Hello team - it’s Kieran!
You’re stuck with me this week for our weekly article, and I confess it will be a bit of a shorter one.
I thought I’d share kind of a personal story that I often reflect on at this time of year. It might sound sad to begin with, and I suppose it sort of is, but stick with me - I promise it’ll end with encouragement.
So, when I was 10, my parents got divorced. At the time, I didn’t know why or understand what was happening; at this point in my life, it’s easier to look back on their relationship and see why they weren’t a great fit for each other, and I’m very happy to report that they are both happily re-married and in relationships that really suit them down the core of who they are.
I bring this up because I remember the day they told me was the culmination of a church kids camp I’d been a part of. It was slap bang in the middle of the summer, but for some reason, it always springs to mind for me around Christmas time - I’m not sure why I formed that association, but it’s proved tenacious throughout the years.
My parents weren’t Christians, and I’d been going to this camp mainly because my friends, who were Christians, were all going, and I wanted to spend time with them. The morning my parents told me they would be splitting up, the kids camp group was due to put on performance we’d been working on all week. I can’t even tell you what it was about - for some reason that part doesn’t stick in my memory!
I remember my parents consoling me, and letting me know that I didn’t have to go to the church if I didn’t want to - but I was really insistent. I wanted to go - at the time, I remember not really understanding why; it wasn’t necessarily about being committed to this performance, though I’m sure that’s partly it. Looking back on how I felt, I remember trying not to cry, and to hold everything in, until the kids pastor, a woman named Amy, asked me if I was okay. I burst into tears, and I remember her hugging me and telling me that everything was going to be okay. I think I realised in that moment why I had wanted to go to church so badly - even if I wasn’t quite a Christian yet, even if I couldn’t really put it in to words, I knew that I would find comfort, consolation, and love at that church. At the time, that was Amy, but looking back it’s also easy to see that I was drawn to God’s presence, in whatever way that looked like or however I experienced it, and I just wanted to be held and to be told that everything was going to be okay.
I’m not sure why I think about that at Christmas time, especially given that it happened 6 months prior. If I were to guess, I think it would be this - I was a young, vulnerable child, whose world had been upended, and I just wanted to feel safe, and feel loved. I think it’s the closest I’ll ever be able to feel to how Mary must have felt in the nativity story - the details are crucially different, and despite being a child I still had enormous amounts of privilege afforded to me by virtue of being a white male living in a colonising nation, privileges that Mary, as a child in a heavily patriarchal society living under colonial powers, did not have.
But still - I think I wanted to be held by God, I wanted to know that I was safe, that I was loved, that despite a large part of my world coming undone, that it didn’t mean everything was coming undone. I wanted shelter from the cold and the dark, and I found it in a small church that functioned as my stable that day. And, like Mary, I encountered God there. And I’m so, so grateful that I did.
So, what’s the encouragement? This time of year is wonderful, but I’m also aware that for as many reasons as there are people, it can also be incredibly difficult. Whatever it is you’re feeling, whatever it is you’re going through right now, at this point in your life and at this point of the year, I want to encourage you that God is out there, right beside you, and that all she wants to do is hold you, protect you, and love you. I don’t know what form God will take for you - for me it was a little church on a hill, and it was the embrace of my kids pastor.
But I do know this - God is out there, and God is with you. In the small moments of peace amidst the chaos, in the arms of our loved ones, in the words of ones we trust, God is out there, and she is bending all her will and might and power to tell you in a thousand small ways that you are safe, you are held, and you are loved.
Thank you, UBC <3
With all my warmest,
Kieran
UBC Pastor Search
The Lead Pastor job description is now posted on our website. Please feel free to share!
Leadership Team & Finance Team Nominations
We are so grateful to Jose Zuniga for serving on LT these last several year, and he will be rotating off in December. We are asking for nominations to replace his spot on LT. Thanks for considering carefully if you are interested or if you know someone who might do a good job. We also have a few spots still open on our Finance Team. If you know anyone who would like to serve the church in this way, please send your nominations in.
If you have questions about serving on the Leadership Team or Finance Team and want to learn about what is involved, please feel free to read our bylaws or email LeadershipTeam@UBCWaco.org. Nominations can be sent to our email address or to any of our staff members.
Update Your Mailing Address
We’re asking everyone to please share their current address so we can send you things like your annual giving statement, information about our fundraising efforts, and other important information from UBC. You can update your address at this link: https://ubcwaco.churchcenter.com/people/forms/450248
Youth - Wednesday, 6:00 pm at UBC
5th & 6th Graders - Wednesday, 6:00 pm at UBC
Pints w/ Toph - Wednesday, 6:00 pm at Pinewood
Youth Coffee With Kieran - Saturday, 1pm at UBC
UBCYP Gathering - Sunday, 6:30pm at Southern Roots Brewery
It is our last gathering of the year, this Sunday night at 6:30pm. We will be meeting at Southern Roots Brewery downtown for some Christmas trivia and a White Elephant gift exchange. Please wear your most festive Christmas apparel, and meet us at Southern Roots Sunday evening. For the gift exchange, please bring a $5 gift of your choosing, that is wrapped up. It can be something useful, hilarious, or something you’ve hated for so long you want to get rid of it. If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org. See you all Sunday evening.
While we have seen a welcome increase in giving in recent weeks, we still have significant financial need to cover before the end of the year if UBC is to continue on in the same way. We hope UBC is a place you care about and benefit from and that you will consider giving as you are able. Please know your presence with us is always valued, regardless of how much you are able to give.
You can set up a single or recurring online gift here.
Youth Volunteers
Volunteers are a critical part of UBC’s Youth Group - it’s no exaggeration to say that it literally would not run without them. We’re in need of volunteers to engage with the kids, particularly at our Wednesday night meetings, and to make sure everyone is safe. There is also plenty of room to use specific skills or experience you might have - whether that’s leading lessons, running games, or something else entirely! For more information click this link and/or email kieran@ubcwaco.org.
Youth Dinner
If you’d like to get involved with the Youth Group but can’t volunteer on Wednesday nights you can sign-up to provide youth dinner (cooked, bought, or otherwise!) instead. Sign up for that here and Kieran will reach out to you at the beginning of the week you sign up for to arrange details.
Youth + 5th & 6th Grade Christmas Party - Wednesday, December 14th at 6pm
Mothers of God Liturgy - Thursday, December 15th at 7pm
Join us for a creative liturgy gathered around this Meister Eckhart quote: "We are all meant to be mothers of god, for God is ever waiting to be born".
Christmas Eve Service - Saturday, December 24th at 5pm
Christmas Morning Online Worship - Sunday, December 25th at 10:45am
Brunch Church - Sunday, January 1st at 10:45am
Find more details and our full calendar of events on our website. This calendar is updated frequently, so check back often!
🎉 Parishioner of the Week
The parishioners of the week are Lucas & Sarah Land, Nathaniel Mosher, Colton Townes, and Andy Clark for their work for Carols, Cocktails, and Cookies.
📖 Preaching Schedule
12/11: Ryan Miller
12/18: Patrick Broaddus
12/25: Special Christmas Stream (Online Only)
1/1: Brunch Church!
💭 Share Your Feedback
You’re invited to share your feedback (good, bad, or in-between) about the goings-on at UBC! All comments will be shared directly with the UBC Human Resources team who will then share it with Leadership Team, Finance Team, or Pastoral Staff as needed. Share your feedback here: https://forms.gle/1ovkBXSx1Lu3CR448
Leadership Team
Ben Raley (benjaminraley@gmail.com)
Jose Zuniga (jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com)
Katie Valenzuela (katarinaevalenzuela@gmail.com)
Andy Clark (andyclarkmusic@gmail.com)
Aleigh Ascherl (aleighascherl@gmail.com)
Marcus Franklin (M_Franklin@baylor.edu)
Shelly Taylor (Shellytaylor76@gmail.com)
Katie Robinson (katiekrobinson@yahoo.com)
Margo Shanks (Margo_Shanks@baylor.edu)
HR Team
Erin Hill (erin.albin1@gmail.com)
Patrick Broaddus (patrickjbroaddus@gmail.com)
Craig Nash (craig_nash@baylor.edu)
Kristen Howerton (khowerton94@gmail.com)
Abbey Mackey (abbeyadizdar@gmail.com)
Jess Smith (jess_smith1@baylor.edu)
Finance Team
Colton Towns (cctowns@gmail.com)
Julie Sievers (juliehsievers@gmail.com)
Evan Kidd (evan.kidd1@outlook.com)
Ethan Cohen (ethancohen002@gmail.com)