ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Easter
Pentecost (by Jamie)
Greetings I keep seeing people talk about how they are tired of hearing people talk about UNPRECEDENTED TIMES. Me too. So I will speak to you now of thoroughly precedented times.
This Sunday is Pentecost.
Once again, we will join the disciples as they, for the second time, come to terms with living in a world without Jesus in it. Only this time, instead of thinking that they had thrown their lives away to follow a fraud, they wait with the sense that they are caught up in the activity of God in history, though they don’t know what to do next; they don’t know what it means to be followers of Jesus in a world that doesn’t have Jesus walking around in it.
This is understandable because when Jesus was with them, both before and after the resurrection, the disciples consistently misunderstood what he was getting at and thus never developed a reliable instinct for spreading their wings on the Jesus Way. Furthermore, Jesus told them to wait for a Helper to come because Jesus knew these people all too well.
In light of this, the Helper that comes to them is a bit surprising. If asked to describe the sort of Holy Spirit that this crew needed, one might expect a very wise ghost version of Jesus with whom they might converse—like a Jesus force ghost for something..
But nope.
Instead they found in wind and flame the movement of the Living God.
Less a spectral sage, more of a muse.
As we come to this day each year, we join the disciples in asking what exactly it means to be people who are formed in the way of Christ in our particular time and place. Because if nothing else, the liturgical calendar invites us to ask questions to which we think we already have answers. And in the case of Pentecost, the setting of the accompanying question is always new anyway—we never darken the same particular time and place twice, let alone in THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.
Sorry.
It just came out.
Not deleting.
Anyway, what I’m saying is, we ask questions to which we think we already have answers, not necessarily to find new answers—though we might— but to question our familiarity and reclaim the posture of openness, humility, and wonder necessary of people whose Helper is more muse than force ghost.
So as Pentecost approaches, let us be reminded that the Living God has doubled, and tripled, down on being God-with-us, and as we ask again what it means to be people who are formed in the way of Christ in our particular time and place, may we find ourselves reacquainted with the wonder of chasing the Wind.
Meet Our Newest Leadership Team Member
Luci Hoppe
Why are you in Waco?: I'm a native Houstonian & my husband, Brian, is from Chicago. We made our home here after originally coming to Waco to attend Baylor as undergrads.
Best local Waco Restaurant?: Moroso
Verse, chapter or book of Bible that has been formative for you?: Psalms & Isaiah
What are you currently watching?: Since the Cubs aren't playing right now, we've been getting our Chicago sports fix watching The Last Dance
What are you currently reading?: I just finished The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin
What is something we’d never know about you?: I was very shy until college.
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
Grace and Gunnar Mangrum for creating a human, and then doing a creative gender reveal with a song they wrote.
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
Luci Hoppe:
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