ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Easter
Mother (by jamie)
In May of 2018, I wrote a song called “Mother.” Mother’s Day was approaching, and I was preparing some liturgical elements that used the lens of motherhood to speak of who God is and how God relates to us.
In this process, I was faced with the reality that I didn’t know of a single song that used maternal images of God. I would later find that there are a handful scattered throughout history, but none of those had been a part of my attention collection up to that point. I remember being puzzled by this, as Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Hosea, and Jesus all seem to implement maternal language when speaking of who God is.
In light of this lack, I set out to write a Mother God song. I foolishly (thankfully?) chose to begin by compiling a list of “maternal” qualities and “paternal” qualities. However, each time I thought of one, I would quickly convince myself it was mis-filed, that perhaps it would better suit the other column.
I suppose this is because motherhood and fatherhood are ways of being in the world that seem to mirror one another, overlap, and dance across cultures, neighborhoods, households, years, etc.
And so, my columns remained empty.
Having abandoned that strange unpoetic way of entering into the writing process, I just started playing and let it happen.
And it did.
When I played it that Sunday, much to my surprise, there was applause.
I note this for two reasons. 1) In my 5 years at ubc, that has only happened three times; and 2) I didn’t think the song was very good, and had already decided I was going to start rewriting it from scratch the next day.
Since it had clearly struck a chord, I decided to leave it alone; it wasn’t my song anymore anyway.
It belonged to the overwhelming number of ubcers who thanked me through tears or sent me emails that week and in the weeks since.
Those for whom the lack of maternal images of God had been a source of pain or alienation, for whom paternal-only images of God were more of a stiff-arm than embrace.
Those who had complicated relationships with their own mothers and who turned to God for the warmth whose lack they felt.
Those who had complicated relationships with their fathers for whom a Heavenly Father has always read more like a threat than a promise.
And countless blessed others.
I’m sorry it’s taken two years to properly share this song with you.
It will release at all the usual digital places on Friday, but you can stream it here in the meantime
I’ll be sending out an email on Friday with ways you can help spread the word, if you so desire.
May you find in this song a reminder that, in the midst of this cradled set of life and death, you are known, named, and held in the attention of the Creator and Sustainer of all things; caught up with all your joy and all your pain in the warmth of that boundless self-giving love.
Family Resource Pantry
Hello everyone, here is the updated list of what is needed most this week at the pantry. You can contact toph@ubcwaco.org to arrange pick up or drop off at UBC.
Food: Bread, cooking oil, milk, lunchmeat, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, granola bars, pasta, spaghetti sauce, ramen, soup, canned meat, canned vegetables, rice
Baby items: Diapers (all sizes), formula, wipes
Cleaning supplies: Laundry detergent, dish soap, bleach, paper towels
Personal Hygiene: Toilet Paper, soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine products, deodorant
School supplies: Spiral notebooks, Pencils, pencil sharpeners, pens, crayons, markers, coloring books
Meet Our Newest UBCer
Calvin Reid Harrison
Birthday: March 13
Birth Height: 21 1/2 inches long
Birth Weight: 9 lbs 2oz
Enneagram Number: 5 w 4
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
LorAnn Newman for passing the bar.
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