructed from memory. This is why when you walk into a room and something is misplaced or you get a haircut and momentarily forget about it you are startled for a moment before your brain loads the information. That moment of dissonance is caused by what you expected to see vs what you actually see.
I’ve been thinking about this in a particular way. Here is my thesis: routine is the enemy of creativity. Actually, I think that’s too simple to be a statement about all of humanity, so let me just talk about my own experience. I need routine. I need a schedule for my day with small goals, or I feel like I wasted it. In fact, I have found that in a recent creative endeavor that is precisely because I’m keeping my routine that I’m able to offer creative output. Still I keep thinking about the brain mapping problem. Creative solutions come from thinking outside the box. Sometimes we can’t get outside the box unless it’s forced on us. Penicillin, Play-Doh, the microwave, and pacemakers were all accidental creations- products with origins rooted in an out of the box experience.
There’s a poem that’s been making its way through social media by Lynn Ungar called Pandemic. Here’s the first part:
What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
This of course has me thinking about Sabbath and it’s religious function. I had wondered if perhaps Sabbath is a way to teach our brains to stop mapping even if only for a short time each week. And what if in that space of mental space creativity could be born anew.
Another popular meme I’ve seen makes the claim that during the great plague of London, which also forced people into quarantine, Newton discovered gravity and Bill Shakespear wrote King Lear. I don’t know if that’s true and I’m not going to fact check it because it supports my working thesis.
*******
Let me interrupt this newsletter for this late breaking development. I began writing this yesterday afternoon, 3-16-20. Then lo, this morning, 3-17-20, my friend Emily wrote a treatise on instagram that comes to a conclusion that I was going to aim for. I’m going to conclude with that here.
*******
I woke up today with an odd sense of hope and expectation. Those weren’t quite the feelings I might anticipate right now, so I tried to understand why.
This virus is powerful. Not in a death toll sort of way (though it may be that as well) but more in its reach and impact. Governments, economies and our everyday lives have kneeled in response. And yet it has the ability to unify the planet in a way nothing prior has. This time there is no common enemy. There is no fateful day. Rather, no matter where you are on the planet we are all experiencing something similar. It’s also unique in that we are being driven towards solitude rather than communion. And all of these realities seem to have stirred something deep in me which is hard to articulate but here’s the best I’ve got.
Our time and money and humanity is footing the bill for this costly virus and I, for one, would like a good return on this investment.
So, with unrepentant audacity, this is what I’m hoping will transpire. I would like for this time of shared isolation to birth a global renaissance. There, I said it.
We can eat chips and scroll on our phones and let the days melt one into another or we could do the thing. Whatever the thing is in you that you have ignored or squashed or hidden away. Whatever dormant dream remains within you because there’s never the time or energy to attend to it. Now there is.
Write the song. Or the book. Paint, draw – I don’t know what your thing is, but you do. You might have to dig a little to remember but it’s there. It’s always been there. Waiting patiently for today.
If the kids are home with you, let them witness you investing time in something you’re passionate about. Maybe they can work on their own masterpieces at the same time. If you live alone and you’re just trying to fill the quiet with noise, I hope you’ll be brave enough to let the silence be the impetus to create something beautiful.
If we get to the end of this time with nothing to show for, it will be a massive loss. Not just for you but for me. For humankind. That may sound overly dramatic but I’m sticking with it.
I can’t wait to see what the world creates with our collective solitude. Let’s not put it off any longer. Let’s start today. The beauty and truth inside of you has actual healing power. And we’ve never needed that kind of magic more.
with love, e. paben
Pub Group this Wednesday @ 5:30
I have a very exciting offer for you. This Wednesday @ 5:30 will have pub group? How is this going to happen you wonder? Via the internet like everything else that is happening. Brother Jameson has decided that he will pour himself a cold one and come to you live on Wednesday March 18 @ 5:30 P.M. Should you like to join him, please make sure you are following UBC on Instagram where the live stream will happen. You could also pour yourself a cold one and ask him questions or interact with other beverage enjoying UBCers who will be in the same digital space.
Liturgy Packets
Champions, we, the staff of UBC, spent Monday brainstorming best ways to create corporate worship experiences. One adjustment we are now making is that all responsive liturgy including song lyrics, readings, etc, will come to you pre-worship experience. Please make a point to seek those resources and have them ready for your digital worship experience should you care to do so. As of now, liturgy packets are scheduled to be posted and or delivered on Saturday.
Worship Experience Highlights
I have two digital worship experience highlights that I’d like to share with you. The first is this picture that Callie Oxhandler drew of Jamie during the service.
One of the very fun things for us this past Sunday was getting to connect in worship with former UBCers who are spread out all over. We are very honored y’all tuned in and still consider us part of your life. To that end I submit my second item, Theo Lee worshiping with us from Kuala Lumpur.
WacoISD Meals for Kids
We are still looking for volunteers to help pass out meals to kids at Kate Ross next week. The breakfast shift is from 7:45-9:30a, and the lunch shift from 10:45a-12:30p. If you can help out please contact toph@ubcwaco.org
LAS (Lord’s Army of Shoppers)
Friends, we are in the process of putting together a list of people who could run errands for those who are most vulnerable, or are in quarantine during this time. If you would like to volunteer to be on the call list, please send toph@ubcwaco your name and number. As we have needs come into UBC, we will reach out to you and see if you are available to pick up groceries, food, medicine, etc… for someone in need. We would love to have at least 20 people on the list. If you have any questions, or would like to be put on the list, please email toph@ubcwaco.org
HR Team Member
The HR team is looking for someone to serve on the team. The purpose and qualifications are listed below. If you are someone you know has an interesting please email josh@ubcwaco.org.
(A)Purpose. The Human Resources/Staff Support Team shall exist for the following purposes:
a. To establish procedures for the hiring of ministerial and non-ministerial staff, and to enact those procedures when advised by Leadership Team to do so.
b. To advise Leadership and Finance teams on issues regarding long-term staff needs.
c. To create and implement staff review procedures.
d. To advise Leadership and Finance teams on matters regarding staff compensation, benefits, grievances and termination.
e. To be a liaison between the congregation and staff during times of conflict after all attempts at personal, one-on-one resolution has been made.
(C)Qualifications. HR/Staff Support Team members shall have been an active participant in the life of UBC for no less than one year, have received a bachelor’s degree (or roughly an equivalent amount of experience in personnel management, ministry, or other related field,) and have a demonstrable understanding of organizational management.
Parishioner of the Week
Catherine Ballas, for being a baller and coming up to film our first ever live stream service with her camera.
Work is Worship
Greeters: No Greeters this week
Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week
Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week
Money Counter: no money counters this week
Announcements
Sermon Text: John 9 “Whose Fault Is This!”
Youth Schedule
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