ITLOTC 5-2-2023

Sometimes, we need to stop and take a breath.

As I’m writing this, it’s officially May. *NSYNC has been proven correct, yet again.

If you are a student of any kind, or if you have any students who live with you, or if you know of any students in your world, you know that May has its challenges. The school year is tailing off - finals are happening (starting last Friday for MCC, starting this Saturday for Baylor). There’s an anxious energy all around because of this! Recently, I sat down at the Penland cafeteria for lunch and could not help but feel the anxiety - for both students and faculty friends - in the room.

The rainy end to April has also brought with us fun, new challenges in May - mosquitoes being just one. Our back yard is a hot muddy mess after the rains, and our dogs LOVE it. Our furniture and floors, however, do not.

Sometimes, we need to stop and take a breath.

May brings us Mother’s Day - where we can celebrate with those who have loved us and cared for us - whether they are the ones who birthed us or not. In our house, we also celebrate two birthdays, on the same day. Our youngest, Dylan, and my wife, Jill, share a birthday. So, while for some May is full of anxious energy for one reason - for me, there is a whole different kind of anxiety. Gifting is not my spiritual gift - I’m terrible at it, but I do keep trying. This leads to thoughts of disappointing not only on Mother’s Day but for two separate birthdays.

Sometimes, I need to stop and take a breath.

So, however your May turns out, remember that it’s perfectly ok to NOT be perfectly ok.

Stop, take a breath, and be thankful.

Kirk Hatcher
Interim Pastor

Youth - Wednesday, 6:00 pm at UBC

5th & 6th Graders - Wednesday, 6:00 pm at UBC

***There will be no Pints w/ Toph this week***

UBC Families-Parents Night Out - Friday, 5:30- 8:30 pm at UBC

This Friday we are having a Parent's Night Out! We're going to  do some crafts, eat some snacks (but please eat dinner beforehand), and watch a movie together! Feel free to sign up until 5pm on Wednesday! And volunteer to help if you want!

Youth Coffee w/ Kieran - Saturday, May 6th

Nübcers Luncheon - Sunday, May 7th

If you are new to UBC in the last 6 months, and are looking for more ways you can learn about who we are and get plugged in, we would love for you to stay for lunch after church on May 7th. This is a time in which you can ask questions of the staff, learn more about UBC’s history, and ways you can plug into community and serve. There will be a sign-up sheet in the foyer starting the week of April 16th. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org.

Youth Camp Drivers

How would you like to save UBC $2000+ and help the Youth Group all at the same time???

Well boy oh boy do I have good news!

For the last few years, the Youth Group has rented vans to help get all of our Youth to Summer Camp. This usually means renting two 16-passenger vans for the whole duration of camp, which adds up pretty quickly - usually to the tune of about $2000.

Well, this year we wanted to try something different. We’re extending a call for volunteers to drive members of the Youth Group to and/or from Summer Camp!

Here are the details:

  • We have two dates available for volunteers - Sunday 11th June, and Thursday 15th June. If you can do both, that’s fantastic - if you can only do one, that’s equally brilliant!

  • Please note: we don’t currently have specific pick up and departure times available. However, based on previous years, on Sunday 11th we will likely depart from UBC between 10am-12pm, and pick up on Thursday 15th is usually flexible, but would also likely be around 10am-12pm.

  • Camp this year is at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. It’s approximately 3 hours away, for a 6 hour round trip.

  • UBC will cover gas for any trips made to drop Youth off!

If you’re interested in signing up, please follow this link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8aY2dZAOwzoIbZ9htyWD4id5xn5BeBcNL1JqpQzECsjhH3g/viewform?usp=sf_link

And fill out the Google Form there. It’ll ask you which day/s you are available to volunteer for, how many passengers you can take, and if you’ve done a background check with UBC in last 3 years (if not, no worries, we’ll just need to process one for you before camp!).

We all know that finances are tight at the moment - by donating your time in this way, you’ll be saving the church a lot of money, and you’ll be making a lot of youth very very happy!

If you have any questions, please reach out to me at kieran@ubcwaco.org.

Thank you so much team!

Giving Update

UBC survives on the generosity of our congregation. Your tithes and offerings allow us to continue to create a space that is welcoming to all, embraces beauty, and seeks to live life to the fullest.

You can give, as you’re able, on Sunday mornings or set up a single or recurring online gift here.

*The giving report has been updated to reflect total giving needs each month rather than fixed expenses only.

UBC Meal Train

Hello friends! We have so many reasons to put together meal trains. If you are interested in helping us get meals to our community members in need you can sign up at the front table or email Taylor at taylor@ubcwaco.org. No need to be a professional chef – even if you just had a busy day you can pick up some to-go and take it to someone who needs it! Thanks for being willing to help!

Kids Volunteers

We are so thankful for our UBC Kids Volunteers! And it's that time again - to make a Spring calendar! If you are available to help on Sunday mornings or other times this semester please reach out to Taylor at taylor@ubcwaco.org

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 Games Afternoon - Saturday, May 13th

VBS - Monday, June 19th-Friday, June 23rd, 5:30-8:30pm

We are having VBS at the end of June this year and the theme is Compassion Camp: What Every Living Thing Needs! I'm so looking forward to spending this week with our kids and volunteers! And there is currently a sign up sheet for kids and volunteers in the lobby! Or you can email me directly! taylor@ubcwaco.org

Civil Rights Pilgrimage - July 12-16th

UBC is looking at doing its first ever Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Memphis and Little Rock this July. This trip is for all ages, and designed to learn more about Civil Rights history in America, and spark conversation among your family and UBC’ers around how we might continue to create a more equitable world.

Passport Kids Camp - Sunday, July 22nd-Tuesday, July 25th

Find more details and our full calendar of events on our website. This calendar is updated frequently, so check back often!

Thailand Trip - August 21st - September 2nd

Our friends who UBC partnered with in Thailand for a number of years have requested our help. Their sending organization is hosting all the Asia field personnel in Thailand the week of August 21st, and they want our help with conference. Toph is going over to lead the morning devotions, and they have asked for a small team to come help with kids programming for four days.

🎉 Parishioner of the Week

Congratulations to our three graduates who were recognized on Mister Rogers Sunday: Cordell, Sarah, and Meagan.

📖 Preaching Schedule

5/7- Kirk
5/14- Kirk
5/21- Jamie
5/28- Craig

💭 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)
Britt Duke (brittrduke@gmail.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)