ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Pentecost
The Occasion for Vulnerability (by Josh)
I have been thinking about how we hold the faith in our postmodern, post-evangelical, post-Christendom, post-COVID (it doesn’t seem to be going away, but you know …) world. Because I’m forty now, I’m looking for the cues promised to me by the books that talk about the second half of life. I’ve been wondering what I'll find in the reconstruction toolbox. I’ll tell you about something that seems to be sticking -- community. If I had a dollar for every time someone told me they are spiritual, but not religious, or that they like the Jesus stuff, but not church -- I’d be a rich fellow. But you know what they all still love? Friendship. Even the disenfranchised, even the introverts crave something about community.
I was reminded of this on Sunday evening. My sister is an enneagram seven. That means she makes plans without worrying about constraints. Here’s how this developed. She texted our family group that includes her, her husband, myself, my wife, our children with texting devices and my mom. Her initial message indicated that they’d be making a brisket for Sunday dinner. Cool. We are all in, and wondering what we can contribute. Then I find out that not one, but two more friends have been invited. Then I learned that we’ve added another family. And then the day of, another family. Our count total was at 27. Then my sister pulls this sly move. She asks if we can host the dinner at my house because it’s bigger. What am I going to say, no? As the festivities get going, a neighbor knocks on the door. It’s like the loaves and fishes, a full blown potluck, so we ask them to come in and dine with us. They do. Kids swim. Adults talk. The Olympics wind down on the TV behind us. I realize I haven’t done this in about a year and an half. I’m quiet, taking it in, enjoying a way of life that was once normal.
Through the course of the evening, different discussion pods form. Sometimes it’s organized by gender. Sometimes it evolves as two people simultaneously take a trip back to the kitchen for a second plate of food. Sometimes the discussion topic naturally filters disinterested individuals, then adds interested ones. Then, there’s this moment near the end of the night. Spouses are offering glances that suggest it might be time to think about heading out. Dessert has been consumed. The wine glass has a sip or two left. The adults have all finally gathered in the same space and the children are scattered around the compound, their attention held by swimming pools and video games. My sister could care less about everyone’s comfort level with what comes next. She asks a question. “What is something you are looking to change this year?” Then in an attempt to unpack it further, she quotes my sermon asking “what is something you have to get into, to get through.” I’m stunned she listened and remembered. It’s probably more typically a New Years Eve question, but she’s a teacher and so her calendar revolves around August-May. There’s an audible groan from two other enneagram sevens in the room who feel betrayed by her question which will surely demand some intimacy. I hear some uncomfortable shifting coming from the leather couch.
What happened next never ceases to amaze me. Nine adults who know each other pretty well, though certainly not exhaustively, give nine pretty substantial answers. Some answers involve sadness, some confusion, some anger, all of them vulnerable. I can feel the catharsis of the moment and I wonder what is so healing about this process. Why does it feel so good to be heard? Why is it healing to be called beyond the rhythm of small talk and mostly unimportant conversations that give shape to normative dialogue?
Here’s one way I think I have observed that this particular tool, community-through-vulnerability, has evolved. In my evangelical past this moment was segregated by gender because while the space to confess your sins could yield any result, evangelicals seemed especially preoccupied with men and lust and women and body image concerns. While those topics could certainly produce meaningful conversation, they more often than not felt contrived. On Sunday it felt like our sharing was part of something deeper within ourselves. I always think about that moment from Moulin Rouge, when Ewan McGregor sits down at his typewriter and writes, “the greatest thing you’ll ever do is love and be loved in return.” I suspect that’s true and the way we love each other is by allowing for that vulnerable space to tell our truths.
So how about you? Do you have a space where you get to tell the truth? To be yourself? To experience the intimacy of confessing your joy, pain, disappointment and sadness? If not, you should.
Meet the Newest L-Team Rep
Name: Ben Raley
Why are you in Waco: We bought a house in Waco without seeing it in person in the summer of 2017 after Sarah left the Marine Corps. We both attended Baylor and had family in town so we knew this was a place we would enjoy living (We were right!).
Currently Watching: The Expanse Season 5
Vacation Destination: The Beach or any National Park
Favorite Waco Restaurant to Eat At: Chuy’s, Whizzbang’s, and Mamaka Bowls.
Favorite Books: Any Book Written by Richard Rohr, The Harry Potter Series, For The Bible Tells Me So by Peter Enns, How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Gregor, and The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan.
Something we'd never know about you: I grew up going to the same church as THE TAYLOR POST!
Welcome Back Party
It’s that time of year again. School is starting. College kids return. Summer vacations are over. We are all back in Waco, together. So what should we do? Eat a large meal together after church on Sunday August 29th. So bring your hunger for both the word of the Lord and probably some El Crucero that day.
UBC TieDye T-Shirt extravaganza
If you signed up for a t-shirt and have not heard from toph@ubcwaco.org, please let him know promptly. The TieDye extravaganza needs top tier organizing so we we have to have our ducks in a row so that you get the best t-shirt experience of your life.
Meet the UBCer
The Lemmons
Liturgy of Mourning (childcare provided)
We will be having another Liturgy of Mourning on Wednesday, August 18th at 5:30PM. It will be the same liturgy we offered at the beginning of July, but we wanted to offer another opportunity with childcare in order to be accessible to more people. We are all carrying various sorts of grief and loss from the past year and a half. This liturgy is a time for us to give attention to that pain as a community, to honor what has been lost, and to grasp for hope together. If you have any questions about the liturgy, feel free to email jamie@ubcwaco.org.
Parishioner of the Week
Courtney Broaddus for being the only champion to volunteer to take Maddy’s kids shift.
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: Kathy Krey kathykrey@gmail.com
Ben Raley: Benjaminrale y@gmail.com
Bryce Sandvall: Bryce@holeintheroof.com
Katie Valenzuela: KatarinaEValenzuela@gmail.com
Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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 Hill: 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