ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Easter
On Being Outside
It is now that time of year when I get the grumpiest. I’ll harvest my onions. The pea plants are about finished. I’ll get a few more cucumbers over the next few weeks and the tomato plants and I will battle the heat until late June. I might get five peppers. The last of my garden is the clearest sign that Satan and his army are here for the summer. Look at your weather app and the 90s will appear as far as you can see. Lindsay tells me that today is supposed to set a record (98 degrees).* What makes it even harder is that in Texas, Spring is the best season. This is the opposite of WI. I’ve created a chart below for you to see the comparison.
We moved to Texas in August of 2004. The day we moved into our apartment it was 104 degrees. It’s not always that bad, but it’s at least that bad once a summer. Summer is a kind of purgatory around these parts. I’ve acclimated … kinda. After a few years a real hatred crept into my heart though. Then I started reading about seasonal affective disorder. I used to think it was just for people in Seattle because of a lack of sunshine. I have a different theory (that’s unqualified and has no data to back it up). It’s for anyone who has to spend large seasons of life inside. The thesis of this entry is that we are made to be outside.
I was thinking back to my very first semester at UBC. It was also the fall of 2004. I joined a Sunday school class on Job. One of our ice breaker questions was about landscapes that we find beautiful. The answers were typical. Mountains, forests, oceans, bla, bla, bla. My friend Jonathan though, said that he preferred the cityscape. I was repulsed. Concrete and car noises?!? No thanks. But I liked Jonathan so I decided his answer was ok. Last summer I went to Manhattan and I think I got it. The city has a kind of beauty. I raise Jonathan’s point to bolster my own. I realize that outside doesn't have to equate mountain ranges. It can mean Carrie Bradshaw. But I maintain that we are created to be outside. Summer in Texas makes that harder (for some of us, the rest of us are liars).
I have good news for you. My brother and sister (aka neighbors) purchased a pool. This will make my life less miserable and so I’m excited to see if I have an attitude change about Texas this summer. You can pray for that for me. My therapist has been trying to help me feel feelings and be present for over a year now. A lot of that is about different kinds of meditation. I’m not very good at mediation because, squirrel, but I’m still trying. One thing she helped me with is finding the meditations that naturally come to me throughout the day. Last summer on sabbatical I read up on Sabbath. More particularly, I read Sabbath, by Wayne Muller. One piece of data stood out above all others. Muller said that a research study showed that the majority of people reported that their number one mechanism for finding rest was by connecting with nature. Again, I’m not trying to sell you Stever Irwin, but I do remain convinced that you are dust and to dust you will return. There’s something primal about feeling the dirt beneath your feet. It’s that to which you have always belonged and will belong to again. But let me conclude by making space for the one person who absolutely hates being outside. The deeper metaphysical principle would be to find something that gives you life and to be selfish enough to prioritize that something in your life. Go be with God.
* In other interesting news, I read this article this week. Not sure about the credibility, but crossing my fingers that it’s true!
Family Resource Pantry
Thank you to everyone who has been donating so far, and for those who have volunteered. We served 53 families last week! We are trying to make sure we get the necessary items each week, so below you will find a new resources needed link, and when you are going to purchase something you can check it off the list as bought. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org You can also use the second link to volunteer if you would like to serve in the pantry and driving meals to families.
Pantry needs list:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084EACAE2AABFF2-community
Volunteer signup:
https://bit.ly/communityfoodpantry
Pen Pals
“Want to connect with other UBCers during this time of social distancing? Want to make a meet someone new and make a new friend or connect with a family and make a BUNCH of new friends? Good news! We’re doing a second round of pen pals! Let Taylor know if you want to participate! You can email her at taylor@ubcwaco.org. And just think of how fun it will be when you get to meet your Pen Pal in person when we all worship together again! You should do it!”
Virtual VBS coming summer of 2020
“Good news everybody - we are going to be having a virtual VBS this summer! So, if you are a parent looking to finalize some summer plans for your kids this summer be on the lookout here and during announcements on Sunday morning because we are finalizing dates and curriculum and will have more info for you soon about when VBS will be this summer!”
Parishioner of the Week
Ricky Shull: The Baylor Department of Journalism, Public Relations & New Media is excited to award a William & Joanne Moore Scholarship to Ricky Shull. He will be pursuing a Master of Arts in Journalism this fall. He graduated from Baylor in August 2019 with a BBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship & Corporate Innovation and is excited to return to Waco for this new opportunity! #Baylor #JPRNM
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.
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