Liturgy Stuff 11-21-2021

November 21, 2021

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on November 21st (in the order they are needed).

Crown Him With Many Crowns

crown him with many crowns
the lamb upon his throne
hark how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own
awake my soul and sing
of him who died for thee
and hail him as thy matchless king
through all eternity

crown him the son of God
before the worlds began
and ye who tread where he hath trod
crown him the son of man
whom every grief hath known
that wrings the human breast
and takes and bears them for his own
that all in him may rest

that all in him may rest

crown him the lord of peace
whose power a scepter sways
from pole to pole that wars may cease
and all be prayer and praise
his reign shall know no end
and ‘round his pierced feet
fair flowers of paradise extend
their fragrance ever sweet

crown him the lord of love
behold his hands and side
those wounds yet visible
above in beauty glorified
crown him with many crowns
as yours before him fall
crown him ye kings and queens with crowns
for he is king of all

for he is king of all

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship 
the Eternal One

who was
and is
and is to come

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit of God might form us in the way of Christ

bending our hearts toward justice
and drawing us into the Kingdom
that is and is to come

Amen

All Hail

all hail the power of Jesus’ name
let angels prostrate fall
bring forth the royal diadem
and crown him lord of all

sinners whose love can ne’er forget
the wormwood and the gall
go spread your trophies at his feet
and crown him lord of all

let every kindred, every tribe
on this terrestrial ball
to him all majesty ascribe
and crown him lord of all

o that with yonder sacred throng
we at his feet may fall
we’ll join the everlasting song
and crown him lord of all

Twice Begun

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

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

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

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

The Time Draws Nigh

the time draws nigh when you and i
are to be separated
and this doth grieve our hearts to leave
each other to be parted
but let us see eternity
and greet the saints with joy
our sighings o’er we’ll part no more
but reign with Christ in glory

in glory

family, dear, don’t let us fear
we soon shall live together
when Christ descends to call his friends
we then shall meet one another
then to sit down around the throne
with saints and lovely Jesus
eternal love we’ll sing above
and nothing then shall grieve us

the Lamb appears to wipe our tears
and to complete our glory
then we shall rest with all the blest
and tell the lovely story
to sit and tell Christ loved us well
and that while we were sinners
heaven will ring while saints do sing
glory to the redeemer

glory to the redeemer

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading is Psalm 93:

The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty;
    the Lord is robed, he is girded with strength.
He has established the world; it shall never be moved;
    your throne is established from of old;
    you are from everlasting.

The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
    the floods have lifted up their voice;
    the floods lift up their roaring.
More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters,
    more majestic than the waves of the sea,
    majestic on high is the Lord!

Your decrees are very sure;
    holiness befits your house,
    O Lord, forevermore.

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is John 18:33-37:

Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

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.

Joy to the World

joy to the world the lord is come
let earth receive her king
let every heart prepare him room
let heaven and nature sing
let heaven and nature sing
let heaven and nature sing

joy to the world
the savior reigns
let all their songs employ
while fields and floods
rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy
repeat the sounding joy
repeat the sounding joy

he rules the world with truth and grace
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love
and wonders of his love
and wonders, wonders of his love

o for joy, lift up your voice
Christ has come, the Christ has come
let the whole world see the lord
Christ has come, the Christ has come

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 11-16-21

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

On (Western) Meditation

Night of Poetry and Music (11/17, 7pm)

Join us as we welcome poet Tanner Olson and musician Matt Doering for a night of poetry, music, and conversation on Wednesday, November 17th at 7pm. Admission is free—bring your friends!

Youth Group Update

Hello team UBC!

Happy week-before-Thanksgiving! We only have one event this week, our usual Youth Group, but I wanted to give you all a heads up as to what the schedule will look like over the next month!

We will be taking a break for Thanksgiving from 21st November to 27th November. This means there won't be any Sunday school on the 21st (I'll still be there at the usual service time!), no Youth Group on the 24th, but we will have Sunday School on the 28th!

After our Thanksgiving break, we will have 3 weeks left of Youth Group this semester, which is wild!

Our LAST Youth Group evening will be on 15th December - which will also be our Christmas party! I don't have full details of what that will entail yet, but I'll make sure to send a thorough email about it in the coming weeks.

Now, with all those notices out of the way, here is the schedule for this week!

November 17th // Wednesday: All Grade Groups! Youth Group, UBC Building, 6pm-8pm.

+ We will be doing a movie night! The plan is to watch Shang-Chi and Legend of the Ten Rings, which is rated PG-13. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please do get in touch with me!

5th & 6th Grade Update

Reminder, because we know there will be families out on the 21st and the 28th for Thanksgiving so we will not meet for either of those dates.

So we will be back again at our 4:30-6pm time on December 5th and December 12th.

After the 12th we will take a break until sometime in January! I'll keep you guys updated on when that will be!

I am also looking to plan a fun Christmas party for everyone!! I think it would feel more festive at somebody's home! If you are interested in helping plan that moment or interested in volunteering your home let me know!
So - here's what the next few weeks will look like:
November 21 and 28: Thanksgiving, no meeting!
December 5 and 12: At UBC at 4:30-6pm, normal content

Christmas Party! - no set date yet!
Let me know if you have any questions or comments!

New Leaders Needed

Hello friends. With January right around the corner we are approaching that time of the church’s life cycle when we need to fill some roles on our teams. We are looking for two new finance team members and a college student representative for the leadership team. If you know someone who would be good for the finance team please email josh@ubcwaco.org. If you would like to nominate a student candidate for the leadership team you can do so here. Descriptions and requirements of those positions are posted below. Lastly, so we are clear, these are volunteer positions.

University Student Lead Team Member

1. Purpose. The Leadership Team shall be the primary decision-making bodyof UBC.  The Leadership Team shall oversee the business and property of the church, and make final decisions regarding hiring and dismissal of staff as well as the acquisition and selling of assets that are beyond budgetary provisions.  

2. Composition.  The Leadership Team shall consist of nine members of the UBC community that are not staff, finance team, or human resources team. Two of the Leadership Team’s nine members shall be university level students. 

3. Term. Members of Leadership Team may serve for a duration lasting up to three years. While they are encouraged to remain the full three years, members may voluntarily remove themselves from their position at any time. Student members shall only commit to a year with the chance to renew up to three years.

Finance Team Member

Purpose.  The Finance Team shall exist for the following purposes:

1. To serve as the primary advisory group for the Leadership Team in all budgetary and financial aspects of the church.  

2. To oversee, in coordination with the ministerial staff, yearly budgetary processes, working to create a financial ministry plan in alignment with the ethos, mission and values of UBC.

3. To advise the staff and Leadership Team on any emergency financial matters that may arise with regards to the physical infrastructure of the church building, as well as those matters pertaining to compensation and benefits of personnel.

4. To assess the current financial status of the church on a monthly basis and advise the staff and Leadership Team on matters concerning changes in planned ministry expenses.

5. To advise the Human Resources/Staff Support team on all financial matters regarding new and existing personnel, including available resources concerning salaries, salary increases, insurance, taxes, etc.

6. To advise the church body on all matters relating to stewardship, financial integrity, etc.

Qualifications. Finance Team members shall have been an active participant in the life of UBC for at least a year, have received at least a bachelors degree level of education (or roughly an equivalent amount of experience in business or finance), and have at least a basic understanding of financial reports and budgets.

Parishioner of the Week

Will Knight, Ethan Coen, Maddie Whitmore, & Kareem Shane for helping clean up a wonderful live giving love feast! And also, more winners in the Lord coming your way, the Hills, Craig Nash, and Travis Cheatham for making turkeys and ham.

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.

• 11/17 Night of Poetry & Music

• 12/3-5 Family Retreat

• 12/9 Study Hall

Liturgy Stuff 11-14-2021

November 14, 2021

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on November 14th (in the order they are needed).

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 rains
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

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship 
the Eternal One

by whom the bows of the mighty are broken
by whom the lowly are lifted from the ashes

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit of God might form us in the way of Christ

teaching us to love God, our neighbor, and our selves
in our ordinary lives

Amen

Bonfire

you are a bonfire, creation the ash coming off your flame
I am a shadow thrown to the ground by the light you gave
you were a mending force, patching up wounds, making dead things breathe
I am a fracture, split to the core, but 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; 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 of gravel and dust in time and space
while I am the friction between bending the knee and 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; 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

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

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

o love that will not let me go
I rest my weary soul in thee
I give you back the life I owe
that in thine ocean depths its flow
may richer fuller be

o light that follows all my ways
I yield my flickering torch to thee
my heart restores its borrowed ray
that in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
may brighter fairer be

o joy that seeks me through the pain
I cannot close my heart to thee
i’ll trace the rainbow through the rain
and feel the promise is not in vain
that morn shall tearless be

o love don’t let go of me
o light hold my flickering
o joy don’t lose sight of me
o love don’t let go of me

o cross that’s lifting up my head
I dare not ask to fly from thee
though I lay in dust, life’s glory dead
from the ground there blossoms red
life that shall endless be

endlessly
endless be
endlessly

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is 1 Samuel 1:4-20:

On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters; but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. She made this vow: “O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head.”

As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.” But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.” Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.” And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” Then the woman went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer.

They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the Lord.”

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Mark 13:1-8:

 Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs.”

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.

Where God Has Always Been

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

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

for god is now where god has always been
bunkered down with those in the ditch
raising fountains from the cracking dirt
and raising a feast for the hollow unheard
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 where all this is remade

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

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 11-9-21

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

On Being Whole

The video I reference can be found here.

UBC YP Game Night

Have you been itching to trade some wheat for wood? Dying to collect some rent on Boardwalk? Well we have great news for you. Our next UBC YP (young professionals, a term we use as loosely as “human”) is happening at UBC on Friday November 12 @ 7:00 P.M. If you have any questions please email  danieleharris38@gmail.com.

Thanksgiving Lovefeast - November 14 - 530pm

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It is time for our annual Thanksgiving Lovefeast. UBC will provided the turkeys and ham, you just need to bring a side or dessert to share. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org.

Night of Poetry and Music (11/17, 7pm)

Join us as we welcome poet Tanner Olson and musician Matt Doering for a night of poetry, music, and conversation on Wednesday, November 17th at 7pm. Admission is free—bring your friends!

5th & 6th Grade Update

This week we have Thanksgiving LoveFeast at 5:30pm! And since that's a whole church activity we won't have our 5/6 Grade Time! Let's just all plan on meeting at Love Feast at UBC! It's my favorite event on our calendar!

I know there will be families out on the 21st and the 28th for Thanksgiving so we will not meet for either of those dates.

So we will be back again at our 4:30-6pm time on December 5th and December 12th.

After the 12th we will take a break until sometime in January! I'll keep you guys updated on when that will be!

I am also looking to plan a fun Christmas party for everyone!! I think it would feel more festive at somebody's home! If you are interested in helping plan that moment or interested in volunteering your home let me know!
So - here's what the next few weeks will look like:
November 14 (Next Week): At UBC at 5:30pm, Thanksgiving Love Feast!!
November 21 and 28: Thanksgiving, no meeting!
December 5 and 12: At UBC at 4:30-6pm, normal content

Christmas Party! - no set date yet!
Let me know if you have any questions or comments!

Parishioner of the Week

Dr. Jonathan Tran for the release of his new book with Oxford Press!

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.

• 11/12 UBC YP Game Night

• 11/14 Lovefeast

• 11/17 Night of Poetry & Music

• 12/3-5 Family Retreat

• 12/9 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 11-7-2021

November 7, 2021

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on November 7th (in the order they are needed).

All Hail The Power Of Jesus Name

all hail the power of Jesus name
let angels prostrate fall
bring forth the royal diadem
and crown him lord of all

sinners whose love can ne’er forget
the wormwood and the gall
go spread your trophies at his feet
and crown him lord of all

let every kindred, every tribe
on this terrestrial ball
to him all majesty ascribe
and crown him lord of all

o that with yonder sacred throng
we at his feet may fall
we’ll join the everlasting song
and crown him lord of all

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship 
the Eternal One

the One who watches over the stranger,
who upholds the orphan and the widow

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit of God might form us in the way of Christ

tuning our lives
to the self-giving love of God

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
who wear their scars like names, yet find
heaven and earth strangely aligned
like water in the sour wine; hidden in plain sight

for god is now where god has always been
bunkered down with those in the ditch
raising fountains from the cracking dirt
and raising a feast for the hollow unheard
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 where all this is remade

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

Come Healing (by Leonard Cohen)

gather up the brokenness and bring it to me now
the fragrance of those promises you never dared to vow
the splinters that you carried, the cross the left behind
come healing of the body, come healing of the mind
and let the heavens hear it, the penitential hymn
come healing of the spirit, come healing of the limb

behold the gates of mercy in arbitrary space
and none of us deserving the cruelty or the grace
o solitude of longing, where love has been confined
come healing of the body, come healing of the mind
and see the darkness yielding that tore the light apart
come healing of the reason, come healing of the heart

o troubled dust concealing an undivided love
the heart beneath is teaching to the broken heart above
let the heavens falter, let the earth proclaim
come healing of the altar, come healing of the name

o longing of the branches to lift the little bud
o longing of the arteries to purify the blood
let the heavens hear it, the penitential hymn
come healing of the spirit, come healing of the limb

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading is Psalm 146:

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

Do not put your trust in princes,
    in mortals, in whom there is no help.
When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
    on that very day their plans perish.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
    who executes justice for the oppressed;
    who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
    the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
    he upholds the orphan and the widow,
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The Lord will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading, and Lilly’s sermon text, is Mark 12:38-44:

As Jesus taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

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

you 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

All Souls Liturgy

Without higher quality material to work with, God resorts to working through us for others and upon us through others.  Those are some weirdly restorative, disconcerting shenanigans to be caught up in: God forcing God’s people to see themselves as God sees them, to do stuff they know they are incapable of doing, and make them to be both humble recipients and generous givers of grace, so that they may be part of God’s big project on earth.

 –Nadia Bolz-Weber 

Call to Worship

Living God, we have gathered to remember

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

whose lives, like mirror shards 
catch the Light of Christ

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

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

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

Amen

Scripture Reading                                       

A reading from Matthew 5:1-12:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Remembering the Dead

 Take a moment to call to mind those who have died and who have reflected the light of Christ in your life.

When Death Came Calling

barely breathing, barely even hanging on
a dim light, fading; you were crumbling from the weight
with a broken body, a hollow frame
when death came calling you broke
clean out of your skin, like you were running home

but I still feel you; creaking floorboards and rushing winds
a picture, fading; but I keep grabbing for the shape
of a broken body, a hollow frame
when death came calling, he broke clean out of the grave
like a falling chain

but it still stings, it still stings
when everything you love is fading
but we all fade; we’ll all fade

but there in darkness, we’ll be caught up in blinding light
the final curtain, cut short for the rewrite
when all the broken bodies are coming up from open graves
and ol’ death comes calling, there’ll be nothing left
to give or take away

nothing left to give or take away
and we won’t fade

and every tear we shed in graveyards
will sprout and bloom
and grow a garden
where won’t fade
and you won’t fade

Reflecting on Living Lights

 Take a moment to call to mind people who are in your life who reflect the light of Christ to you.

The gathered glories (by Malcolm Guite)

Though Satan breaks our dark glass into shards
Each shard still shines with Christ’s reflected light,
It glances from the eyes, kindles the words
Of all his unknown saints. The dark is bright
With quiet lives and steady lights undimmed,
The witness of the ones we shunned and shamed.
Plain in our sight and far beyond our seeing
He weaves them with us in the web of being
They stand beside us even as we grieve,
The lone and left behind whom no one claimed,
Unnumbered multitudes, he lifts above
The shadow of the gibbet and the grave,
To triumph where all saints are known and named;
The gathered glories of His wounded love.

Scripture Reading  

A reading from Isaiah 25:6-9: 

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

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

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

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

Communion

Prayer

Merciful God,

Your Son is the resurrection and the life;
raise us from the death of sin
into the life of your self-giving love

That at the last,
With all your beloved
We may enter into your eternal joy
Through our savior Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ, Lord of the living and dead;
With each generation
Your body grows and grows;
Thank you for all who have gone before us
For what they achieved and what they learned
Give us the strength to grow and learn
To be your body now

Amen

Benediction

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

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

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

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

Amen. 

ITLOTC 11-2-21

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

On Prayer (Again, can you believe it!)

Fall Back

Don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour Sunday morning at 2:00 A.M. Or for those of you have a Digital device synced with the internet, there’s really no need. So basically just make sure to change your car & stove clocks … unless those too, are synced with the interwebs. But if that is the case, I think you should watch the Matrix, cause you might want to reintroduce some analog items into your life.

All Souls Liturgy (11/2)

Join us for a time of remembrance of those who have gone before us on Tonight at 5:30pm. Childcare will be provided.

Special Guest Preacher

Please be in prayer and offer a large and warm welcome to our special guest preacher this Sunday Lilly Ettinger. Lilly is a Truett grad, UBCer and pastoral alumni.

nUBC’ers Luncheon - November 7th, 12pm

Hello! We have seen a lot of new faces UBC over the past few months, and we would love the opportunity to get to know you, and and answer any questions you may have about the church. We will be hosting a new UBC’ers luncheon after church on Sunday, November 7th. If you started attending UBC during the pandemic, we would love for you to stay for lunch Sunday, November 7th. If you would like to come to lunch, please email toph@ubcwaco.org or sign-up in the foyer after church this week. When you email, please let me know any dietary restrictions or convictions, and how many people will be attending.

Bonfire - November 7th - 5:30pm

It’s time to pretend it’s Fall in Texas once again. To kick off the season, we are going to have a bonfire at Kristin and Mike Dodson’s on Sunday night, November 7th. We will have s'mores and drinks for everyone, all we ask is you bring a chair or blanket to sit on. We would love to know if you are coming, but you can also decide last minute. You can email toph@ubcwaco.org to sign-up, or on the coming Sundays in the foyer. If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org

Top(h) Golf Tuesday - November 2 and December 7 - 6-8pm

For the months of November and December, we will be doing Top(h) Golf Tuesdays on the first Tuesday of the month. UBC will reserve the bay(s) from 6-8pm, you just need to show up and have some fun. Look for Toph swinging away when you arrive, and get to know some other UBC’ers. This has been a fantastic time the last few months, you don't want to miss out. If you have an questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org

UBC YP Game Night

Have you been itching to trade some wheat for wood? Dying to collect some rent on Boardwalk? Well we have great news for you. Our next UBC YP (young professionals, a term we use as loosely as “human”) is happening at UBC on Friday November 12 @ 7:00 P.M. If you have any questions please email  danieleharris38@gmail.com.

Youth Group Reminder

All activities and times return to normal this week.
November 3rd // Wednesday: All Grade Groups! Youth Group UBC Building, 6pm-8pm.

November 7th // Sunday MORNING: All Grade Groups! Youth Group Sunday School - Attention Collection, UBC Building, 9:45am-10:30am

Thanksgiving Lovefeast - November 14 - 530pm

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It is time for our annual Thanksgiving Lovefeast. UBC will provided the turkeys and ham, you just need to bring a side or dessert to share. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org.

Parishioner of the Week

Jen and Paul Carron for rocking the flock with their worship music talents on Sunday.

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.

• 11/2 All Saints/All Souls Liturgy

• 11/7 n’UBCers Lunch

• 11/5-7 Fall retreat for college students

• 11/7 Bonfire

• 11/12 UBC YP Game Night

• 11/14 Lovefeast

• 12/3-5 Family Retreat

• 12/9 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 10-31-2021

October 31, 2021

***Thanks to Jen and Paul Carron for playing music while Jamie is out of town****

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on October 31st (in the order they are needed).

House of God Forever

God is my shepherd
I won’t be wanting, I won’t be wanting
God makes me rest in fields of green with quiet streams
even though i walk through the valley of death and dying
i will not fear, for you are with me
you’re always with me

your shepherd’s staff comforts me
you are my feast in the presence of enemies
surely goodness will follow me, will follow me
in the house of god, forever

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship 
the Eternal One

the One who lifts up those who are bowed down
and frustrates the paths of the wicked

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit of God might knit us together

forming us in the way of Christ
that we might carry the Kingdom of God
in our ordinary lives

Amen

Thank You

You made this world
You made this world
You made this world
Thank you, thank you

You gave me life
You gave me life
You gave me life
Thank you, thank you

You brought this peace
You brought this peace
You brought this peace
Thank you, thank you

You sowed these seeds
You sowed these seeds
You sowed these seeds
Thank you, thank you

Your love is everywhere
Your love is everywhere
Open me, open me

You kept me warm
You kept me warm
You kept me warm
Thank you, thank you

When I was in the wasteland
When I was in the wars
When I was all alone
Thank you thank you

Thank you thank you

Your love is everywhere
Your love is everywhere
Your love is everywhere
Open me, open me

Let it come through me now
Let it come through me now
Let it come through me now
Open me Open me Open

Your love is everywhere
Your love is everywhere
Your love is everywhere
Open me, open me

Your love is everywhere
Your love is everywhere
Your love is everywhere
Open me, open me

You made this world
You made this world
You made this world
Thank you, thank you

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 and 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 and 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 and wake me from my sleep
blow through the caverns of my soul
pour in me to overflow

Wherever You Go

There's a train leaving your heart tonight.
There's a silence inside your head and you're running you're running from it.
Down the tracks on a midnight line.
There's a red moon in the sky and you're running you're running from it.

But I'm coming for you, coming for you, wherever you go.
I'm coming for you, I'm coming for you wherever you go.

Wrestling angels till dawn breaks through
There's a blessing in the wound and you're running you're running from it.
When all your demons are at your door
it's a soldier they're looking and you're running you're running from it.

But I'm coming for you, coming for you, wherever you go.
I'm coming for you, I'm coming for you wherever you go.

I'm coming for you, I'm coming for you wherever you go
I'm coming for you, I'm coming for you wherever you go

Across the sea, the space between everything you think you know,
the things you keep and bury deep underneath the melting snow -
I'll follow.

Fathers & mothers don't always come through,
but I'm never gonna stop following you

Prophets and lovers don't always hold true,
but I'm never gonna stop falling for you

So, when your wine's all gone and your well runs dry,
Open your hands and look into my eyes; all that you see here,
you'll soon leave behind, so open your hands and look into my eyes

'cause I'm coming for you, coming for you wherever you go
I'm coming for you, I'm coming for you wherever you go (7x)

Fathers & mothers don't always come through,
but I'm never gonna stop following you

Prophets and lovers don't always hold true,
but I'm never gonna stop falling for you

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is Ruth 1:1-18:

In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had considered his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go back to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back each of you to your mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband." Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. They said to her, "No, we will return with you to your people." But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me." Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

So she said, "See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

But Ruth said,

“Do not press me to leave you
or to turn back from following you!

Where you go, I will go;
Where you lodge, I will lodge;

your people shall be my people,
and your God my God.

Where you die, I will die—
there will I be buried.

May the Lord do thus and so to me,
and more as well,

if even death parts me from you!”

When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Mark 12:28-34:

One of the scribes came near and heard the Saducees disputing with one another, and seeing that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’ —this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.

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.

Reckless Love

Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me
You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me
You have been so, so kind to me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me
You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

There's no shadow You won't light up
Mountain You won't climb up
Coming after me
There's no wall You won't kick down
Lie You won't tear down
Coming after me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
And I couldn't earn it, I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

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 10-26-21

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

On Kids Ministry

Meet The UBCers(s)

Team Hill

Youth Halloween Party

Hey parents, most of you probably got this information in your email, but by way or reminder:

October 27th // Wednesday: All Grade Groups! Youth Group HALLOWEEN PARTY!, UBC Building, 6pm-8pm. Costumes are HIGHLY encouraged, there will be a costume contest!

+ Age-appropriate movie (not finalised yet, but something like Hocus Pocus on Disney+!)
+Costume Competition
+Candy (lots of)
+Various Games of different energy levels

If you would like to help out at all, any candy donations would be incredibly appreciated!

October 31st // Sunday MORNING: All Grade Groups! Youth Group Sunday School - Attention Collection, UBC Building, 9:45am-10:30am

5th & 6th Grader Updates

Reminder that there is no 5th & 6th grade youth group this Sunday October 31, as we are encouraging families to celebrate Halloween together.

All Souls Liturgy (11/2)

Join us for a time of remembrance of those who have gone before us on Tuesday, November 2 at 5:30pm. Childcare will be provided.

nUBC’ers Luncheon - November 7th, 12pm

Hello! We have seen a lot of new faces UBC over the past few months, and we would love the opportunity to get to know you, and and answer any questions you may have about the church. We will be hosting a new UBC’ers luncheon after church on Sunday, November 7th. If you started attending UBC during the pandemic, we would love for you to stay for lunch Sunday, November 7th. If you would like to come to lunch, please email toph@ubcwaco.org or sign-up in the foyer after church this week. When you email, please let me know any dietary restrictions or convictions, and how many people will be attending.

College Retreat - November 5-7 - $30

If you are a college student, or a recent graduate, we would love for you to join us for a our Fall Retreat coming up in a few weeks. We will head to a lake house in East TX to spend some time reflecting on how Christians engage with the world, and getting to know each other better. The cost of the retreat is $30, and includes all meals and lodging. If you don’t have the money, no worries, we have some generous folks who will help pay your way. You can sign-up by emailing toph@ubcwaco.org, or in the foyer on Sunday. If you have any questions, email toph@ubcwaco.org

Bonfire - November 7th - 5:30pm

It’s time to pretend it’s Fall in Texas once again. To kick off the season, we are going to have a bonfire at Kristin and Mike Dodson’s on Sunday night, November 7th. We will have s'mores and drinks for everyone, all we ask is you bring a chair or blanket to sit on. We would love to know if you are coming, but you can also decide last minute. You can email toph@ubcwaco.org to sign-up, or on the coming Sundays in the foyer. If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org

Top(h) Golf Tuesday - November 2 and December 7 - 6-8pm

For the months of November and December, we will be doing Top(h) Golf Tuesdays on the first Tuesday of the month. UBC will reserve the bay(s) from 6-8pm, you just need to show up and have some fun. Look for Toph swinging away when you arrive, and get to know some other UBC’ers. This has been a fantastic time the last few months, you don't want to miss out. If you have an questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org

AccessAbility

Hey friends a UBCer is helping put on this helpful event for folks with disability needs. They are looking to spread the word and for volunteers. Please read the info below.

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.

• 11/2 All Saints/All Souls Liturgy

• 11/7 n’UBCers Lunch

• 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 10-24-2021

October 24, 2021

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on October 24th (in the order they are needed).

Crown Him With Many Crowns

crown him with many crowns
the lamb upon his throne
hark how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own
awake my soul and sing
of him who died for thee
and hail him as thy matchless king
for all eternity

crown him the son of god
before the worlds began
and ye who tread where he hath trod
crown him the son of man
whom every grief hath known
that wrings the human breast
and takes and bears them for his own
that all in him may rest

crown him the lord of peace
whose power a scepter sways
from pole to pole that wars may cease
and all be prayer and praise
his reign shall know no end
and ‘round his pierced feet
fair flowers of paradise extend
their fragrance ever sweet

crown him the lord of love
behold his hands and side
those wounds yet visible
above in beauty glorified
crown him with many crowns
as yours before him fall
crown him ye kings and queens with crowns
for he is king of all

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship 
the Eternal One

the One who has done great things for us
who gathers us up when our hearts are scattered

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit might form us in the way of Christ

teaching us to love God
and love our neighbor as ourselves
in our ordinary lives

Amen

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
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

Mother

is there a hair on my head
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, and 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

Someday I’ll Start Again

someday i’ll start again
but i’ve got promises to keep
someday i’ll start again
first I have to do something
but I don’t know what I don’t know
I guess that’s just the way it is

someday i’ll start again
for now i’m trying to slow the tape
and for a moment get a grip
on all i’ve tried to hide away
but I don’t know what I don’t know
and i’ve practiced it for years

someday i’ll start again
and I hope that it’s enough
I pay a man twice a month
to make sure I haven’t given up
and I don’t know what I don’t know
but something has to give
I don't know what I don’t know
but I know where to begin
and someday i’ll start again

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is Job 42:1-6, 10-17:

Job answered the Lord:

“I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you declare to me.’
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”

And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends; and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then there came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and they ate bread with him in his house; they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him; and each of them gave him a piece of money and a gold ring. The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. He named the first Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. In all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job’s daughters; and their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers. After this Job lived for one hundred and forty years, and saw his children, and his children’s children, four generations. And Job died, old and full of days.

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Mark 10:46-52:

Jesus and his disciples came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

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.

Because He Lives

God sent God’s son
they called him Jesus
he came to love, heal, and forgive
he lived and died
to buy my pardon
an empty grave is there to prove my savior lives

because he lives I can face tomorrow
because he lives all fear is gone
because I know he holds the future
and life is worth the living just because he lives

how sweet to hold a newborn baby
and feel the pride and joy she brings
but greater still, the calm assurance
this child can face uncertain days because he lives

because he lives I can face tomorrow
because he lives, all fear is gone
because I know he holds the future
and life is worth the living just because he lives

and then one day i’ll cross the river
i’ll fight life’s final war with pain
but then as death gives way to victory
i’ll see the lights of glory and i’ll know he lives

because he lives I can face tomorrow
because he lives, all fear is gone
because I know he holds the future
and life is worth the living just because he lives

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 10-19-21

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

The Donatist Controversy: The God behind the Hurtful Church (by Josh)

Parents Night Out

Parents are you feeling the pandemic fatigue in a way that hasn’t been felt in some time? Do you want just ten, just. ten. minutes. to not hear anyone call “mom” or “dad’? Boy do we have a special night planned for you. Parents night out is this Friday October 22nd @ 6:00 P.M. Please feed your children dinner before they arrive. Also if you are someone who would like to give a few hours of your time to bless our parents, please let Taylor know that you would like to volunteer. Both volunteers and parents can sign up by sending an email to Taylor@ubcwaco.org.

Pints With(out) Toph

Hello friends, pints with and without Toph has been a meaningful connection point for UBCers this fall. Gentle reminder if you are looking for an access point to the community and a chance to get to know UBCers in a informal and laid back way, this is a great place to do that. Starts at 6 P.M. on Wednesdays @ Pinewood.

5th & 6th Grader Updates

Our UBC 5th and 6th Graders will be having a Halloween Movie Night this coming Sunday (10/24)! We will meet at our normal time (4:30pm) to watch a Halloween Movie, eat some snacks, and have a good time!! If you want to bring a snack feel free to do so!

The following week (10/31) we will not have 5th and 6th grade group at all so families can spend time together. Please email Taylor@ubcwaco.org if you have any questions!

All Souls Liturgy (11/2)

Join us for a time of remembrance of those who have gone before us on Tuesday, November 2 at 5:30pm. Childcare will be provided.

Parishioner of the Week

The Caesar Chavez Fall Festival Helpers: Will(y) “cheese stake” Knight, Karen “Nana” Carney, Maddie Whitmore, Ethan Cohen, Roy(al) “Casino” Carney, Lilli Carney, Hogan “Hog-Dog” Nance, Mimi “Zip” Zuniga, “Jahzy “Jahzazell” Zuniga, Aleah Burns, Bella Burns, Clara Burns, Louisa Houser, Eli Fluhr

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.

• 10/22 Parents Night Out

• 11/2 All Saints/All Souls Liturgy

• 11/7 n’UBCers Lunch

• 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 10-17-2021

October 17, 2021

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on October 17th (in the order they are needed).

Wideness

there’s a wideness in god’s mercy
like the wideness of the sea
there’s a kindness in god’s justice
which is more than liberty
there is welcome for the sinner,
the cast-off and the unloved
there is mercy with the savior
there is healing in his blood

for the love of God is broader than the measure of our mind
and the heart of thee eternal is most wonderfully kind
but we make his love too narrow by false limits of our own
and we magnify his strictness with a zeal he will not own

there’s grace enough for thousands of new worlds as great as this
there’s room for fresh creations in that upper home of bliss
there’s plentiful redemption in the blood that has been shed
there’s joy for every creature in the sorrows of the head

for the love of God is broader than the measure of our mind
and the heart of thee eternal is most wonderfully kind
but we make his love too narrow by false limits of our own
and we magnify his strictness with a zeal he will not own

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship 
the Living God

who in wisdom has knit together every creature;
who in wisdom is making all things new

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit might form us in the way of Christ

that we might bear
the self-giving love of God
in our ordinary lives

Amen

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 that 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

Because He Lives

God sent God’s son
they called him Jesus
he came to love, heal, and forgive
he lived and died
to buy my pardon
an empty grave is there to prove my savior lives

because he lives I can face tomorrow
because he lives all fear is gone
because I know he holds the future
and life is worth the living just because he lives

how sweet to hold a newborn baby
and feel the pride and joy she brings
but greater still, the calm assurance
this child can face uncertain days because he lives

because he lives I can face tomorrow
because he lives, all fear is gone
because I know he holds the future
and life is worth the living just because he lives

and then one day i’ll cross the river
i’ll fight life’s final war with pain
but then as death gives way to victory
i’ll see the lights of glory and i’ll know he lives

because he lives I can face tomorrow
because he lives, all fear is gone
because I know he holds the future
and life is worth the living just because he lives

Murdered Son (by John Mark McMillan)

you set us up above all the stars
set us on a high place by where you are
and while we were dead you made us your friends
and scattered our debt upon the wind

glory to one
God’s murdered Son
who paid for my resurrection

once from the dust, once from the grave
daughters and sons from the ashes you’ve raised
and hidden our faults, even from your own face
and scattered our debt upon the waves

glory to one
God’s murdered Son
who paid for my resurrection

glory to the one
who overcame in death
glory to the one
who paid for my offenses
glory to the one, glory to the one

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is Isaiah 53:4-12:

Surely he has borne our infirmities
and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have all turned to our own way,
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth. 

By a perversion of justice he was taken away.
Who could have imagined his future?
For he was cut off from the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people.

They made his grave with the wicked
and his tomb with the rich,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain.
When you make his life an offering for sin,
he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days;
through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.
Out of his anguish he shall see light;

he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge.
The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities. 
Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;

because he poured out himself to death,
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Mark 10:35-45:

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

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.

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

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 Gratitude

Call to Worship 

we have gathered to worship the Living God

to direct our gratitude to the source of all life and goodness

to open our hearts to the good gifts that enfold our days 

to direct our attention to the steadfast love of God

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

Let us give thanks to the creator and sustainer of all things

Amen

A Song of Gratitude
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

Scripture Reading
Selection from Psalm 118

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever!
Let Israel say,
    “His steadfast love endures forever.”

Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
    the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
With the Lord on my side I do not fear.
    What can mortals do to me?
The Lord is on my side to help me;
    I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to put confidence in mortals.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to put confidence in princes.

The Lord is my strength and my might;
    he has become my salvation.

I shall not die, but I shall live,
    and recount the deeds of the Lord.

Open to me the gates of righteousness,
    that I may enter through them
    and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord;
    the righteous shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me
    and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing;
    it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
    you are my God, I will extol you.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.

A reading from Psalm 138

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
    before the gods I sing your praise;
I bow down toward your holy temple
    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness;
    for you have exalted your name and your word
    above everything.
On the day I called, you answered me,
    you increased my strength of soul.

All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,
    for they have heard the words of your mouth.
They shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
    for great is the glory of the Lord.
For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly;
    but the haughty he perceives from far away.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;
you stretch out your hand,
    and your right hand delivers me.
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
    your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
    Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Prayer of Gratitude

Eternal One, we bring you thanks

 and proclaim that your steadfast love endures forever

we ask that you would open our hearts
to perceive the myriad gifts that enfold our lives

the marvelous and the mundane

And as we do so, that you might form our hearts in gratitude

that we might reflect your generosity in our ordinary lives

Amen

Reflection

The following are prompts to reflect on the gifts that enfold our lives. Take time to linger on each of these. If you think of a direction not represented below, by all means: blaze that trail. Try to hold a single point of gratitude in your mind for at least 15 seconds in each.

—Take a few deep breaths. Notice the way your chest expands as your lungs fill with air. Recall our creation story, how the gift of breath is the beginning of life for humanity.

—Call to mind something beautiful. Thank God that it crossed your path.

—Call to mind something that brings you joy

—Call to mind a time you faced something that seemed insurmountable, but you ultimately survived.

—Take an inventory of the mundane miracles that surround us—running water, electricity, air conditioning, medication, etc.

—Consider the people who have been gifts to you—friends, family, strangers, perhaps; anyone who has offered you care or brightened your life.

Lord, for these gifts, we give you thanks

Prayer

Eternal God, compassionate and merciful

we give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving kindness
to us and to all people

We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;

But above all for your boundless love
In the redemption of the world by our Savior Jesus Christ;
For the means of grace and for the hope of glory. 

And, we pray, give us that due sense of all your mercies,
that our hearts may be truly thankful,

And that we might praise you, not only with our lips but in our lives
By giving ourselves to your service

And by walking before you in holiness and righteousness
All our days;
Through Jesus Christ our Redeemer
To whom, with you and the holy Spirit, be all honor and glory 
Now and forever

ITLOTC 10-12-21

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

On Prayer (again) by Josh

Parents Night Out

Parents are you feeling the pandemic fatigue in a way that hasn’t been felt in some time? Do you want just ten, just. ten. minutes. to not hear anyone call “mom” or “dad’? Boy do we have a special night planned for you. Parents night out is Friday October 22nd @ 6:00 P.M. Please feed your children dinner before they arrive. Also if you are someone who would like to give a few hours of your time to bless our parents, please let Taylor know that you would like to volunteer. Both volunteers and parents can sign up by sending an email to Taylor@ubcwaco.org.

Liturgy of Gratitude

Join us on Wednesday at 5:30pm for a liturgy of gratitude. This time of worship will be geared toward crafting a lens of gratitude for the gift of life and the thousands of small gifts that accompany our days. Childcare will be provided, and we will conclude around 6.

Pints With(out) Toph

Jamie will be standing in for Toph for pints at the Pinewood Pub this Wednesday from 6-8, but he will be a few minutes late because of the Liturgy of Gratitude.

Special Thanks to Pastor Emmanuel

We would again like to reiterate our gratitude to pastor Emmanuel Roldan for bringing the word of the Lord to the UBC community this week. We look forward to future events with Primera Iglesia Bautista as we nurture this relationship with our sister church.

Parishioner of the Week

Jessica Washington for finishing her JD and becoming a lawyer that the likes of law has not seen since Jim Wren and Atticus Finch.

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.

• 10/13 Liturgy of Gratitude

• 10/22 Parents Night Out

• 11/2 All Saints/All Souls Liturgy

• 11/7 n’UBCers Lunch

• 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 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