ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Pentecost
Nursing Wounds (by josh)
Sunday was Trinity Sunday. I mostly ignored that reality in my preaching. It’s not entirely my fault. I used the Old Testament text offered to me by the lectionary, but it did not really point to the Trinity explicitly, so I did not feel the pressure to try and get us there. Part of my reluctance is that Trinity is a tricky theological concept. It’s defined more by what it is not, than what it is. Trinity is a reality we live in as much as it is a doctrine to be understood. But now I offer you a few musings on Trinity. God is three persons in one. As such, God is relationship. One of the Greek words used to describe Trinity is perichoresis. Peri is the prefix meaning ‘around’ and choresis is from the same root where we get choreography, so taken together you have, dance around. That is Trinity. A perfect mutual indwelling that it expresses Godself as reflective, caring, simultaneous, responsive relational movement within Godself. And even in that sentence I begin to lend myself to heresy for over-explaining.
There is this really great image in 2 Peter where he says that we are “made participants in the divine nature.” We are called up into the Divine Dance. That is our telos, namely get swept up into and participate in the life of God. I think this is the way we can finally make sense of the description given to us by God in Genesis 1, that is that we are made in the image of God. We are those who’ve been invited into the eternal Triune.
But how do we do that? Answering that is a life of discipleship that takes context in time and space. So let me for now simply speak to what I think it means for us in 2021. I have said a few times in sermons in the last few weeks that we are emerging from the pandemic into an awakening of our own trauma. Some of that trauma will simply bubble up from finally having the luxury of the emotional space for that to be the case. I suspect most often that trauma will be induced by our slow and gradual realization that the world is no longer the same. It may be better or it may be worse, but it’s not the same. Here comes the God-image-bearer part. I have found that one of the best ways to move through pain or joy is to share it. Trinitarian people dance by sharing in one another's joy and pain. That sharing creates an intimacy (hear perichoresis) that makes for healing.
The staff got an email from our friend Kerri Fisher yesterday. Kerri was remarkably honest about her experience at church on Sunday. She noted that one of the most jarring parts of the service was the invitation to greet one another. That moment which is mostly innocuous in a life of the mundane, seemed to have a kind of sting to it. Or maybe I should say the supposition of it did. Namely, that the world is fine enough to answer questions like: “what’s up?” “how about this weather?” or “what tv show are you binging.” In other words our experience might require something more than what small talk can offer us, especially in an atmosphere like church which can breed transformation through vulnerability.
So I wanted to challenge you to identify the places in your life where you have felt the loss or absence of 2020. As you emerge back into the world and identify what you missed or what is not the same, I encourage you to name that, process it and give someone the privilege of seeing your hurt. In sharing our grief we are swept up into the Dance of God. The miracle? There it can be redeemed and turned to joy.
Church Start Time
Just a reminder that as we move back into the building church start time returns to 10:45 A.M. CDT.
Meet the UBCer(s)
Beards
June 6th Cook Out
Reminder that after church Sunday we are having a cookout together. Thanks to Paul Carron, Conner Krey, and Drew Pittman for volunteering to bring grills and grill. We will have burgers, hot dogs and a vegetarian substitute, chips and soft drinks. So pray that the weather will cooperate, because according to our survey a cookout is what you all wanted and needed the most.
Kids Ministry
We officially kicked off UBC Kids Sunday School last weekend! I am very excited to have our kids back in UBC Classrooms for formation time! Sunday School is currently taking place during the worship hour. If you have any questions please send me an email at taylor@ubcwaco.org.
Also - I am still looking for several UBC Kids Volunteers! If you are vaccinated and available to help out with our kids on Sunday mornings please let me know by emailing me at taylor@ubcwaco.org!
Parishioner of the Week
All of the champions who helped move chairs on Wednesday: Will Knight, Ruby Nelson, Sherri Nelson, Ada Nelson, Risse Miller, Eli Miller, Bri Childs, & Colten Towns.
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
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
Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu
Kristen Howerton: khowerton94@gmail.com
Patrick Broaddus: patrickjbroaddus@gmail.com