(In The Life Of The Church)
Ordinary Time
Roller Coasters, Sign-up Sheets, and Unexpected Grace
This time of year usually feels a bit like a roller coaster to me, both exhilarating and exhausting. I love the holy possibility represented by a new school year, a new chapter, a new season of life. But it can also feel like a lot as our priorities and schedules, needs and capacity, shift like sand under our feet. We need patience, grace, and some good rhythms to anchor us as we find our footing.
On Sunday morning, we commissioned our kindergartners and their families as they begin a new chapter. We gave each one a book, What is God Like? by Rachel Held Evans and Matthew Paul Turner. We committed along with their families to support them as they learn and grown and are formed in the way of Christ. And we prayed that they would know and experience and share God’s love everyday, and that we would all love each other well.
While we prayed, the kids standing next to me started dive bombing the stage. As I fought down my laughter, I recognized one of the graces that is sustaining me right now—a big giggle and a bit of silliness.
The big table in the lobby was covered in a flurry of sign-up sheets, and this felt like a grace, too—the opportunity to start fresh with the turn of the calendar page. To reflect for a moment on who we’ll be and how we’ll spend our time in the coming months. To anchor ourselves in connection and community, in shared life and shared service.
Wherever you are on the roller coaster today, I hope you’ll uncover an unexpected grace. I hope you’ll belly laugh, and rest, and find an anchoring rhythm. I hope you’ll accept an invitation to connect, and a let a kind friend help you shoulder any pain you’ve been carrying. I hope you’ll offer what you have to share, and be appreciated for the wonder you are.
Grace and peace,
-Brooke
P.S. We compiled that flurry of sign-up sheets into a single online form, so you can do all your signing up in one place.
You can connect with others by joining…
MiCasas
September Dinner Clubs
Women’s Group
LGBTQIA & Allies
Young Professionals Group
Young Professionals Retreat
College Community Group
Spiritual Direction Group
Or share your time and gifts by volunteering to help with…
Music
Creative
Writing
Backside
Tech Booth
Kids Ministry
Youth Ministry
Lunch Buddies at Cesar Chaves Middle School
Click here to start signing up. (Individual sign up sheets are available in the lobby, as well, if you prefer to sign up by hand.)
UBC Pastoral Search Survey
Please take a some time to share your feedback by completing the Pastoral Search Survey or scheduling an in-person listening session, which you can do here. If you have questions, please email pastoralsearch@ubcwaco.org.
This Week at UBC
Top(h) Golf - Tonight (Tuesday), 6:00 pm at Top Golf
Youth Evenings - 6:00 pm at UBC
5th/6th Grade Evenings - 6:00 pm at UBC
Pints with Toph - Wednesday, 6:00 pm at Pinewood
First Sunday Meal (Picnic in the Park) - Sunday, September 4th after church: We are going to celebrate the end of summer by hanging out in Cameron Park after church. When the service ends, go grab some food and drinks, or pack a picnic before church. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for your household to sit on. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org
Needs of the Church
Kids & Youth Volunteers: We greatly need your help with our Kids and Youth Ministries this semester!
If you’d be willing to help with check-in or in children’s classrooms on Sunday mornings and/or to pull supplies (this can be done anytime during the week), please email brooke@ubcwaco.org. P.S. You’d be signing on for a once a month rotation throughout the fall semester, not committing to help every single week.
For more information on Youth Group volunteer needs you can click this link and/or email kieran@ubcwaco.org.
Giving: Our July giving report is below and reflects the current financial need of the church. Click here to give online.
A Note from Leadership Team
Hello UBC,
We hope everyone is fairing well with the start of the semester/school year! We wanted to share some information with you:
As we brought up in the Town Hall on Aug. 14, we (as Leadership Team) reviewed the bylaws regarding LT membership/requirements. The bylaws read:
The Leadership Team shall consist of nine members of the UBC community that are not staff, finance team, or human resources team. Two of the Leadership Team’s nine members shall be university level students.
On Aug. 21, LT voted and approved to change the bylaws which will reflect that two university-level students are not required on LT. We highly encourage university-level students to apply and be nominated, but these positions are now open to any congregant member who meets any of the other requirements*.
Now that we’ve opened these additional positions, we would like to open up nominations once again. If you nominated someone previously (in the last month), please know that we have these nominations and will consider them. We want to open up to more nominations in case anyone was unable to get their nomination in previously.
If you have questions about serving on Leadership Team and want to learn about what all 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.
We’re thankful for this community and look forward to continuing to serve UBC well.
Many thanks,
UBC Leadership Team
*Requirements are: 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. Members shall be willing to fulfill all responsibilities in the Leadership Team job description.
Upcoming Events
Sunday School Begins - Sunday, September 11th
UBC Young Adult Hangout - Sunday, September 11th at 4 pm
Children's Volunteer Training - Sunday, September 18th after church
Lgbtqia+ Meetup - Friday, September 23rd at 6 pm
Youth Sunday - Sunday, September 25th
Backside - Friday, September 30th at 7 pm
UBC Tailgate at Baylor - Saturday, October 1st
St. Francis Day Liturgy - Tuesday, October 4th at 5:30 pm
Nübcers Lunch - Sunday, October 9th after church
Young Adult Retreat - Friday, October 14th-Sunday, October 16th
Neighborhood Parties - Friday, November 4th at 6 pm
You can find more details and our full calendar of events on our website. This calendar is updated frequently, so check back often!
Save the Date for Kids Camp
Parents, go ahead and mark Saturday, July 22nd-Tuesday, July 25th, 2023 on your calendars for Passport Kids Camp. And maybe start planning how you’ll celebrate a few days without your kiddos?
Parishioner of the Week
The parishioner of the week is Jillian Haag for jumping in hard on our children’s ministry needs.
Preaching Schedule
We’re continuing with a preaching rotation so that we might hear from the UBC community during this season. Here’s that lineup:
Sept 4: Kirk
Sept 11: Kirk
Sept: 18: Jamie
Sept 25: Youth Sunday