Liturgy Stuff 10-10-2021

October 10, 2021

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on October 10th (in the order they are needed).

Come Thou Fount

come thou fount of every blessing
tune my heart to sing thy grace
streams of mercy, never ceasing
call for songs of loudest praise
teach me some melodious sonnet
sung by flaming tongues above
praise the mount, i’m fixed upon it
mount of thy redeeming love

here I raise my Ebenezer
hither by thy help i’ve come
and I hope by thy good pleasure
safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me, when a stranger
wandering from the fold of god
he to rescue me from danger
interposed his precious blood

o to grace, how great a debtor
daily i’m constrained to be
let thy goodness like a fetter
bind my wandering heart to thee
prone to wander, lord I feel it
prone to leave the god I love
here’s my heart, lord, take and seal it
seal it for thy courts above

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship 
the Living God

the One who is merciful, slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit might form us in the way of Christ

bending our hearts and minds
toward justice, wholeness, and wonder

Amen

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

Rise Up

for the lowly and foregotten
for the weary and distressed
for the refugee and orphan
and for all who are oppressed
for the stranger who is pleading
while insulted and despised
will you rise? will you rise?

rise up, rise up
the earth will fear the lord
when you avenge the poor
may your kingdom come
o rise up

hear how Rachel, she is weeping
how she will not be consoled
for the children in our keeping
are their bodies bought and sold
but the watchman, he is sleeping
do you see them with your eyes?
and will you rise?

rise up, rise up
the earth will fear the lord
when you avenge the poor
may your kingdom come
o rise up

as your will is done in heaven
may it now be done below
may our daily bread be given
may your kingdom come and grow
lead us not into temptation
but deliver us we cry
will you rise? will you rise?

rise up, rise up
the earth will fear the lord
when you avenge the poor
and bare your holy arm
to keep them safe from harm
may your kingdom come
may your kingdom come
may your kingdom come
o rise up

Holy Anger

Holy Anger, fire that i’ve learned to ignore
cloaked in shadow, cellared and bolted the door
return now to me—i’ll slip the key through the grate
for I feel nothing where I know that I should feel rage

so braid the cords of my heart and then hand them to me
to drive out the vultures from every neck I can reach

Holy Anger, i’ve heard that you’ve done it before
plastic lighters, illumined with timely resolve
this comfort is acid and I fear that it may soon dissolve
this ethical axis, ‘til justice collides with control

so Drunken Warrior, stumble and flail into me
brace my shoulder and release my tongue from my teeth
and braid the cords of my heart and then hand them to me
to drive out the vultures from every neck I can reach

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Emmanuel’s sermon text, is Amos 5:6-7, 10-15:

Seek the Lord and live,
or he will break out against the house of Joseph like fire, 
and it will devour Bethel, with no one to quench it.

Ah, you that turn justice to wormwood,
and bring righteousness to the ground! 

They hate the one who reproves in the gate,
and they abhor the one who speaks the truth.

Therefore, because you trample on the poor
and take from them levies of grain,

you have built houses of hewn stone,
but you shall not live in them;

you have planted pleasant vineyards,
but you shall not drink their wine.

For I know how many are your transgressions,
and how great are your sins—

you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe,
and push aside the needy in the gate.

Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time;
for it is an evil time.

Seek good and not evil,
that you may live;

and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you,
just as you have said.

Hate evil and love good,
and establish justice in the gate;

it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,
will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Mark 10:17-31:

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”

Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

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.

How Great Thou Art

o lord my god, when i in awesome wonder
consider all the worlds thy hands have made
i see the stars, i hear the rolling thunder
thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed

then sings my soul, my savior god to thee
how great thou art, how great thou art

and when i think that god, the son not sparing
sent him to die, i scarce can take it in
that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing
he bled and died to take away my sin

then sings my soul, my savior god to thee
how great thou art, how great thou art

when christ shall come with shout of acclamation
and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
then i shall bow with humbled adoration
and there proclaim, my god how great thou art

then sings my soul, my savior god to thee
how great thou art, how great thou art

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all creatures here below
Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Timeless, 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 10-5-21

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

On Divine Foreknowledge & Human Freedom

Meet the UBCer(s)

the Poolers

CCMS Volunteers

CCMS Volunteer OpportunitiesWe have some great volunteer opportunities coming up at Cesar Chavez Middle School. The first, is our longstanding Lunch Buddies program. This is a mentoring program, in which you go have lunch with your buddy once a week at CCMS. The school reached out recently, and they have identified 23 students who could use a mentor. Next, we are helping out with CCMS Fall Festival this year on October 13th. Look for sign-up sheets starting this Sunday for the Lunch Buddy program and the Fall Festival. If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org

Church Hurts

Full disclosure. I, Josh Carney, have not listened to one minute of the Mars Hill podcast produced by Christianity Today. A friend sent me a helpful email this last week with some of the criticism of the podcast. I’m grateful he did. In short, the concern is that the podcast does not center or seek out voices of those who were actual victims of what happened at Mars Hill and instead has centers and given platform to some of those abusive voices. Point taken. Let me offer a word then about what I’m hoping for. First, churches hurt people including UBC. In the spirit of that, I want to give space both for folks to tell their own stories of hurt and disappointment, but also listen keenly so that I might learn and think of ways to improve UBC. Second, we want to also take the opportunity to celebrate the good things and be excited about the good experiences that people are having and have had with church. So if either of those things feel like they would be helpful, then I hope you’ll consider coming. Our second meeting is this Wednesday at 6:00 @ UBC. Participants should listen to the first episode.

A Word from our HR Chair Erin

October 10th is Pastor Appreciation Day and the HR team has coordinated an opportunity to write notes of appreciation to show love to the pastoral staff at UBC. If you are unable to join us to write a physical note on Sunday mornings, you can use this google form to submit a note for each pastor, and HR team will print it out and make sure that the staff member receives it. If you have any questions, feel free to email Erin Hill at erin.albin1@gmail.com

Upcoming Events

• Weekly Pints with Toph @ Pinewood on Wednesdays from 6-8 P.M.

• Weekly coffee with Toph @ Pinewood on Thursdays from 8-10 A.M.

• 10/4 St. Francis Liturgy

• 10/10 nUBCers Lunch

• 10/13 Liturgy of Gratitude

• 10/22 Parents Night Out

• 11/2 All Saints/All Souls Liturgy

• 11/5-7 Fall retreat for college students

• 11/7 Bonfire

• 11/14 Lovefeast

• 12/9-10 Study Hall

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: Kathy Krey kathykrey@gmail.com

Ben Raley: Benjaminrale y@gmail.com

Bryce Sandvall: Bryce@holeintheroof.com

Katie Valenzuela: KatarinaEValenzuela@gmail.com

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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 Hill: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Kristen Howerton: khowerton94@gmail.com

Patrick Broaddus: patrickjbroaddus@gmail.com

St. Francis Liturgy

Keep a clear eye toward life’s end. Do not forget your purpose and destiny as God’s creature. What you are in his sight is what you are and nothing more. Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing that you have received…but only what you have given; a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage. 

-St. Francis of Assisi (Letter to the Rulers of the People) 

Call to Worship 

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise the Lord in the heights!

Praise the Lord, all you angels;
praise the Lord, you armies of the Lord!

Praise the Lord, sun and moon;
praise the Lord, all you shining stars!

Praise the Lord, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens! 

Let them praise the name of the Lord, 
for the Lord commanded and they were created.

The Lord established them forever and ever;

the Lord fixed their bounds,
which cannot be passed.

Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,

fire and hail, snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling his command!

Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!

Wild animals and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!

Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!

Young men and women alike,
old and young together!

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.

Prayer

Saint Francis’ “The Canticle of Brother Sun”

Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,

Yours are the praises, the glory, 
and the honor, and all blessing,


To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no human is worthy to mention Your name.

Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,


Who is the day and through whom You give us light.
\
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor;
and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,

in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.


Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene, 
and every kind of weather,

through whom You give sustenance to Your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,

who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.


Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night,

and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth,

who sustains and governs us,
and who produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs.



Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your love,

and bear infirmity and tribulation.

Blessed are those who endure in peace

for by You, Most High, shall they be crowned.

 

Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,

from whom no one living can escape.

Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,

for the second death shall do them no harm.


Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks
and serve Him with great humility. 

Poem

“The Sacraments” by Saint Francis

I once spoke to my friend, an old squirrel, about the Sacraments—
he got so excited

and ran into a hollow in his tree and came
back holding some acorns, an owl feather,
and a ribbon he had found.

And I just smiled and said, “Yes, dear,
you understand:

Everything imparts His grace.”

Blessing the Animals 

Blessed are You, Lord God
Maker of all living creatures.
On the fifth and sixth days of creation,
You called forth fish from the sea,
birds in the air, and animals on the land
You inspired St. Francis to call all animals
his brothers and sisters.
We join our voices to his, 
and ask You to bless this animal.
By the power of Your love,
enable him/her to live according to Your plan.
May we always praise You
for all Your beauty in creation.
Blessed are You, Lord our God,
in all Your creatures. Amen.

All Creatures of Our God and King

All creatures of our God and king
lift up your voice and with us sing
o praise him, alleluia
thou burning sun with golden beam
thou silver moon with softer gleam
o praise him, o praise him
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

thou rushing wind that art so strong
ye clouds that sail in heaven along
o praise him, alleluia
thou rising moon in praise rejoice
ye lights of evening find their voice
o praise him, o 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
o praise him, o praise him
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

A Reading about St. Francis

(From the Franciscan Order of Divine Compassion)

Few Saints are more immediately recognizable than St. Francis of Assisi. He is recognized, loved, and claimed by Christians of all denominations, and even embraced by non-Christians. Francis seized the imaginations of his contemporaries, as well as that of modern men, by his unique simplicity, a pure grace of spirit, his overwhelming love for God, and his mode of life in which he actively sought to live according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, given the extent with which he's loved, few Saints are less understood than Francis is. To the modern mind, Francis is a caricature. He is the simple, loveable, man who preached to birds, tamed wolves, talked to fish, and was so gentle that wild hare leapt into his arms.

But, he's so much more than that.

Of Francis' early life, one of his biographers, Thomas of Celano, in the First Life of St. Francis, would later write, "almost up to his twenty-fifth year, he squandered and wasted his time…He was…very rich, not greedy but prodigal, not a hoarder of money, but a squanderer of possessions, a cautious businessman but an unreliable steward. On the other hand, he was a kind person, easy and friendly…Overwhelmed by a host of evil companions, proud and high-minded, he walked about the streets of Babylon until the Lord looked down from heaven and for His own name's sake…and for His praise bridled Francis lest he should perish. The hand of the Lord came onto Francis and a change was worked by the right hand of God, that through Francis an assurance might be granted to sinners that they had been restored to grace and that Francis might become an example to all of conversion to God."

Conversion, or rather living in a state of constantly being converted, is what Francis' life was about. Drawn by the love of God, drawn away from worldly ambitions for glory, Francis instead found his treasure in the total surrender of self to God.

For those of us who follow Jesus in the footsteps of St. Francis, the example of conversion to God, of living each day in a deeper state of conversion, to die to self a little more each day that we might live entirely for God, this is the important thing to see in Francis.

A Reading From Matthew

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?  And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’  For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

This is the Word of the Lord. 

Silent Reflection

Prayer (St. Francis’ Our Father)

OUR FATHER MOST HOLY,


our creator and redeemer, our Savior and Consoler.

WHO ARE IN HEAVEN, 

in the angels and saints 
enlightening them that they may know you, for you, Lord,
are love, dwelling in them and filling 
them with your divinity, that bliss may be theirs, for you, Lord, are the highest Good, the eternal Good,
 from whom all goodness flows, without whom nothing is good.

YOUR NAME BE HELD HOLY:


may our knowledge of you shine ever more clearly within us, 
that we may perceive the breadth of your blessings, the extent of your promises, the height of your majesty, the depth of your judgments.

YOUR KINGDOM COME:

rule us now, through grace, and bring us at last to your kingdom of light where we shall see you as you are, 
and our love for you
will be made perfect, our union blissful, our joy unending, in you.

YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN


may we love you with all our heart, ever thinking of you; with all our soul, ever longing for you; with all our mind, directing all our aims to you
and seeking nothing but your glory; with all our strength, spending all our energies and all our senses of soul and body
to serve only your love and nothing else.

May we love our neighbors as ourselves; drawing them all to your love in so far as we can, sharing their good fortune as if it were our own, helping them to bear their trials and doing them no wrong.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD: 

your beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ, that we may remember,
understand and revere the love he showed for us,
and all he said and did
and suffered for our sake.

FORGIVE US OUR SINS 


through your mercy beyond words,
through the power of the passion of your beloved Son.

AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US 


and that which we ourselves
cannot fully forgive,
make us fully forgive; 
make us love our enemies, 
truly, for your sake; teach us how to pray sincerely
to you on their behalf; and not to render harm for harm to anyone, but rather try to do good to all, in you!

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION


whether veiled or visible, sudden or searing and prolonged.

BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL 


past, present and to come. 

Amen

A Franciscan Benediction

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.

Liturgy Stuff 10-3-2021

October 3, 2021

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on October 3rd (in the order they are needed).

Boundless Love (by john prine)

i woke up this morning to a garbage truck
seems this ol horshoe’s done run out of luck
if i came home would you let me in
fry me some pork chops 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
it bounces around ‘til my soul comes clean
but 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 at risk
a’fallin from this jagged cliff
i look below, i look above
i’m surrounded by your boundless love

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
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 Eternal 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 might transform our hearts and minds

forming us more fully
in the self-giving love of Christ
that we might live in the way of Christ

Amen

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

How Great Thou Art

o lord my god, when i in awesome wonder
consider all the worlds thy hands have made
i see the stars, i hear the rolling thunder
thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed

then sings my soul, my savior god to thee
how great thou art, how great thou art

and when i think that god, the son not sparing
sent him to die, i scarce can take it in
that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing
he bled and died to take away my sin

then sings my soul, my savior god to thee
how great thou art, how great thou art

when christ shall come with shout of acclamation
and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
then i shall bow with humbled adoration
and there proclaim, my god how great thou art

then sings my soul, my savior god to thee
how great thou art, how great thou art

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

love divine, all loves excelling
joy from heav’n to earth come down
fix in us thy humble dwelling
all thy faithful mercies crown

jesus thou art all compassion
pure unbounded love, thou art
visit us with thy salvation
enter every trembling heart

breathe, o breathe, thy loving spirit
into every troubled breast
let us all in thee inherit
let us find that second rest

finish then, thy new creation
in full bloom, let us be
let us see thy great salvation
lost in wonder, love, and praise

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading is Psalm 8:

O Lord, our Sovereign,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.
    Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
    to silence the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
    mortals that you care for them?

Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
    and crowned them with glory and honor.
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
    you have put all things under their feet,
all sheep and oxen,
    and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
    whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Sovereign,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Mark 10:2-16:

Some Pharisees came, and to test Jesus they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

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.

Every Tree

God is our refuge and strength
an ever-present help in time of need
sure as the ground beneath all being
the comfort of the Eternal’s within your reach
and every tree has its root in the stream

God comes prowling like a thief
through the windows of time to the terrace of your grief
to rid your sorrow of its sting
though it might take a while, there’s a dawn within your reach
for every tree has its root in the stream

so clap your hands and stomp your feet
lift up your voice like the breakers from the deep
to sing of the slaughtered/standing king
by whom death is a vapor and life is a diamond ring
and every tree has its root in the stream

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all creatures here below
Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Timeless, 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 9-28-21

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

Night of Belonging - Thursday 8pm - UBC Backside

These nights are designed to educate ourselves on topics that the Church has traditionally not done a good job addressing. This Night of Belonging is highlighting the work of our friends at Jesus Said Love, and how we as Christians engage with the issue of commercial sex and sex trafficking. If you are college student or young adult, you should join us on September 30 at 8pm in the Backside at UBC. Here is a word from Brett and Emily: “How do we as Christ followers engage with the issue of commercial sex and sex trafficking? Is prostitution exploitive? Is porn use a big deal? Brett & Emily Mills, founders of Jesus Said Love, will host an education night focused on an overview of commercial sex exploitation, trafficking, the issue of demand, and understanding pornography in the context of exploitation and trafficking. After the presentation, Brett & Emily will host a time for curious questions and engagement. This conversation will cover triggering topics such as sexual violence and is recommended for a mature audience.” If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org

Top(h) Golf

Top(h) Golf TuesdayMaybe our best named event, is Top(h) Golf Tuesday again this week at Top Golf. Come join us from 5:15-7:15, as we hang out, get to know each, and hit some epically bad shots. We’ve got two bays rented, but if you want food/beverages you will have to purchase those yourself. I (Toph), would love to see you there tonight! Any questions, email toph@ubcwaco.org

CCMS Volunteers

CCMS Volunteer OpportunitiesWe have some great volunteer opportunities coming up at Cesar Chavez Middle School. The first, is our longstanding Lunch Buddies program. This is a mentoring program, in which you go have lunch with your buddy once a week at CCMS. The school reached out recently, and they have identified 23 students who could use a mentor. Next, we are helping out with CCMS Fall Festival this year on October 13th. Look for sign-up sheets starting this Sunday for the Lunch Buddy program and the Fall Festival. If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org

Church Hurts

Full disclosure. I, Josh Carney, have not listened to one minute of the Mars Hill podcast produced by Christianity Today. A friend sent me a helpful email this last week with some of the criticism of the podcast. I’m grateful he did. In short, the concern is that the podcast does not center or seek out voices of those who were actual victims of what happened at Mars Hill and instead has centers and given platform to some of those abusive voices. Point taken. Let me offer a word then about what I’m hoping for. First, churches hurt people including UBC. In the spirit of that, I want to give space both for folks to tell their own stories of hurt and disappointment, but also listen keenly so that I might learn and think of ways to improve UBC. Second, we want to also take the opportunity to celebrate the good things and be excited about the good experiences that people are having and have had with church. So if either of those things feel like they would be helpful, then I hope you’ll consider coming. Our first meeting is this Wednesday at 6:00 @ UBC. Participants can listen to this three minute intro, but that is not necessary.

A Word from our HR Chair Erin

October 10th is Pastor Appreciation Day and the HR team has coordinated an opportunity to write notes of appreciation to show love to the pastoral staff at UBC. If you are unable to join us to write a physical note on Sunday mornings, you can use this google form to submit a note for each pastor, and HR team will print it out and make sure that the staff member receives it. If you have any questions, feel free to email Erin Hill at erin.albin1@gmail.com

St. Francis Liturgy (10/4 5:30PM)

Join us for our St. Francis Liturgy on Monday, October 4th at 5:30PM. Childcare will be provided.

Upcoming Events

• Weekly Pints with Toph @ Pinewood on Wednesdays from 6-8 P.M.

• Weekly coffee with Toph @ Pinewood on Thursdays from 8-10 A.M.

• 9/30 Night of belonging

• 10/4 St. Francis Liturgy

• 10/10 nUBCers Lunch

• 10/13 Liturgy of Gratitude

• 11/2 All Saints/All Souls Liturgy

• 11/5-7 Fall retreat for college students

• 11/7 Bonfire

• 11/14 Lovefeast

• 12/9-10 Study Hall

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: Kathy Krey kathykrey@gmail.com

Ben Raley: Benjaminrale y@gmail.com

Bryce Sandvall: Bryce@holeintheroof.com

Katie Valenzuela: KatarinaEValenzuela@gmail.com

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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 Hill: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Kristen Howerton: khowerton94@gmail.com

Patrick Broaddus: patrickjbroaddus@gmail.com

Liturgy Stuff 9-26-2021

September 26, 2021

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on September 26th (in the order they are needed).

Chariot

swing like a chariot at the trumpet call when we’re all unsaved
swing like a wrecking ball, like the heart of god, what a mystery
filled with the wedding feast for the snakes and bees with the angel teeth
swing like a chariot, come and marry us to the blushing circus king
and dance like elephants as he comes to us through a fiery golden ring
with a violin and a song to sing as he brings for us our wings
now he’s one of us plays the tambourine breaks the bread for us and sings
but will he wait for us, will you stay for us, will you grace us every thing
you’re a wrecking ball with a heart of gold and we will wait for it to swing
like a chariot, swing it low for us, come and carry us away

so we will become a happy ending

fire, come and carry us
make us shine or make us rust
tell us that you care for us
you need to hear a word for us
let your body stand with us
or let our ribs return to dust
chariot, you’ll swing for us
but do you think that you can carry all of us?

so we will become a happy ending

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship 
the Living God

the Maker of heaven and earth
the sustainer of every creature

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit might transform our hearts and minds

teaching us to love god
to love our neighbor
and to love ourselves

Amen

Death In His Grave

although the earth cried out for blood
satisfied her hunger was
her billows called on raging seas
for the souls of men, she craved
sun and moon from balcony
turned their head in disbelief
precious love would taste the sting
disfigured and disdained

on Friday a thief, on Sunday a king
who laid down in grief but woke with the keys
to hell on that day: first born of the slain
the man Jesus Christ laid death in his grave

so three days in darkness slept
the morning sun of righteousness
but raise to shame the throes of death
and overturn their rule
while daughters and the sons of men
will pay not their dues again
the debt of blood they owed was rent
when the day rolled anew

on Friday a thief, on Sunday a king
who laid down in grief but woke with the keys
to hell on that day: first born of the slain
the man Jesus Christ laid death in his grave

he has cheated hell and seated us above the fall
in desperate places he paid our wages
one time once and for all

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

There Is A Lightness

come to me, ye weary
dissolve into my gentle stream
and find there is a light
here in the shade
come heavy head, soul sick dregs
cast upon me that which keeps you bent
and find there is a light
beyond the shade

for the God Who Sees is not far away

come to me, ye filthy rich
cast your fortunes to wilder winds
and find there is a light
you cannot possess
gather round, ye powder kegs
but hold your fire before nothing’s left
and find there is a light
you cannot demand

for god is not mocked and will not be co-opted

so gather up your grief
gather up the sun-bleached
bones of your dreams
bring it all to me
for there is a lightness beyond lightness
in the Ground Beneath All Being
and my burden is peace
So come to me,
come and find,
there’s a lightness

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading is Psalm 124:

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side
    —let Israel now say—
if it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
    when our enemies attacked us,
then they would have swallowed us up alive,
    when their anger was kindled against us;
then the flood would have swept us away,
    the torrent would have gone over us;
then over us would have gone
    the raging waters.

Blessed be the Lord,
    who has not given us
    as prey to their teeth.
We have escaped like a bird
    from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
    and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Mark 9:38-50:

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

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.

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
like 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 but 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

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all creatures here below
Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Timeless, 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 9-21-21

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

Stories from Our Congregation (by Toph)

Hello UBC Community.  I look forward to Sundays; mainly because I get to see many of your masked smiling faces, and we can gather as a community and be formed more in the Spirit of the Divine.  I am particularly looking forward to this Sunday as we have the initial offering of a new series: Stories from Our Congregation.  Over the last year, I have been more acutely aware that we, as a full-time pastoral staff, are all white and cisgender.  Representation matters and listening to the experiences and stories of people who exist in the world in different ways is vital to our formation.  With this in mind, the first moment in listening to Stories from our Congregation will be hearing from BIPOC within our community.  On Sunday, we will have opportunity to hear from Katie, Kerri, Gabe, and Marcus.   We will have the privilege of listening to their stories of what it has been like to be a BIPOC over the last few years in America, hear why they chose and love UBC, and to hear their hopes for the Church and UBC in elevating the voices of BIPOC.  UBC is a predominantly white, cisgender, heterosexual community, which is why these moments of Stories from Our Congregation will be an essential part of our formation moving forward.  This Sunday, we are hearing from BIPOC within our community.  In the future will have the opportunity to hear from UBC’ers who identify within the LGBTQIA+ community, and will have the privilege of their stories being part of our further conversion more into the image of Jesus.   I get excited about a lot of things at UBC, but the creation of this new sometimes series of Stories from our Congregation is at the top of the list right now. 

One other moment I am looking forward to in the next few weeks is our first Night of Belonging of the year. These nights are designed to educate ourselves on topics that the Church has traditionally not done a good job addressing.   This Night of Belonging is highlighting the work of our friends at Jesus Said Love, and how we as Christians engage with the issue of commercial sex and sex trafficking.   If you are college student or young adult, you should join us on September 30 at 8pm in the Backside at UBC.   Here is a word from Brett and Emily:  “How do we as Christ followers engage with the issue of commercial sex and sex trafficking? Is prostitution exploitive? Is porn use a big deal? Brett & Emily Mills, founders of Jesus Said Love, will host an education night focused on an overview of commercial sex exploitation, trafficking, the issue of demand, and understanding pornography in the context of exploitation and trafficking. After the presentation, Brett & Emily will host a time for curious questions and engagement. This conversation will cover triggering topics such as sexual violence and is recommended for a mature audience.”

Meet the UBCers

Team Oxhandler

Church Hurts Group

Hello friends, one of the more exciting things that has happened this summer was the release of Christianity Today’s podcast, “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill.” The podcast, which is about the rise and fall of Seattle megachurch Mars Hill and her pastor Marc Driscoll, has also proven to be helpful commentary on the mega church experience. As a community who wants to continue to grown and learn, we are going gather weekly on Wednesdays at 6 P.M. to discuss the episodes. The first gathering will not require participants to have listened to anything, but the subsequent meetings will require listening to an episode of a week. Our first meeting will be Wednesday, September 29th @ 6:00 P.M. If you have any questions email josh@ubcwaco.org.

Upcoming Events

• Weekly Pints with Toph @ Pinewood on Wednesdays from 6-8 P.M.

• Weekly coffee with Toph @ Pinewood on Thursdays from 8-10 A.M.

• 9/29 “Church Hurts” Group (the Mars Hill Podcast Experience) Starts

• 9/30 Night of belonging

• 10/4 St. Francis Liturgy

• 10/10 nUBCers Lunch

• 10/13 Liturgy of Gratitude

• 11/2 All Saints/All Souls Liturgy

• 11/5-7 Fall retreat for college students

• 11/7 Bonfire

• 11/14 Lovefeast

• 12/9-10 Study Hall

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: Kathy Krey kathykrey@gmail.com

Ben Raley: Benjaminrale y@gmail.com

Bryce Sandvall: Bryce@holeintheroof.com

Katie Valenzuela: KatarinaEValenzuela@gmail.com

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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 Hill: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Kristen Howerton: khowerton94@gmail.com

Patrick Broaddus: patrickjbroaddus@gmail.com

Liturgy Stuff 9-19-2021

September 19, 2021

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on September 19th (in the order they are needed).

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
like 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 but 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

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship 
the Living God

the One in whom there is help,
the Creator and Sustainer of all

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit might transform our hearts and minds

to imagine the kingdom of god in our midst
and to join in that dance

Amen

Amazing Grace

amazing grace how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now i’m found
was bound but now i’m free

‘twas grace that taught my heart to fear
and grace my fears relieved
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed

through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come
’twas grace that brought me safe thus far
and grace will lead me home

my chains are gone, i’ve been set free
my god my savior has ransomed me
and like a flood, god’s mercy reigns
unending love, amazing grace

when we’ve been there 10,000 years
bright shining as the sun
we’ve no less days to sing god’s praise
than when we’d first begun

Up On A Mountain

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

up on a mountain our lord is afraid
carrying all the mistakes we have made
and he knew that is 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 spirt to carry us through
so its true that you’re not alone
do you know he came all the way down?

Every Tree Has Its Root in the Stream

god is our refuge and strength
an ever-present help in time of need
sure as the ground beneath all being
the comfort of the Eternal is within reach
and every tree has its root in the stream

god comes prowling like a thief
through the windows of time to the terrace of your grief
to rid your sorrow of its sting
and though it might take a while, there’s a dawn within your reach
for every tree has its root in the stream

so clap your hands and stomp your feet
lift up your voice like the breakers from the deep
to sing of the slaughtered/standing king
by whom death is a vapor and life is a diamond ring
and every tree has its root in the stream

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is Proverbs 31:10-31:

A capable wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
She is like the ships of the merchant,
she brings her food from far away.
She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household
and tasks for her servant-girls.
She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength,
and makes her arms strong.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
She opens her hand to the poor,
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all her household are clothed in crimson.
She makes herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the city gates,
taking his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them;
she supplies the merchant with sashes.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her happy;
her husband too, and he praises her:
“Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her a share in the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the city gates.

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Mark 9:30-37:

Jesus and his disciples passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

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.

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
a 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 a 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 that hollow rage is wholly remade into a signal fire

you’re the waking life, piercing sleep
reality, reframing the dream
as I rise I don’t recognize my speech
find a garden shed where I once kept my armory
and like the waking life, piercing sleep
like reality, reframing the dream
I don’t understand what is happening
but something’s changed in a place I cannot reach
there’s this ache where I once kept my apathy
like there’s a depth to life and breath in everything

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all creatures here below
Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Timeless, 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 9-14-21

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

On Prayer (By Josh)

It Was Either This Or …

Friends, its autumn, which means that as school schedules return and fall sports begin so too does the “It Was Either This Or …” Podcast. The world renown podcast hosted by Josh & Taylor. Episode 1 of season 2, dropped today. If you love great commentary on culture, entertainment, sports and occasional special guests like Holly Laurent from the MEGA podcast and David Thibodeau (Mount Carmel Survivor), be sure to subscribe.

Power Point Party (9/17)

Do you watch the history channel? Do you take quizzes on sporacle for fun? Ever find yourself watching jeopardy reruns? Boy do we have an opportunity for you. Come to watch or participate in the power point party. Yes, you read that right, people will prepare power point presentations about their favorite topics and we will listen, celebrate their unique interest and have a great time becoming nerdier. Interested presenters should send their ideas to josh@ubcwaco.org. Presentations should be about 8-10 minutes with time for a Q & A afterwards.

Is UBC Your Home?

In last weeks newsletter I made a video in which I acknowledged that COVID has created a season of transition in people’s lives and as a result people may be rethinking life commitments including church. Because UBC does not have membership we’ve have created a survey asking people to answer one questions, “Is UBC your church home?” Survey participants can select “yes,” “no,” or “discerning.” The purpose of this is to help us plan and move forward. So we are kindly asking that you would take our one questions survey if you currently or have had proximity to UBC during the pandemic. Survey can be found here.

Looking to volunteer with UBC’s Youth Group? Look no further! 

If you are at all interested in volunteering with our Youth (grades 7th-12th), please send an email to mailto:kieran@ubcwaco.org letting us know!

Upcoming Events

• Weekly Pints with Toph @ Pinewood on Wednesdays from 6-8 P.M.

• Weekly coffee with Toph @ Pinewood on Thursdays from 8-10 A.M.

• 9/17 Power Point Party

• 9/29 “Church Hurts” Group (the Mars Hill Podcast Experience) Starts

• 9/30 Night of belonging

• 10/4 St. Francis Liturgy

• 10/10 nUBCers Lunch

• 10/13 Liturgy of Gratitude

• 11/5-7 Fall retreat for college students

• 11/7 Bonfire

• 11/14 Lovefeast

• 12/9-10 Study Hall

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: Kathy Krey kathykrey@gmail.com

Ben Raley: Benjaminrale y@gmail.com

Bryce Sandvall: Bryce@holeintheroof.com

Katie Valenzuela: KatarinaEValenzuela@gmail.com

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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 Hill: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Kristen Howerton: khowerton94@gmail.com

Patrick Broaddus: patrickjbroaddus@gmail.com

Liturgy Stuff 9-12-2021

September 12, 2021

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on September 12th (in the order they are needed).

All Creatures of Our God and King

all creatures of our god and king
lift up your voice and with us sing
o praise him, alleluia
thou burning sun with golden beam
thou silver moon with softer gleam
o praise him, o praise him
alleluia, alleluia, alleuia

thou rushing wind that art so strong
ye clouds that sail in heaven along
o praise him, alleluia
thou rising moon in praise, rejoice
ye lights of evening find their voice
o praise him, o 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 sun
and praise the spirit, three in one
o praise him, o praise him
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship 
the Living God

the One who is gracious and full of compassion
who watches over the innocent
and lifts up those who are brought low

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit might transform our hearts and minds

bending our imagination
toward the Kingdom of God
and forming us more fully
in the way of Christ

Amen

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

o 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 all the space that we take up

o 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 in

O Mother Warrior, Mother Age-to-Age
Mother Wisdom, Mother Grace
Mother Comfort, Mother Love-that-can’t-be-bought
Mother Faithful

Mother God

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
a 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 a 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 that hollow rage is wholly remade into a signal fire

you’re the waking life, piercing sleep
reality, reframing the dream
as I rise I don’t recognize my speech
find a garden shed where I once kept my armory
and like the waking life, piercing sleep
like reality, reframing the dream
I don’t understand what is happening
but something’s changed in a place I cannot reach
there’s this ache where I once kept my apathy
like there’s a depth to life and breath in everything

Shadow

there’s a shadow in my body
and it moves through every cell
the echo of a memory of a different kind of self
it dances in my marrow and in every fold of gray
there’s a death that we’ve been promised
and a harder death we make

o god, it’s like i’m talking in my sleep
and I can’t find the words I need
you say that I should die to me
just tell me how to keep it clean

resurrection’s rolling through me
the pow’r to live again
the echo of a promise
of a different kind of end
but I keep misdirecting
the life you give to the life I left
no, dying’s not the problem
it’s trying to stay dead

o god, it’s like i’m talking through my teeth
and I can’t find the words I mean
how’m I supposed to die to me
when its the only thing i’ve been

o god, it’s like i’m talking in my sleep
and I can’t find the words I need
how’m I supposed to die to me
when its the only thing i’ve been

there’s a fracture in my thinking
a crack I can’t close
the echo of an image
of a different kind of hope
I think i’ve been assuming
there’s a secret to be known
but knowing’s not the problem:
it’s wanting to be known

o god its like i’m talking in my sleep
with my tongue caught behind my teeth
but i’m inclined to be believe
you’ve given me the word I need

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading is Psalm 116:1-8:

I love the Lord, because he has heard
    my voice and my supplications.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
    therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
The snares of death encompassed me;
    the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
    I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
    “O Lord, I pray, save my life!”

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
    our God is merciful.
The Lord protects the simple;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return, O my soul, to your rest,
    for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

For you have delivered my soul from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling.

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is James 3:1-12:

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.

How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue-- a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

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.

Noise

you sang the stars
out of darkness, you composed a fire
you called the world into form
out of chaos
for all of that noise, you dwell in the quiet places
you’re the purest form of which I am but a shadow

so what can I say about the things you’ve done?
when I was a broken promise, you made me another one

you crafted my frame
out of earth you formed my complexion
you called it good
but we both know that i’ve since heard different
for all of that noise, you pull me to quiet places
you’re the purest love of which I am but a taker

so what can I say about the things you’ve done?
when I was a broken promise, you made me another one

you found me in my desperate raging
you called my name like you know how it is
like every doubt that i’ve ever lain in
you’ve called your own, like you understand it

because the word became flesh
that bright light descended in darkness
the image, it spread
and colored the fear a deep shade of wonder
for all of that noise we fell into quiet places
for the only hope for the problem we cannot escape

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all creatures here below
Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Timeless, 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 9-7-21

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

Is UBC the Place You Call Home?

To complete the survey please use this link.

Sunday School

Hello friends. Sunday school starts this Sunday and we wanted to give you a bit of info on your choices.

“Generous Communication: Public Deliberation as a Practice of Compassion” with Sharyl Loeung and Daniel Harris

Do you find it impossible to get on the same page to have a meaningful conversation with some people? Have you given up on seeing any real change in people on "the other side" so you just avoid them? Our societal rhetoric has reached a flustering height of polarization and divisiveness, but we can't forget when we speak with each other we are also entering into a state of communion, a temporary oneness with our neighbor. As we enter this act of communion as communication, we can be generous with our listening, generous in our interpretations, and generous in the gentleness of our words. Learning to view communication within this more generous framework is what allows us to begin to reframe the conversation with more care and compassion.

All Ages Sunday School Class

This Fall Taylor and Maddy are leading an All-Ages Sunday School class that called Journey Together! It's for anybody of any age (kids, youth, college students, young professionals, adults, moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas - everybody!) We'll be learning about the Bible and how to grow with God and it's going to be a lot of fun! Everyone is invited! If you have any questions you should email Taylor at Taylor@ubcwaco.org.

Women’s Book Club

Are you a woman? Do you like books? Then you should come to women's book club it will be starting next Monday night at 7pm in the Backside! We will decide a book during the meeting! See you there! If you have any questions you should email Taylor at Taylor@ubcwaco.org.

Beer and Coffee

Looking for a weekly gathering where you can reflect on world events, meet other UBCers and enjoy a choice beverage. We have a pair of tantalizing opportunities for you. Join Toph for

A Pint: On Wednesdays from 6-8 P.M. @ Pinewood

Coffee: On Thursdays from 8-10 A.M. @ Pinewood

Looking to volunteer with UBC’s Youth Group? Look no further! 

If you are at all interested in volunteering with our Youth (grades 7th-12th), please send an email to mailto:kieran@ubcwaco.org letting us know!

Young Professionals Game Night

Have you ever traded away all of your wheat and then played a monopoly card? Have you ever felt the exhilaration of putting hotels on Boardwalk and Park Place and watched your opponents get crushed under the relentless tax system of Monopoly? Have you ever been sent down that humongous purple slide in Chutes and Ladders because you tried to reach for the cookie jar? Well do we have an opportunity for you. On September 9, @ 7 PM gamers of all stripes will gather at UBC for snacks, eats, and the thrilling experience of playing board games. If you are a young professional, and by that we mean really anyone who has graduated from college and moved on with life, you are welcome and wanted at this event. For questions please contact danieleharris38@gmail.com.

College Women’s Kickoff

Are you a college woman who has been thinking, “Golly I wish I had some other college woman to hang out with so that we could gather weekly, share life, and possibly study a book or something together?” You have come to the right place. UBC college women’s group is kicking off on Thursday, September 9th @ 7:00 P.M. at Pinewood Coffee extravaganza. If you have any questions about this please contact Kathleen_Post1@baylor.edu.

Power Point Party (9/17)

Do you watch the history channel? Do you take quizzes on sporacle for fun? Ever find yourself watching jeopardy reruns? Boy do we have an opportunity for you. Come to watch or participate in the power point party. Yes, you read that right, people will prepare power point presentations about their favorite topics and we will listen, celebrate their unique interest and have a great time becoming nerdier. Interested presenters should send their ideas to josh@ubcwaco.org. Presentations should be about 8-10 minutes with time for a Q & A afterwards.

Parishioner of the Week

Em McDonald & Alex Lux for being nursery helper champions.

Upcoming Events

• Weekly Pints with Toph @ Pinewood on Wednesdays from 6-8 P.M.

• Weekly coffee with Toph @ Pinewood on Thursdays from 8-10 A.M.

• 9/9 Young Professionals Game Night

• 9/9 College Women’s Group Coffee Kickoff

• 9/12 Sunday School & Mi Casas Start

• 9/17 Power Point Party

• 9/29 “Church Hurts” Group (the Mars Hill Podcast Experience) Starts

• 9/30 Night of belonging

• 10/4 St. Francis Liturgy

• 10/10 nUBCers Lunch

• 10/13 Liturgy of Gratitude

• 11/5-7 Fall retreat for college students

• 11/7 Bonfire

• 11/14 Lovefeast

• 12/9-10 Study Hall

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: Kathy Krey kathykrey@gmail.com

Ben Raley: Benjaminrale y@gmail.com

Bryce Sandvall: Bryce@holeintheroof.com

Katie Valenzuela: KatarinaEValenzuela@gmail.com

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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 Hill: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Kristen Howerton: khowerton94@gmail.com

Patrick Broaddus: patrickjbroaddus@gmail.com

Liturgy Stuff 9-5-2021

September 5, 2021

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on September 5th (in the order they are needed).

Heart Won’t Stop

there is not a man nor a beast
nothing on the land or underneath
nothing that could ever 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

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship 
the Creator and Sustainer of all things

the Eternal One who gives justice to the oppressed,
who lifts up those who are bowed down,
and frustrates the ways of the wicked

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit might form us in the way of Christ

writing hope on our hearts
and love on our minds
that we might be caught up
in the work of god in the world
in our ordinary lives

Amen

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

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
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
unheard, 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

Heart With No Companion

now i greet you from the other side
of sorrow and despair
with a love so vast and shattered
it’ll reach you everywhere
and i sing this for the captain
whose ship has not been built
for the mother in confusion
her cradle still unfilled
for the heart with no companion
for the soul without a king
for the prima ballerina
who cannot dance to anything

through the days of shame that are coming
through the nights of wild distress
though your promise counts for nothing
you must keep it nonetheless
you must keep it for the captain
whose ship has not been built
for the mother in confusion
her cradled still unfilled
for the heart with no companion
for the soul without a king
for the prima ballerina
who cannot dance to anything

now i greet you from the other side
of sorrow and despair
with a love so vast and shattered
it'll reach you everywhere

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Taylor’s sermon text, is Isaiah 35:4-7a:

Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
‘Be strong, do not fear!

Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,

with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.’

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.

For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;

the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Mark 7:24-37:

Jesus set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

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.

Pulse

there’s a secret pulse hidden in
the fabric of creation
and the story of every creature is
bone from dust//gift from Gift

reconnect our hearts to that pulse you hid
resurrect the peace we’ve unlearned
and in the wreckage of our selective loves
build a tow’r that can’t be hidd’n

there’s a remedy for the ache
that plagues us all in waves
and the cure for our other-scorning rage
is break my bread, i’ll break your shame

reconnect our hearts to that pulse you hid
resurrect the peace we’ve unlearned
and in the wreckage of our selective loves
build a tow’r and lock us in

until we find there’s only one kind
of love that won’t break
more than blind, more than selfless in name
it’s open arms either way
’cause there’s a pulse at the heart of all things
that gives life all the same
and a design to the rhythm we breathe:
Holy Name//Give and Take

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all creatures here below
Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Timeless, 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 8-31-21

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

On Hell (by Josh)

Hello friends. One transition we are looking to execute, is moving more of our content online in video form. Alas, this is a first attempt at doing that. So look for occasional newsletter entries to appear as video instead of written essays.

Looking to volunteer with UBC’s Youth Group? Look no further! 

If you are at all interested in volunteering with our Youth (grades 7th-12th), please send an email to mailto:kieran@ubcwaco.org letting us know!

A Word From Our Leadership Team

Dear UBCers,

I am writing to give you a brief update from the UBC Leadership Team. We met recently and discussed the rise of the Covid Delta variant in our community and what that means for our congregation. 

First, we are so grateful to all of you for wearing masks when indoors at UBC and we’re asking you to continue doing that for now. The City of Waco and the Waco McLennan County Public Health District are currently urging residents to wear masks in public due to the recent surge. 

Secondly, we plan to continue meeting in person both on Sunday mornings and at other gatherings during the week. Sunday morning worship will continue to be live-streamed. 

In summary, UBC’s current Covid protocols include: 

• We ask everyone to wear masks when indoors.

• Worship and classes will continue to meet indoors.

• Worship is live-streamed on our Facebook page.

We will continue monitoring local conditions and stay apprised of CDC guidance. We hope and pray that this recent rise in Covid cases is temporary and thank you in advance for helping keep our beloved UBC community safe. 

We are eager to continue meeting together safely and hope to see you all in a service soon or chat with you online during a live-streamed service. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.

In Hope,

Kathy Krey
Chair, Leadership Team
kathykrey@gmail.com

Young Professionals Game Night

Have you ever traded away all of your wheat and then played a monopoly card? Have you ever felt the exhilaration of putting hotels on Boardwalk and Park Place and watched your opponents get crushed under the relentless tax system of Monopoly? Have you ever been sent down that humongous purple slide in Chutes and Ladders because you tried to reach for the cookie jar? Well do we have an opportunity for you. On September 9, @ 7 PM gamers of all stripes will gather at UBC for snacks, eats, and the thrilling experience of playing board games. If you are a young professional, and by that we mean really anyone who has graduated from college and moved on with life, you are welcome and wanted at this event. For questions please contact danieleharris38@gmail.com.

College Women’s Kickoff

Are you a college woman who has been thinking, “Golly I wish I had some other college woman to hang out with so that we could gather weekly, share life, and possibly study a book or something together?” You have come to the right place. UBC college women’s group is kicking off on Thursday, September 9th @ 7:00 P.M. at Pinewood Coffee extravaganza. If you have any questions about this please contact Kathleen_Post1@baylor.edu.
Parishioner of the Week

Kelly Harp for staying late and helping clean up after the welcome back lunch on Sunday. Great job Kelly, Santa and Jesus are watching.

Upcoming Events

• 9/9 Young Professionals Game Night

• 9/9 College Women’s Group Coffee Kickoff

• 9/12 Sunday School & Mi Casas Start

• 9/17 Power Point Party

• 9/29 “Church Hurts” Group (the Mars Hill Podcast Experience) Starts

• 9/30 Night of belonging

• 10/4 St. Francis Liturgy

• 10/13 Liturgy of Gratitude

• 11/5-7 Fall retreat for college students

• 11/7 Bonfire

• 11/14 Lovefeast

• 12/9-10 Study Hall

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: Kathy Krey kathykrey@gmail.com

Ben Raley: Benjaminrale y@gmail.com

Bryce Sandvall: Bryce@holeintheroof.com

Katie Valenzuela: KatarinaEValenzuela@gmail.com

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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 Hill: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Kristen Howerton: khowerton94@gmail.com

Patrick Broaddus: patrickjbroaddus@gmail.com

Liturgy Stuff 8-29-2021

August 29, 2021

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on August 29th (in the order they are needed).

Eternal Anchor

eternal wisdom, eternal grace
is there a creature you have not named
and known in greater depth
than the cells of which its made
and bound up in a love not even
death could 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 claps their hands, mountains stomp their feet,
would 1000 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?

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship 
the Living God

the Eternal 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 might transform our hearts and minds

teaching us to love God
and love our neighbor
in the way of Christ

Amen

Fall Afresh

awaken, my soul, come awake
to hunger, to seek, to thirst
awaken, first love, come awake
and do as you did at first

spirit of the living god
come fall afresh on me
come wake me from my sleep
blow through the caverns of my soul
pour in me to overflow

awaken, my soul, come awake
though broken, spread thin, and worn
awaken, true hope, come awake
and transform these hearts of stone

spirit of the living god
come fall afresh on me
come wake me from my sleep
blow through the caverns of my soul
pour in me to overflow

spirit come and fill this place
let your glory now invade

spirit of the living god
come fall afresh on me
come wake me from my sleep
blow through the caverns of my soul
pour in me to overflow

Pulse

there’s a secret pulse hidden in
the fabric of creation
and the story of every creature is
bone from dust//gift from Gift

reconnect our hearts to that pulse you hid
resurrect the peace we’ve unlearned
and in the wreckage of our selective loves
build a tow’r that can’t be hidd’n

there’s a remedy for the ache
that plagues us all in waves
and the cure for our other-scorning rage
is break my bread, i’ll break your shame

reconnect our hearts to that pulse you hid
resurrect the peace we’ve unlearned
and in the wreckage of our selective loves
build a tow’r and lock us in

until we find there’s only one kind
of love that won’t break
more than blind, more than selfless in name
it’s open arms either way
’cause there’s a pulse at the heart of all things
that gives life all the same
and a design to the rhythm we breathe:
Holy Name//Give and Take

The Window (by Leonard Cohen)

why do you stand by the window
abandoned to beauty and pride
the thorn of the night in your bosom
the spear of the age in your side
lost in the rages of fragrance
lost in the rags of remorse
lost in the waves of a sickness
that loosens the high silver nerves

o chosen love, o frozen love
o tangle of matter and ghost
o darling of angels, demons, and saints
and the whole broken hearted host
gentle, this soul

come forth from the cloud of unknowing
and kiss the cheek of the moon
the new Jerusalem glowing
why tarry all night in the ruin
and leave no word of discomfort
leave no observer to mourn
but climb on your tears and be silent
like a rose on its ladder of thorns

o chosen love, o frozen love
o tangle of matter and ghost
o darling of angels, demons, and saints
and the whole broken hearted host
gentle, this soul

then lay your rose on the fire
the fire give up to the sun
the sun give over to splendor
in the arms of the high holy one
for the holy one dreams of a letter
dreams of a letter’s death
o bless thee, continuous stutter
of the word being made into flesh

o chosen love, o frozen love
o tangle of matter and ghost
o darling of angels, demons, and saints
and the whole broken hearted host
gentle, this soul

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is Song of Solomon 2:8-13:

The voice of my beloved!
Look, he comes, 
leaping upon the mountains,
bounding over the hills. 
My beloved is like a gazelle
or a young stag. 

Look, there he stands
behind our wall, 
gazing in at the windows,
looking through the lattice. 

My beloved speaks and says to me:
"Arise, my love, my fair one,
and come away; 
for now the winter is past,
the rain is over and gone. 

The flowers appear on the earth;
the time of singing has come, 
and the voice of the turtledove
is heard in our land. 
The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines are in blossom; 
they give forth fragrance. 

Arise, my love, my fair one,
and come away."

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23:

When the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,

‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;

in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.’

You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”

Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.” For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

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 or phrase
overwhelming, these idols that you break
crumbling to the ground in place

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

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
tear these temples down, stone from stone
crashing to the ground like broken chains

you were running with iconoclast strides
god, you’re wilder than we ever thought you would 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 God, all creatures here below
Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Timeless, 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 8-24-21

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

Church Shopping (by Josh)

Hello friends.  I was thinking, it’s August and that means transition is in the air.  There are two important calendars in University settings.  The first is the one that the whole world observes, namely the January 1st - December 31st calendar, but then there’s the more important calendar which is the academic calendar.  August is the proverbial January.  New places.  New experiences.  New friendships.  New churches?   

I should now pause to reflect on who might be reading this.  Our mailing list for this newsletter is substantially larger than our congregation.  That means I’m writing to people who: 1. attend UBC happily and are not looking for a new church  2. people who kind of attend and who were at one time interested enough to sign up for this newsletter 3. people who have moved on from UBC, but still read this affectionately (or perhaps unaffectionately) 4. people who have never been, but for one reason or another have interest in who we are. 

In some sense I’m writing to none of you, but in another I’m writing for all of you.  Still, I think a universally true experience we all have is that we all have conversations with people about which church might be the best fit for them.  So if you happen to be a discerning person reading this or if you know where you want to be, but might like some clairvoyant questions to help you get clear answers, read on.   

I cannot tell you how many times folks have come to us over the years and been stunned to discover that after many years of worshiping at church _________, they, one day, either painfully or curiously, discovered that their church did not believe the same thing as them.  This always puzzles me, but then I remembered that I went seminary and have a ferocious appetite for reading between the lines.  When I scout a church, yes, I read the what they believe page, but that’s usually standard mumbo jumbo that is either copied from someone else’s website or nearly identical with a few nuances in key buzzwords like “community” and “authenticity.” 

If you really want to know what a church believes google them.  Are they in the media for any reason?  What for?  See if the pastor lists what she is reading.  What is that author about?  What material are their small groups studying?  Who’s the publisher?  What topics are being addressed from the pulpit?  Is the church quiet when controversial headlines dominate the news cycle?  

But let me be more specific.  Every twenty years or so, churches deal with hot button conversations.  It was inerrancy of the bible in the 70s.  It was women in ministry in the 90s.  It’s currently LGBTQ acceptance.  There will always be discussions that are dividing the church.  Let me tell you what churches do.  Churches want you to be a part of them no matter what you believe.  What they want is for you to innocuously become rooted, involved and committed to the community.  So churches will front the broadest most mellow seemingly accepting position they reasonably can.  

Lest I sound like I’m casting stones, let me admit that UBC does this too.  We claim that we have a big tent.  We claim we want a diverse community.  We claim to make space for all kinds of people, but the truth is, that UBC is not a good fit for everyone.  There are other churches that are better suited to serve the needs of a certain kind of believer.  Realizing this and owning it was a healthy part of my development as a pastor.  Now when folks are new, instead of merely trying to get them hooked or plugged in, I try to spend time helping them discern if UBC is actually a good fit for them. 

In what follows I offer two examples of how I’d ask discerning questions if I were to look for a church.   They are centered on the questions: does the church support women in ministy and does the church accept the queer community.  

1. Does the church in question support women in ministry? 

“Yes!” 

Great next question:  Can women serve in all capacities? 

“Yes!” 

Great next question: Can women preach on a Sunday morning? 

“Yes!” 

Great next question: Can women be pastors?

“Yes!” 

Great next question: Can women be lead or head pastors? 

“Yes!” 

Great next question: Are women in positions of strategic leadership in the church? 

“Yes!” 

Great next question:  When was the last time a woman preached? 

“last week!” 

Great next question:  Does the church have a history of hiring women when qualified candidates applied? 

“Yes!”  

Cool.  

1. Will my queer friends be accepted if they worship here? 

“Yes!”

Great next question: Can they serve in all capacities? 

“Yes!” 

Great next question: Can they take communion and be married here? 

“Yes!” 

Great next question: If a queer couple worshiped here could they be members? 

“Yes!” 

Great next question:  Will they be included in visible public moments like baby dedications, pictures in the directory, and making announcements for areas they offer leadership in? 

“Yes!” 

Great next question: Would a queer person be considered for a pastoral position at the church if one were to come open? 

“Yes!” 

Cool. 

I’ve included these two examples because they are both areas that UBC has discerned answers to, but you could ask these kinds of questions about any number of theological issues.  My point is not to call out any church or even condemn how they might answer.  Again, I think it’s just as important to find a church that suits the needs of an individual as it is to welcome them.  Perhaps UBC wouldn’t be a fit for many people because of our answers.  My point, and it’s a point that I do think applies to all churches, is that churches should be ready to give clear answers to any kind of nuanced question one might want to answer.  

So as you encounter people who are looking, ask them what about church is important to them?  Does it matter what the church believes?  How it worships?  How can one be connected?  Who can be connected?  And then I would suggest helping them think of discerning questions they could ask key leaders to find answers to those questions.

Looking to volunteer with UBC’s Youth Group? Look no further! 

If you are at all interested in volunteering with our Youth (grades 7th-12th), please send an email to mailto:kieran@ubcwaco.org letting us know!

Kindergarten Commission

As a special part of the liturgy this Sunday we will celebrate the movement of our mighty five year olds as they move from the carefree world of pre-school to the daunting world of kindergarten. Please add these to your prayer list as we prepare to commission them for the next phase of life and formation in front of them. If you have a kindergartner and have not been contacted, please contact taylor@ubcwaco.org.

Meet The Newest UBCer

Name: Adelina Rose Chatham

Birth weight: 8lbs 2oz

Birth height: 20.5"

Birthday: 6/9/21

Enneagram Number: 1 w 9

Welcome Back Lunch (options for Inside, Outside, and To-Go)

We are so excited to kick off the Fall Semester, and welcome old friends and new friends to UBC. This week, after church, we will have our annual Welcome Back Lunch. This is a great time connect with new and returning UBC’ers. We will be catering El Crucero, and we will have a vegan/gluten free option to cover all your dietary restrictions and convictions. We are also mindful of the many ways folks are practicing keeping your neighbor safe during the pandemic. We want you to eat lunch, and we want you to feel safe doing so! We will have options for you to eat inside, outside, and to-go boxes should you want to take your lunch to the park with other UBC friends. We would love for you to join us for lunch Sunday. If you have any questions/concerns, please email toph@ubcwaco.org

The Cove - Helping Homeless Teens

Friends, UBC’s newest community partner is a wonderful ministry that works with homeless HS teens in the greater Waco area. They are in the midst of a 100 day housing challenge. You can see the flyer here. Will you consider buying or donating some items to help furnish these new spaces? If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

Looking for a Unique Housing Opportunity?

Good Neighbor Waco, a Christian non-profit organization, is seeking singles or married couples to serve an average of 7-10 hours per week in exchange for partially subsidized rent (no children or pets). Resident volunteers live in adjacent buildings; each resident volunteer has a private bedroom with shared bath, kitchen and living room. A portion of the service hours involves hosting groups using the community rooms at 2301 Colcord Ave. and participating in household upkeep or administrative work. With their remaining service hours resident workers are encouraged to create and run neighborhood projects in their areas of interest including the arts, urban gardening, community engagement, education, worship, etc. Applicants would commit to 9-12 months of live-in service, to begin August  or September (with specific dates and roles to be discussed during the application process). All-inclusive rent is $335 per month.  Residents must be able to live and work well with others and contribute meaningfully to community living. Applicants over 21 are preferred, although exceptions may be made. For more information and an application please contact board member Laine_Scales@baylor.edu

Parishioner of the Week

Rachel Caldwell for volunteering her time and talents to take staff pics for the church website.

Upcoming Events

• 9/9 Young Professionals Game Night

• 9/9 College Women’s Group Coffee Kickoff

• 9/12 Sunday School & Mi Casas Start

• 9/17 Power Point Party

• 9/22 “Church Hurts” Group (the Mars Hill Podcast Experience) Starts

• 9/29 Liturgy of Gratitude

• 9/30 Night of belonging

• 11/5-7 Fall retreat for college students

• 12/9-10 Study Hall

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: Kathy Krey kathykrey@gmail.com

Ben Raley: Benjaminrale y@gmail.com

Bryce Sandvall: Bryce@holeintheroof.com

Katie Valenzuela: KatarinaEValenzuela@gmail.com

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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 Hill: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Kristen Howerton: khowerton94@gmail.com

Patrick Broaddus: patrickjbroaddus@gmail.com

Liturgy Stuff 8-22-2021

August 22, 2021

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on August 22nd (in the order they are needed).

Just A Closer Walk With Thee

I am weak, but thou art strong
Jesus, keep me from all wrong
i’ll be satisfied as long
as I walk, dear lord, close to thee

just a closer walk with thee
grant it, Jesus, this my plea
daily walking close to thee
let it be, dear lord, let it be

in this world of toil and snare
if I falter, lord who cares?
who with me my burden shares
none but thee, dear lord, none but thee

just a closer walk with thee
grant it, Jesus, this my plea
daily walking close to thee
let it be, dear lord, let it be

when this feeble life is o’er
time for me will be no more
guide me gently safely o’er
to thy kingdom shore, to thy shore

just a closer walk with thee
grant it, Jesus, this my plea
daily walking close to thee
let it be, dear lord, let it be

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship 
the Living God

the One who is near to the brokenhearted
who will save those whose spirits are crushed

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit might form us more fully in the way of Christ

drawing our ordinary lives
into the work of God in the world

Amen

Wild One

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

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

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
tear these temples down, stone from stone
crashing to the ground like broken chains

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

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, you were there, you were there

although our fear is rising
although our fire has gone out
although our hearts are worried and fraught
you are there, you are there, 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, you’ll be there, you’ll be there

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
I look to the hills
and I know what i’m for
and know my help is going before

going before

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is 1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43:

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven. He said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart, the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand. Therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant my father David that which you promised him, saying, ‘There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’ Therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you promised to your servant my father David.

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built! Regard your servant’s prayer and his plea, O Lord my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today; that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. Hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your dwelling place; heed and forgive. 

“Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name —for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm—when a foreigner comes and prays toward this house, then hear in heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built.

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is John 6:56-69:

Jesus said, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”

Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of 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.

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
o, 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
like 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, but pick up where we left off
that brilliant harmony with 13.8 billion parts

until we come alive
o, come alive

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

just keep on holding

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all creatures here below
Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Timeless, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen.

Benediction

As we approach this week

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

Amen

A Liturgy of Mourning

Call to Worship 

Let our mourning be

Like an ocean that cannot be emptied
Like a river that cannot be stopped
Like the strong summer rain that puts an end to drought

Let our mourning be

A vigil in the darkness
A light that searches out the lost
A hand that reaches out to save and hold

Amen

Scripture Reading
John 11:1-35

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus,“Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.” After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus began to weep.

Silent Reflection on What has Been Lost

A Song of Mourning
Dead Horse by Andy Squyres

Here is my harvest of heartbreak
Here is my threshing of tears
I’d give you my dream but i lost it
Down in the locust years
Still praise is the song that I’m singing
Even though sorrow’s my tune
My love is only a whisper now
But nothing is wasted with you

Here is my secret miscarriage
Here is my public divorce
Nobody taught me to let go
So i learned how to beat a dead horse
Now all of my altars are empty
Save for this lone hallelu
The heat of you fire’s just a memory
But nothing is wasted with you

Hungry as a mother who cannot find her child
We keep missing each other, i’m in the liquor aisle
Prostrated in your glory, i’m bowed low under this:
Either nothing is wasted, or everything is

Here in the holy of holies
Here by the blood of the lamb
Words i have said all my life, and believe
But still i do not understand
But i want to live in your presence
However inopportune
The heat of your fire’s just a memory
But nothing is wasted with you
And my love is only a whisper now
But nothing is wasted with you 

Scripture Reading
Selection from Psalm 55

Give ear to my prayer, O God;
do not hide yourself from my supplication.
My heart is in anguish within me,
the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
Fear and trembling come upon me,
and horror overwhelms me.
And I say, “O that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest;
truly, I would flee far away;
I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah
I would hurry to find a shelter for myself
 from the raging wind and tempest.”
But I call upon God,
and the Lord will save me.
Evening and morning and at noon
I utter my complaint and moan,
and the Lord will hear my voice.
Cast your burden on the Lord,
and the Lord will sustain you.

Prayer of Mourning

We bring to you now the weathered fragments

 of our former dreams, 

The broken pieces of our expectations,

The rent patches of hopes worn thin, 

The shards of some shattered image

Of life as we once thought it would be 

In our hearts, we know that you are trustworthy and present even in this—

Over our tears, our confusion,

And our disappointment.

But there are still times

Where we feel as if we have been abandoned,

As if you do not care that these hopes
Have collapsed to rubble

Yet we know this is not so
That you are among the rubble
As you’ve always been
Breathing onto the embers of the fires in our hearts
And casting the shards of our shattered lives
Into something new

“I invite you over these next few moments to come light a candle for what you’ve lost.  In doing so, we are both bearing witness to the loss, and also acknowledging the gratitude for what has been lost that drives such feelings of grief—that warmth that will continue to burn on as we walk the winding paths of healing into life.” 

Candle Lighting

Reflection

Song of Hope
Twice Begun by ubcmusic

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 past, the pulse, the clock

Jesus Christ did not cling tight
To height nor pow’r 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 

Prayer of Hope

In our mourning, we grieve the loss of good gifts

The greater the gift, the greater the grief

In the midst of our tears off loss, there are tears of gratitude, 
the light of mourning

The greater the loss, the greater the gratitude 

And so in bearing witness to our pain, 
in bearing witness to what is lost

We turn our hearts also toward gratitude, 
knowing these gifts live on in our memory 

Living God, may the light of mourning 
illumine the world around us

May we notice the beauty of the ordinary world 
with new urgency

Living God, may the light of mourning illumine a path before us

Guiding our feet into a life lived fully 

Living God, may the light of mourning be for us the dawn of hope

Reaching out in rays to meet the Dawn of Resurrection

 Amen

ITLOTC 8-17-21

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

On Mourning (by Jamie)

When Jesus hears that his friend Lazarus is deathly ill, his first response is one of immense confidence: “This is happening so that God may be glorified through me.  He will not die but live.” He’s so confident that he takes his time, lingering a couple of days before heading to Bethany, as if to ensure that Lazarus will in fact die. 

Along the way, Jesus remains unconcerned, trading cryptic cute discourses with the disciples.  He can hardly contain himself when the disciples don’t seem to be getting the hint: “Lazarus is dead, but I’m going to resurrect him.”

He almost seems giddy at the prospect.

He maintains this air of confidence even when Martha comes to him.  “If you had been here, my brother would not have died; BUT I trust you and know he will live, and I look forward to the day of resurrection.”  

She hedges her grief with a sort of platitude, and Jesus takes it further, essentially saying, “Oh, you don’t even know how much you should trust me: I AM the resurrection and the life.  Not later, but today.” 

But when Mary comes, inconsolable, she says, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 

Full stop.  

And the confidence crumbles.

Upon seeing her anguish, and the anguish of her community, Jesus is turned inside out emotionally, and weeps. 

And it happens again when they arrive at the tomb. 

Literal moments—seconds maybe— away from resurrecting his friend, Jesus’ tears keep flowing.

We are a church, and as churches do, we have gathered around a story of hope; of resurrection.  We are cradled in the notion that the worst thing is never the last thing, that all of this is heading toward resurrection, toward re-creation.

Because of this, there are times, whether within our own selves or externally from others, when feelings of grief, of mourning, of sadness, are portrayed as being at odds with the hope of resurrection.  Indicative instead of a lack of faith or trust in God.

But this notion is wholly undone in the tears of the One who is the resurrection and the life.

In this story, we are reminded that just because things will be okay doesn’t mean that they are okay right now, or that we have to pretend to be okay right now.  And the flip side is also true, just because we allow ourselves to be present to the fact that things are not okay right now, we are not then bound to give ourselves over to the notion that they won’t be okay later.

This is why we are gathering for a Liturgy of Mourning tomorrow.  We are in the midst of a prolonged season of loss, and we are all carrying grief.  Our community is carrying everything from the acute grief of lost loved ones to the more general loss of a world that had not, in recent memory, lived through a global pandemic.  We will gather to honor what has been lost by bearing witness to our grief before God.  In doing this, we will also consider the gratitude that drives our grief, and the light that this gratitude offers us as we continue on in life.  

If you are in a particularly tender place, and would prefer to see the liturgy ahead of time to determine if that’s going to be a good place for you, just email jamie@ubcwaco.org, and I can send you a transcript of the whole thing.

The Liturgy of Mourning will be at 5:30pm on Wednesday, August 18th.  Childcare will be provided. Masks are required.

Meet The Newest UBCer

Name: Richard Zachary Mackey

Birth weight: 8 lbs 8 ozs

Birth height: 21.5 inches

Birthday: July 23rd

Enneagram Number: 2 w 1

Kindergarten Commission + Promotion Sunday

champions, as you know a new school year is upon us. this also means that the tides of change are moving through our church. First, this Sunday kids that are eligible will move to their next classroom. Be praying for them if you think of it, because change is hard. Secondly, next Sunday, August 29th we will be commissioning our Kindergarten champions. If you have a kindergartner and have not been contacted by Taylor, please email her taylor@ubcwaco.org.

Welcome Back Party

It’s that time of year again. School is starting. College kids return. Summer vacations are over. We are all back in Waco, together. So what should we do? Eat a large meal together after church on Sunday August 29th. So bring your hunger for both the word of the Lord and probably some El Crucero that day.

Meet the UBCer

Craig Nash

Liturgy of Mourning (childcare provided)

We will be having another Liturgy of Mourning on Wednesday, August 18th at 5:30PM.  It will be the same liturgy we offered at the beginning of July, but we wanted to offer another opportunity with childcare in order to be accessible to more people.  We are all carrying various sorts of grief and loss from the past year and a half. This liturgy is a time for us to give attention to that pain as a community, to honor what has been lost, and to grasp for hope together.  If you have any questions about the liturgy, feel free to email jamie@ubcwaco.org.

Parishioner of the Week

Mike & Kristen Dodson for hosting our amazing tiedye party. thanks for sharing your home.

Upcoming Events

• 9/9 Young Professionals Game Night

• 9/9 College Women’s Group Coffee Kickoff

• 9/17 Power Point Party

• 9/29 Liturgy of Gratitude

• 9/30 Night of belonging

• 11/5-7 Fall retreat for college students

• 12/9-10 Study Hall

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: Kathy Krey kathykrey@gmail.com

Ben Raley: Benjaminrale y@gmail.com

Bryce Sandvall: Bryce@holeintheroof.com

Katie Valenzuela: KatarinaEValenzuela@gmail.com

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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 Hill: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Kristen Howerton: khowerton94@gmail.com

Patrick Broaddus: patrickjbroaddus@gmail.com

Liturgy Stuff 8-15-2021

August 15, 2021

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on August 15th (in the order they are needed).

Holy, Holy, Holy

holy, holy, holy
lord god almighty
early in the morning
our song shall rise to thee
there is a sign at the sight of thee
there is none beside thee
god in three persons
blessed trinity

holy, holy, holy
though the darkness hide thee
though the eye of sinful ones
thy glories may not see
only thou art holy
merciful and mighty
perfect in power
love and purity

holy, holy, holy
lord god almighty
all thy works shall praise thy name
in earth and sky and sea
only though art holy
there is none beside thee
god in three persons
blessed trinity

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship 
the Living God

the works of whose hands are faithfulness and justice,
whose righteousness endures forever

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit might form us more fully in the way of Christ

that we might find the Kingdom of God
in the space between ourselves
and our neighbor

Amen

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
o, 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
like 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, but pick up where we left off
that brilliant harmony with 13.8 billion parts

until we come alive
o, come alive

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

just keep on holding

Bonfire

you are a bonfire
creation, the ash coming off your flame
I am a shadow, thrown to the ground
from the light you gave
you are a mending force
patching up wounds, making dead things breathe
I am a fracture, split to the core
but you could fix me
you could fix me

so we wait for the day we’d rise from the darkness inside us
when every good and broken thing
will meet you there on that golden shoreline
and we won’t need the stars to guide us
there’s a new light in the sky

you are a writer
twisting the plot, so the words don’t fade
I am a margin
framing the side of the phrases you laid
you hold the best intentions
for gravel and dust in time and space
while I am the friction
between bending the knee and running away
running away

so we wait for the day we’d rise from the darkness inside us
when every good and broken thing
will meet you there on that golden shoreline
and we won’t need the stars to guide us
there’s a new light in the sky

and its breaking through, even now
it’s breaking down
the fears we’ve called our refuge
and even now
we can see the faintest light
like a crack in time
like you’re already there
and you’re calling us home

to the new world that you’ve grown

After the Dust Clears

after the dust clears and the newness is all
our feet will carve pathways down a familiar road
we’ll gather around a table for twelve
and struggle to find the anger we held

just as the wine makes its third trip around
we’ll fail to remember what the fight was about
the details are faded, but the broad strokes remain:
we all chose a side then we all walked away

peering across into reddening eyes
we’ll find there a mirror of the passing of time
wait for a beat ‘til the silence is spent
then wonder aloud just where the time went

and raising a glass to the years that slipped by
we’ll conjure the memory of simpler times
ignoring the fact that we cannot go back
we’ll wander the shores of our lives

after it’s over, before we part ways
we’ll pick up the pieces with a final embrace
and linger a moment ‘round a grave dug for one
to bury our regret with joy on our tongues

see joy is a song that you sing into strife
not to relieve it, but to keep you alive
and love is an anchor when the truth is laid bare
not to erase it, but to keep you there

not to erase it, but to keep you there

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is from 2 Samuel 23:13-17:

Towards the beginning of harvest three of the thirty chiefs went down to join David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim. David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. David said longingly, “O that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” Then the three warriors broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it; he poured it out to the Lord, for he said, “The Lord forbid that I should do this. Can I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. The three warriors did these things.

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is John 6:51-58:

Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” 

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

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.

Be Thou My Vision

be thou my vision o lord of my heart
naught be all else to me, save that thou art
thou my best thought, by day or by night
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light

be thou my wisdom and thou my true word
I ever with thee and thou with me lord
thou my great father, spirit, and son
thou in me dwelling and I with thee one

riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise
thou mine inheritance, now and always
thou and thou only, first in my heart
high king of heaven, my treasure thou art

high king of heaven, my victory won
may I reach heaven’s joys, o bright heaven’s sun
heart of my own heart, whatever befall
still be my vision, o ruler of all

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all creatures here below
Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Timeless, 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 8-10-21

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

The Occasion for Vulnerability (by Josh)

I have been thinking about how we hold the faith in our postmodern, post-evangelical, post-Christendom, post-COVID (it doesn’t seem to be going away, but you know …) world.  Because I’m forty now, I’m looking for the cues promised to me by the books that talk about the second half of life.  I’ve been wondering what I'll find in the reconstruction toolbox.  I’ll tell you about something that seems to be sticking -- community.  If I had a dollar for every time someone told me they are spiritual, but not religious, or that they like the Jesus stuff, but not church -- I’d be a rich fellow.  But you know what they all still love?  Friendship.  Even the disenfranchised, even the introverts crave something about community.  

I was reminded of this on Sunday evening.  My sister is an enneagram seven.  That means she makes plans without worrying about constraints.  Here’s how this developed.  She texted our family group that includes her, her husband, myself, my wife, our children with texting devices and my mom.  Her initial message indicated that they’d be making a brisket for Sunday dinner.  Cool.  We are all in, and wondering what we can contribute.  Then I find out that not one, but two more friends have been invited.  Then I learned that we’ve added another family.  And then the day of, another family.  Our count total was at 27.  Then my sister pulls this sly move.  She asks if we can host the dinner at my house because it’s bigger.  What am I going to say, no?  As the festivities get going, a neighbor knocks on the door.   It’s like the loaves and fishes, a full blown potluck, so we ask them to come in and dine with us.  They do.  Kids swim.  Adults talk.  The Olympics wind down on the TV behind us.  I realize I haven’t done this in about a year and an half.  I’m quiet, taking it in, enjoying a way of life that was once normal. 

Through the course of the evening, different discussion pods form.  Sometimes it’s organized by gender.  Sometimes it evolves as two people simultaneously take a trip back to the kitchen for a second plate of food.  Sometimes the discussion topic naturally filters disinterested individuals, then adds interested ones.  Then, there’s this moment near the end of the night.  Spouses are offering glances that suggest it might be time to think about heading out.  Dessert has been consumed.  The wine glass has a sip or two left.  The adults have all finally gathered in the same space and the children are scattered around the compound, their attention held by swimming pools and video games.  My sister could care less about everyone’s comfort level with what comes next.  She asks a question.  “What is something you are looking to change this year?”  Then in an attempt to unpack it further, she quotes my sermon asking “what is something you have to get into, to get through.”  I’m stunned she listened and remembered.  It’s probably more typically a New Years Eve question, but she’s a teacher and so her calendar revolves around August-May.  There’s an audible groan from two other enneagram sevens in the room who feel betrayed by her question which will surely demand some intimacy.  I hear some uncomfortable shifting coming from the leather couch.  

What happened next never ceases to amaze me.  Nine adults who know each other pretty well, though certainly not exhaustively, give nine pretty substantial answers.  Some answers involve sadness, some confusion, some anger, all of them vulnerable.  I can feel the catharsis of the moment and I wonder what is so healing about this process.  Why does it feel so good to be heard?  Why is it healing to be called beyond the rhythm of small talk and mostly unimportant conversations that give shape to normative dialogue?

Here’s one way I think I have observed that this particular tool, community-through-vulnerability, has evolved.  In my evangelical past this moment was segregated by gender because while the space to confess your sins could yield any result, evangelicals seemed especially preoccupied with men and lust and women and body image concerns.  While those topics could certainly produce meaningful conversation, they more often than not felt contrived.  On Sunday it felt like our sharing was part of something deeper within ourselves.  I always think about that moment from Moulin Rouge, when Ewan McGregor sits down at his typewriter and writes, “the greatest thing you’ll ever do is love and be loved in return.”  I suspect that’s true and the way we love each other is by allowing for that vulnerable space to tell our truths.  

So how about you? Do you have a space where you get to tell the truth?  To be yourself?  To experience the intimacy of confessing your joy, pain, disappointment and sadness?  If not, you should. 

Meet the Newest L-Team Rep

Name: Ben Raley

Why are you in Waco: We bought a house in Waco without seeing it in person in the summer of 2017 after Sarah left the Marine Corps. We both attended Baylor and had family in town so we knew this was a place we would enjoy living (We were right!).

Currently Watching: The Expanse Season 5

Vacation Destination: The Beach or any National Park

Favorite Waco Restaurant to Eat At: Chuy’s, Whizzbang’s, and Mamaka Bowls.

Favorite Books: Any Book Written by Richard Rohr, The Harry Potter Series, For The Bible Tells Me So by Peter Enns, How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Gregor, and The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan.

Something we'd never know about you: I grew up going to the same church as THE TAYLOR POST!

Welcome Back Party

It’s that time of year again. School is starting. College kids return. Summer vacations are over. We are all back in Waco, together. So what should we do? Eat a large meal together after church on Sunday August 29th. So bring your hunger for both the word of the Lord and probably some El Crucero that day.

UBC TieDye T-Shirt extravaganza

If you signed up for a t-shirt and have not heard from toph@ubcwaco.org, please let him know promptly. The TieDye extravaganza needs top tier organizing so we we have to have our ducks in a row so that you get the best t-shirt experience of your life.

Meet the UBCer

The Lemmons

Liturgy of Mourning (childcare provided)

We will be having another Liturgy of Mourning on Wednesday, August 18th at 5:30PM.  It will be the same liturgy we offered at the beginning of July, but we wanted to offer another opportunity with childcare in order to be accessible to more people.  We are all carrying various sorts of grief and loss from the past year and a half. This liturgy is a time for us to give attention to that pain as a community, to honor what has been lost, and to grasp for hope together.  If you have any questions about the liturgy, feel free to email jamie@ubcwaco.org.

Parishioner of the Week

Courtney Broaddus for being the only champion to volunteer to take Maddy’s kids shift.

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: Kathy Krey kathykrey@gmail.com

Ben Raley: Benjaminrale y@gmail.com

Bryce Sandvall: Bryce@holeintheroof.com

Katie Valenzuela: KatarinaEValenzuela@gmail.com

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@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 Hill: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Kristen Howerton: khowerton94@gmail.com

Patrick Broaddus: patrickjbroaddus@gmail.com