ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Easter
On Doing Enough
Sometimes when I have a good idea for a newsletter article I store it in my head for later. I don’t write every week. I write 2 of the 4 weeks of a month and T-Bone Taylor Post and Jameson McGregor write the other two (for some reason Toph has just weaseled his way out of this responsibility his whole religious career). So in off weeks, when I have a good idea, I put that in the file cabinet for later. Well, here’s what happened. Last week Taylor wrote the newsletter and included this quote “I hope that in this season you are being kind to yourself and remembering that your worth is not defined by what you do or what you produce – but, rather, that you are inherently loved and worthy and created in the image of God and you can rest in that.” That’s the quote that other Taylor (social media Taylor) used to advertise the piece. Now here’s the problem: that was essentially my stored up idea for the newsletter.
I’m going to write my idea anyway.
We all know that personality tests are fake and can’t tell you anything helpful about your life. It’s another form of astrology. But let’s just say for a moment that one of these personality tests fooled me into thinking it was really effective. Like it anticipated all my motivations in complicated ways including how I behave in stress and growth. This fake personality test might suggest that I am motivated by accomplishing things. Let me give you an example of how this works. On Saturdays, I like to get work done around the house. I wake up with a mental checklist in my head and all day I slowly work through it checking it off. When evening arrives I sit down on my couch, watch an episode of Ozark with my cocktail and let the fact that I finished my to-do list wash over me. While some of you might experience the joy of the comfort of your couch, or the taste of the beverage or the entertainment value of the show, my joy comes from knowing that the work needed to be done, it is done, and that I did it. Conversely, if I wake up on Saturday and the weather is unpredictable, a tool I need breaks or I get distracted by something not on my list, I feel my day is an utter waste and I am unable to enjoy my evenings. I slip into a small form of depression. The thought of doing nothing, but laying around all day reading or watching TV feels like a form of hell to me. None of that enjoyment was earned. Instead, it feels like eating an entire bucket of ice cream. It felt good while you are eating it, but then you feel sick, perhaps even nauseous.
Back to the fake personality test which says that I love to get things done. Some, who have taken fake personality test too far, have labeled entire countries with fake personality test labels. As it turns out, America and I are the same. We are labeled as those who love to achieve. (interesting side note, Dallas is also labeled as an achieving city. I also think it could be the smarminess.)
*interlude where I break character and feel a moment of inspiration + distraction and call Taylor (pastor Taylor not social media Taylor) to make a list of enneagram TX cities. Kathleen also makes contributions from the peanut gallery (give credit where credit is due):
1 College Station (once you are there you have to follow the rules)
2 San Antonio (HEB Headquarters, nothing is more helpful)
3 Dallas
4 Marfa (can’t be explained even if wanted to, too unique)
5 Amarillo (isolated)
6 Fort Worth (I can’t tell you because it’s too controversial, DM if you want deets)
7 Austin (I wanted to make Austin a 4, but Taylor lobbied for 7)
8 Houston (really Houston could be all of them, but they are the biggest and toughest … did you see them bounce back from Harvey?)
9 El Paso (safest, nicest city in the world)
Anyway, back to fake personality tests and the American condition of achieving. Living in America has been pretty great for me. It rewards achievers. Weber’s The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, “pull yourself up by your bootstraps,” Rudy … we love overcomers. It’s the American dream. I love overcomers! Anyhow, I was thinking about my wife. Fake personality test says she is the opposite of me. Her heaven is sitting on a couch all day in bad weather reading (also, so I don’t get in trouble, let’s add that she’s very productive … I’m merely describing her preference). Anyhow, my point is, that I sometimes wonder what it is like to live in a country where the ethos doesn’t match your personality. I would think it is hard. And now that we are in the midst of COVID shutdown I can see that it’s actually bad.
Here’s my main point. I can see everyone trying their damndest to be productive. Everyone is trying to put out digital content. Everyone is trying to offer something meaningful. Take the religion business for example. If I wanted to fill up my day with video devotionals and church videos I could … because everyone is making them. If I wanted to find committees to be on to fill up my day with zoom calls, I could because everyone is trying to be connected and do important things. I think one of the biggest crises in America right now and in the months to come is that we won’t know how to be, just be.
One year, when I was in the middle of my resident assistant training at my small christian university (which is like church camp for college kids with a few more rules and responsibilities), one of my friends had a good word. If you don’t know what a good word is, then you need to go spend some time in full gospel community churches for a while. Anyhow, the good word was that “we are human beings not human doings.” I hate how cliche that is, and maybe it’s because fake personality test says I'm an achiever, but I’ve always struggled with that. I don’t know how to just be and these moments are exacerbating that fact.
So I wanted to say to everyone either one of two things: if you live in American and don’t thrive on doing work … I'm sorry, that is sucky hard. If you do thrive and work and find that you can’t be you right now, I’m sorry to you too. To both of you though, I want to encourage you to not fall prey to doing things just to do them and feel busy. Take this time to slow down and ask yourself what you actually want to do that will give you life.
Offering for Cuba
The partner organization we work with in Cuba, FIBAC (Fraternity of Baptist Churches in Cuba), is collecting money to help during the pandemic. There is currently a shortage of food and hygiene supplies. We will be collecting money over the next two weeks to send to our partners in Cuba, so that may help their people during this time. If you would like to donate, just make a check out to UBC, and put Cuba in the memo line. If you have any questions, you may contact toph@ubcwaco.org
Family Resource Pantry
We are still collecting items for the family resource pantry. Last week, which was the first week it was open, we were able to serve 46 families in Waco ISD. We have brought on new partner churches this week, and we are beginning to expand the reach of the pantry to other ISD’s surrounding Waco. Below you will find a list of the items that we need the most. If you would like to help sort items, prepare items for delivery, or deliver items, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org Thank you to everyone who has given so far, I think this is going to be a valuable resource for families in the Waco area. Here are what we need this week: food staples (rice, beans, pasta, pb&j, bread, cooking oil, cereal, etc…; hygiene supplies; and cleaning supplies. You may have items shipped directly to UBC, or Toph will be happy to come pick them up from your house.
Lead Team Nominations
Due to the unforeseen circumstances that COVID has created and the way this may have disrupted candidates lives, we have decided to wait another month before selecting someone to fill Byron Griffin’s role on the leadership team. To that end we are also opening up the nomination process in this time due to the lack of communication about this process because we have not been meeting.
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
Parishioner(s) of the Week
Meg Peck was named Garland School of Social Work student of the year. Great job Meg!
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
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
Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu