ANDIE’S POST
Maybe We're the Lucky Ones
I grew up around extended family. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins galore. The first baby I held other than my own little sister was my little cousin. There was nothing like a loud, food-filled dinner in my grandma's kitchen after spending all day swimming in her pool. Her backyard was very small, but filled with every kind of rose bush you could imagine. I spent my summers begging my parents for one more sleep over at her house, one more drive-in movie night with my cousins, one more swim before coming back home. When we moved, I knew that I was taking that same reality away from my kids. In Washington, we lived five minutes from my parents, ten minutes from my older sister, and my little sister was moving into the same neighborhood we had just left. I grieved for the experiences my kids would no longer have. Family is a loaded word when applied to the church, and as a policy, I don't use it. Today, I am going to break my rule.
Last night, we spent thirty minutes exploring what deeper love for God and our enemies looks like through the example of St. Patrick. Jamie painted a picture of a man so overcome by God's love that he returned to his former captor to offer grace and forgiveness. After, we had a UBC game night. We sat around three tables and the couch in the Backside and ate, laughed, and engaged in some friendly smack talk. At one point, the twins were running around playing catch with Jaxson Franklin. At another, I looked to my right and Sharyl Loeung was holding McCrae Mackey who was grinning at me ear to ear with his new toothies. Georgia Dizdar taught my daughter Evers how to skip. My daughter Hazel snuggled Maggie Kleinbeck while playing Skip Bo with Emma Balaban, who is in my MiCasa. High schoolers hung out with soon-to-be middle schoolers, and now they'll know each other next year at youth group. Connection took place in beautiful and surprising ways, and I found myself acutely grateful for the trust and ease of our UBC community, for the familial warmth I've found. We chose engaging as a core principle for 2025, and I am sensing that value embodied more each day. It is vulnerable work to love well, and it can take grace and forgiveness to continue in relationships when we inevitably experience hurt. Last night was a reminder to me that engaging deeply in this community is worth the effort.
THIS WEEK
Youth Group- Wednesday, 6pm
Pints w/ Toph- Wednesdays, Pinewood Public House, 6pm
Wheel of Awareness Group- Wednesday- 5:30pm
If you haven’t signed up, just email jamie@ubcwaco.org.
Wheel of Awareness Group- Sunday- 9:30am
If you haven’t signed up, just email jamie@ubcwaco.org.
Town Hall- Sunday, after church
Beer & Hymns w/ First Pres & St. Matthew’s, Brotherwell Brewing, 12:30pm
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
Mealtrain for the Lemmons
NEW BABY ON THE LOOSE. Austin and Nikki welcomed baby Crosby last week. Sign up here to shower them with food.
Bring Food for Youth Group
Part of our youth group’s weekly gathering is sharing a meal together. You can be a part of making that possible. Sign up to bring dinner here!
UBC NEW BABY TEAM
ALERT. We’ve got a veritable gaggle of babies on the way this year, and are in search of a group of volunteers who will help support the new families and little nUBCers by organizing meal trains, postpartum support, etc! Email nicole@ubcwaco.org if you're interested on serving on this team.
Are you one of our soon-to-be baby having families? Take a moment to fill out this form so we can prepare to support you and your nUBCer!
Kid’s Volunteers
SIgn up to help with ubckids! Do it for the future! You can sign up here.
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.
March/April Dinner Clubs
Are you looking for a way to get to know other UBC’ers? Do you eat dinner? March/April dinner clubs are getting together, and you can sign-up in the foyer or email toph@ubcwaco.org You will be placed with 4-6 other people, and your commitment will be for everyone to find a time to grab a meal together 1-2 times in March or April. If you have any questions, please contact Toph.
March Madness Bracket Challenge
March Madness is back, and we are doing our annual bracket challenge. Join either the ESPN Men’s Bracket Challenge and/or ESPN Women’s Bracket challenge. The group name for both groups is: "UBCWaco Madness!" The winner of each bracket challenge will receive a free lunch with Toph at the place of your choosing. Contact Toph if you haver any questions.
Wheel of Awareness Meditation Group (beginning March 9th)
Greetings, this is Jamie. If you didn’t know, I’m in school to be a therapist (no, I’m not leaving ubc). Last semester, I did a deep dive into Interpersonal Neurobiology and came out with training in a science-y meditation that I’d like to share. It’s called the Wheel of Awareness, and I’m going to be running a group during Lent for us to practice together. We did a one-off during Advent for the Peace formation workshop, and I’d like to do it several weeks in a row and talk about it together. Starting March 9th, we’ll be meeting on Sunday mornings (9:30am) and Wednesday evenings (5:30pm) for 45 minute sessions. Those sessions will include a check-in, a 20 minute meditation, and a debrief. If you’d like to come, but haven’t signed up, just email jamie@ubcwaco.org.
KIDS CAMP
Kids camp will be July 20-23 at Glen Lake Camp in Glenrose for kids who have completed 3rd grade-6th grade. We have 10 spots. Cost is $438/camper, reach out to nicole@ubcwaco.com to secure a spot ASAP!
UPCOMING EVENTS
UBCYP and College Hangout - March 27th - 7pm at Toph’s Casa
If you are a young professional or college student, join us for our next UBCYP and College Hangout on Thursday March 27th at 7pm at Toph’s Casa. We will be having dinner together and discussing what we would like to do for our end of the year party. If you have any questions, contact toph@ubcwaco.org. You can sign-up in the foyer at church this Sunday, or email toph.
n’UBC’ers Luncheon - March 30th - noon
Are you new to UBC in the last 6 months? If so, we would love to have you stay for lunch after church on March 30th. The luncheon is a time to learn more about UBC’s history, and how you can get involved. If you have any questions, contact Toph. You can sign-up in the foyer, or email toph@ubcwaco.org
ubcKids camp fundraiser- Sunday, April 6, Skate Waco (401 Towne Oaks Dr.) 2-5pm
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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
3/23- Andie
3/30- Andie
4/6- Andie
4/13- Jamie
COMMUNITY BOARD
CONTACT INFO
Pastoral Staff
Andie Pellicer, Lead Pastor
(andie@ubcwaco.org)
Toph Whisnant, Community Pastor (toph@ubcwaco.org)
Jameson McGregor, Worship & Arts Pastor (jamie@ubcwaco.org)
Nicole Dizdar, Kids Pastor
(nicole@ubcwaco.org)
Leadership Team (leadershipteam@ubcwaco.org)
Britt Duke
Andy Clark
Aleigh Ascherl
Marcus Franklin
Shelly Taylor
Katie Robinson
Margo Shanks
Staff Support Team (staffsupport@ubcwaco.org)
Abbey Mackey
Jim Wren
Betsy Bracken
Finance Team (finance@ubcwaco.org)
Brandon Glover
Jonathan Hill
Ben Rose