JAMIE’S POST
Greetings.
I’ve been thinking about being alive this last couple of weeks. It’s a thing I do during Eastertide.
Many years ago, I came across Karl Barth talking about the resurrection of Jesus as this massive divine YES to life.
It’s a yes to beauty and breath and bodies and being and belonging.
Because I’ve been thinking about all this, I’ve been thinking about this poem I encountered a couple of years ago by Padraig O’Tuama.
I’m mentioning this because I just wanted to make sure you had the chance to encounter it too. I’ll paste in the text below, but you should really click through this link and listen to him read it.
How to Belong Be Alone
It all begins with knowing
nothing lasts forever,
so you might as well start packing now.
In the meantime,
practice being alive.
There will be a party
where you’ll feel like
nobody’s paying you attention.
And there will be a party
where attention’s all you’ll get.
What you need to do
is to remember
to talk to yourself
between these parties.
And,
again,
there will be a day,
— a decade —
where you won’t
fit in with your body
even though you’re in
the only body you’re in.
You need to control
your habit of forgetting
to breathe.
Remember when you were younger
and you practiced kissing on your arm?
You were on to something then.
Sometimes harm knows its own healing
Comfort knows its own intelligence.
Kindness too.
It needs no reason.
There is a you
telling you another story of you.
Listen to her.
Where do you feel
anxiety in your body?
The chest? The fist? The dream before waking?
The head that feels like it’s at the top of the swing
or the clutch of gut like falling
& falling & falling and falling
It knows something: you’re dying.
Try to stay alive.
For now, touch yourself.
I’m serious.
Touch your
self.
Take your hand
and place your hand
some place
upon your body.
And listen
to the community of madness
that
you are.
You are
such an
interesting conversation.
You belong
here.
THIS WEEK
UBC Youth Group - Wednesday, 6pm
If you are a parent of one of our youth group kids, you can sign up for the youth mailing list by emailing emily@ubcwaco.org.
!NO PINTS WITH TOPH THIS WEEK!
GIVING
UBC survives on the generosity of our congregation. Your financial contributions 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.
If you ever have trouble with giving online or have a question about how to give, feel free to email administrator@ubcwaco.org.
CHURCH NEEDS
Youth Group Dinner Sign Ups
Part of our youth’s weekly gathering is eating together, which is of course important for the growth of both community and teenagers. You can help foster this growth by signing up to bring food some time. You’ll find more info and a sign up sheet here.
Tech Booth Volunteers
We are looking for a few more folks to volunteer in the tech booth on slides, lights, and the livestream. Previous experience isn’t required—we can train you! Contact jamie@ubcwaco.org if you’re interested.
Kids Volunteers
We are so thankful for our UBC Kids Volunteers, and are always on the look out for more! If you are available to help on Sunday mornings or other times this semester please email kids@ubcwaco.org
Leadership Team, Finance Team, and HR Team
All of our teams will have people rotating off later this year and early next, and we are currently accepting nominations for people to serve on one of those three teams. If you know someone who would be a good fit, and would like to serve on LT, FT, or HR, please email your nomination to any team member or full-time staff member. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org
A COUPLE OF KIDS THINGS
Kids Pastor Selection Team:
A big thank you to Mary Chandler, Kyle Howerton, Betsy Bracken, and Marcus Franklin for joining our Kids Pastor Selection Team! I will keep the congregation updated as we progress in the process, and am so excited to work with such an incredible group of people. -Andie
Camp! Camp! Camp!
There is a Kids Camp sign up sheet at kids check-in along with registration forms. Youth Retreat registration forms have been distributed and will also be available on Wednesday nights. Spots are limited, so if your child is interested in either, please get your forms submitted as soon as you can.
GROUPS
Micasas
Micasas are designed to build more intentional community within the larger community of UBC. They meet on either Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday night. If you would like to get plugged into a Micasa, sign-up in the foyer or contact toph@ubcwaco.org for questions.
Woven Book Club
The Woven book group will meet one last time on April 21 right after church. We'll be covering the final section of the book and overall thoughts. If you're interested in nurturing a faith our kids don't have to heal from but haven't been able to join us before now, this is a great chance to jump into the conversation. Please email Brooke@ubcwaco.org to RSVP.
UPCOMING EVENTS
UBCYP Hangout - April 18th - Toph’s Casa - 7pm
Come hang out and have dinner. Sign-up in the foyer or email toph@ubcwaco.org
College Hangout - April 25th - Toph’s Casa - 7pm
Come hang out and have dinner. Sign-up in the foyer or email toph@ubcwaco.org
Mr Rogers Sunday - April 28th
If you are graduating this year (HS, College, Grad School, PHD) we would love to honor you during the service on April 28th, and invite you to stay for lunch afterwards with the staff. You can email toph@ubcwaco.org to sign-up, or sign-up in the foyer over the next few weeks. If you have any questions, contact Toph.
—
Find more details and our full calendar of events on our website. This calendar is updated frequently, so check back often!
PREACHING SCHEDULE
4/14- Andie
4/21- Kerri
4/28- Andie
5/5- Andie
WANT TO CHAT?
Share Your Feedback
Have feedback for us? Feel free to reach out to staff directly with any praises, curiosities, or concerns. You are also invited to submit feedback to the HR team and allow them to pass it along! You can do that with this form: https://forms.gle/1ovkBXSx1Lu3CR448
Pastoral Staff
Andie Pellicer, Lead Pastor
(andie@ubcwaco.org)
Toph Whisnant, Community Pastor (toph@ubcwaco.org)
Jameson Mcgregor, Worship & Arts Pastor (jamie@ubcwaco.org)
Leadership Team (leadershipteam@ubcwaco.org)
Ben Raley
Britt Duke
Andy Clark
Aleigh Ascherl
Marcus Franklin
Shelly Taylor
Katie Robinson
Margo Shanks
HR Team (hrteam@ubcwaco.org)
Kristen Howerton
Abbey Mackey
Jim Wren
Betsy Bracken
Finance Team (finance@ubcwaco.org)
Colton Towns
Ethan Cohen