Ordinary Time
Who’s Singing with You? (by Toph)
Hello,
I’ve been thinking about Ted Lasso a lot lately, more than the usual. I am eagerly anticipating when Apply TV+ will make the announcement about the final season, and have already started planning my binge watching meals accordingly. There is one particular scene I keep thinking about in the second season. Towards the end of the second season, Rebecca’s father dies, and she is asked to give a eulogy at the funeral. As one often is with grief, she is struggling to find the words to express her thoughts, and so she starts singing a family favorite; “Never Gone Give You Up.”
It’s one of those painfully awkward scenes. She is singing softly, fighting back tears, and the crowd is looking at her with a sense of confusion. I mean, who RickRolls folks at a funeral. This awkwardness doesn’t last long though, because one Theodore Lasso starts to sing along with Rebecca. He is sitting in the back, and just starts singing along. Ted doesn’t care about the the social norms, or if he will look foolish, what he cares about is his friend Rebecca. And what Rebecca needed in that moment was someone to sing with her, and help her get through the eulogy.
Jesus continually disrupted social norms to care for people: dining with sinner and tax collectors in their homes, speaking with folks he “shouldn’t,” and consistently breaking the sabbath laws. He did all these things to give an expression of care, to show people in his orbit that he loved them. I’ve been thinking about all the people in my life who have shown me care over the last few years, and the countless ways they have loved me. I have also been thinking about the ways in which I get to show love and care as a pastor. It truly is a gift to be invited into a moment when someone is grieving, or having a difficult time, and to express care and love for them. If you are having a difficult time, or want someone to come sing with you, know I would love to.
Lastly, take a minute to think about those in your life who have cared for you, and maybe even made a fool of themselves in doing so. Take a moment and give thanks.
Waco Dives - July 20 - noon - Shorty’s Pizza
We would love for you to come hang out tomorrow at Waco Dives at noon, at Shorty’s Pizza. This is a great time to enjoy some good food, and get to know other UBC’ers. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org
Leadership and Finance Team Nominations
First we'd like to applaud Kathy Krey and Taylor Beard for their leadership these last three years. Kathy and Taylor’s stints on LT are coming to an end this August. We are thankful for their service to our community
So that means we are looking for new folks to serve on the leadership team. Here is some information for you to consider from the bylaws.
Section 1. Leadership Team
(A) Purpose. The Leadership Team shall be the primary decision-making body of UBC. The Leadership Team will oversee all the business and property of the church, as well as make the final decisions regarding hiring and dismissal of staff and the acquisition and selling of assets that are beyond budgetary provisions.
(C) Qualifications. Each member of Leadership Team shall have been a member of UBC for at least one year, exhibited an understanding and commitment to the mission and values of the church, and be willing to fulfill all responsibilities in the Leadership Team job description.
(E) Term. Members of Leadership Team may serve for a duration lasting up to three years. While they are encouraged to remain the full three years, members may voluntarily remove themselves from their position at any time. Members serving as student member commit to a year with the chance to renew up to three years.
Nominations begin now. So if you'd like to nominate yourself or anyone else, please send an email to anyone on staff, toph or taylor
We also have some previously scheduled Finance Team rotations! And so we’re also looking for new Finance Team members. Here is some information to consider from the Bylaws:
Finance Team: The Finance Team is an advisory group to the staff and Leadership Team, providing guidance, support, and oversight of the financial aspects of the church. This 5-7 person team of lay members, in consultation with the Lead Pastor and Office Administrator, meets at least quarterly to prepare the proposed annual budget, review the church’s fiscal condition, and make recommendations and decisions regarding expenditures, investments, and other financial matters. Qualifications and terms for Finance Team service are outlined in the UBC Bylaws.
These positions are incredibly important for our community and an important way to serve! Thanks for considering carefully if you are interested or if you know someone who might do a good job. Nominations begin now. So if you'd like to nominate yourself or anyone else, please send an email to anyone on staff, toph or taylor
UBC Clean Day - August 7th
We are gearing up for the fall, and we are hosting our annual clean day to help get the building ready. Please plan to stick around after church on August 7th, to help us to do some summer cleaning. We will have some pizza available and drinks. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org
Summer Calendar!
We have many exciting events coming up this summer and you can find our full calendar of events here on our website if you’re looking to schedule which events you want to attend this summer!
UBC LGBTQIA+ Community Meetup
UBC is excited to host another LGBTQIA+ Community Meetup! We’ll be meeting on Tuesday, August 9th at 7 p.m. at Pinewood. This is a time for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to meet one another, connect, and have a fun time. We hope you can join us! If you have any questions, you can email Toph@ubcwaco.org
UBC Meal Calendars
Hi friends! Here are the current Meal Calendar opportunities to serve members of the UBC community:
The Pittman Family: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/mm81m6
The Howerton Family: mealtrain.com/08y894
The Hill Family: mealtrain.com/dy98dv
Parishioner of the Week
Jon Davis for working tirelessly on updating our Wifi so we can continue streaming on Sunday mornings. If you see Jon around this week, buy him a cup of coffee or a pint.
Preaching Schedule
Staff has put together a preaching rotation through the summer so that we might hear from the UBC community during this season. Here’s a reminder of that lineup for y’all:
July 24: Kerri
July 31: Kirk
August 7: Sharyl
August 14: Patrick
August 21: Taylor
August 28: Craig