ITLOTC 3-1-22

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Shrove Tuesday

Letter from Leadership Team

Dear UBC, 

With Josh’s recent announcement that he is leaving UBC, we are entering an important transition season. We, the Leadership Team, wanted to share with you about what’s next for UBC. 

We are currently working with the HR Team, Finance Team, and Staff on implementing pastor hiring procedures as outlined in the UBC By-laws and the Personnel & Organizational Handbook. Specifically, we are working on an interim pastor plan and coordinating the pastor search process.

The Leadership Team is currently forming a 7-person Pastor Search Committee who will lead the search process and will review applications, interview candidates, arrange to hear candidates preach in person, and determine a final recommendation(s). Then staff will interview the final candidate(s) and make their recommendations. Finally, the Search Committee will make a recommendation to the Leadership Team for a decision regarding the hire.

As Katie said Sunday morning, our goal as a Leadership Team is to be transparent and open throughout this process. We want to offer our community stability during this time and we are very hopeful for what the future of UBC looks like. We pray that we continue to uphold the values and hearts of UBC during this time. 

Grace & Peace,

The UBC Leadership Team

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

Finance Team

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@gmail.com

Julie Sievers: juliehsievers@gmail.com

Colton Towns: cctowns@gmail.com

HR Team

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

First Sunday Meal - March 6 - directly after church

Spring is in the air (except for those two days of week winter creeps back in!), and we are going to spend some time outside. Join us after church on March 6 at Miss Nellie’s Pretty Place in Cameron Park. After church, we encourage everyone to go grab some food and drinks, and bring it to the park for a picnic. We congregate up near the Cameron Park clubhouse, and spend time some hanging out, getting to know one another, enjoying time outside as a community. We hope you can make these First Sunday meals a priority, and look forward to seeing you on March 6. If you have any questions, please contact josh@ubcwaco.org

UBC Mask Policy

Friends, as I announced this past Sunday, UBC will be adopting a mask optional policy going forward. This decision was informed by a few bench marks, namely, the policy of our local school districts, Baylor, and sister churches, but more than that, the information we gathered from DFW epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina. In her blog which can be found here, Jetelina advises that masks be optional in areas where the positive rate has remained below 8% for a week. That is the reality in McLennan County. In addition to this McLennan County has been identified as a yellow county, which means that masks can be optional for qualified individuals. We want to continue to be mindful of the ways the COVID19 continues to affect individuals. To that end if you would like to talk with any of our staff about our mask policy or your own personal health, please reach out.

Jesus Said Love Outreach

UBC Family, we are collecting items for our community partner JSL, for their April outreach. You can learn more about JSL’s work here: https://jesussaidlove.com We are collecting items for 75 care packages to be distributed in the clubs in Waco/Temple/Killeen. These are the items we need: bandages, clear lip gloss or chapstick, gum, travel size deodorant, Advil packages, toothbrushes, and travel size toothpaste. There will be a place in the for you to place these items, contact toph@ubcwaco.org with any questions. The last day for collecting items will be March 27th.

UBC Women’s Group

This group is for those who identify as female, who are out of college and the young professional world, who are closer to 40ish and older, and are looking for a place to connect with other UBC women. Also, as with most groups at UBC, age is relative, so if you are keenly interested please reach out to us. The next gathering will be March 25 at 7ish, at Jen Carron’s house. If you would like more information, please contact Noel Carlson (612-801-5831) for more information.

UBC @ the Zoo

Are you staying in Waco for spring break? Looking for something to do? On Wednesday March 9th UBCers of all stripes are meeting at the Waco Zoo for a riveting time of buffalo watching, animal noise listening

Giving Statements

In the next week you should be receiving a giving statement from UBC from an email account identified with Breeze. If you have given to UBC and have not received this email by the end of February, please let us know by emailing administrator@ubcwaco.org. Paper copies of giving statements are available upon request. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity and partnership with UBC.

Ash Wednesday

Faithful worshippers, here to tell you that our Ash Wednesday service times will be 7:00 A.M. and 5:30 P.M. hope to see you there. Sackcloth and all.

Youth Update

I hope you're all excited for Spring Break next week! This is our last normal week until then. Just so you have the dates to hand, the Youth Group will be on Spring Break from Sunday 6th March 2022 - Saturday 12th March 2022. Everything is back to normal from Sunday 13th March 2022!

I have another meeting this Friday for our Summer Camp! I'll have more details to share later this week, and then we'll finally be able to start taking payments etc. for spots this summer!

I think that's everything for now! Without further ado, here's the week ahead of us:

March 2nd // Wednesday: All Grade Groups! Youth Group, UBC Building, 6:00pm-8:00pm.

NOTE: UBC is hosting an Ash Wednesday service from 5:30pm on this day - it will be done by 6pm-ish, and so I highly encourage everyone who'll be coming for Youth Group anyway to take part! I'll be helping to spread ashes, if that's an incentive. If it's not, I can happily confirm Taylor will also be helping. It's a win-win!

Parishioner of the Week

Dr. Holly Oxhandler for the release of her brand new book Soul of the Helper. Congrats Holly! We’re so proud of you.

Coming Up …

Pints with Toph: Wednesdays from 6-8 @ Pinewood

Ash Wednesday Services 3-2

First Sunday Picnic 3-6

Spring Break Zoo Day

3rd Wednesday 3-16 (with professor Dr. Holly Oxhandler)