ITLOTC 11-17-20

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

A Word about Advent and a New Song (by Jamie)

Greetings.  As you may know, Ubcmusic is releasing our Magnificat EP next Friday, November 27th.  This is pretty exciting for us, as it is the first project we’ve recorded in-house—mostly in my office and the adjacent meeting room.  I don’t know that recording Ubc songs in the literal Ubc building adds anything special to the equation, but it’s fun to pretend.

Magnificat EP is a collection of Advent songs that we’ve written over the past several years (Or many years, as I wrote There Will Come A Light in like 2013 when I played guitar in the band but didn’t work here yet).  If you’re new around here, or haven’t really gotten comfortable with the church calendar yet, Advent is the first season of the liturgical year (it starts on 11/29).  N.T. Wright has described this season as an invitation to look around to see how dark the world is and how very badly it needs a light.  This image is playing around with the description in John 1 of Jesus being a light that enters the darkness.  As such, this noticing the gloom around us is a helpful way for setting some sort of posture to enter into Christmastide.  It is difficult to appreciate the cosmos-altering notion of the Incarnation if you don’t have a sense of why such an alteration might be Good News.  Advent helps us cultivate a sense of longing and anticipation in this way.

Advent invites us to take up this posture in at least two ways.  The first is by hitting a hard-rewind of a couple thousand years and stepping into the story the liturgical calendar is telling: immersing ourselves in the longing of Israel, who are clinging to the stories of their people; stories that tell of God’s tangible, chain-breaking activity among them, even as they now find themselves under the boot of Empire.  Questions like “Where is God?” and “Are these stories true now like they were then?” pervade the Psalms and prophets.  They are awaiting a Messiah that will come and overthrow the powers that be and re-establish their peace and wholeness as a people.  This vantage point helps when we get to the Magnificat, where Mary is singing a song of praise about the mighty being cast down from their thrones and the lowly lifted, allowing us to see more clearly the stakes of the coming of Christ.

The second vantage point Advent invites us to take up is our own—that of our particular time and place.  Here in the future, we’ve seen how this story plays out: life, death, resurrection, and a coming redemption of all things. It’s our own story to which we cling, while sometimes (oftentimes?) raising questions like “Where is God?” and “Are these stories true now like they were then?”  Advent invites us to lean into this line of questioning—to calibrate our attention toward a hope that there is Good News on the horizon, especially when all hope seems lost.

Okay, so that’s probably an insufficient intro to Advent, but the point of this post is actually to give you one of the songs from the EP.  Last December, I wrote a song called Branch.  It’s essentially an adaptation of a text from Isaiah 11, which is attached to the second week of Advent in Year A of the lectionary.  I’m going to put that text alongside the lyrics below in case you want to see how that process went.

Isaiah 11:1-10

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
    and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
    the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
    the spirit of counsel and might,
    the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
    or decide by what his ears hear;
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
    and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
    and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
    and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

The wolf shall live with the lamb,
    the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
    and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze,
    their young shall lie down together;
    and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
    and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
They will not hurt or destroy
    on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
    as the waters cover the sea.

On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

Branch

behold, a branch shall come
from where the axe was laid
the root, unmarred by kings
will crown a sprout of Grace

the Spirit of the Lord
will rest upon him
his judgment will pierce
through both brand
and the best wording

with righteousness and peace
he will judge them
and decide with equity
for the poor and forgotten

but he shall strike the earth
with a tongue like a Javelin
and with a breath reduce to ash
the gloating wicked

and behold, when this branch comes
as wolves and lambs lay down
your children will be left unharmed
safe above the ground

for they will not hurt or destroy
on all my mountain
and all the earth will raise
the same refrain:

O Praise the Name beyond all Naming
open wide, ye gates, forsake your hinges
for the Branch is raised,
the beacon, lifted
to gather in the rest
to life, unbending

behold, a Branch shall come
and i know you’re tired
but set your heart to search for life
on every withered stump

Cesar Chavez Middle School Gift Cards

Greetings UBC Family. We are working on getting together gift cards to give the faculty/staff at CCMS, to thank them for all their hard work this semester. As many of you know, teaching during a pandemic is hard work!! We are looking to collect 100 $5 gift cards. You can buy $5 gift cards to Pinewood, Nightlight Donuts, Sonic, or Common Grounds. If you don’t have time to grab a gift card, you can also donate money. Gift cards are due tomorrow 11/18/20 by 5 P.M. You can drop your gift cards off in the mail slot at church, or a check. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubwaco.org.

Smile @ UBC this Christmas

Hello friends. Some of you may already be thinking about what you can get for the special someone for the Christmas season. Perhaps a gift certificate to the farmers market. Maybe you’ll purchase a gift from a local business. Wow, we love those great ideas! In the event that Waco doesn’t have what you need and you purchase from amazon, please consider making UBC your second special someone by clicking this link. Maybe you’re not supporting Christmas present exchanges because you’re done with all of that. Still you can help us out by using Amazon smile for any Amazon purchase.

For those of you who don’t want to use the link above, here are some instructions from our fearless office manager Risse: “People can also set "University Baptist Church" as their charity of choice at smile.amazon.com, or they can turn Amazon Smile "On" in the settings of their Amazon app to make all their purchases count.”

Parishioner of the Week

EVERYONE. CONGRATS EVERYONE -j

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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. 

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

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Liturgy Stuff 11-15-2020

November 15, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on November 15th (in the order they are needed). Also you can find UbcKids Sunday School Videos here.

Look to the Hills

I lift my eyes to the hills
to remind myself this isn’t all there is
I lift my eyes to the hills
and wait for help to appear
my help is from the lord
who breaks past walls and fortress doors
my shade in sun and shield from sword
yes, my help is from the lord
so I look to the hills
and I know the score
the mountains fall
and shadows, they soar
and every rough line is impeccably placed
as valleys rise, forgetting their place
yeah, I look to the hills
and I know what i’m for
and know my help is going before
is going before

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship
the Eternal One

the Creator and sustainer of all that is
 

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit of God might raise a lantern in our hearts and minds

revealing our wounds
and forming us more fully in the way of Christ

Amen

The Path of Justice

adapted from a text by R. B. Colligan

green pastures, quiet waters
lead us and restore us
death-shadow, fearful valley
lead us and restore us
on the path of justice,
o the path of justice,
lead us on the path
of justice

old hatreds, reconciling
bring us to your table
full blessing, overflowing
bring us to your table
on the path of justice,
o, the path of justice,
lead us on the path
of justice

full lifetimes in your presence
your compassion drives us
full lifetimes in your presence
your compassion drives us
on the path of justice,
o, the path of justice,
lead us on the path
of justice

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading is Judges 4:1-7:

The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, after Ehud died. So the Lord sold them into the hand of King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-ha-goiim. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help; for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and had oppressed the Israelites cruelly twenty years.

At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you, ‘Go, take position at Mount Tabor, bringing ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.’”

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is Matthew 25:14-30:

Jesus said, “It is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

Giving

UBC relies on the generosity of the community. If you are a in place that you are able to give of your time, talent, and resources to UBC we would be grateful. If you want to make a financial contribution, the easiest way to do so is through our church center app.

Inbreaking

break in, Inbreaking
and shatter that which you shattered then
to come close with your lantern glow
to reveal our wounds
and illuminate the cracks with solder, gold
yeah, if you can shape affliction into hope-graced art
come and build a kingdom out of broken hearts

o Slaughtered Lamb, don’t delay
we’re wearing thin and losing shape
so raise again the love we’ve slain
and reignite the hope we’ve tamed

breath through
this can’t be what you had in mind at all
when you said the kingdom has already come
there’s such damage done
is there any way to restore the light that we left in the grave?
yeah, if you can shake a death into a hard restart
come and raise a body out of broken parts

o Slaughtered Lamb, don’t delay
we’re wearing thin and losing shape
so raise again the love we’ve slain
and reignite the hope we’ve tamed

come crashing in to blow away
these massive stones we’ve set in place
the seal the door of painted graves
we’ve styled so well with gaudy faith
and call us out into the dawn
speak the names that we forgot
o, Desert Cloud, lead us on
like a great parade of living scars

yeah, if you can sing betrayal like a victory song
come and write a better story out of what went wrong

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

ITLOTC 11-10-20

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

Wilderness

I’m currently reading David Thibodeau’s book A Place Called Waco: A Survivor’s Story.  David was at Mt. Carmel in 1993.  If you’ve seen the Waco mini series featuring the foxy Taylor Kitsch, then you’ll know that Thibodeau was the character portrayed by Rory Culkin.  Thibodeau escaped Mt. Carmel before it burned to the ground and lived to tell the story in his memoir.  I was thinking about the prominence of the theme of the wilderness in his story and the intent of that wilderness experience in spiritual formation.  It shows up everywhere.  When I first started preaching, my mentor Burt, told me that there’s really only 5 or 6 sermons to be preached from the bible.  One of those themes is exile or wilderness.  It’s such a prominent theme that we are asked to mimic it during the entire lenten experience. 

I was also thinking this in many ways the pandemic has forced into the longest exile of our lives.  Our social lives have changed.  Our routine has changed.  Our work environments have changed.  There is very little about our present routines that reflects the way it was a year ago.   That change has been hard.  Data on depression and other mental health bears witness to the reality of the difficulty.  In the most tangible way possible, we are wandering a desert in our emotional selves.  

I mentioned Viktor Frankl a few weeks ago in my newsletter entry.  I can’t shake his story.  I think one of the reasons I keep returning to it is because if it’s true that Frankl could find volition and purpose in his difficulty, which exceeds my own difficulties by an immeasurable amount, then I can do the same.  We can do the same.   Wilderness can be our teacher.  Wilderness can transform us.  Make us better.  

We are at a point in our history where the world is about to need good people.  Measured people who have thick characters.  The kind of people who learned to survive and eventually thrive in the wilderness.  

I tend to be suspicious of talk about God’s will.  We employ it too flippantly.  So much so that I think we run the risk of taking God’s name in vain.  Still I can’t help but wonder if perhaps this wilderness experience is forming us to be a people who have the character to act in the next moments of this drama.  What I mean to suggest isn’t that God “causes all things,” but rather that “God causes all things to work for the good.”  That God takes the really bad notes and finds ways to weave them into the symphony in a way that sounds pleasant.  So I wanted you to be encouraged.  I wanted you to know that your struggle can be redeemed.  Can be used.  Might be preparing you.  

Meet Our Newest UBCer

Hazel Elaine Kleinbeck

Birthday: 10/27/2020

Birth Height: 7lb 8oz 

Birth Weight: 20.25”

Enneagram Number: 1w9

Cesar Chavez Middle School Gift Cards

Greetings UBC Family. We are working on getting together gift cards to give the faculty/staff at CCMS, to thank them for all their hard work this semester. As many of you know, teaching during a pandemic is hard work!! We are looking to collect 100 $5 gift cards. You can buy $5 gift cards to Pinewood, Nightlight Donuts, Sonic, or Common Grounds. If you don’t have time to grab a gift card, you can also donate money. You can drop your gift cards off in the mail slot at church, or a check. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubwaco.org.

Smile @ UBC this Christmas

Hello friends. Some of you may already be thinking about what you can get for the special someone for the Christmas season. Perhaps a gift certificate to the farmers market. Maybe you’ll purchase a gift from a local business. Wow, we love those great ideas! In the event that Waco doesn’t have what you need and you purchase from amazon, please consider making UBC your second special someone by clicking this link. Maybe you’re not supporting Christmas present exchanges because you’re done with all of that. Still you can help us out by using Amazon smile for any Amazon purchase.

For those of you who don’t want to use the link above, here are some instructions from our fearless office manager Risse: “People can also set "University Baptist Church" as their charity of choice at smile.amazon.com, or they can turn Amazon Smile "On" in the settings of their Amazon app to make all their purchases count.”

Parishioner of the Week

All of our wonderful people who partnered with us to provide baked goods for Hillcrest’s Pastoral Care Team.

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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. 

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

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Liturgy Stuff 11-8-2020

November 8, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on November 8th (in the order they are needed). Also you can find UbcKids Sunday School Videos here.

Come Alive

draw us in to the dance
older than time and space
that constellations, made
in the bend and the shake
cycle back from the end
full-reverse pirouette
like choreography
infinite, infinite
but if the music stops
play it again, but pick up where we left off
that brilliant harmony with 13.8 billion parts

until we come alive
oh, come alive

draw us in to the dance
’til every piece finds its fit
and every step is improvised
and carried out in perfect time
and the shape of breathing is the shape of all
spinning into one
as the empty tomb cloud
is spreading out, spreading out
but if the music stops
play it again and pick up where we left off
that brilliant harmony with 13.8 billion parts

until we come alive
oh, come alive

we’ve not become what we will be
but the rhythm of our feet is growing
and though we’re fraying at the seams
your gravity is holding

just keep on holding

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship
the Eternal One

the One in whom we live and move and have our being
 

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit of God might transform our hearts and minds

teaching us to love our neighbors
our friends, and our enemies, as God does,
that we might be caught up
in God’s work of Resurrection in the world

Amen

Where God Has Always Been

praise be the lord of all with their backs against the wall
hands above their heads and eyes lifted up to that impossible line
where the hill meets the sky, who wonder if the distance is
a trick of the earth, or a trick of the mind? and if help will arrive
before they slip away

praise be the lord of all who wrestle until dawn
who wear their scars like names, yet find heaven and earth strangely aligned
like water in the sour wine, hidden in plain sight

for God is now where God has always been
bunkered down with those in the ditch
raising fountains from the cracking dirt
and raising a feast for the hollow unheard
while the powerful who reign dissolve into the grave
the eternal one will shade the ones they cast away
until the coming of the day when all this is remade

praise be the lord of all
who’ve nowhere to belong
for the kingdom is drawing near

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25:

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors—Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan and made his offspring many.

“Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” 

Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.” 

But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.” And the people said to Joshua, “No, we will serve the Lord!” Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” The people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and him we will obey.” So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Matthew 25:1-13:

Jesus said, “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Giving

UBC relies on the generosity of the community. If you are a in place that you are able to give of your time, talent, and resources to UBC we would be grateful. If you want to make a financial contribution, the easiest way to do so is through our church center app.

Wild One

Overwhelming, you cannot be contained
in leather bindings, the turn of a word of phrase
overwhelming these idols that you break
crumbling to the ground in place

you are running with iconoclast strides
god, you’re wilder than we ever thought you’d be
though we try, we can’t pin you down
you’re a wild one
and you’re greater

disconcerting, these figures that we form
we want more money, we want a higher bar
disconcerting, these idols that we carve
controlling like the wind to a sail

you are running with iconoclast strides
god you’re wilder than we ever thought you’d be
though we try, we can’t pin you down
you’re a wild one

Unbound, you’re overwhelming
we built you a house, but you keep moving
Maker, you’re not done making
we gave you seven days, but you’re still forming
so form these broken bodies into gold
a greater love, with a lighter load
and tear these temples down, stone from stone
crashing to the ground like broken chains

you are running with iconoclast strides
god, you’re wilder than we ever thought you’d be
though we try, we can’t pin you down
you’re a wild one
and you’re greater

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

ITLOTC 11-2-20

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

A Prayer for Voting

O Christ who served humbly and led radically,

whose redemption sets forth the world we envision when we vote,

govern our choices and amplify our voices.

Shape our conscience to thy will;

show us what justice and love require of us in this moment.

Triumph over voter suppression and underrepresentation,

and abolish all electoral structures which undermine our votes.

Help us to hold our leaders accountable in other ways,

as part of our witness to the ultimate lordship of

our Sovereign who reigns with thee and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

• written by Terry Stokes (@prayersfromterry)

Meet Our Newest UBCer

Name: Avery Gillan Mangrum aka “Gilly”

Birthday: 10/24/20

Birth Height: 20 inches

Birth Weight: 6 lbs 13 oz

Enneagram Number: 6w7

Amazon Smile

Baked Goods for Doctors and Nurses

Note, this effort started today … still you can sign up to help wed - sat. Last week when I posted this link, access to the document hadn’t been granted. Lo, that problem has been fixed.

Hey friends, we are partnering with the Hillcrest pastoral care department to bring baked goods to the good doctors and nurses of the Women’s & Children’s Center. So if you feel so inclined to bake or purchase booked goods for about 15 people next one day next Tuesday 11/3 - Saturday 11/7 please do so by signing up here.

Staff Favorites

Because our newsletter has grown thin of late, i’ve added a new feature called, “staff favorites.” The instructions are as follows. Draw a line, either on a piece of paper that you printed this on or in your mind, connecting the correct individual with the corresponding category. After you venture your guesses, you can view the solution here.

Parishioner of the Week

Josie Pooler for being a civic volunteer as a poll worker today.

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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. 

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

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

All Saints' Liturgy

November 1, 2020

Call to Worship

Living God, we have gathered to remember

to remember those who have come before,
and re-member ourselves to those at our side 

whose lives, like mirror shards 
catch the Light of Christ

and cast a reflected Brilliance 
that pierces the gathered gloom 
of this broken world

and confronts us time and again 
with that thread of truth 
from which our every hope is spun:  

there’s a Light in the darkness
the darkness did not overcome

Amen

Scripture Reading

A reading from Matthew 5:1-12:   

 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

A Reading From Liturgies From Below

—

Remembering the Dead

—

Song: When Death Came Calling

—

Reflecting on Living Lights

—

Poem: “The gathered glories” by Malcolm Guite

Though Satan breaks our dark glass into shards

Each shard still shines with Christ’s reflected light,

It glances from the eyes, kindles the words

Of all his unknown saints. The dark is bright

With quiet lives and steady lights undimmed,

The witness of the ones we shunned and shamed.

Plain in our sight and far beyond our seeing

He weaves them with us in the web of being

They stand beside us even as we grieve,

The lone and left behind whom no one claimed,

Unnumbered multitudes, he lifts above

The shadow of the gibbet and the grave,

To triumph where all saints are known and named;

The gathered glories of His wounded love.

—

Scripture Reading

A reading from Isaiah 25:6-9:

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,
of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.

And he will destroy on this mountain
the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
the sheet that is spread over all nations;
he will swallow up death forever.

Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,
and the disgrace of his people he will take away 
from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.

 It will be said on that day,
Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, 
so that he might save us.
This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Benediction

As you go now, may you remember the Light you have received.   

Cling tight to the collection of glimmers and flashes of brilliance of those who now sleep, but have a home in your memory.  

Tune your eyes to embrace the glimmers and sparks that accompany your journey in every blessed ordinary day.

And may you join the untold numbers before you in raising this gathered Light like the dawn; dispersing the gathered gloom of this long night, reminding yourself and your neighbor of the truth, the goodness, the beauty, underneath it all, until Morning has finally come.

Amen.

Ubc Liturgy Stuff 11-1-2020

November 1, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on November 1st (in the order they are needed). Also you can find UbcKids Sunday School Videos here.

Boundless Love

i woke up this morning to a garbage truck
seems this ‘ol horseshoe’s done run out of luck
if i came home, would you let me in?
fry my some porkchops, and forgive my sins?

and surround me with your Boundless Love
confound me with your Boundless Love
i was drowning in a sea, lost as i could be
when you found me with your Boundless Love

sometimes my old heart is like a washing machine
bounces around ‘til my soul comes clean
and when i’m clean, and hung out to dry,
i’m gonna make you laugh until you cry

and surround me with your Boundless Love
confound me with your Boundless Love
i was drowning in a sea, lost as i could be
when you found me with your Boundless Love

if by chance i should find myself as risk
a’fallin from this jagged cliff
i look below, i look above
i’m surrounded by your Boundless Love

surround me with your Boundless Love
confound me with your Boundless Love
i was drowning in a sea, lost as i could be
when you found me with your Boundless Love
you dumbfound me with your Boundless Love
you surround me with your Boundless Love

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship
the Living God

the One who freed the people from slavery
led them dry-shod through the sea,
suffered Empire’s torture and execution and
defeated the Powers—even the Power of death! 

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined
in that upside-down world

that the Spirit of God might transform our hearts and minds

teaching us to love our neighbors
our friends, and our enemies,
that we might learn to love God
with our whole lives

Amen

The World is Yours

blessed are the withered ones out starving for a peace
whose taste they’ve never known
blessed are the ones who bear the shame of never quite
becoming who they’d hoped that they would be
blessed are the ones who wake and plead
that there whole life this far was just a dream
blessed are you, the world is yours

blessed are the bloodshot midnight mourners in the hall
their whole world standing still
blessed are the bloodshot midnight mourners in the park
no one speaks their names
blessed are the ones who know the sting
of the phantom limb embrace of love, removed
blessed are you, the world is yours

blessed are the ones who cast their mercy to the wind
now it goes where it goes
blessed are the ones who nurse a pain that’s not their own
the meek amongst the wolves
blessed are you when the knife is in your back
and they’re calling for your head
to finally shut you up and blot out what you said
about the way the scales are rigged
that’s how it’s always been
so just know you’re neither crazy nor alone
you’re not alone

so, lift up your head
the world is turning upside down
and as the tables turn, you’ll find
you never left the ground
behold, the Great Inversion
like a tide that lifts wrecked boats
is risen from the heart of One
who’ll never let you go

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is Joshua 3:1-7:

Early in the morning Joshua rose and set out from Shittim with all the Israelites, and they came to the Jordan. They camped there before crossing over. At the end of three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place. Follow it, so that you may know the way you should go, for you have not passed this way before. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, a distance of about two thousand cubits; do not come any nearer to it.” Then Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” To the priests Joshua said, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass on in front of the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went in front of the people.

The Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they may know that I will be with you as I was with Moses.

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading, and Taylor’s sermon text, is Matthew 23:1-12:

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.

Giving

UBC relies on the generosity of the community. If you are a in place that you are able to give of your time, talent, and resources to UBC we would be grateful. If you want to make a financial contribution, the easiest way to do so is through our church center app.

Wayward Ones

we are the wayward ones
liars and beggars, those who betray
we hand you over, deny your name
cast you aside, yet still you say
this is my body, this is my blood
broken and shed to show my love

we are the broken ones
cowards and fools, all filled with disbelief
we forsake you, deny your name
cast you aside, yet still you say
this is my body, this is my blood
broken and shed to show my love

remember me, remember me
come to the table, take and eat
remember me

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

ITLOTC 10-27-20

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

On Temperance:

I grew up in Wisconsin.  Seven of the top fifty drunkest cities in America are in Wisconsin (or at least that was the statistic at some point).   I think it has something to do with latitude, sunshine and the Miller plant in Milwaukee, because a similar reality exists in the Scandavian countries of Europe.  The robust German heritage is also at play.  Culturally, German Catholics and Scandinavian Lutherans dominate the religious landscape of the region.  There are laws in Wisconsin to govern the consumption of alcohol, but those are less important than the cultural attitudes that actually govern the consumption of alcohol.

I think I grew up in a religiously conservative home.  I say I think because there were certainly denominational attitudes and identities to the right of me and my parents were never dogmatic about our beliefs.  That’s not to say they didn’t believe them deeply, but those beliefs didn’t form obstacles for curiosity and formation like conservative values sometimes can.  To boot, my parent’s conservative religious values did not preclude certain evangelical taboos like women in ministry and alcohol.   That’s probably the contribution of my maternal grandparents.  They loved beer.  As Missouri Synod Lutherans they were predestined by the grace of God to enjoy beer.  Interestingly my paternal grandfather was a liquor salesmen, but didn’t partake.  

The amalgamation of this backdrop of my life means that I was handed a pretty healthy picture of alcohol consumption.  It was neither the mystifying concoction of the pagans, nor was it a tool we used to express our freedom in Christ.  Alcohol just was.  My parents enjoyed it, occasionally, without the notion that it could be a source of condemnation for some. 

I didn’t consume alcohol on a regular basis until I went to seminary.  I didn’t drink in highschool and rarely in college because I signed my life away at my Baptist University.  So I started playing catch up once we got married and moved to Texas.  UBC was an interesting place to take up the habit.  Emergent theology was our ecclesiological bedfellow and drinking a symbol of the kind of Baptist in the south we intended to be.   Alcohol was a centerpiece of social gatherings and a regular item on my grocery list.  

Over the years I have wondered if I drink too much.  When I turned 30 I started looking at clinical definitions of alcoholism and even joined a friend at an AA meeting.  At that particular meeting a woman talked about the difference between heavy drinking and alcoholism.  “Phew, I thought, I’m just a heavy drinker.”  Now I'm almost 40 and still wondering.  I was listening to the George W. Bush podcast on Presidential the other day and learned that he stopped drinking at 40.  Maybe there’s some midlife stuff going on in the psyche.  I say all this to let you know that I have drastically reduced my alcohol consumption (as of recently) and am considering quitting all together.  This could seem like a funny perhaps even suspicious thing to advertise in a church newsletter from the senior pastor.  But the fact that I can is the point of this entry.  

I met with one of our many talented professors from the school of social work this week to talk about her choice to be sober.  She listened patiently, answered questions and gently talked me through her own journey.  Later that day I was thinking about the fact that I'm a pastor in a Baptist Church who didn’t think twice about offering my side of that story to a parishioner.  That without qualification or explanation I could assume that we were peers … a brother and sister in Christ.   And then I thought to myself, “what a gift it is that I can be honest about even these kinds of things with my community and not even think to ask if I would be judged for it.”  That’s a thought for all of you.  Thank you for affording me and other people on the staff that kind of space to be real.  It has added incalculable years to our tenures.  

If some day you find yourself looking for a church job, the church shopping for a pastor will among other things likely include something that looks like this: Awesome Church is looking for a pastor who according to 1 Timothy 3:1-7 “aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?”

When I look at this list I always think, “I only have one wife, I'm doing pretty good.”  OK, but seriously I do think about what the Bible asks of church leaders and how I measure up.  This is what I’ve decided.  I’ve decided that we should add vulnerable to that list.  We should add open.  Honest.  We should add imperfect, but willing to acknowledge imperfection.  Because vulnerability is always the chief instrument that God has used to transform my life.  So thanks UBC, for being a place where I can be vulnerable among you.

Baked Goods for Doctors and Nurses

Hey friends, we are partnering with the Hillcrest pastoral care department to bring baked goods to the good doctors and nurses of the Women’s & Children’s Center. So if you feel so inclined to bake or purchase booked goods for about 15 people next one day next Tuesday 11/3 - Saturday 11/7 please do so by signing up here.

Staff Favorites

Because our newsletter has grown thin of late, i’ve added a new feature called, “staff favorites.” The instructions are as follows. Draw a line, either on a piece of paper that you printed this on or in your mind, connecting the correct individual with the corresponding category. After you venture your guesses, you can view the solution here.

All Saints Liturgy

Our virtual all saints liturgy will be at 5pm on Sunday, November 1st. Part of that liturgy involves reading the names of those who have died, but have somehow reflected the love of God to us or modeled well for us what it is to be formed in the way of Christ in their particular time and place. Spend some time thinking of names you might want to submit (you need not have known this person directly), and email jamie@ubcwaco.org by noon on November 1st.

Parishioner of the Week

One last shout out to Jon Davis for his work with us the last 3 weeks and Kat Reynolds for blessing us with her music ability.

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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. 

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

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

UBC Liturgy Stuff

October 25, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on October 25 (in the order they are needed). Also you can find UbcKids Sunday School Videos here.

Waking Life

You’re a hammer blow

To the barricade

That I’ve built up in my mind to separate

That which I hold

With warm embrace

From that which I have reduced to an empty phrase 

You’re a falling blade

To the knot I tied

To secure a heavy shade over my eyes

And as if I had never tasted light

The stabbing pain slowly gives way to a truer sight 

You’re the waking life piercing sleep

Reality reframing the dream And as I rise, I don’t recognize my speech 

Find the garden shed

where I once kept my armory

You’re an ember thrown From a funeral pyre

That infiltrates the cavalcade of an outrage choir 

Through the withered aisles of my fevered mind

now the hollow rage is slowly remade into a signal fire 

You’re the waking life piercing sleep

Reality reframing the dream And as I rise, I don’t recognize my speech 

Find the garden shed where I once kept my armory 

Like the waking life piercing sleep

Like reality reframing the dream 

I don’t understand what is happening

But somethings changed in a place I cannot reach 

And there’s this ache where I once kept my apathy

Like there’s a depth to life and breath and everything

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship

the God with us

hoping to find steadiness in the ups and downs of our lives 

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories woven together

that the Spirit of God might transform our hearts and minds

forming us more fully in the way of Christ

and reminding us of the faithfulness of God with every breath.

Amen

Up On A Mountain

Up on a mountain our Lord is alone
Without a family friends or a home
He cries ooh ooh ooh
Will you stay with me?
He cries oh oh oh
Will you wait with me?

Up on a mountain our Lord is afraid
Carrying all the mistakes we have made
And he knew..ooh..ooh
It's a long way down
Do you know..oh..oh?
It's a long way down

Up in the heavens our Lord prays for you
He sent his spirit to carry us through
So it's true..ooh..ooh
That you're not alone
Do you know..oh..oh?
He came all the way down

So it's true..ooh..ooh
That you're not alone
Do you know..oh..oh?
He came all the way down

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho, and the LORD showed him the whole land: Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain -- that is, the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees -- as far as Zoar. The LORD said to him, "This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants'; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there." Then Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, at the Lord's command. He was buried in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows his burial place to this day. Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his sight was unimpaired and his vigor had not abated. The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the period of mourning for Moses was ended. Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him; and the Israelites obeyed him, doing as the LORD had commanded Moses. Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, and for all the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Matthew 22:34-46

When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: "What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." He said to them, "How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet"'? If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?" No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

Giving

UBC relies on the generosity of the community. If you are a in place that you are able to give of your time, talent, and resources to UBC we would be grateful. If you want to make a financial contribution, the easiest way to do so is through our church center app.

For Now and At the Hour

O spirit of God
Speak your peace
Speak your peace
Now and at the hour of our death
Amen, amen
Now and at the hour of our death
Amen, amen

Oh merciful God
Forgive us, forgive us
Oh merciful God
Forgive us, forgive us
For all the things
We have done and left undone
For all the things
We have done and left undone

Oh son of God
Rescue us, rescue us
Oh son of God
Rescue us, rescue us
Now and at the hour of our death
Amen, amen
Now and at the hour of our death
Amen

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

ITLOTC 10-20-20

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

Hope Deferred

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. 

Proverbs 13:12

Hope should come with a warning label.  It’s this explosive, powerful thing that can make you or break you.  

I was recently reading up on Viktor Frankl, the Austrian neurologist and holocaust survivor who wrote Man’s Search for Meaning.  Frankl noted that a common factor in those who survived vs those who didn’t was an orientation to propose.  A kind of hope.   That’s insane.  The answer isn’t water, food, clothing or shelter (all super important BTW).  The answer was hope.  

I like starting with Frankl, because really all subsequent commentary I can offer on this should be properly oriented to my privilege.   I have a great life.  

And yet, I still hope for things.  I hope that at some point in my life I will live close to Lake Superior.  I hope that someday I will be able to write for a living.  I hope that I will eventually stop drinking mountain dew and shed some weight.  I hope that my kids will want to live by me when they are older.  I hope that I have a stint as a hobby farmer.  Hope is the stuff of dreams.  It’s also the hardest of the advent themes for me to understand.  Let me frame it this way.  What is the difference between hope and faith?  I’ll grant that faith has a much broader definition and theological function, but it strikes me that everything true about hope is held within faith.  Hebrews 11:1 says that, “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Why not just go right by hope to faith since it includes it.  

I was thinking that maybe hope is something we can use when we are not sure what we are supposed to be sure of.  I hope that I get to live on Lake Superior some day, but God hasn’t promised me that. 

My friend Tye says that expectations are prepaid resentments.  I think hope can feel like that if it’s misplaced, which is what I began by saying that hope can make you or break you.  

I’m going to tell you something vulnerable now, so don’t laugh at me if it seems funny to you.  When the lottery reaches a certain point, I buy tickets.  If asked about the ticket purchases I rattle off all the right things one should say about purchasing lottery tickets.  “It’s just for fun.  The odds of winning are 1 in 302 million.”  But secretly, like Charlie Bucket discovering that golden ticket, I really let myself believe that I'll win.  I pour myself a glass of whiskey and look at gilded age mansions on Zillow to purchase.  And then I don’t win.  Because we live in the world of social media, I know that if I won the way I’d find out is that multiple people would have posted the story on my feed.  “Winning lottery ticket sold at …”  So when those headlines don’t show up, I know I didn't win and at that point a small bit of disappointment sets in.  “Look what hope did to me!” I rant to the gods who will listen. 

I have my last therapy session in November.  My therapist is having a baby and taking some time off.  I also think she wants to boot me.  Almost like my emotional self is living in my mom’s basement.  It’s time to get out and move on.  Because our time is winding down, I’m doing that thing where I finally connect to my emotions about her and therapy and have decided that I will miss her and that I actually have to employ all the tools she’s given me to get healthy.  My therapist knows about my habit of purchasing lottery tickets and my Zillow addiction.  I think she has been using therapy voodoo to try and get me to not do that.  I think it’s working.  I find myself not caring about the lottery as much anymore.  I forget to buy tickets.  When I do I forget to look to see if I won.  

And what has really happened?  I think she is properly orienting my disposition to hope.  Teaching me to hope for the right things and have my heart accept the real disappointments for what they are.  This is hard work.  

So I was wondering what hope does in your life.  Is it making your heart sick or saving your life? 

Town Hall

Join us this Sunday after church for a virtual town hall.

Staff Favorites

Because our newsletter has grown thin of late, i’ve added a new feature called, “staff favorites.” The instructions are as follows. Draw a line, either on a piece of paper that you printed this on or in your mind, connecting the correct individual with the corresponding category. After you venture your guesses, you can view the solution here.

All Saints Liturgy

Our virtual all saints liturgy will be at 5pm on Sunday, November 1st. Part of that liturgy involves reading the names of those who have died, but have somehow reflected the love of God to us or modeled well for us what it is to be formed in the way of Christ in their particular time and place. Spend some time thinking of names you might want to submit (you need not have known this person directly), and email jamie@ubcwaco.org by noon on November 1st.

A Large Outdoor Space

Floating this one more week: Also, note here … I have thought about Cameron Park and talked with our Tom Balk about it. That option is a bit more complicated than you might think. I’ll keep digging, but wanted you to know that idea has been listed.

Hello friends, we here at UBC are continuing to brainstorm thoughtful ways to be together that are safe. To that end we are exploring the possibility of meeting in a large outdoor space. While UBC does have some very attractive parking lots, we feel that the noise from 17th/18th streets in those locations would make it difficult to have a kind of worship extravaganza. To that end we are thinking about taking our talents to another location for an outdoor gathering. Here some needs: a large space that could accommodate parking and space for roughly 300 (that’s likely optimist) individuals to spread out with their family units. A power source is probably necessary. Plumbing would be an added bonus, but we can work without it. If you have any ideas please email josh@ubcwaco.org .

Parishioner of the Week

our former pastoral associate Val Fisk for getting ordained.

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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. 

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

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

UBC Liturgy Stuff for 10-18-20

Ubc Liturgy Stuff

October 18, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on October 18 (in the order they are needed). Also you can find UbcKids Sunday School Videos here.

Mystery

Sweet Jesus Christ, my sanity
Sweet Jesus Christ, my clarity
Word Eternal, brought low with me Cup of salvation, poured out to drink Jesus, Mystery

Christ has died and Christ is risen
Christ will come again

Sweet Jesus Christ, my Evergreen Sweet Jesus Christ, my Living Peace Love Embodied, broken for me Trampled Redeemer, raised up and free Jesus, Mystery

Christ has died and Christ is risen
Christ will come again

Celebrate his death and rising
Lift your eyes, proclaim his coming And all who walk in dreadful darkness Lift your head, you’re not forgotten Celebrate his death-subversion Recalibrate fear to purpose
And in the face of oppressive power Don’t calm down—sing it louder

Christ has died and Christ is risen
Christ will come again

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship

the Creator God

desiring an encounter 

with the One who formed us from the dust

to enter the story of God

and find the divine imago Dei is reflected 

in you and in me

that the Spirit of God might transform our hearts and minds

forming us more fully in the way of Christ

and inspiring us to see God everywhere.

Amen

Twice Begun

Jesus Christ did not cling tight to height nor form divine
but instead emptied himself into the hands of time

the wind drew cracks
in the lips of Love
the sun beat down the Light now life itself
has torn the veil of death that all the rest may rise

now life and death and resurrection are painted over all creation

the colors swirling into one as if every moment is now twice begun
and doesn’t stop

the path, the pulse, the clock

Jesus Christ did not cling tight
to height nor power divine
but instead emptied himself
into breath and blood and spine
as the feeble crowds began to mount
the powers of state and faith aligned
to crush that which might tear their mountains down but he turned not his mind

that all the rest may rise

now life and death and resurrection are painted over all creation

the colors swirling into one as if every moment is now twice begun
so mourn your losses

sing your songs
but build your houses
with fingers crossed
there is a hope now graven in the dawn
and every ending to that burning edge belongs

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is Exodus 33:12-23

Moses said to the LORD, "See, you have said to me, 'Bring up this people'; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.' Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people." He said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." And he said to him, "If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth."

The LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name."
Moses said, "Show me your glory, I pray." And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, 'The LORD'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But," he said, "you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live." And the LORD continued, "See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen."

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading, and also Josh’s sermon text, is Matthew 22:15-22

Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

Giving

UBC relies on the generosity of the community. If you are a in place that you are able to give of your time, talent, and resources to UBC we would be grateful. If you want to make a financial contribution, the easiest way to do so is through our church center app.

Anthem

The birds they sing at the break of day Start again, I hear them say

Do not dwell on what is passed away Or what is yet to be

Ah, the wars, they will be fought again The holy dove, she will be caught again Bought and sold and bought again
The dove is never free

So ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering
There’s a crack, a crack in everything That’s how the Light gets in

We asked for signs, signs were sent The birth betrayed, the marriage spent The widowhood of every government Signs for all to see

You can add up the parts, but you won’t find the sum You can strike up the march, but you won’t find the drum Every heart, every heart, to love will come
But like a refugee

So ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering
There’s a crack, a crack in everything That’s how the Light gets in

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

ITLOTC 10-13-20

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

In Grief & Grace

Hey UBC - Kieran here. You find me in rather a different state of mind than when last I wrote to you all. Last time I had some witty haikus (well, I thought they were witty) about life in quarantine, and I had a great time laughing irreverently about isolation, and 2020 in general. For those of you who are Enneagrammatically (that’s how I think you’d conjugate Enneagram into an adjective anyway) inclined, I’m a 7; as such I tend towards a healthy, or usually not so much, reframing of most negative emotions and situations. I often joke that it’s like emotional parkour, though if that’s true, it’s rather more like the parkour practised by Michael Scott than it is anything more effective. 

Over this past weekend, my darling wife Vanessa had to say goodbye to her long-time family dog, Daphne. I’ve included a picture of the 3 of us below, depending on where Josh has put it. I know everyone thinks this about the dogs and pets they’re closest to, but please believe me when I say with all subjectivity and objectivity that Daphne was, and I believe still is, such a beacon of unbridled joy, unsurpassed compassion, and unconditional love. She was one of the most gorgeous lives I’ve ever known, and my heart aches for her passing. She loved so gently, fiercely, powerfully; her bouncy curls and darling eyes had the strength to remind you that joy could be found in the everyday, no matter what that day held. 

I wasn’t sure what to write about for this newsletter. I had been thinking about Daphne constantly, and I asked Vanessa if she could help me figure out what to write. She suggested talking about Daphne, especially because the events of the weekend led us both back to a place we’ve found ourselves often; that of reflecting on how we see God through his creation, and particularly his creatures. 

I’ll admit to needing to learn more about our dear St Francis. I know a lot of secondhand things about his life and ministry, but not enough firsthand reading for my liking. Here’s what I do know however; Francis is revered for his delight and care in the natural world. He saw nature as a place to both share God’s beauty and saving grace with, and as a place to refill that same beauty and grace in himself. He preached the word of God to the birds and the creatures of the forest, not because he was trying to ‘save’ them, but because he thought it was his sacred duty to share the love of God with all God’s creation, and in doing so, I’m sure he found the light and love of God reflected back at him from the creatures he spent time with. 

I love animals. Vanessa and I often joke that Francis is my patron saint. We have countless photos of moments I’ve stopped to move honeybees from the middle of sidewalks over to the nearby flowers, times a group thought I was still walking with them only to find I was actually sat down in the middle of the road 200 metres back with a stray cat on my lap. I adore bird song. I have never felt God speak so clearly to me than when I listen to birds chatter and sing, and I like to think Francis thought the same way - that in stopping, and being still, he allowed God’s creation to minister back to him. 

What is the point of this little segment? Honestly, I’m not entirely sure. It’s partly an attempt at catharsis for me, partly a memorialising of Daphne. I think what I want to say, most of all, is this; cherish the things you most see God in. In this time when our thoughts move at a million miles a moment, when our attention is rightly captured by the hypocrisies and injustices of our political system, our racial inequality, and our idealogical tensions, allow yourself in those moments where you feel overwhelmed, to pause. 

In whatever way you find best, take a moment from the vital and critical work of preaching the word of God in every area of our lives, to allow God to minister back to us. Maybe it’s an evening with your beloved cat, or puppy, or guinea pig in your lap. Maybe it’s a walk through the park, birds chattering on either side of you. Maybe it’s watching the clouds, allowing your mind for a moment to rest in their gentle and inevitable movement. Whatever it is, allow yourself to be filled up again, so that we can continue to pour out. It’s okay to need to rest. It’s okay to be tired, so bone-achingly tired. It’s okay to need our God to sit with you, and cry, grieve, mourn. It’s what gives us the strength to get up again, and to press on. 

Thank you, UBC, for reading this. Thank you for being part of this church, and know that this community, this family, is directly made better because of you, your specific presence, life, involvement. I love you - may God bless, strength, and keep you. Amen. 

Staff Favorites

Because our newsletter has grown thin of late, i’ve added a new feature called, “staff favorites.” The instructions are as follows. Draw a line, either on a piece of paper that you printed this on or in your mind, connecting the correct individual with the corresponding category. After you venture your guesses, you can view the solution here.

A Large Outdoor Space

Hello friends, we here at UBC are continuing to brainstorm thoughtful ways to be together that are safe. To that end we are exploring the possibility of meeting in a large outdoor space. While UBC does have some very attractive parking lots, we feel that the noise from 17th/18th streets in those locations would make it difficult to have a kind of worship extravaganza. To that end we are thinking about taking our talents to another location for an outdoor gathering. Here some needs: a large space that could accommodate parking and space for roughly 300 (that’s likely optimist) individuals to spread out with their family units. A power source is probably necessary. Plumbing would be an added bonus, but we can work without it. If you have any ideas please email josh@ubcwaco.org .

UBC Movie Night - 10/16

We are hosting another Drive-In movie at UBC, and we would love for you to come.  On Friday, October 16, at 7pm, we will be showing the wonderful movie CoCo!  We will have some refreshments for purchase, but also feel free to bring your own.  Masks will be required when you are not in your vehicle watching the movie.  If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org. 

Parishioner of the Week

Kenna Curry for being accepted into Perkins School of Theology. Jon Davis for subbing on media tech this week, and brother Ben Simmons for rocking the flock in Jamie’s absence.

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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. 

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

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

UBC Liturgy Stuff 10-11-20

Ubc Liturgy Stuff

October 11, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on October 11 (in the order they are needed). Also you can find UbcKids Sunday School Videos here.

Mother

is there a hair on my head you haven’t numbered yet, you haven’t numbered yet

in the night, crying in the cold is there a pain of mine

you haven’t called your own? Mother Comfort, Mother Known

though our minds so well ignore your grace you bring it just the same

you bring it just the same

we reside in your self-giving love

but you’ve somehow found enough for the space that we take up

Mother Wisdom, Mother Love Mother Comfort, Mother Enough

through life and death, that cradled set beginning and the end,

Beginning and the End,

you are a shield, a beacon of defense

and our weaknesses align as you gather us i

Mother Warrior, Mother Age to Age

Mother Wisdom, Mother Grace

Mother Comfort, Mother Love-That-Can’t-Be-Bought Mother Faithful, Mother God

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship

the God who pursues

who keeps coming after us and drawing us back into the collision of grace

to enter the story of God

and find each and every one of us already belong

that the Spirit of God might transform our hearts and minds

forming us more fully in the way of Christ

and propelling us to proclaim God’s law of love.

Amen

A Poem For Hispanic Heritage Month

Not Tonight But Tomorrow (1978) by Miguel Algarín

Not tonight but tomorrow

when the light turns the peach

tree green and the Earth sprouts

its young leaves looking to repeat

the magical mystery tour of

photosynthetic conversion of light

and moisture into life—

Not tonight but tomorrow

when my body will have shed

its fear of turning old and soft

will I turn my speeding mind

into the tunnels of your psyche

to melt the calcium that constipates

your synapses into a lubricating powder—

Not tonight but tomorrow

when the Universe moves on

beyond the field of action

that is the Earth to me and you

will I discover the interplanetary clues

that signal the roots of my moment to you—

Not tonight but tomorrow

will I throw my feelings into

New York streets to stew

in the violence and despair

of our planet—

Not tonight but tomorrow

will the Earth turn green again.

Soft Gentle Brilliant

It's the quiet wind on the water

And the thundering stars up in the sky

The scorching forest fire

And a complex human eye

It's the sound of waves collapsing

Or a newborn's waking cry

The way new seeds float to the ground

Right where the old flowers die

I know you're there

I know you're watching

Though I don't feel you

And I don't live like I want to

You still care

Though Lord I'm prone to wander

I'm hardly listening

It's the red bird's stunning feathers

Or a horses unmatched strength

The way the rockies tower

And the canyons loom at length

There's one-hundred tiny feet

Under a hundred centipede legs

The sun and the moon twirl in a dance

Determining the days

I know you're there

I know you're watching

Though I don't feel you

And I don't live like I want to

You still care

Though Lord I'm prone to wander

I'm hardly listening

It's the way we're warned of winter

By the bloody autumn leaves

How all the ground is connected

By the roots under the trees

Through the violence of human nature

The earth is whispering

Soft, gentle, and Brilliant

Is my maker's love for me

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is Exodus 32:1-14

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, "Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." Aaron said to them, "Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me." So all the people took off the gold rings from their ears, and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!" When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, "Tomorrow shall be a festival to the LORD." They rose early the next day, and offered burnt offerings and brought sacrifices of well-being; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel. 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 his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Matthew 22:1-14

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.' But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless.
Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Giving

UBC relies on the generosity of the community. If you are a in place that you are able to give of your time, talent, and resources to UBC we would be grateful. If you want to make a financial contribution, the easiest way to do so is through our church center app.

There

before there were mountains to crumble

before there were seas to rise
before there was pain, the loss and the weight
You were there
although our fear is rising
although our fire has gone out
although our hearts are worried and fraught
You are there
i’ve got a problem, i’ve made a drug
of worrying over what is yet to come
it’s clouding my vision,
strangling my love away
after the sun stops burning
after the stars have gone out
after the world ceases to turn
You’ll be there 

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

ITLOTC 10-6-20

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

Self-care (confessions of a 3 in touch with his emotions for half a day)

I finally lost.  The pandemic has caught up to me.  No I don’t have COVID 19, but all the other things - the loneliness, the stress,  the feeling of worthlessness and confusion.  I did pretty good.  6 months.  But the game is over.  

This has been interesting for me to admit.  I know some of you hate the enneagram, so ignore this if you do, but what I have discovered about myself is that I’m future oriented, and unconnected to my emotional self.  What that usually means is that I don’t have to deal with emotions.  That's good and bad.  Aggressive numbers (3, 7, & 8) can maintain focus on things without a perceived cost for a long time.  A few years ago Donald Miller wrote an article about his diminishing need for church and his sense of satisfaction with work.  I decided to hate the article when it came out for a few reasons.  1. I’m a pastor and could use the good PR 2. it seemed so american to replace church with … “the satisfaction of work,” of all things.  Well truth is, I can relate to what Donald Miller says.  On Saturday, my day off, I get the most satisfaction from doing yard work or working on my house.  Work is how I relax.  I sometimes wonder if that’s an aggressive number condition.  

But it catches up.  COVID finally caught up.  

This does not mean I’ve been in crisis or even crying, but I felt it enough to finally realize … “well crap, this sucks.  I would like for this to be over now.”  Because I’m finally in a state of feeling, I've been better able to understand why people talk about some things so frequently.  An example would be self care.  I’ve not often felt like I’ve needed selfcare.  Don’t get me wrong, I love spoiling myself and am pretty good at being selfish, but rarely have I felt like I needed that care to maintain emotional health.  For the longest time my therapist has been doing selfcare things with me like meditating, noticing my surroundings, working on identifying feelings with thoughts and backing them into feelings.  All of a sudden those practices are working in a way that they haven’t before.  

Because I’m in a rare mode of feeling, I’m taking advantage of my surroundings.  And so I want to tell you about a TV show that has been a form of selfcare.  It is called Ted Lasso.  I can’t recommend it without caution, because there is volatile language and suggestive sexual moments, but on the whole it’s a pretty wholesome show by 2020 standards.  The protagonist, Ted Lasso, feels like a good guy in the tradition of Mr. Rogers.  I was talking to my sister about Ted Lasso yesterday morning and she noted that he represents a character that has long fallen out of favor with viewers who’ve come to prefer anti heroes like Walter White from Breaking Bad.  Toph has described Ted Lasso as the show we all needed.  It’s true and Ted Lasso is the human we all needed.  We needed a picture of someone who is good for goodness sake.  Someone who believes the very best about humanity.  We needed someone to remind us what we can be.  And that notion - that idea -  of being that kind of person is soothing my soul.

Staff Favorites

Because our newsletter has grown thin of late, i’ve added a new feature called, “staff favorites.” The instructions are as follows. Draw a line, either on a piece of paper that you printed this on or in your mind, connecting the correct individual with the corresponding category. After you venture your guesses, you can view the solution here.

UBC Movie Night - 10/16

We are hosting another Drive-In movie at UBC, and we would love for you to come.  On Friday, October 16, at 7pm, we will be showing the wonderful movie CoCo!  We will have some refreshments for purchase, but also feel free to bring your own.  Masks will be required when you are not in your vehicle watching the movie.  If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org. 

Women’s Book Club

"Hello! We will soon be starting our Women's Book Club for the Fall Semester! If you like reading and friends and talking about books then you should definitely join! If you are interested please email Taylor at taylor@ubcwaco.org. We'll be starting next Monday, September 28th, at 7pm."

Parishioner of the Week

Ryan Higgs & Nathaniel Mosher for coming up big in the tech and music departments. Grateful.

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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. 

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

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

UBC Liturgy Stuff 10-4-20

Ubc Liturgy Stuff

October 4, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on September 27th (in the order they are needed). Also you can find UbcKids Sunday School Videos here.

In Labor All Creation Groans

In labor all creation groans till fear and hatred cease,
Till human hearts come to believe: In Christ alone is peace.

In labor all creation groans till war and violence cease,

Till swords are beaten into plowshares and Christ will be our peace

Be our peace, be our peace, Christ, our peace.

In labor all creation groans till prejudice shall cease,
Till every race and tribe and tongue in Christ will live in peace.

In labor all creation groans till false divisions cease,
Till enemies are reconciled in Christ who is our peace

Be our peace, be our peace, Christ, our peace.

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship
the jealous God who demands obedience

and also the God who gives grace

when obedience isn’t given

to listen what the Rule Maker might say

about the better way of grace

that the Spirit of God might transform our hearts and minds

and that the eternal rule of our hearts and minds

would be the law of love.

Amen

The Hinge by Cynthia Cruz

My brother is still alive and living

In Fresno.

All day he stares at the dead bodies

Of automobiles

In his garage. It isn’t a prison

He’d wish himself free of.

I visit him,

Dragging my boxes

Of books and awards

Behind me.

We are walking out of the city

Into the white flame of the desert.

Not unlike the Desert

Fathers walking out into Sinai.

My brother carries his briefcase

Loaded in icons and dollar bills. 

He is wearing Larry Levis’s shining

Suit and black leather boots.

I am wearing a pale gown

Of sun-bleached flowers.

We are talking

About the Resurrection. 

We are walking dead

Into it

Leaving the world and its sweet chorus

Of horrors behind

There is no city

But the city within.

No door, but the door

To simple wisdom.

We walk, dumb

As newborns

Into the tremendous and endless

Blessing.

All Creatures

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Oh praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!
O, praise Him! O, praise Him!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in heaven along,
Oh praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!
Oh praise Him! Oh praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
Oh praise Him! Oh praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Oh praise Him!
Alleluia!

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading is Exodus 20:1-20

Then God spoke all these words:

 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery;  you shall have no other gods before me.

 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.  You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me,  but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.

Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work.  But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lordyour God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns.  For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.

Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lordyour God is giving you.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance,  and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.”  Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.”

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading, and Josh’s Sermon text, is Matthew 21:23-32:

If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more:  circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;  as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ.  More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.  I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death,  if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.  Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Wayward Ones

we are the wayward ones
liars and beggars, those who betray
we hand you over, deny your name
cast you aside, yet still you say

this is my body, this is my blood
broken and shed to show my love

we are the broken ones
cowards and fools, all filled with disbelief
we forsake you, deny your name
cast you aside, yet still you say

this is my body, this is my blood
broken and shed to show my love

remember me, remember me
come to the table, take and eat
remember me

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

New Giving App

In case you missed this info for the past couple of weeks:

We're excited to offer a new way to give to UBC - through a simple, fast and secure app!  You can download the free Church Center app and enter "UBC Waco" as your church.  In just a few taps, you'll have your account set up and can give any amount, anytime, from anywhere in the world.  You can make a one-time donation or set up recurring giving instantly.  Best yet, this app is designed specifically for churches, with reduced fees that make sure more of your donation actually goes to support UBC.  If you're not an app person, no worries - we've added Church Center as an option under the "give" tab on our website.  Thanks for your giving and support of our UBC community!

ITLOTC 9-29-20

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

A Way to Be in the World I Can Get Behind (by Jamie)

Greetings.  

In case you missed Josh’s announcement on Sunday, I’m going to be on a mini-sabbatical of sorts for the month of October.  As I prepare to be gone for that, I’m mindful that one of the things I’d normally be doing in October (this Sunday, in fact) is our St. Francis Liturgy.  I remember sitting in our garden in April thinking about how strange it would be to do a livestream St. Francis liturgy alongside the sizable Francis statue we have in the middle of one of the paths.  Stranger still to be here now preparing to not do that liturgy at all.  Perhaps on another week, I would regale you with a reflection on the life of Francis and the themes of simplicity and rest found therein, but I have to finish my contributions to the new Ubcmusic EP before Thursday and don’t have that kind of time.  Instead, I will offer you this benediction that we typically use to conclude our St. Francis Liturgy. I think this short collection of words has within it a vision for a way to be in the world that I can get behind, and I hope you’ll join me in carrying it with you for a while.

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers,
half-truths, and superficial relationships,
so that we will live deeply in our hearts.

May God bless us with anger 
at injustice, oppression, and exploitation 
of people and the earth,
so that we will work for justice, equity, and peace.

May God bless us with tears to shed 
for those who suffer,
so that we will reach out our hands
to comfort them and change their pain to joy.

And may God bless us with the foolishness to think
that we can make a difference in the world,
so that we will do the things which others say 
cannot be done. 

Amen.

Annual Meeting

UBC’s finance, HR, and leadership teams will be meeting this Sunday after church. If you have an questions or concerns you’d like to pass along you can do so by contacting any of the individuals listed at the bottom of this blog (or if you are viewing this on the email, click the “here” link above and scroll to the bottom of the blog post).

Staff Favorites

Because our newsletter has grown thin of late, i’ve added a new feature called, “staff favorites.” The instructions are as follows. Draw a line, either on a piece of paper that you printed this on or in your mind, connecting the correct individual with the corresponding category. After you venture your guesses, you can view the solution here.

Women’s Book Club

"Hello! We will soon be starting our Women's Book Club for the Fall Semester! If you like reading and friends and talking about books then you should definitely join! If you are interested please email Taylor at taylor@ubcwaco.org. We'll be starting next Monday, September 28th, at 7pm."

Parishioner of the Week

Syler Richardson for a big win with the Tennyson Tigers.

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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. 

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

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Ubc Liturgy Stuff 9-27-2020

Ubc Liturgy Stuff

September 27, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on September 27th (in the order they are needed). Also you can find UbcKids Sunday School Videos here.

What the Dry Years Took Away

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
would you restore what the dry years took away?

o God of life
may your mercy shine
upon the painted world
with power benign
and 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
would you restore what the dry years took away?

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

with urgency and grace
would you restore what the fracture took away
write it on our hearts
the back of our hands
and doorposts, the same

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship
the Eternal One

i’m whom there is life
and breath and everything

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

as the Spirit of God forms our hearts and minds in the way of Christ

and draws into the work of God in the world

Amen

Rain by Claribel Alegría

As the falling rain
trickles among the stones
memories come bubbling out.
It's as if the rain
had pierced my temples.
Streaming
streaming chaotically
come memories:
the reedy voice
of the servant
telling me tales
of ghosts.
They sat beside me
the ghosts
and the bed creaked
that purple-dark afternoon
when I learned you were leaving forever,
a gleaming pebble
from constant rubbing
becomes a comet.
Rain is falling
falling
and memories keep flooding by
they show me a senseless
world
a voracious
world--abyss
ambush
whirlwind
spur
but I keep loving it
because I do
because of my five senses
because of my amazement
because every morning,
because forever, I have loved it
without knowing why.

Twice Begun

Jesus Christ did not cling tight
to height, nor form Divine
but instead emptied himself
into the hands of time
the wind drew cracks in the lips of Love
the sun beat down the Light
now Life itself has torn the veil of death
that all the rest may rise

now life and death and resurrection
are painted over all creation
their colors swirling into one
as if every moment is now twice begun
and doesn’t stop, the path, the pulse, the clock

Jesus Christ did not cling tight
to height nor power Divine
but instead emptied himself
into Breath and blood and spine
as the feeble crowds began to mount
the powers of state and faith aligned
to crush that which might tear their mountains down
but he turned not his mind
that all the rest may rise

now life and death and resurrection
are painted over all creation
their colors swirling into one
as if every moment is now twice begun
so mourn your losses, sing your songs
but build your houses with fingers crossed
there is a hope now graven in the dawn
and every ending to that burning edge belongs

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading is Exodus 17:1-7:

From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Matthew 21:23-32:

When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Heart Won’t Stop

there is not a man, nor a beast
nothing on the land or underneath
nothing that could every come between
the love you have for me
I could lay my head in sheol
I could make my bed at the bottom of the darkness deep
there is not a place I could escape you

your heart won’t stop coming after me

there is not an angel of the stars
there is not a devil in the dark
nothing that could change the way you are
the love you have for me
I could lay my head in sheol
I could make my bed at the bottom of the darkness deep
there is not a place I could escape you

your heart won’t stop coming after me

I could lay my head in sheol
I could make my bed at the bottom of the darkness deep
there is not a place I could escape you

your heart won’t stop coming after me

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

New Giving App

In case you missed this info for the past couple of weeks:

We're excited to offer a new way to give to UBC - through a simple, fast and secure app!  You can download the free Church Center app and enter "UBC Waco" as your church.  In just a few taps, you'll have your account set up and can give any amount, anytime, from anywhere in the world.  You can make a one-time donation or set up recurring giving instantly.  Best yet, this app is designed specifically for churches, with reduced fees that make sure more of your donation actually goes to support UBC.  If you're not an app person, no worries - we've added Church Center as an option under the "give" tab on our website.  Thanks for your giving and support of our UBC community!

ITLOTC 9-22-20

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

Stewards of Joy

I performed my nephew’s wedding on Sunday.  He was the first grandchild in our family to get married.  I thought about my dad, how he would have done the wedding if he was still alive, and then I also thought that I was grateful to pinch hit, especially since this nephew is my godson and I held him in a small church in northern Minnesota when he was a few weeks old during his dedication.  What a great honor to get to move through one person’s life that completely.  

I was thinking after the wedding how much I enjoyed doing it for all of the reasons I just named.  It was the wedding I have most enjoyed doing.  This sent me into reflecting. I remembered reading in Eugene Peterson’s memoir The Pastor that he said his favorite things to do as a pastor were funerals and baptism.  Death and the Christian death before death.  It seems almost morbid, but now that I'm a pastor - and have been at it for 13 years - I think I get it.  The preference has to do with the difference between joy and pain and what they elicit from us.  A few pastors I know don’t particularly like doing weddings.  Maybe that’s overstated.  But when compared to other monumental life moments they aren’t at the top of the list.  I think I know why.  Hardly anyone cares what the pastor says at a wedding.  There are so  many other spectacles to distract from the spiritual nature of the ceremony.  Weddings more than any other ecclesiastical function compete with cultural notions for meaning.  This is what joy can take from us - meaning.  

Now I should make clear that I’m wholeheartedly for joy.  Joy has to be a major component of the telos of Christian faith.  I’m reminded of Hebrews 12:2, “it was for the joy set before Him, that Jesus endured the cross, despising shame.”   

Pain demands something tender from us.  Not always.  Sometimes pain makes people angry and they persist in that anger and never do anything productive with it and it destroys their life.  But pain, and research will corroborate this, very often elicits the most attractive features in a person - tenderness, compassion to name a few.  C.S. Lewis said, “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”  I always share that quote with hesitation because it’s not a large jump from that to some dumb dumb blaming a natural disastor or global pandemic on the sin the of a few individuals, but I think the sentiment is true nonetheless.  Still even knowing this, I don’t wish for pain. I still wish for and seek joy.  

Freddy Buechner wrote the best article I've ever read on pain and about stewarding our pain.  I’ve thought a lot about that and joy and weddings and funerals and what they do to us . This has all been subservient to a larger theological problem.  Namely that we lack the imagination we need for the eschaton or even heaven.  We really can’t conceive of an eternity without pain or a story without a conflict.  We are, by nature, overcomers.  without resistance muscles atrophy.  When things get too easy we get bored.  So what do we do with a world full of all joy?  Where the happy ending is the beginning?  Where there’s only weddings and no funerals?  
Those are hard questions.  I’ve said too many times in sermons that Einstein was a genius for his conceptual contribution in coming up with the theory of General relativity.  the math had been there to prove it for 50 years.  What the scientific community needed was someone with the imagination to think a thought never thunk before.  To see the world (or in this case the universe) as we had never heard of or imagined before.  The joy of the world is like that.  So I’d like you to do some homework for me.  What does it mean to be a steward of joy?  How can we responsibly share, sustain and live in joy?  How can we be attentive to the spiritual formation happening at birthday parties, weddings and anniversaries in the same way we show up to funerals and divorces? 

Staff Favorites

Because our newsletter has grown thin of late, i’ve added a new feature called, “staff favorites.” The instructions are as follows. Draw a line, either on a piece of paper that you printed this on or in your mind, connecting the correct individual with the corresponding category. After you venture your guesses, you can view the solution here.

Women’s Book Club

"Hello! We will soon be starting our Women's Book Club for the Fall Semester! If you like reading and friends and talking about books then you should definitely join! If you are interested please email Taylor at taylor@ubcwaco.org. We'll be starting next Monday, September 28th, at 7pm."

It Was Either This Or …

Oh my gosh! Our podcast (josh and taylor here) has been out one week and we already have 3 million listeners. thanks to everyone who revised and rated. This is our last week of shameless self promotion. Our new episode “It Was Either This Or … A Purity Ring,” drops later today and will likely show up in your iTunes podcast subscription by morning. Listen to what others have already said about “It Was Either This Or…”

“I used to hate the bible. No preacher would ever be honest about the texts that made God look bad, but Josh and Taylor’s segment Texts of Terror changed all of that. I’m a Christian again and gave all my money away to charity.” - Jeff from Washington

“I was really feeling bummed cause I couldn’t afford my subscription to People magazine and felt like I didn’t know what was happening in the world, but then I listened to “It Was Either This Or …” and now I’ve been offered a job at Entertainment Tonight.” - John from Michigan

“I haven’t had cable for years and don’t care much for ESPN, but wow, Josh and Taylor’s commentary on the NBA helped make $30K at the sports book in Vegas . Great insights.” - Jenny from Florida

UBC Masks

Look stylish, support our youth, and love your neighbor by wearing a mask.  Use the link below to get you very own custom UBC masks.  Please use the donate link at the bottom of the page to support the youth.  If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

https://ubcwaco.org/store/ubcmask

Parishioner of the Week

Jana Parker, David Rehfeld, Kathleen Post, Bri Childs and Risse Miller for recording children’s videos.

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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. 

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

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Staff Favorites

Because our newsletter has grown thin of late, i’ve added a new feature called, “staff favorites.” The instructions are as follows. Draw a line, either on a piece of paper that you printed this on or in your mind, connecting the correct individual with the corresponding category. After you venture your guesses, you can view the solution here.

Ubc Liturgy September-20-2020

Ubc Liturgy Stuff

September 20, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on September 20th (in the order they are needed). Also you can find UbcKids Sunday School Videos here.

Up On A Mountain

up on a mountain, our lord is alone
without a family, friends or a home
and he cries, “oh, will you stay with me?”
he cries, “oh, will you wait with me?”

up on a mountain, our lord is afraid
carrying all the mistake we have made
and he knew that it’s a long way down
but do you know he came all the way down?

up in the heavens, our lord prays for you
he sent his spirit to carry us through
so it’s true that you’re not alone
do you know, he came all the way down?

and it’s true that you’re not alone
do you know he came all the way down?

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship
the God who sees

seeking rest in the refuge
of the one in whom we are known and named

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit of God might transform our hearts and minds

forming us more fully in the way of Christ
and drawing us into the work of God in the world

Amen

Look to the Hills

I lift my eyes to the hills
to remind myself this isn’t all there is
I lift my eyes to the hills
and wait for help to appear

my help is from the lord
who breaks past walls and fortress doors
my shade in sun and shield from sword
yes, my help is from the lord

so I look to the hills
and I know the score
the mountains fall
the shadows, they soar
and every rough line
is impeccably placed
as valleys rise
forgetting their place
I look to the hills
and I know what i’m for
and know my help
is going before

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading is Genesis 16:7-10, 13-16:

The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave-girl of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.” The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her.” The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will so greatly multiply your offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude.”

So she named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are El-roi”; for she said, “Have I really seen God and remained alive after seeing him?”Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered.

Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Matthew 20:1-16:

Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Eternal Anchor

eternal wisdom, eternal grace
is there a creature you have not named
and known in greater depth
than the cells of which it’s made
and bound up in a love not even death can separate

eternal anchor, eternal grace
wrapped in light like eternal flame
would you incinerate the thorns
stabbing in my brain
and with a word obliterate the cycles I retrace?

would you raise a staff, split the sea
and graft my withered branch into your family tree
and come to my defense if my brother called it cheap
as if my every breath, someone else had planned to breathe?

eternal anchor, eternal love
is there a distance you would not run
with glory gathered up, kicking up the dust
to close the gap I made to try my luck

would you raise a glass, call a feast
and grace my withered hand with your family ring
and as I search for words to try to explain
would they be drowned out with your redemption parade
and as the forests clap their hands
and mountains stomp their feet
would a thousand trumpets roar
as trampled voices sing
and would I be caught up
in that embodied melody
of the all-creation misfit family band of everything

will all that was lost yet be found?
will all that was lost yet be found?
name beyond all naming, love beyond all framing
will all that was lost yet be found?

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

New Giving App

In case you missed this info for the past couple of weeks:

We're excited to offer a new way to give to UBC - through a simple, fast and secure app!  You can download the free Church Center app and enter "UBC Waco" as your church.  In just a few taps, you'll have your account set up and can give any amount, anytime, from anywhere in the world.  You can make a one-time donation or set up recurring giving instantly.  Best yet, this app is designed specifically for churches, with reduced fees that make sure more of your donation actually goes to support UBC.  If you're not an app person, no worries - we've added Church Center as an option under the "give" tab on our website.  Thanks for your giving and support of our UBC community!

ITLOTC 9-15-20

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

Great Things

Hello friends – Taylor here. I have found myself missing all of you very much  lately and so I thought I might share some things that have been giving me life lately in the hopes that you will also share some things that have been giving you life lately. And then, perhaps, we might all have a little bit more life.

1)    Your answers to the welcome questions during worship on Sunday! Truly every week it brings me so much joy to see all of you interacting in our comment section. It makes me feel a little more as if we are all together!

2)    The Cooking with Cade Instagram account and particularly this video. I cried laughing at the chaotic energy that this video has! I have watched it multiple times at this point and watching Cade’s grandma try to corral him into baking cookies cracks me up every time.

3)    This old Youtube video that always hypes me up. This video is from SIX YEARS AGO which is nuts but a perpetual thanks to Kristen Howerton and Brianna Childs for showing it to me in the Collins lobby one time while they were working the desk because it ALWAYS pumps me up.

4)    Cooking! We have been doing a lot of cooking lately and it has been so much fun! Here are some of the recipes we made: Baked Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls with Cilantro Lime Ranch, Garlic Butter Creamed Corn Chicken, and Crockpot BBQ Beer Chicken Taquitos with Street Corn Salsa! It’s been so much fun and so delicious.

I would love to hear some of the things that have been giving you life lately! I have found that, for me, thinking about the things that make me happy and give me life has been such an important way to work towards maintaining a healthier mental state – and allows me to continue to be present to the things that are happening in the world around me. But I’d love to hear from you about what has been life-giving for you lately! Comment here or email me at taylor@ubcwaco.org!

Meet Our Newest UBCer

Name: Thomas Hugh Clark

Birthday: 9/12/2020

Birth Height: 21”

Birth Weight: 7lbs 11oz

Enneagram #: 1 w 9

Staff Favorites

Because our newsletter has grown thin of late, i’ve added a new feature called, “staff favorites.” The instructions are as follows. Draw a line, either on a piece of paper that you printed this on or in your mind, connecting the correct individual with the corresponding category. After you venture your guesses, you can view the solution here.

Special Guest Preacher

This Sunday we will be led in worship during the preaching portion of worship by our very own Liz Lagawa. Please be in prayer for Liz as she prepares to bring the word to the herd this Sunday.

Brand New Podcast

OMGosh you guys, there is a brand new podcast out and it will blow your hair back. UBC champions Josh Carney & Taylor post have teamed up for a COVID project of the most epic kind. We will be discussing life, culture, pop culture, a little bible/theology & the NBA on the brand new podcast extravaganza “It Was Either This Or …” which can be found on iTunes and our church website. Rate and review us and be entered for a chance to win our eternal, undying affection. Subscribe now:

Cesar Chavez Middle School Encouragement

CCMS started school this past week, and we want to send them some encouragement.  We would like to have a note to give to every teacher, faculty, and staff at CCMS, and we need your help.  Would you consider writing a note of encouragement to the folks at CCMS?  There are 105 employees at CCMS, so feel free to write several notes.  We will be collecting these notes this week, help us encourage the wonderful faculty and staff at CCMS.  You can drop your notes off anytime at UBC, just put them through the mail slot on the front of the building if no one is at church.  If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org

Sign up for Sunday school!

Sunday school returns September 13th!  Both classes (see below) will meet via zoom at 9:30am on Sunday’s, and you can sign up by emailing jamie@ubcwaco.org.

The Making of a Psalmist (led by Bri Childs)

Join us as we journey through the Psalms, especially focusing on the main structures and types that the psalmists followed. With each type we study, you’ll get the chance to be a psalmist yourself, writing in the style that most resonates with you.

Book Study: Inspired by Rachel Held Evans (led by Craig Nash)

Rachel Held Evans invites readers on a journey of rediscovery as she explores the magic of the Bible, engaging the old, familiar stories in new ways that honor the past and enlighten the present. Drawing upon recent scholarship and literary analysis, Evans creatively retells our favorite Bible stories, explaining their contexts and possible interpretations, and then connects these ancient stories to our present-day ones.  Readers are invited to fall in love with Scripture all over again without checking their intellect--or their imaginations-- at the door

UBC Masks

Look stylish, support our youth, and love your neighbor by wearing a mask.  Use the link below to get you very own custom UBC masks.  Please use the donate link at the bottom of the page to support the youth.  If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

https://ubcwaco.org/store/ubcmask

Parishioner of the Week

Andy and Emily Clark for bringing a baby into the world.

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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. 

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

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu