ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Epiphany
Epiphany and Black Voices (by jamie)
Greetings.
We are in the midst of Epiphany, the season between Christmas and Lent that invites us to meet Jesus again for the first time; to stave off our own theological idolatry by asking questions to which we think we already have answers. This season of holy curiosity brings with it the reminder that our ideas about God are not equal to God, Godself. Our thinking about God is mediated to us through a lens (or set of lenses). This lens is crafted by our time, place, circumstances, and the things we have inherited from voices in the pulpit, books, or family members who have taught us about faith (and of course all of the voices that influenced the voices that shaped us). There’s a way in which Epiphany is a season that invites us to be self aware of the lenses—not for the sake of casting them away necessarily (there’s no view from nowhere), but instead to put them in their proper context; to recalibrate them, if you will. And perhaps, further, to be aware of the perspectives that are lacking in our formation.
For a church like Ubc, where many of us are white folks who have been shaped primarily by white voices, it a great gift that Black History Month falls within this season. Throughout February, as we have done in years past, we will be taking a cue from Black History Month to elevate Black voices in our liturgy. Like the seasons of the church calendar in general, this month puts directly before us a set of questions, concerns, themes, etc., not for the span of this month alone, but rather as companions on our journey through another year to continue to form us more fully in the way of Christ.
James Cone
I want to begin that process now by sharing an excerpt from James Cone’s God of the Oppressed (in which he is doing theology from the vantage point of the Black experience). This is from the intro, and I feel like he better articulates what I’m trying to say about the lenses we carry (I’ve highlighted a couple of things for emphasis):
In this book, I am not writing simply a personal account of my religious faith, though that is partly involved. I am writing about my parents, Lucy and Charlie Cone, and other black people in Bearden and elsewhere who gave me what it takes to deal with life’s contradictions and negations. For it was they who introduced me to the man called Jesus, the One whom they said could “lift your feet out of the muck and miry clay and place them on the solid rock of salvation.”
I respect what happened at Nicaea and Chalcedon and the theological input of the Church fathers on Christology; but that source alone is inadequate for finding out the meaning of black folks’ Jesus…To be sure Athanasius’ assertion about the status of the Logos in the Godhead is important for the Church’s continued christological investigations. But we must not forget that Anthanasius’ question about the Son’s status in relation to the father did not arise in the historical context of slave codes and the slave drivers. And if he had been a black slave in America, I am sure he would have asked a different set of questions. He might have asked about the status of the Son in relation to slaveholders. Perhaps the same is true of Martin Luther and his concern about the ubiquitous presence of Jesus Christ at the Lord’s Table. While not diminishing the importance of Luther’s theological concern, I am sure that if he had been born a black slave his first question would not have been whether Jesus was at the Lord’s Table but whether he was really present at the slave’s cabin, whether slaves could expect Jesus to be with them as they tried to survive the cotton field, the whip, and the pistol.
Unfortunately not only white seminary professors but some blacks as well have convinced themselves that only the white experience provides the appropriate context for questions and answers concerning things divine. They do not recognize the narrowness of their experience and the particularity of their theological expressions. They like to think of themselves as universal people. That is why most seminaries emphasize the need for appropriate tools in doing theology, which always means white tools, i.e., knowledge of the language and thought of white people. They fail to recognize that other people also have thought about God and have something significant to say about Jesus’ presence in the world.
My point is that one’s social and historical context decides not only the questions we address to God but also the mode or form of the answers given to the question. (p. 13-14)
This is in many ways the heart behind our taking a cue from Black History Month to elevate Black voices in our liturgies. For those of us who have had a lack of Black voices in our Christian formation, this is a time to come to know God more fully, that we might love God more fully. And it is, for all of us, a time to intentionally celebrate the gifts, voices, and truth-bearing witness to the God-Who-Sees, of God’s beloved Black children.
Meet the UBC(ers)
The Waldrops
College Women’s Group
Hey College Women, are you looking for a place to get to know other UBC college women? College Women’s Group aims to be a safe space for college aged women to gather, ask hard questions, and find encouragement. We meet on Wednesdays at 6:30pm on Zoom for a casual time of fellowship and prayer. We would love for you to join us! If you have any questions, feel free to contact Kathleen Post (kathleen_post1@baylor.edu) or Maddy Hayes. Peace, love, and blessings!
Sunday School
(De/Re)Constructing Together
We'll be listening to episodes of Pete Enns's "How the Bible Really Works" podcast together in order to talk through broad views of the Bible, deconstructing various issues, and then hopefully doing some reconstructing alongside one other, too. We hope you can join us! Email bri@ubcwaco.org with questions and to be put on the email list.
Attention Collection
Over the years we accumulate a series of inputs and influences that shape our imaginations and thus the way we relate to ourselves, to God, our neighbors, and the world around us—this is our attention collection. Join us for an exploration of the art, music, books, movies, hobbies, people, experiences, etc. that have shaped us. You’ll be invited to share from your own attention collection and to cultivate a curiosity about the collections of your fellow ubcers. For more info and, importantly, the zoom link to the class, email jamie@ubcwaco.org
How to Fight Racism - Book of the Month in February
Hello UBC Family! Many of you know that in February we celebrate Black History Month at UBC in a variety of ways through our liturgy and the pulpit. This year we are also encouraging you to read a book with us: How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice. This is the latest book by Jemar TIsby, which “provides a practical framework for pursuing racial justice with hands-on suggestions bolstered by real-world examples of change.” We will read the book over the month of February, and then set up a time the first week of March to discuss the book together over zoom. We would love for you to join us in the important work of fighting against racism and injustice. If you want to participate, but can’t afford the book, let us know, we can get you a copy. If you would like to be a part of the group, or have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org
Giving Statements
Giving statements will be available for pick up at UBC on Sunday 1-7 from 12-2 PM. Any statements not picked up during those times will be mailed after. If you gave to UBC and that giving was associated with an email address, you should have had your given statement emailed to you. If you gave and have not received an email please email administrator@ubcwaco.org.
Parishioner of the Week
Judah Crawford who the youth pastors tell me is best at responding to texts in a timely manner. it’s the little things Judah.
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: lhoppe@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