SAPPY (ANDIE) POST ALERT:
STAFF ADVENTURE DAY 2024
Last week was our annual Staff Adventure Day, and I’m not gonna lie, the pressure was on! It was the first one I’ve planned, and I wanted it to be P-E-R-F-E-C-T. We started the day at Pinewood, then went for Thai food in Temple. After, we hung out outside at Barrow Brewery, and for the crowning jewel, we took a glass-blowing class at Salado Glassworks. And while I did grin ear-to-ear like a kid in a candy store during class (BUCKET LIST!), my favorite moments were the in-betweens. I loved the drive down. I loved sitting under the trees at Barrow laughing and swapping stories. I loved the honest conversations and cheering each other on while we tried something new. It is a rare gift to serve with your friends, and I take that gift seriously. Cheers to Staff Adventure Days, to staff meetings, to popping our heads into each others’ offices, and to supporting one another as we seek to serve UBC with all our hearts. May we all seek to build and deepen the relationships that keep us open and honest, laughing and venting, and more authentically ourselves.
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.
Pints with Toph - Wednesday, 6pm, Pinewood Public House
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.
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
UBC Swag
We are selling new UBC shirts to help raise money for our youth and kids to go to camp this year. The cost is $20 (or more if you want to donate to camp), and the shirts will be available in mid may. You can signup in the foyer at church or pre-order here. We have kids and youth sizes available as well. If you have any questions, contact toph@ubcwaco.org
Mealtrain for Sierra and Raphael
We have some friends in our community who are grieving the loss of their baby. We have started a meal train to support them as they grieve. You can sign up here.
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
Camp! Camp! Camp!
Passport Camps emailed last week to let us know that our kids camp session is almost full. If you are planning on sending your child, please submit your registration and $50 deposit to save your spot. The first 10 kids with completed registration forms will be the kids who are heading to camp.
Forms are available at Kids Check In. Please return along with a $50 deposit to secure your spot. Scholarship information can be found at https://passportcamps.org/camp-scholarships/. ALSO, we are still looking for one adult male chaperone to send with our kids. If you're interested, please email andie@ubcwaco.org or kids@ubcwaco.org.
YOUTH PARENTS MEETING - May 5th
If you are interested in learning more about the upcoming youth retreat, please join us in the youth room (behind the sanctuary) after church on May 5th for a brief info meeting. We will cover logistics, cost, and the plan for the retreat itself. See you then!
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.
Centering Prayer Practice Group - Sundays, 9:30-10:30, April 28-May 19
A way of praying without or beyond words, Centering Prayer is a gentle and grounding practice. It can be particularly helpful when our old ways of praying don't seem to fit anymore (for whatever reason) or when we don't quite have the language (or the capacity for language) that prayer seems to require. Together we'll try on different approaches to this time-honored way of opening to God, discovering more of what it means to love and be loved by a God who values and honors our consent. Equal parts learning, practicing, reflecting, and sharing, this group is meant for those who are practiced in Centering Prayer as well as those who have never even heard of it before. Email brooke@ubcwaco.org for more information.
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Find more details and our full calendar of events on our website. This calendar is updated frequently, so check back often!
PREACHING SCHEDULE
4/28- Mr. Rogers Sunday
5/5- Andie
5/12- Andie
5/19- 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)
Abbey Mackey
Jim Wren
Betsy Bracken
Finance Team (finance@ubcwaco.org)
Colton Towns
Ethan Cohen