ITLOTC 11-19-19

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Ordinary Time

In Defense of the Threadbare

Social media has changed the world that I began preaching in, into what it is now.  More specifically, it has proliferated feel good sermon illustrations. This is hard for a pastor, especially if you want your illustrations to have the quality of being unique.  Feel good moments inevitably go viral overnight. For me they are no less feel-goody, but my enneagram 4 wing doesn’t want me illustrating with threadbare moments. Some of them are so good, that I show them anyway.  Like the Alabama dad getting football tickets for Christmas or the John Lewis Christmas advert from 2011.  

I recently saw a feel good moment that slowed me all the way down.  Let me set up the moment. In January of 2015 ESPN personality and sports reporter Stuart Scott passed away.  I wrote the following and posted it on facebook. 

I take in the world auditorily.  Some of you are kinesthetic learners, some of you need to see to believe.  I need to hear. Or at least I find that I understand something at the deepest level when I hear it.  Voices are and were a big deal to me. “The soul is contained in the human voice,” said Jorge Luis Borges.  It’s why I save my dad voicemails.  As I indicated in my facebook post, certain voices formed me as a child.  They were voices I learned to trust. Though I did not list them, Peter Jennings and Dan Rather were almost as formative as the ones I listed above.  So when the power trio of Rather, Brokaw, and Jennings disappeared from network news within a few years, I felt something slipping away.  

Alex Trebek is another one of those voices for me.  It’s possible that my time to listen to him is coming to an end.  In March this year Trebek announced that he had stage four pancreatic cancer.  He stated that he would fight it aggressively and he must have because I almost forgot about it until last week when he announced he would begin undergoing chemotherapy again.  This announcement came in the middle of Jeopardy's riveting tournament of champions. That evening, during final jeopardy, Dhruv Gaur used his answer to say, “we love you Alex.” You can watch that moment and Alex’s response here. 

I’m trying to understand why these moments mean so much to me.  I have some guesses. 1. I’m emotionally repressed and so what for a normal person might be Tuesday, an emotional experience that I connect to is something akin to a divine encounter.  2. Trebek runs a tight ship. The place of humor, anger, sadness and even happiness on the show is subtle to non-existent. The show and Trebek are particularly stoic. This moment then, was poignant.  3. Kindness is intoxicating.  

I’m going with all three, but leaning into answer number three.  Kindness is identified as a fruit of the Spirit by Paul in Galatians 5.  It is, in my mind, the active attempt to use a small part of our platform, resources or our very selves to offer a grace to the other.  It is one of the tools of discipleship. So i have tasked myself with an act of kindness this week. I’m looking for a moment to use my resources to ascribe worth and value to someone else.  I hope you will do the same.

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Meet Our Newest UBCers

Name: Alexis Grace Thompson

Weight: 6 lbs 9 oz

Height: 19 inch

Birthday: October 29

Enneagram Number: 9

Name: Lorelei Dee Thompson

Weight: 6 lbs 12 oz

Height 19 inches

Birthday: October 19

Enneagram Number: 5

Part Time Office Manager Position

UBC is looking to hire a part time (20 hour a week) office manager. The office manager need not be a member of the UBC community. They do need to be able to put up with the current staff and all their eccentricities, so please pray for us as that narrows the field significantly. Application and job description can be found by clicking this link.

Foster Kid Presents

Champions for the Lord, AKA, you who have willingly taken the opportunity to love a foster child by purchasing a present. You should have received an email form me, josh@ubcwaco.org, last week about presents and other details. By way of reminder I’d like to gently point out the present are due back at UBC no later than December 3rd. Thank you for your help.

Thanksgiving Lovefeast - 11/24 - 5:30pm

Our annual Thanksgiving Lovefeast is around the corner. If you would like to volunteer to cook a turkey or ham (UBC will provide the turkey and ham), please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

Youth Word of the Week

The word was moose. Taylor did not use the word moose. On thinking through Taylor’s sermon my only thought was maybe she could have snuck it in this way. “The vacuum salesman was aggressive like a moose cornered by wolves on a snowy Canadian cliff.”

Parishioner of the Week

Mike Dodson had let jamie/UBC use a 6K microphone to record advent songs. thanks Mike, for being on the finance team, seeing our numbers and still taking the risk of lending us the microphone.

Announcements

• Sermon Text: Luke 23:33-43

• Christmas Eve Service December 24th, 5:30 PM

Work is Worship

Greeters: Kristi Lee Pereira

Coffee Makers: Berenice

Mug Cleaners: Cooleys

Money Counter:  JD Newman

Leadership Team

If you have a concern or an idea for UBC that you’d like to share with someone that is not on staff, feel free to contact one of our leadership team members. 

Chair: Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Byron Griffin: byrontgriffin@gmail.com

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position: Davis Misloski

Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members.

JD Newman: JD_Newman@baylor.edu 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@gmail.com

UBC HR Team

If you have concerns about staff and would like contact our human resources team, please feel free to email any of the following members.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

ITLOTC 11-12-19

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Ordinary Time

Recognizing God

Sunday I preached a sermon on idolatry and the modern notion of family … about how God’s vision for family is expansive and not predicated on progeny, but rather on the generous acceptance modeled for us by the gospel.  A generosity that the church is called to participate in and embody. I then interviewed my friend Kareem who is single. I asked him what it is like to be single in the church. I asked him what it felt like to be lonely and in what ways he wished he was included.  

Then, after the sermon concluded, the sermon in which I both criticized and built up the notion of family, I called us to a time of silence to listen to the voice of the Spirit as we do every week.  If you were there, I wondered if you noticed what happened next. I sat down and somewhere to my left a baby cried almost the whole time during the silence. My first instinct was to feel bad for that/those parent(s).  I’ve been there. One time when I was flying from San Francisco to Dallas I sat next to a family of three. A couple with a newish baby. The baby cried most of the flight. Not ear piercing crying, but crying nonetheless.  They apologized profusely and repeatedly. Every team I tried to match their energy of concern with my energy of acceptance. I haven’t always been a really great person like that, but I have four kids. What the parents didn’t know about my absorbing their crying baby was that I was just so incredibly grateful that it wasn’t my kid because I have been in the circumstance where it was and nothing is worse.  

I return from my airplane story thought in the moment of silence/crying baby at UBC and then I had a thought.  What if that is the voice of the Spirit speaking in the silence. What if God broke the silence through the baby?  

My friend Craig posted this on Facebook.  4 shares, 38 comments and 209 likes. Pretty good for a non-celebrity.  It resonated with a lot of people. 

My senior year of college I took what turned out to be my favorite college class: The Plot Thickens, Character Development In Life and Literature.  In that class I was introduced to Wendell Berry, Stanley Hauerwas, and Flannery O’Connor.  Not an insignificant cast of characters. I remember our professor teaching us how to read O’Connor.  As sheltered evangelicals, mostly seniors, many of us were emerging from the exoskeleton we had just shed through the molting process of worldview development through higher education.  We were suspicious of Catholics, especially southern gothic ones. Our professor pressed us: “Read for the moments of grace,” she coached. I did, and I found them. Sometimes. Years later I reassigned myself, O’connor’s entire volume of short stories during my semester of seminary mentoring.  This time I was much better at spotting the moments of grace. O’Connor’s work has been described as grotesque, but if you read it, I think you’ll just find that it is real. And if you read with intention, you’ll find that it’s redeemed.  

God comes to us in the most unexpected places.  In the grotesque. In the mundane. In the annoying.  In the baby cry when there’s supposed to be silence after a sermon on expanding our notion of family.  

UBCmyphoto contest

UBC has recently assembled a marketing team to address internal and external connection barriers. As part of the effort, the UBC marketing team (AKA the righteous gemstones) is sponsoring an instagram photo contest. Here are the rules. UBCers are encouraged to take a photo at UBC that is swanky and hip and then hashtag it with #ubcmyphoto. The winner of this contest will either get Lizzo tickets or a $20 Pinewood gift card.

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Meet Our Newest (Student) Lead Team Member

Our leadership team met on Sunday October 27th and selected the remaining vacant spots for leadership team. Last week and next week we’ll introduce you to them.

Name: Maddie O’Shaughnessy

Why are you in Waco?: Student @ Baylor

TV Show: New Girl

Best Movie: Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Waco Restaurant: Alpha Omega

Bible verse/chapter/book you like: Gospel of Luke

Something we'd never know about you: I love to knit!

Thanksgiving Lovefeast - 11/24 - 5:30pm

Our annual Thanksgiving Lovefeast is around the corner. If you would like to volunteer to cook a turkey or ham (UBC will provide the turkey and ham), please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

Jesus Said Love and Pies!!!!

We are looking for some volunteers to donate some pies! We need your help for JSL’s annual pie outreach, will you sign-up using link? You can either sign-up as an individual sign up or sign-up with friends. Either way we would so appreciate any help you can provide! We need them by 11/14 and in individual boxes. They can be homemade or store bought! Here is the sign up link: https://jesussaidlove.com/pie-donations

If you have any questions, contact toph@ubcwaco.org

Night Of Belonging - 11/14 - 8pm

We are having our last gathering for college students and young adults this semester next Thursday night at 8pm. Come join us as we discuss hospitality and immigration and the call of the church. If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org

Youth Word of the Week

The word of the week was “preposterous.” I used the word preposterous when I described the nature of the Sadducees question to Jesus about remarriage in the resurrection.

Parishioner of the Week

Rachel Caldwell, for volunteering to help with the youth lock in.

Announcements

• Sermon Text: Luke 21:5-19; Psalm 98 (special guest preacher Taylor Post)

• Christmas Eve Service December 24th, 5:30 PM

Work is Worship

Greeters: Richardsons

Coffee Makers: Clark and Co.

Mug Cleaners: Kyle & Kristen

Money Counter: 

Leadership Team

If you have a concern or an idea for UBC that you’d like to share with someone that is not on staff, feel free to contact one of our leadership team members. 

Chair: Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Byron Griffin: byrontgriffin@gmail.com

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position: Davis Misloski

Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members.

JD Newman: JD_Newman@baylor.edu 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@gmail.com

UBC HR Team

If you have concerns about staff and would like contact our human resources team, please feel free to email any of the following members.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

ITLOTC 11-5-19

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Ordinary Time

Hello all - Taylor here. We have entered the month of November. (It’s hard to believe because August was approximately yesterday, but it’s true.) And I must admit that November has a special place in my heart because I have always loved Thanksgiving.

In her book An Altar in the World, Barbara Brown Taylor says, “My life depends on ignoring all touted distinctions between the secular and the sacred, the physical and the spiritual, the body and the soul. What is saving my life now is becoming more fully human, trusting that there is no way to God apart from real life in the real world.” And I love this reminder that we are moved towards God in our real every day lives. So often when I am in reflection or prayer I feel an old temptation to say or think just the right thing. As if saying or thinking the exact right combination of words will make my thoughts some how more holy. But the fact of the matter is that there is no combination of words or actions that I can complete that make me more holy. And the fact of the matter is that God has not asked for the holiest version of me. But God has asked for all of me, just the way that I am, and right now. And God has promised to take care of the rest.

So, this year I have decided to take some time every day in November to think about what I am thankful for in my real every day life and I thought it might be fun to share those things with all of you! Here are the 5 things I have been thankful for so far in November:

1)    River by Joni Mitchell

For most of my life people have been telling me about how beautiful Joni Mitchell’s music is but it’s only really recently that I have begun listening to it for myself and this song in particular is so beautiful and haunting and feels particularly seasonally appropriate somehow. And I am always thankful for music that makes me feel something.

2) Ben Platt

I recently watched Ben Platt in The Politician on Netflix and he is just so talented in a million different ways and yet he still seems like he is a nice person. And also The Politician is phenomenal – please go watch it and then let’s go get coffee and talk about it because it is a show that is asking a lot of big questions and I want to talk about it forever.

3) Ruthie! (my dog)

 I am always and forever thankful for Ruthie because she is the best girl and I love her so so so much!!

4)    Breakfast Tacos

I’ve just really been on a breakfast taco high recently. I tried a new restaurant for some breakfast tacos (Spiciness Mexican Grill – down Valley Mills) and they were delicious!! But honestly – all breakfast tacos are delicious! And I am so thankful for that.

5)    UBC

This might seem corny, and I guess it is but it’s also very true. I have been feeling especially thankful for this place and for all of you. On Sunday morning I felt (as John Wesley once did also) that my heart was strangely warmed by being together with all of you. I am thankful for this place and all of the people who call it home. Thanks for being a part of UBC – I am thankful for you.

            So those are the things I am thankful for! I would LOVE (and I mean this so sincerely) to hear about the things that you are thankful for! And so if you feel like sharing you can tag me or UBC on social media or email me at taylor@ubcwaco.org and I’d love to hear what you’ve been thankful for in this season!

UBCmyphoto contest

UBC has recently assembled a marketing team to address internal and external connection barriers. As part of the effort, the UBC marketing team (AKA the righteous gemstones) is sponsoring an instagram photo contest. Here are the rules. UBCers are encouraged to take a photo at UBC that is swanky and hip and then hashtag it with #ubcmyphoto. The winner of this contest will either get Lizzo tickets or a $20 Pinewood gift card.

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Meet Our Newest (Student) Lead Team Member

Our leadership team met on Sunday October 27th and selected the remaining vacant spots for leadership team. This week and next week we’ll introduce you to them.

Name:
Davis Misloski

Why are you in Waco:
I’m in my senior year at Baylor as an Environmental Studies major.

TV Show:
Twin Peaks

Best Movie:
Her

Waco Restaurant:
Alpha Omega

Bible verse/chapter/book you like:
Ecclesiastes

Something we’d never know about you:
I’ve played more than 30 hours of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic since starting college.

Jesus Said Love and Pies!!!!

We are looking for some volunteers to donate some pies! We need your help for JSL’s annual pie outreach, will you sign-up using link? You can either sign-up as an individual sign up or sign-up with friends. Either way we would so appreciate any help you can provide! We need them by 11/14 and in individual boxes. They can be homemade or store bought! Here is the sign up link: https://jesussaidlove.com/pie-donations

If you have any questions, contact toph@ubcwaco.org

Night Of Belonging - 11/14 - 8pm

We are having our last gathering for college students and young adults this semester next Thursday night at 8pm. Come join us as we discuss hospitality and immigration and the call of the church. If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org

Youth Word of the Week

The word of the week was “consternation”. I did not successfully use this word. Looking back, I think an ideal place to have located the word would have to describe Zacchaeus’ decision to climb the tree as one of consternation, or full of consternation.

PDI Event

Parishioner of the Week

Jamie McGregor for fixing the copy machine and also the bathroom nozzles.

Announcements

• Sermon Text: Luke 20:27-38

• Night of Belonging 11-14 6:00 PM

• Thanksgiving Love Feast 11-24 6:00 PM

Work is Worship

Greeters: Corntassel

Coffee Makers: Davis Family

Mug Cleaners: Ron Miller

Money Counter: Ballas

Leadership Team

If you have a concern or an idea for UBC that you’d like to share with someone that is not on staff, feel free to contact one of our leadership team members. 

Chair: Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Byron Griffin: byrontgriffin@gmail.com

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position: Davis Misloski

Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members.

JD Newman: JD_Newman@baylor.edu 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@gmail.com

UBC HR Team

If you have concerns about staff and would like contact our human resources team, please feel free to email any of the following members.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

Liturgy 10-27-2019

This blog is a record of the call to worship, Scripture readings, and prayers from our Sunday liturgies.  If you are interested in writing something for the liturgy, or if you have a concern about any aspect of our liturgy, please email jamie@ubcwaco.org.

Call to Worship

(contributed by Kerri Fisher)

we come to wrestle with the God who is over all and in all,
expansive and intimate

soother of wave-wild seas and restless hearts.

we come with the hope that though we may be wounded

though our sins may testify against us, 
God is in our midst, pouring spirit upon flesh, 

we trust, if only for this hour, that God will dwell in this place 
and these people, 

holding fast young and old, to our dreams and our visions,
believing that we will not leave the same as we arrived.

 Amen

Scripture

Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22

Although our iniquities testify against us,
act, O Lord, for your name's sake;
our apostasies indeed are many,
and we have sinned against you.

O hope of Israel,
its savior in time of trouble,
why should you be like a stranger in the land,
like a traveler turning aside for the night?

Why should you be like someone confused,
like a mighty warrior who cannot give help?
Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us,
and we are called by your name;
do not forsake us!

Thus says the Lord concerning this people:
Truly they have loved to wander,
they have not restrained their feet;
therefore the Lord does not accept them,
now he will remember their iniquity
and punish their sins.

Have you completely rejected Judah?
Does your heart loathe Zion?
Why have you struck us down
so that there is no healing for us?

We look for peace, but find no good;
for a time of healing, but there is terror instead.
We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord,
the iniquity of our ancestors,
for we have sinned against you.

Do not spurn us, for your name's sake;
do not dishonor your glorious throne;
remember and do not break your covenant with us.

Can any idols of the nations bring rain?
Or can the heavens give showers?
Is it not you, O Lord our God?
We set our hope on you,
for it is you who do all this.

Luke 18:9-14

Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 

The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, `God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' 

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, `God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 

I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

Prayer

This week’s prayer was written by Kerri Fisher:

O God, if we have wandered, perhaps it is because we could not find you.

Not amidst the locusts nor the portents,
not in the desolate valley,
nor at the ends of the earth,
not even in our own bodies, brains, or behaviors.

We have looked for peace but found terror instead,
We have sought joy, but tasted bitterness on our lips,
We have coveted and compared and yes, we each have gone our own way,

But perhaps, oh God, our wanderings are our greatest acts of faith,

That if you are here, or there, anywhere or everywhere, then you will come and find us.

Amen

ITLOTC 10-29-19

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Ordinary Time

All Saints Liturgy (by jamie)

By the end of this week, it’s not going to be October anymore, so brace yourselves for the best month of the year.  While I would love to write an entire newsletter about why November is the best month, November doesn’t need me to punch it up, and I probably just like it because it’s my birth month anyway.

So, let’s do this instead:

Friday is All Saints Day, and we are going to be having a liturgy at 5:30.  Our All Saints Liturgy is one of my favorite gatherings of our liturgical year.  If you didn’t come last year, or have never participated in one of these before, I wanted to take a minute to fill you in on what it is.

Like most notable points on the Liturgical Calendar, All Saints Day invites us to take a moment intentionally practice something that we would like to think we do all the time, but probably don’t.

All Saints Day, as we observe it, is about remembering and re-membering.  It’s about remembering those who have died who have reflected Christ to us in their ordinary, or may not so ordinary, lives.  In each of our lives, there are people we have encountered who have changed us—the way we think about God, about our neighbor, and about ourselves—for the better.  

Perhaps in the most on-the-nose sense, these are people who have shaped our faith through teaching us or challenging us to seek God more fully.  Or perhaps more subtly, these are people who have offered us the love of Christ in their care for us, modeling what it looks like to be being-formed in the way of Christ.  All Saints Day invites us to remember them and express gratitude to God for the gifts they have been in our lives.

It’s also about inviting us to be aware of people who are currently in our lives who are actively impacting us in the sorts of ways we might otherwise only notice when they are gone.  We are invited to take a moment to notice and offer gratitude to God for the gifts of these people in a sort of lateral remembrance.  

In all of this remembering, All Saints Day invites us to re-member ourselves to the people who are alongside of us on the Way of Christ, knowing that we are one Body, challenging one another, caring for one another in a reciprocity that both reflects and embodies the presence of the Risen Christ; the Word who became flesh, and is yet flesh.  

Hope you can make it.  If you have any questions, you can email me at jamie@ubcwaco.org.

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Ubcmusic, Vol. 2

Ubcmusic, Vol. 2 is coming 11/15. If you haven’t already, be sure to follow @ubcwacomusic on instagram, twitter, etc. Stay tuned for more details.

Youth Word of the Week

It has been requested that I josh reveal what the youth word of the week was and reveal if I used it. this week the word was “fabricated.” I had it in my head to suggested that the Pharisees prayer felt “fabricated,” but failed to include it. Stay tuned…

All Saints Day Liturgy (November 1st)

SEE MAIN ARTICLE

Parishioner of the Week

Kyle Howerton & Kristen Ritch for getting married.

Announcements

• Sermon Text: Luke 19:1-10

• Night of Belonging 11-14 6:00 PM

• Thanksgiving Love Feast 11-24 6:00 PM

Work is Worship

Greeters: Harrison

Coffee Makers: NO ONE SO PLEASE VOLUNTEER … (Update David Rehfeld has volunteered, so give him an extra big thank you for your coffee Sunday!)

Mug Cleaners: Sandvall

Money Counter: Carron

Leadership Team

If you have a concern or an idea for UBC that you’d like to share with someone that is not on staff, feel free to contact one of our leadership team members. 

Chair: Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Byron Griffin: byrontgriffin@gmail.com

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position: Davis Misloski

Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members.

JD Newman: JD_Newman@baylor.edu 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@gmail.com

UBC HR Team

If you have concerns about staff and would like contact our human resources team, please feel free to email any of the following members.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

Setlist 10-27-2019

This past Sunday was the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, and our songs were gathered with this in mind.  Below, you’ll find the list of the songs and artists. Clicking the song titles will take you to the lyrics.   If you want to talk about any of these, feel free to email me at jamie@ubcwaco.org.

Songs:

Wideness by ubcmusic

House of God Forever by Jon Foreman

Wandering by Jameson McGregor

Breathe For Me by Jameson McGregor

Where God Has Always Been by Jameson McGregor

Doxology

ITLOTC 10-22-19

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Ordinary Time

Unsolicited Free Advice 

I gave an interview this morning for a class project someone was working on.  In it, I answered a question that I get asked from time to time. “What do you do to get life/for formation/to stay healthy?” 

I have objective answers for this question. 

1.     a devotional of sorts.  Right now it’s David Whyte’s Consolations 

2.     before I work out I sit in my car in silence 5 minutes, then I read a small section of a formational book. Right that now that’s Richard Rohr’s Immortal Diamond. Then I pray simple prayers for the things I am moved to pray for. 

3.     Be outside.  We are in the middle of the best time of the year in Waco.  I recently hung two chairs that I purchased with my birthday money (picture below).  Sitting in that chair and reading or making a fire and cooking over it are life giving.  This summer I read Wayne Mueller’s book on sabbath and he said that a study was done on healthy people.  The number one restorative activity was being outside. 

4.     Eat with friends.  My favorite part of my day is usually a meal with someone I love. 

5.     Leave work at work.  For the most part, I do a good job of not taking work home with me. 

6.     Working out.  If I don’t work out on a day I’m supposed to, I feel the worse for it. 

7.     Watch TV with my wife from 8:30-10:00.  After we get the kids down for bed, my wife and I hang out.  This is really important for both of us and we are good at sticking to it. 

8.     Music.  I listen to music that I love while I work. 

Most of what I listed might seem obvious to you.  These are not novel ways to keep oneself healthy. What I wrote is a compilation of disciplines, boundaries, indulgences and loves.  

Now I’m going to tell you a secret that I learned that is fantastic.  If you put this into practice (in so far as you have enough control over your life and schedule to do so), it will make your life better. 

There’s a Baptist association in Waco.  It’s called the Waco Regional Baptist Association.  They partner with Truett to host something called Roundtable Discussions (or they did, I’m not sure if they still do it).   The discussions are designed to be a brief fellowship time over a meal followed up by a short talk that is informative for pastors.  I never go to these kinds of things. Not because they aren’t great, but because I value #4 (see above) more. A few years ago, professor friend of mine invited me to go to one.  I don’t know for sure, but I suspect that they (the professors) got some pressure to invite their pastor friends to boost attendance. So to honor my friend, I decided to go. I did not know what the topic would be when I agreed to go.  When I got there I discovered that it was “time management.” My first thought was, “the best way to help manage my time would be by not hosting a lunch that my friend was pressured to invite a pastor to on the topic of time management.” But alas, I was there and it was what it was.  

The lady doing the presentation did a great job.  I was much more enthralled than I planned to be. In fact she gave one piece of advice that I’ve implemented and it has changed my life.  She said, “Everyone complains that they don’t have enough time. We all have the same amount of time. Every one of us has 24 hours in a day.  You can’t change that. What you can do is control your schedule. You need to fill your day with as many things that give you life as you do that take it.”  

Genius!  Genius I tell you.  So if I have a hard meeting that’s inevitable … what do I do?  I make sure to put it on a day when I have my best buddy for lunch on the schedule and a new episode of The Good Place drops.  If it’s time to renew the church’s health insurance plan, I make sure that it’s also time to order a new book off of Amazon.  If I have to make a phone call I don’t want to, I follow that up with 30 minutes of a Planet Money episode while I grab snickers from the church refrigerator.   For five years now, I’ve been a strategic scheduler and it has saved my life.  

So my advice is this.  Sit down and look at your schedule.  What graces can you sneak into it, so that it will help make your day delightful? 

All Saints Day Liturgy (November 1st)

Join us for a liturgy of remembering those who have died who have well-reflected the light of Christ in our lives and re-membering ourselves to the living who are embodying the presence of Christ in our lives today. We’ll gather in the Backside at 5:30PM.

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Prayer

Please keep our juniors and seniors in your prayers this weekend as they attend their UBC weekend retreat.

Parishioner of the Week

Braxton Ray and Parker Graham for getting married.

Announcements

• Sermon Text: Luke 18:9-14

Work is Worship

Greeters: Kristi Pereira

Coffee Makers: Davis

Mug Cleaners: Davis

Money Counter: JD Newman

Leadership Team

If you have a concern or an idea for UBC that you’d like to share with someone that is not on staff, feel free to contact one of our leadership team members. 

Byron Griffin: byrontgriffin@gmail.com

Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position,

Student Position,

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members.

JD Newman: JD_Newman@baylor.edu 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@gmail.com

UBC HR Team

If you have concerns about staff and would like contact our human resources team, please feel free to email any of the following members.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

ITLOTC 10-15-19

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Ordinary Time

Holy Ground

“Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.” Exodus 3:2

I told you in a previous newsletter that my wife and I went to the Catskills for  our 15th wedding anniversary. We picked it because of the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel season two.  We flew from Minneapolis to Newark in the wee hours of a cool July morning. We parked downtown and took a trolley to the airport to save money because I am cheap.  It was dark, the city was still asleep. No one is available to ask questions. In these moments of traveling ambiguity we like to pretend that we are on the Amazing Race.  Soon we are on a jet plane to the east coast. When start descending I strain my neck to look out the window to see if I can find iconic New York landmarks across the river.  No dice. We land. I don’t like Newark's airport. No free water. It reminds me of Europe. We aren’t there for two minutes and the fire alarm goes off in the airport. This is exactly what I expect from Newark. 

Our car rental place is off campus.  Not even close to the real car rental places like Hertz and Avis because we only use the black market car rental places.   You know, the ones that are in the old cigarette shops made entirely from cinder block and have one broken plastic chair for you to sit in.  Yes that one. I pick this place because I am cheap. It’s extra effort, but it’s worth it. With a mail in rebate, which no one makes the effort to send in aside from Lindsay Carney, we actually make $37 for renting our 1987 Mercury Cougar.  

Once on the road we start navigating the kind of traffic that Dante describes in the third circle of hell for the impatient.  Everyone appears to be rude, but I know they are not. I’m just from the midwest and they are from the east coast. Anger is their love language.  I feign my own frustrations by throwing my hands up occasionally and joining the chorus of honkers so i don't’ seem like a tourist. Eventually we make it outside the city and on our way north to the mountains.  

Once in the mountains I’m reminded why central TX topography is hard for me.  

Finally we arrive at our resort.  The Inn on Lake Joseph. The main lodge is, I think a Victorian something, but without all those saucy colors.  A large roof swallows most of the building, so that it seems hidden on top of the hill it sits on. In this way, it feels like something out of the Shire.  A big win.

After our bags are unpacked our vacation routine begins.  We ask each other what should we do? Neither of us knows.  Traveling at the age of 38 is akin to track practice when I was 17.  The truth is we want to start our rigid vacation routine of eating, napping and reading, but we are in the Catskills and so feel compelled to go somewhere beautiful and take instagram pictures.  Lindsay reads the tourist-things-to-do literature because she has an unrelenting commitment to support the locals. Call it Kathleen Kelly syndrome, she refuses to accept the depersonalized and/or commercialized aspects of 2019.    I brace myself for what I imagine will be a choice between milking a cow or the third grade art gallery of a nearby school. She discovers that 1. We are about 15 minutes from Bethel Woods which is the location of the Woodstock festival and 2. that this very evening they are celebrating the 50th anniversary by having a special screening of The Graduate.  

I’m mildly excited by this choice.  It’s probably more honest to say I’m grateful I'm not participating in some of the other options I'd imagined.  We arrive. I’m surprised by how nice the whole thing is. Hippies have ethos and culture, but my personal track record indicates that they are also dirty and unorganized.   It’s raining. Our outdoor screening is moved inside this pristine wood lodge looking building where the vendors are selling Mrs. Robinson martinis and popcorn. I buy the popcorn and a Mountain Dew because I’m cheap.  

A local film professor from an important small New York college participates in an interview before the movie.  She says meaningful things and informs us that Robert Redford was originally supposed to be cast as Ben Braddock.  Also, did you know that this was the first movie to use a rock and roll star to do the soundtrack? I’ve never seen The Graduate.  We both laugh extensively. Heartily. The thing begins to feel magical. After it’s over we walk downstairs and take in a few artifacts from the woodstock museum.  Something is happening to me in the place. I feel closer to the sixties. It has a spirit about it.  

Place has this kind of power.  I think about Moses and the burning bush.  God tells Moses to take off his shoes. One time I heard a podcast, in it the podcaster tells me that some Jewish Rabbis say that the bush was always burning and in the story Moses was finally able to see it.  I remember this Liz Barrett Browning quote I saw recently, “Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.”

Thinking back to our happenstance night at Woodstock, I’ve decided this.  I saw heaven crammed into it. I want to see this way all the time, so I keep practicing. 

All Saints Day Liturgy (November 1st)

Join us for a liturgy of remembering those who have died who have well-reflected the light of Christ in our lives and re-membering ourselves to the living who are embodying the presence of Christ in our lives today. We’ll gather in the Backside at 5:30PM.

UBC Kids Root Room Teacher Training This Sunday!

The Root Room UBC Kids Teacher Training is this Sunday directly after church. We will be getting to know each other, reviewing our policies and procedures, and talking some about classroom management! Hopefully teachers will come away with some practical ideas about how to engage the kids in our Root Rooms in formative ways! We will also make time to exchange phone numbers and let people switch for dates they already know they will not be available to serve. If you cannot make it or if you have not received an email from Taylor about this training please email her at taylor@ubcwaco.org.

5-6 Grade Parent & Youth Game Night this Friday (10/18)

If you are a 5-6 student or the parent/family of 5-6 student join us this Friday evening from 6-8 PM for our annual game night! We will pit parents versus students in trivia, hide and seek, and other competitions. Pizza and drinks will be provided by UBC, but we would love if you provided a snack, salad, or dessert. Contact Hannah or Dilan with any questions you might have!

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Parishioner of the Week

Betsy Bracken, Kristen Davis, and Melody Zuniga for helping with the homecoming breakfast. (and all others who did that as well.

Announcements

• Sermon Text: Luke 18:1-8

Work is Worship

Greeters: Richardsons

Coffee Makers: Clarks and Co.

Mug Cleaners: Nelsons

Money Counter: George Thornton

Leadership Team

If you have a concern or an idea for UBC that you’d like to share with someone that is not on staff, feel free to contact one of our leadership team members. 

Byron Griffin: byrontgriffin@gmail.com

Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position,

Student Position,

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members.

JD Newman: JD_Newman@baylor.edu 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@gmail.com

UBC HR Team

If you have concerns about staff and would like contact our human resources team, please feel free to email any of the following members.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

Setlist 10-13-2019

This past Sunday was the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, and our songs were gathered with this in mind.  Below, you’ll find the list of the songs and artists. Clicking the song titles will take you to the lyrics.   If you want to talk about any of these, feel free to email me at jamie@ubcwaco.org.

Songs:

Come Alive by ubcmusic

Crown Him With Many Crowns

The Word Is Yet Flesh by ubcmusic

What The Dry Years Took Away by Jameson McGregor

Pulse by ubcmusic

Doxology

ITLOTC 10-8-19

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

What does the Gospel mean to you?

Last week I attended the final meeting of a ministry leadership cohort that I have been participating in for the past year. This was our third time meeting in person – we met at Duke in March and at Truett in May – and we met in Charlottesville, VA this time. The cohort is made up of a group of women (young women some might say – although I am feeling the ways in which “youth” is quickly becoming a word that people do not use to describe me) who are in ministry and non-profit jobs across the USA and Canada. It has been a truly special experience getting to know these women and hear about the important work that they are doing across the continent – and getting to see their passion for sharing the love of God and the message of the Gospel in ways that are unique to their own gifts and passions.

When we met together for the first time on Monday of last week we spent some time catching up with each other – listening to the stories of what we each had experienced since we’d been together last. Talking about the things we had been reflecting on since the last time we were together. Sharing with each other the things we were excited about in our own lives. And during that time my friend Alicia shared with all of us a question that she had been reflecting on lately. She said that she had been thinking a lot about the difference that the Gospel had made in her own life – and how she had been observing that some of the most meaningful moments relationally were moments when she had been able to share the difference that the Gospel had made in her own life.

I was taken by this idea and this question – as was the rest of the group and our leaders – and we spent much of the rest of the week thinking about it and talking about it. It was wonderful to see the way that this question and our reflections on it wove it’s way throughout the rest of the week. And it was beautiful to hear the different ways that people have been personally affected by the Gospel – the ways in which their lives have been changed and the ways in which their understanding of themselves and other people has been changed by understanding the work God has already done and is still doing on their behalf.

As for me, I knew pretty quickly what my answer was. And the more I think about it the more I know it to be true – the power of the Gospel in my life is that it is the only thing that convinces me that I am truly loved. And the power of that understanding and belief is so foundational that I cannot begin to imagine how I would live without it. There is not much in this world that convinces me that I am loved but the work of Christ on my behalf convinces me of that and empowers me to try to share that love with others. Because I believe that I am loved it is incredibly important to me to help other people understand that they are also fully known and fully loved. My whole life is oriented in this direction – because of the power of the Gospel.

And so I am thankful for my friend Alicia, for bringing this question before us. Because I think reflecting on it has been good work for me and will continue to be good work for me in the future. And I’d love to know from you – what has the Gospel meant to your life? How have you been formed by the good work of Jesus Christ?

Please let me know by emailing me taylor@ubcwaco.org, or by thinking and reflecting with your friends and family members and other UBCers. I’d love for all of us to engage in this conversation together.

Grace and Peace -

Taylor

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Homecoming Breakfast Help

Gentle Reminder, if you signed up to help with the homecoming breakfast, breakfast items are due this Sunday morning. Please have it there by 9:15. Grateful for everyone who is being a champion for the Lord and rising up to help in this way.

also this additional note from toph: Do you love UBC? Do you love free breakfast? Do you love your family? If so, join us this Sunday morning for Homecoming Breakfast. Bring your family to church, and hang out before the service as we eat breakfast together. If you have any questions, email toph@ubcwaco.org

Fall Retreat - Junior/Seniors - October 24-26

Our annual Fall Retreat for upperclassmen is just around the corner, and you don’t want to miss out. We are headed to a beach house to relax, learn from another, and get to know other college students at UBC. The cost is $40, and this includes everything, a $20 deposit secures your slot. Sign-up this week before or after church in the foyer, or email toph@ubcwaco.org If you have already signed-up, bring your $20 this week.

Enneagram Workshop

Advanced Enneagram Workshop

October 13th from 6-9pm and October 14th from 5:30-9pm

Bobo Spiritual Life Center

The Baylor Department of Pastoral Care is excited to announce the visit of renowned Enneagram Teacher and Author Chris Heuertz to the Baylor Campus. On Sunday, October 13 from 6:00-9:00 pm and Monday, October 14 from 5:30-9:00 pm, Chris will be presenting an advanced Enneagram workshop for those who hope to dive deeper into self-awareness regarding their numbers. Snacks will be provided on Sunday, and dinner will be provided on Monday. Please register to attend by clicking here. Contact brianna_childs@baylor.edu if you have any questions!

Parishioner of the Week

Jana Parker for coming through like a baller on homecoming breakfast.

Announcements

• Sermon Text:

• UBC Kids Teacher Training:

  • Root Rooms - October 20 after church

• 11-1 All Saints Liturgy @ uBC 5:30

Work is Worship

Greeters: Corntassels

Coffee Makers: Jessica W.

Mug Cleaners: Dilan & Jess

Money Counter: Ballas

Leadership Team

If you have a concern or an idea for UBC that you’d like to share with someone that is not on staff, feel free to contact one of our leadership team members. 

Byron Griffin: byrontgriffin@gmail.com

Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position,

Student Position,

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members.

JD Newman: JD_Newman@baylor.edu 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@gmail.com

UBC HR Team

If you have concerns about staff and would like contact our human resources team, please feel free to email any of the following members.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

Setlist 10-6-2019

This past Sunday was the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, and our songs were gathered with this in mind.  Below, you’ll find the list of the songs and artists. Clicking the song titles will take you to the lyrics.   If you want to talk about any of these, feel free to email me at jamie@ubcwaco.org.

Songs:

All Creatures of Our God and King

Pulse by ubcmusic

There by Jameson McGregor

Wayward Ones by The Gladsome Light

Anthem by Leonard Cohen

Waking Life by Jameson McGregor

Doxology

Liturgy 9-29-2019

This blog is a record of the call to worship, Scripture readings, and prayers from our Sunday liturgies.  If you are interested in writing something for the liturgy, or if you have a concern about any aspect of our liturgy, please email jamie@ubcwaco.org.

Call to Worship

(contributed by Craig Nash)

we have arrived to plant our feet into the soil of God’s Kingdom,
to participate in God’s upside-down economy

which proclaims the poor will be lifted up, 
and the rich can participate by bringing themselves low 

we are the rich and we are the poor

praying for the courage to shed those things that weigh us down, 
in hope that our need will draw us near to God 

leaving, lighter, we will go with joy into the streets to preach this Good News

that God is with us, and God’s treasures are mercy, grace, and love.  

amen

Scripture

2 Samuel 23:13-17

Towards the beginning of harvest three of the thirty chiefs went down to join David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 

David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. David said longingly, “O that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” 

Then the three warriors broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and brought it to David. 

 But he would not drink of it; he poured it out to the Lord, for he said, “The Lord forbid that I should do this. Can I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” 

Therefore he would not drink it. The three warriors did these things.

2 Corinthians 9:6-11

The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 

Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 

As it is written,

“He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever.”

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us;

Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said, "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 

The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham.

The rich man also died and was buried. 

In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, `Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' 

But Abraham said, `Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.' 

He said, `Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house-- for I have five brothers-- that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' 

Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' He said, `No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 

He said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Prayer

This week’s prayer was adapted from Walter Brueggemann by Craig Nash

The Noise of Politics

We watch as the jets fly in
     with the power people and
     the money people,
     the suits, the budgets, the billions.

We wonder about monetary policy
     because we are among the haves,
and about generosity
     because we care about the have-nots.

By slower modes we notice
   Lazarus and the poor arriving from Syria,
   and the exiled from Central America, and
   the throng of the marginalized
     with their visions of inclusion and rest.

We wonder about peace and war,
     about ecology and development,
     about hope and entitlement.

We listen beyond jeering protesters and
     soaring jets and
   faintly we hear the mumbling of the crucified one,
   something about
     feeding the hungry
     and giving drink to the thirsty,
     about clothing the naked,
     and noticing the prisoners,
     more about the least and about holiness among them.
We are moved by the mumbles of the gospel,
   even while we are tenured in our privilege.

We are half ready to join the choir of hope,
half afraid things might change,
     and in a third half of our faith turning to you,
     and your outpouring love
     that works justice and
     that binds us each and all to one another.

So we pray amidst jeering protesters
and soaring jets.
Come by here and make new,
even at some risk to our entitlements.

ITLOTC 10-1-19

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Ordinary Time

Picking Fruit

16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

- Jesus, Matthew 7:16-18

I read an article recently that argued for a theme I find compelling (spent the last hour trying to recall where/what, but can’t).  The thesis? We can only act in a world we believe in. This is not new. You can find a version of that argument throughout history.  I’ve suggested in a few sermons that you can only see what you have language for. This is not wildly different. This relationship between language, belief and world is an interesting one that very quickly prompts my own musings on epistemology, which is the branch of philosophy that asks how do we know what we know.  

I often wonder what it would be like to live before the enlightenment.  I’m glad to live on this side of it, mostly because of medicine and science, but I think something important and true about worldview died during the enlightenment.  Our categories of knowing have been narrowed to the empirically verifiable. In this regard I think faith is hard for post enlightenment people. Cynics might suggest that’s because the enlightenment purged of us of myth, but I find that response even more problematic because I agree with C.S. Lewis who called the gospel the true myth.  Tolkein liked the word myth too. For him myth meant something like a deeper truth.  

I have also wondered if deconstruction might be experienced more acutely for post-enlightenment people of faith.  I think what I mean is that since Immanuel Kant introduced us to categories, we seem more threatened by that which shifts within our own categories (or falls outside of our categories).  If we believe a proposition is supposed to be black and white and it turns up grey, instead of being curious our first instinct is to be threatened. The problem is that we don’t believe the proposition can be grey so we don’t know how to act within it or perhaps more often with faith, if we are allowed to.  

I think I first heard Brian McLaren say that we need to be generous to the previous versions of ourself. Richard Rohr uses the language of transcend and include, but has recently said that he now thinks it must be include and then transcend … we must learn to include who we were/are before we can transcend that.  I think the difficulty some of us might have in blessing previous versions of ourself is that we don’t like what we believed or maybe even who we were. Or there’s this problem. Were not sure if we are allowed to transcend into the places we are curious about. All of this can be hard for enlightenment Christians.  

If you’re like me and sometimes unsure if the category shifting going on in your heart is ok, then I wanted to share a bible verse with you.   In Matthew 7 Jesus is talking about false prophets. The kind of people who shift categories and can invite you to transcend the current version of yourself.  How does one know if the teaching is any good? Jesus solution is both intuitive and beautiful. He says, “You’ll know ‘em by their fruit … bad trees can’t produce good fruit, and good trees don’t produce bad fruit.”  So if you are at the intersection of unknowing or confusion, I might suggest praying that the Holy Spirit would help you see the fruit. Is it there? That can only come from God. Is it not there? Then that’s not from God.  

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Meet Our Newest HR Team Member

Name: Sam Goff

Why are you in Waco?: I graduated from Baylor in 2015, started working in the warehouse at Magnolia in February 2015, and now work on the Magnolia Media team.

Book/chapter/verse of Bible that is meaningful to you: I love the book of Philippians.

Best Waco Restaurant?: Harvest on 25th. Specifically their Rosemary Apple Hash.

Movie/TV show that you are currently into?: My favorite movies of all time are Scream, Clueless, Crazy Rich Asians, and The Fast and The Furious movies. Favorite TV shows of all time are Schitt's Creek, The Bridge, Veep, Broadchurch, and Arrested Development.

Something we may not know about you?: I can beat Shazam when it comes to figuring out what song is playing - especially anything from 2000-2019.

Homecoming Family Breakfast

Have family members or friends coming in town for Baylor’s Homecoming?

If so, you don’t want to miss out on UBC’s Annual Homecoming Breakfast!

Where: UBC “Backside”

Time:  Sunday, October 13th, at 9:30 AM

We also need volunteers to bring food items for this event! Look for a sign-up in the foyer after church on Sunday or contact Jana Parker (Jana_Parker@baylor.edu) if you miss it.

All food items are needed prior to 9:00 AM on Sunday, October 13th, to allow for set up. (As an alternative, feel free to drop items off on Saturday, October 12th, between 10-12 if this is easier. Email Jana ahead of time so she can meet you at the front door of UBC.) 

Thank you for helping to welcome our UBC alumni and students’ families during Baylor Homecoming festivities!

St. Francis Liturgy (10/4)

The Feast Day of Saint Francis is Friday, October 4th at 5:30 PM. Join us as we take up the life and legacy of Francis of Assisi as a lens through which to worship God and be formed in the way of Christ. If you have an animal that is important to you, send a picture of it to jamie@ubcwaco.org for our slide show.

Enneagram Workshop

Advanced Enneagram Workshop

October 13th from 6-9pm and October 14th from 5:30-9pm

Bobo Spiritual Life Center

The Baylor Department of Pastoral Care is excited to announce the visit of renowned Enneagram Teacher and Author Chris Heuertz to the Baylor Campus. On Sunday, October 13 from 6:00-9:00 pm and Monday, October 14 from 5:30-9:00 pm, Chris will be presenting an advanced Enneagram workshop for those who hope to dive deeper into self-awareness regarding their numbers. Snacks will be provided on Sunday, and dinner will be provided on Monday. Please register to attend by clicking here. Contact brianna_childs@baylor.edu if you have any questions!

Junior/Senior Retreat - October 24-26 - $40

Sign-ups for the retreat will begin on Sunday, September 22. The cost is $40, and you need a $20 deposit to secure deposit. This is a great opportunity to get to know other upper classmen at UBC, have some fun, and learn from one another. If you have any questions, email toph@ubwaco.org

Parishioner of the Week

The Nances and Jana Parker for cleaning up kid throw up in the foyer during Church.

Announcements

• Sermon Text:

• Homecoming Breakfast 10/13

• UBC Kids Teacher Training:

  • Root Rooms - October 20 after church

Work is Worship

Greeters: Harris

Coffee Makers: Oliver & Michael

Mug Cleaners: Michael & Oliver

Money Counter: Carron

Leadership Team

If you have a concern or an idea for UBC that you’d like to share with someone that is not on staff, feel free to contact one of our leadership team members. 

Byron Griffin: byrontgriffin@gmail.com

Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position,

Student Position,

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members.

JD Newman: JD_Newman@baylor.edu 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@gmail.com

UBC HR Team

If you have concerns about staff and would like contact our human resources team, please feel free to email any of the following members.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

Setlist 9-29-2019

This past Sunday was the sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, and our songs were gathered with this in mind.  Below, you’ll find the list of the songs and artists. Clicking the song titles will take you to the lyrics.   If you want to talk about any of these, feel free to email me at jamie@ubcwaco.org.

Songs:

Mystery by ubcmusic (adapted from Charlie Hall)

Rise Up by BiFrost Arts

Waking Life by Jameson McGregor

Twice Begun by ubcmusic

How Great Thou Art

Doxology

Liturgy 9-22-2019

This blog is a record of the call to worship, Scripture readings, and prayers from our Sunday liturgies.  If you are interested in writing something for the liturgy, or if you have a concern about any aspect of our liturgy, please email jamie@ubcwaco.org.

Call to Worship

(contributed by Brianna Childs)

we have gathered to worship
the One Who makes all things whole

Who continues to be the balm to our wounds, 
though we find new pains every day

to enter into the story of God and the people of God

and find our own stories healed

hoping the Spirit of God would form our hearts
and minds in the way of Christ

as we offer the healing love that revives 
a hurting and discouraged world around us 

Amen.

Scripture

Jeremiah 8:18-9:1

My joy is gone, grief is upon me,
my heart is sick. 

Hark, the cry of my poor people
from far and wide in the land: 
"Is the Lord not in Zion?
Is her King not in her?" 

("Why have they provoked me to anger with their images,
with their foreign idols?") 
"The harvest is past, the summer is ended,
and we are not saved." 

For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt,
I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me. 

Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there? 

Why then has the health of my poor people
not been restored? 

O that my head were a spring of water,
and my eyes a fountain of tears, 
so that I might weep day and night
for the slain of my poor people!

Luke 16:1-13

Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, `What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' 

Then the manager said to himself, `What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.' 

So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, `How much do you owe my master?' He answered, `A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, `Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' 

Then he asked another, `And how much do you owe?' He replied, `A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, `Take your bill and make it eighty.' And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. 

And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.

"Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 

And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

Prayer

This week’s prayer was written by Brianna Childs

Creator God,

We confess that we often feel like Jeremiah when he wondered, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?”

Our lives are filled with wounds too many to count. We are burdened by our lives, and we ask you to be near.

In the middle of it all, we ask to come be our Healer.

Remind us that you are still the God of everyday miracles. Help us to see the beauty in the little resurrections all around us- the blooming flower, the song of the bird, the laughter of a child, the tight hug of a friend.

These are the balms to our souls that soothe the pangs of life.

Your healing presence is all around us. Give us eyes to see. 

Amen.

ITLOTC 9-24-19

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Ordinary Time

Song: What the Dry Years Took Away (by jamie)

Greetings.

A few months ago, I was exploring some nineteenth century hymn texts (like you do), and came across one that had an opening line that caught my attention. The line in question is: O God of Life, whose power benign//doth o’er the world in mercy shine.  The hymn itself is a trinitarian situation (in that it has stanzas for Father, Son, and Spirit), usually tagged for Trinity Sunday in hymn books, but my attention never really made it past that opening line.  

Why is that?  

I don’t know.  

I think it’s something about “power benign;” a power characterized by its kindness or gentleness.  My default is not to think of power in these terms, even divine power, but I guess benign is a pretty precise descriptor of the power of the God revealed in Jesus Christ. 

Anyway, that couplet dug its way into my brain and knocked around for a couple of months and emerged as a song called What the Dry Years Took Away, which I played for the offering song this past Sunday.

I don’t think it’s finished yet, but in case it doesn’t turn into something that we record or keep around, I wanted to have a record of it somewhere.

Here’s where the lyrics are at this point:

Eternal, Uncreated
Who traced the frame
before there was a frame
and never did forget it
though the shape
was mired along the way
would you now yet speak it?
reassert the vision of the Name
write it on our longing
like a pillar of fire and cloud the same
with urgency and grace,
restore what the dry years took away

O God of Life, may Your mercy shine
upon the painted world with power benign
raise our hearts to sing like the moon-pull to the tide
’til every riven thing is found whole yet in plain sight

out here in the distance
among the fences
we build around our dreams
there’s a numbing of the senses
abject indifference
and ubiquitous fatigue
so would you now yet speak it
holy beacon, the vision of the Name
write it on our longing
like a pillar of fire and cloud the same
with urgency and grace,
restore what the dry years took away

O God of Life, may Your mercy shine
upon the painted world with power benign
raise our hearts to sing like the moon-pull to the tide
’til every riven thing is found whole yet in plain sight

You can find a recording from Sunday below (if the soundcloud widget doesn’t load, you can listen here)—it’s nothing fancy, but it’s something.   Thanks to Ryan Higgs for thinking to record it.

UBC Kids Bloom and Branch Room Teacher Training This Sunday!

The Bloom and Branch Room UBC Kids Teacher Training is this Sunday directly after church. We will be getting to know each other, reviewing our policies and procedures, and learning some about brain development and engagement from the one, the only, Jana Parker! Hopefully teachers will come away with some practical ideas about how to engage the kids in our Bloom and Branch Rooms in formative ways! We will also make time to exchange phone numbers and let people switch for dates they already know they will not be available to serve. If you cannot make it or if you have not received an email from Taylor about this training please email her at taylor@ubcwaco.org.

St. Francis Liturgy (10/4)

The Feast Day of Saint Francis is Friday, October 4th at 5:30 PM. Join us as we take up the life and legacy of Francis of Assisi as a lens through which to worship God and be formed in the way of Christ. If you have an animal that is important to you, send a picture of it to jamie@ubcwaco.org for our slide show.

Junior/Senior Retreat - October 24-26 - $40

Sign-ups for the retreat will begin on Sunday, September 22. The cost is $40, and you need a $20 deposit to secure deposit. This is a great opportunity to get to know other upper classmen at UBC, have some fun, and learn from one another. If you have any questions, email toph@ubwaco.org

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Meet Our Newest HR Team Member

Name: Erin Albin

Why are you in Waco?: Practically, I came for undergrad then stayed for grad school and then got a job. But I chose to stay in Waco because I love the deep community and rich connections that I found here.

Book/chapter/verse of Bible that is meaningful to you: Ephesians 3:14-21

Best Waco Restaurant?: Burrito from Sergios food truck and then a cupcake from Baked Bliss

Movie/TV show that you are currently into?: I’m currently watching One Tree Hill for about the 5th time (you can judge me, its fine.). My sister is also paying me to watch all the Marvel movies so we’re slowly making our way through those.

Something we may not know about you?: 1. I’m weirdly good at air hockey 2. My fiancé and I go to city council meetings for date night.

Parishioner of the Week

Some anonymous champion who washed, dried and folded all of the hand towels at church.

Announcements

• Sermon Text: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 and 2 Samuel 23:13-17

• St. Francis Liturgy 10/4

• Homecoming Breakfast 10/13

• UBC Kids Teacher Training:

  • Bloom Room and Branch Room - September 29 after church

  • Root Rooms - October 20 after church

Work is Worship

Greeters:

Coffee Makers: Oliver & Michael

Mug Cleaners: Oliver and Michael

Money Counter: Ballas

Leadership Team

If you have a concern or an idea for UBC that you’d like to share with someone that is not on staff, feel free to contact one of our leadership team members. 

Byron Griffin: byrontgriffin@gmail.com

Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position,

Student Position,

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members.

JD Newman: JD_Newman@baylor.edu 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@gmail.com

UBC HR Team

If you have concerns about staff and would like contact our human resources team, please feel free to email any of the following members.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

Setlist 9-22-2019

This past Sunday was the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, and our songs were gathered with this in mind.  Below, you’ll find the list of the songs and artists. Clicking the song titles will take you to the lyrics.   If you want to talk about any of these, feel free to email me at jamie@ubcwaco.org.

Songs:

How Great Thou Art

The Word Is Yet Flesh by ubcmusic

Mother by Jameson McGregor

What The Dry Years Took Away by Jameson McGregor

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go by ubcmusic

Doxology

Liturgy 9-15-2019

This blog is a record of the call to worship, Scripture readings, and prayers from our Sunday liturgies.  If you are interested in writing something for the liturgy, or if you have a concern about any aspect of our liturgy, please email jamie@ubcwaco.org.

Call to Worship

(contributed by Kerri Fisher)

we have gathered to worship the God of the ages, 

who is filled with compassion and overflowing with grace.

we come with joy and expectation, 

with stiff-necks and mixed motivations,             

hoping to give and receive, 

ready to lose, to find, and to be found.
that we might be transformed here together 
by lovingkindness from above, within, and beside.  

amen.

Scripture

Exodus 32:7-14

The Lord said to Moses, "Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, `These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!'" 

The Lord said to Moses, "I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation."

But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, "O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, `It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth'? 

Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, `I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.'" 

And the Lord changed the Lord’s mind about the disaster that the Lord planned to bring on the people of the Lord.

Luke 15:1-11

All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

So he told them this parable: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 

And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

"Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' 

Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Prayer

This week’s prayer was written by Kerri Fisher (adapted from the Book of Common Prayer)

Create in us clean hearts, oh God. Clear new paths. Call forth what is good. 

As we reflect on the last week, we admit that we have been foolish and faithless in big and small ways. We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,

 by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have lost our way---again—

still—

all-of-a-sudden. 

Renew our spirits oh God--our creator, redeemer, and sustainer.

Amen

ITLOTC 9-17-19

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Ordinary Time

Heaven, Hell and the World Between

12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is,because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.   - St. Paul, 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

This is what I’m thinking about today.  
Let’s start here: If you are a former Evangelical, soteriology (salvation) was the centerpiece of your theology. A rough sketch of that soteriology probably went something like this:  

1.  You are a sinner. Born into it, in fact. Original sin, it’s called, passed on to you by Adam. But you did/do plenty of your own sinning, so that point always seemed moot to me. 

2. Without God fixing your sin problem, you are destined for hell. 

3. God did fix your sin problem through Jesus on the cross. 

4. If you confess and believe Jesus as Lord of your life, you’ll be saved. 

5. Being saved means not going to hell to burn for eternity and going to heaven to spend eternal bliss with God. 

As for me and Evangelicalism . . . well, let me share what I agree with. I am a sinner and I need God’s grace. There is a New Testament scholar, J. Louis Martin, who argues compellingly that the Bible often explains the what of atonement but not the how. Paul uses different images depending on what’s familiar to that particular community, because that’s how teachers use metaphors. Let me explain what I mean.  

1. Hebrews uses the language of sacrifice because the audience is likely Jewish and familiar with the sacrificial system. 

2. Colossians uses the language of reconciliation from the world of relationship. 

3. Romans uses legal language because Rome and court systems. 

4. 2 Timothy uses the language of victory, probably indicative of military knowledge. 

5. Ephesians uses the language of redemption, which is from the world of commerce and business. 

But none of these explain the how. How did the cross save us from sin? Perhaps the most honest answer we get is from C.S. Lewis in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when Lucy asks Aslan about his resurrection.  His answer implies that the witch killed him unaware of a “deeper magic.”  

One might think that because of the plethora of images from Scripture, the church ended up with a few different theories of atonement. Well, you’d be right if you thought that.

1. Origen did ransom = it’s based on Mark 10:45 and states that Christ was paid as a ransom for us. 

2. Anselm did satisfaction = based on Anselm’s feudal system worldview, this view suggests that Christ satisfied (or paid a debt) owed to someone because honor was broken. 

3. Luther did Christus Victor = Christ invaded enemy territory and took us from the devil. 

4. Calvin did penal substitution = God loved and was angry at humanity at the same time. That tension was resolved on the cross when Christ incurred our penalty.  

There are others that are mostly derivatives, but those are the big winners in Christian history.  

As for me, I get tangled up in Lewis’s deeper magic.  I will continue to speak about the plight and solution (sin and Jesus) without needing to understand the details of the mechanics.  

But that’s not what I am thinking about. I’m thinking about heaven, hell, and the world between.  That’s us, here, now.  

I blame physics for introducing the first deficiency in my hell/heaven theology. It’s the hell thing. Jesus talks about the lake of fire, especially in Matthew. Presumably hell is hot and, because of the properties of light, bright.  But hell is said to be darkness (Jude 13). So I got suspicious. And then there is the heaven thing. In Revelation 21 we are told that the new Jerusalem will be made of pure gold as clear as crystal (which seems to present its own problems based on what we know about physics). Also there are crowns with jewels (Isaiah 62:3). Here’s the thing, though: if heaven is heavenly in other ways, like equity and a lack of need, then it strikes me that the relative value of gold will be diminished. And if gold is simply an ornate choice . . . well, the 80s are over.  

There are other interesting details about heaven and hell, like the fact that at one point hell is compared to a trash dump by the southwest gate of the temple by Jesus. He also says that heaven is within you. My point is that these descriptions we get are metaphors.  

Now for two quotes: 

“The whole difficulty of understanding Hell is that the thing to be understood is so nearly Nothing.” C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

“Heaven is the place where God’s purposes for the future are stored up. It isn’t where they are meant to stay so that one would need to go to heaven to enjoy them; it is where they are kept safe against the day when they will become a reality on earth.” N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope 

At some point in my theological journey, I was taken with the idea of purgatory. This is the itch it scratched for me: if we are all saved despite ourselves, and if works have no bearing on salvation, then why work? Here a standard Evangelical will jump in and say something about gratitude for God’s love. That’s a good answer and probably represents a healthier version of Christian faith then I posses. But sometimes I can’t help but wonder if the Bible says so much about loving one another because it’s actually consequential (see Matthew 25:31-45).  

I remember processing these thoughts with a friend in college and he suggested this: What if loving God is about expanding your cup? And someday God will pour Godself out on all of us, and our sanctifying work will be the mechanism by which our cup is expanded.  

I was recently reading Richard Rohr’s Immortal Diamond in which he talks about the false self, which I talked about Sunday. Of the false self he says this: “If all you have at the end of your life is your false self, there will not be much to eternalize.” At some point, some of you may be thinking this highly abstract and a ways from the text, but consider the verses I included at the beginning. Paul seems to think there will be a kind of burning away. As in, when heaven, or God’s future purposes, finally comes to us, it will prune that which is incompatible. In 2 Corinthians 3 Paul talk about moving from glory to glory, or an ever-increasing glory, so as to suggest that taking God will be an expansive process. Perhaps, then, our ethics have to do with our eschatology. Said differently, what we do now matters in (prepares us for) eternity. You have been saved, are being saved, and will be saved.

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Meet Our Newest Leadership Team Member

Name: Taylor Torregrossa (soon to be Beard 🙊🙊) (Taylor gets married this Saturday)
Reason you are in Waco: I stayed after graduation for a job, then I started to really love Waco, and now my almost-husband is a small business owner here so we’re here to stay for a while!
Bible verse, chapter, or book you like: I really love Philippians 2:1-11.
Best waco restaurant: I’m a big fan of Harvest on 25th and Moroso’s.
How long have you been at UBC: Since 2014!
Something we might not know about you: Tulsa, OK is probably my favorite place in the world.

Junior/Senior Retreat - October 24-26 - $40

Sign-ups for the retreat will begin on Sunday, September 22. The cost is $40, and you need a $20 deposit to secure deposit. This is a great opportunity to get to know other upper classmen at UBC, have some fun, and learn from one another. If you have any questions, email toph@ubwaco.org

Parishioner of the Week

Craig Nash for helping organize Relay of Kindness.

Announcements

• Sermon Text:

• Backside 9/27

• Homecoming Breakfast 10/13

• UBC Kids Teacher Training:

  • Check In Team, Nurture Room, and Sprout Room - September 8 after church

  • Bloom Room and Branch Room - September 29 after church

  • Root Rooms - October 20 after church

Work is Worship

Greeters: Blaylock

Coffee Makers: Clarks and Co.

Mug Cleaners: Ron Miller

Money Counter: 

Leadership Team

If you have a concern or an idea for UBC that you’d like to share with someone that is not on staff, feel free to contact one of our leadership team members. 

Byron Griffin: byrontgriffin@gmail.com

Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position,

Student Position,

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members.

JD Newman: JD_Newman@baylor.edu 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@gmail.com

UBC HR Team

If you have concerns about staff and would like contact our human resources team, please feel free to email any of the following members.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

Setlist 9-15-2019

This past Sunday was the fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, and our songs were gathered with this in mind.  Below, you’ll find the list of the songs and artists. Clicking the song titles will take you to the lyrics.   If you want to talk about any of these, feel free to email me at jamie@ubcwaco.org.

Songs:

Future/Past by John Mark McMillan

Wild One by Jameson McGregor

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go by ubcmusic

True Love Will Find You In The End by Daniel Johnston

Eternal Anchor by ubcmusic

Doxology