ITLOTC 8-16-2022

(In The Life Of The Church)

Ordinary Time

Meet the Leadership Team
Aleigh Ascherl

For the next few weeks, we are going to be introducing our newest Leadership Team members. We’ve asked each of them a handful of questions and will be sharing their answers with you here. This week, we invite you to get to know Aleigh Ascherl.

Why are you in Waco: 

Practically: I came here in 2011 to attend Truett Seminary and got a job here after graduation.

Philosophically: it’s warmer than Iowa (where I grew up), some of the people I love the most live here, and y’all have breakfast tacos.

Currently Watching or Reading: 

Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow and Devotions by Mary Oliver 

Vacation Destination: Greece 

Favorite Waco Restaurant to Eat At: 

Revival Eastside Eatery for the Technicolor Dream Coat sandwich or Sergio’s food truck for breakfast tacos

Bible verse/chapter/book that has impacted you: 

I’ve always liked how Luke points us toward social justice.

Something we'd never know about you:

I played on UBCs slow pitch softball team, The Satan Slayers, two years before I actually attended my first service at UBC. 

UBC Pastoral Search Survey

The Lead Pastor Search Committee is adamant about having our congregation give feedback on their preferences/hopes in what we want in a lead pastor. We are asking that everyone participate in this process. We will have the survey posted online from August 14 through October 2nd. (For those who’d rather participate in an in-person listening session, more information will be available soon.)

Your answers will be used to create a “Pastor Profile” which will be helps with creating a specific job description and in interviews with potential candidates. Please know that your names and answers will not be shared, as the sole purpose of this survey and these listening sessions is to aggregate/combine/accumulate data. All information will be confidential.

Here is the link to the survey: https://forms.gle/EzdaUNZYdxjV6CDNA

If you have any questions, please feel free to email pastoralsearch@ubcwaco.org.

July Financial Report

Back to School Schedule

We are raising grades for kids this Sunday (August 21).

Youth and 5th/6th grade Wednesdays will start back up on Wednesday, August 31.

Kids & Youth Volunteers

Volunteers are a critical part of UBC’s kids and youth formation. Every so often, we ask if anyone in the congregation is interested in becoming a volunteer, and that time has come once again! For more information on Youth Group volunteer needs you can click this link and/or email kieran@ubcwaco.org. For more information about Kids volunteer needs email taylor@ubcwaco.org.

UBC Picnic in the Park - September 4th - after church

We are going to celebrate the end of summer by hanging out in Cameron Park after church on September 4th. When the service ends, go grab some food and drinks, or pack a picnic before church. We will meet near the Cameron Park Clubhouse and Miss Nellie’s Pretty place. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for your household to sit on. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

 

UBC Partnership Survey

This week is your last chance to fill out our survey on missions at UBC. If you haven’t yet, please take a moment to do that here.

MiCasa Leaders

Do you love hosting and cultivating community? We are looking for two more houses for the Fall who would be willing to host one of our MiCasa groups. If you are interested, or know someone who would be a great leader, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

More Upcoming Events

Planning ahead? You can find our full calendar of events here on our website so you can see which events you’ll want to be able to attend! This calendar is your go-to place for the most up-to-date information concerning church events. We hope you’ll refer to it often!

UBC Meal Calendars

Hi friends! Here are the current Meal Calendar opportunities to serve members of the UBC community:

The Hill Family: mealtrain.com/dy98dv

Parishioner of the Week

The parishioners of the week are Will Knight and Jon Davis for taking care of technical needs this summer while Jamie was on sabbatical.

Preaching Schedule

Staff has put together a preaching rotation through the summer so that we might hear from the UBC community during this season. Here’s a reminder of that lineup for y’all:

August 21: Taylor

August 28: Craig

Sept 4: Kirk

Sept 11: Toph

Sept: 18: Jamie

Sept 25: Youth Sunday

ITLOTC 8-9-2022

(In The Life Of The Church)

Ordinary Time

Kid’s Camp
by Taylor

We had so much fun at kid’s camp last week! We had a great time during the zip line and out at the lake. I had a sense that everybody had a good time at the night time parties. They had Rec Parties, Mission Market, and the very fun variety show!

We had a great time using the Bible study theme. BIG God. That was a great theme. That helped our students learn a lot about Who God is and How God loves them.

It was time - a great time - for our students to spend some time getting to know each other in new ways.

Town Hall - August 14th - directly after church

We will be having a Town Hall directly after church this Sunday, August 14th. Please make plans to stay and attend. We will have an update from out Leadership Team, Finance, Team, and the Pastor Search Committee. There will also be a time for you to ask questions you may have. We will do our best to keep the town hall at 1hr, so folks can go eat afterwards. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

UBC LGBTQIA+ Community Meetup

Our LGBTQIA+ Community Meetup is tonight! We’ll be meeting at 7 p.m. at Pinewood. This is a time for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to meet one another, connect, and have a fun time. We hope you can join us! If you have any questions, you can email Toph@ubcwaco.org.

MiCasa Leaders

Do you love hosting and cultivating community? We are looking for two more houses for the Fall who would be willing to host one of our MiCasa groups. If you are interested, or know someone who would be a great leader, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

UBC Picnic in the Park - September 4th - after church

We are going to celebrate the end of summer by hanging out in Cameron Park after church on September 4th. When the service ends, go grab some food and drinks, or pack a picnic before church. We will meet near the Cameron Park Clubhouse and Miss Nellie’s Pretty place. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for your household to sit on. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

Back to School Schedule

We are doing Kindergarten Commissioning on August 28th.

We are raising grades on September 21st.

UBC Partnership Survey

If you haven’t filled out our survey on missions at UBC, please take a moment to click the link here and fill it out. Thank you so much.

Summer Calendar!

We still have a few weeks and some exciting events left this summer and we’re beginning to add more as we approach the fall. You can find our full calendar of events here on our website if you’re looking to schedule which events you want to attend!

UBC Meal Calendars

Hi friends! Here are the current Meal Calendar opportunities to serve members of the UBC community:

The Howerton Family: mealtrain.com/08y894

The Hill Family: mealtrain.com/dy98dv

Parishioner of the Week

This week’s parishioner of the week is shared by our Clean Day Crew and our Children’s Workers. Thanks so much to all of you for jumping in and helping out.

Preaching Schedule

Staff has put together a preaching rotation through the summer so that we might hear from the UBC community during this season. Here’s a reminder of that lineup for y’all:

August 14: Patrick

August 21: Taylor

August 28: Craig

ITLOTC 8-2-2022

Ordinary Time

A Brief Introduction
by Brooke

Hey there,

I’m Brooke Cherry Reich and I’m both excited and humbled to be a pastoral associate learning from and with you this year. I’m a recovering perfectionist and know-it-all, an unrepentant bookworm, and a soon-to-be spiritual director.

I grew up loving Baylor, but it wasn’t until I came to Waco as an undergraduate in 1999 that I had the chance to fall in love with Waco and the surrounding area. I’ve loved it ever since. After a decade out of state, my husband Keith, daughter Addie, and I were thrilled to come back and make Waco our home for good in early 2021.

Exploring churches during a pandemic is an interesting proposition. It took us a good long time to find our way to UBC and then almost no time at all for it to feel like home. Thank you for being such a welcoming and spacious place. Our first Sunday visiting was Josh’s announcement, so we haven’t been around long and we’re still working on getting to know everyone but we’re looking forward to it.

As an undergrad at Baylor, I really wanted to study religion but caved in the face of pressure from family and conflict over a woman’s place in ministry so I majored in communications instead. It seemed like the safest and least limiting option at the time. In hindsight, I wish I’d been braver. Instead of studying religion I did the next best thing and married a religion scholar. Lectures and learning for LIFE. (All kidding aside, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.)

I’ve spent my professional life circling my way from work in PR, marketing, and branding back toward something that feels closer to my truest self. Each small step seems to lead toward something related to faith or formation. Last spring, I stepped down from a role helping run a spiritual formation organization in order to make more space for training as a spiritual director and for discerning what may come after that.

I love stories, both telling them and consuming them. Books are my favorite and if given the chance I’ll prescribe them like medicine for whatever ails you. I also love a good movie or podcast or email newsletter. Not such a big fan of social media. (I’m especially geeking out lately over a new favorite sci fi author. Any other Becky Chambers fans?)

I tend to listen more than I talk and ask a lot of questions. I’ve found the liturgical calendar and the lectionary and contemplative practices to be really meaningful and helpful and I consider cooking an act of prayer.

I am incapable of making a long story short, as evidenced here, and I hope you won’t feel the need to shorten the stories you tell me either.

I hope we get to chat soon!

~b

UBC Clean Day - This Sunday (August 7th)

It’s not too late to sign up for our annual clean day to help get the building ready for the fall. If you’re able to stick around after church on August 7th, we’d love your help with some summer cleaning in exchange for pizza and drinks. Please email toph@ubcwaco.org by Thursday if you plan to participate so he knows how much pizza to order.

UBC LGBTQIA+ Community Meetup

UBC is excited to host another LGBTQIA+ Community Meetup! We’ll be meeting on Tuesday, August 9th at 7 p.m. at Pinewood. This is a time for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to meet one another, connect, and have a fun time. We hope you can join us! If you have any questions, you can email Toph@ubcwaco.org

Town Hall - August 14th - directly after church

We will be having a Town Hall directly after church on August 14th. Please make plans to stay and attend. We will have an update from out Leadership Team, Finance, Team, and the Pastor Search Committee. There will also be a time for you to ask questions you may have. We will do our best to keep the town hall at 1hr, so folks can go eat afterwards. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

UBC Partnership Survey

If you haven’t filled out our survey on missions at UBC, please take a moment to click the link below and fill it out. Thank you so much.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1GG1kfN52n96SgphHVKjAUnLp5XTE1yv5tPKo0vavdQM

COVID Update from Leadership Team

Hello UBC,

We hope you are all enjoying summer and finding ways to stay cool! You may have noticed that COVID numbers have increased locally—according to the CDC, the current COVID community level in McLennan county is Medium, falling from High last week. We want you to know that the staff and Leadership Team are carefully watching the numbers and being mindful of how we care for one another during this season.

Given the current spread of COVID in our community, we want to remind you that you are welcome to wear a mask if you feel that is best for you and your family. We are currently not requiring masks at UBC.

As always if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to anyone on staff or Leadership Team.

To learn more about the community level, you can visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html

Summer Calendar!

We have many exciting events coming up this summer and you can find our full calendar of events here on our website if you’re looking to schedule which events you want to attend this summer!

UBC Meal Calendars

Hi friends! Here are the current Meal Calendar opportunities to serve members of the UBC community:

The Pittman Family: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/mm81m6

The Howerton Family: mealtrain.com/08y894

The Hill Family: mealtrain.com/dy98dv

Parishioner of the Week

This week’s parishioner of the week is Joel Nelson, for helping us improve our bathroom stalls! Jesus was a carpenter Joel, so you’re in good company!

Preaching Schedule

Staff has put together a preaching rotation through the summer so that we might hear from the UBC community during this season. Here’s a reminder of that lineup for y’all:

August 7: Sharyl

August 14: Patrick

August 21: Taylor

August 28: Craig

ITLOTC 7.26.2022

Ordinary Time

UBC Partnership Survey (think missions)
by Toph

One of my favorite passages in Scripture is Isaiah 61:1-3.

”The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.”

This is also the passage Jesus quotes when he comes back from the desert, announcing his ministry. I love this passage for many reasons, and one of them is the focus on the marginalized and grieving. The pandemic changed a lot of things, but one thing that hasn’t changed is that global disasters always disproportionally affect the poor and marginalized in greater ways. The pandemic also shifted many of our partners and our work with them.

A few weeks ago, I was able to go to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly, and learn from some great practitioners. In my learning, and in my discerning, it seems like a good time to ask all of you lovely people: what do you think UBC’s role should be in our work with local, national, and international partners? What do you think our gifts are as a community, and how do you think we can best serve the kingdom of God? I would love you to take a few minutes to fill out this survey, and ask your friends who go to UBC to fill it out as well.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1GG1kfN52n96SgphHVKjAUnLp5XTE1yv5tPKo0vavdQM/edit

Waco Dives - July 27 - noon - Alpha and Omega

We would love for you to come hang out tomorrow at Waco Dives at noon, at Alpha and Omega. This is a great time to enjoy some good food, and get to know other UBC’ers. This is our last Waco Dives of the summer. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

UBC Clean Day - August 7th

We are gearing up for the fall, and we are hosting our annual clean day to help get the building ready. Please plan to stick around after church on August 7th, to help us to do some summer cleaning. There will be a sign-up sheet in the foyer this Sunday. We will have some pizza available and drinks. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

Summer Calendar!

We have many exciting events coming up this summer and you can find our full calendar of events here on our website if you’re looking to schedule which events you want to attend this summer!

UBC LGBTQIA+ Community Meetup

UBC is excited to host another LGBTQIA+ Community Meetup! We’ll be meeting on Tuesday, August 9th at 7 p.m. at Pinewood. This is a time for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to meet one another, connect, and have a fun time. We hope you can join us! If you have any questions, you can email Toph@ubcwaco.org

UBC Meal Calendars

Hi friends! Here are the current Meal Calendar opportunities to serve members of the UBC community:

The Pittman Family: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/mm81m6

The Howerton Family: mealtrain.com/08y894

The Hill Family: mealtrain.com/dy98dv

Parishioner of the Week

The Carron’s and the Harp’s for hosting our first ever UBC Neighborhood Parties on Friday night. There was a great turnout, and be looking out for another party night this Fall.

Preaching Schedule

Staff has put together a preaching rotation through the summer so that we might hear from the UBC community during this season. Here’s a reminder of that lineup for y’all:

July 31: Kirk

August 7: Sharyl

August 14: Patrick

August 21: Taylor

August 28: Craig

ITLOTC 7-19-2022

Ordinary Time

Who’s Singing with You? (by Toph)

Hello,

I’ve been thinking about Ted Lasso a lot lately, more than the usual. I am eagerly anticipating when Apply TV+ will make the announcement about the final season, and have already started planning my binge watching meals accordingly. There is one particular scene I keep thinking about in the second season. Towards the end of the second season, Rebecca’s father dies, and she is asked to give a eulogy at the funeral. As one often is with grief, she is struggling to find the words to express her thoughts, and so she starts singing a family favorite; “Never Gone Give You Up.”

It’s one of those painfully awkward scenes. She is singing softly, fighting back tears, and the crowd is looking at her with a sense of confusion. I mean, who RickRolls folks at a funeral. This awkwardness doesn’t last long though, because one Theodore Lasso starts to sing along with Rebecca. He is sitting in the back, and just starts singing along. Ted doesn’t care about the the social norms, or if he will look foolish, what he cares about is his friend Rebecca. And what Rebecca needed in that moment was someone to sing with her, and help her get through the eulogy.

Jesus continually disrupted social norms to care for people: dining with sinner and tax collectors in their homes, speaking with folks he “shouldn’t,” and consistently breaking the sabbath laws. He did all these things to give an expression of care, to show people in his orbit that he loved them. I’ve been thinking about all the people in my life who have shown me care over the last few years, and the countless ways they have loved me. I have also been thinking about the ways in which I get to show love and care as a pastor. It truly is a gift to be invited into a moment when someone is grieving, or having a difficult time, and to express care and love for them. If you are having a difficult time, or want someone to come sing with you, know I would love to.

Lastly, take a minute to think about those in your life who have cared for you, and maybe even made a fool of themselves in doing so. Take a moment and give thanks.

Waco Dives - July 20 - noon - Shorty’s Pizza

We would love for you to come hang out tomorrow at Waco Dives at noon, at Shorty’s Pizza. This is a great time to enjoy some good food, and get to know other UBC’ers. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

Leadership and Finance Team Nominations

First we'd like to applaud Kathy Krey and Taylor Beard for their leadership these last three years.  Kathy and Taylor’s stints on LT are coming to an end this August. We are thankful for their service to our community

So that means we are looking for new folks to serve on the leadership team.  Here is some information for you to consider from the bylaws. 

Section 1.  Leadership Team

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

(C) Qualifications.  Each member of Leadership Team shall have been a member of UBC for at least one year, exhibited an understanding and commitment to the mission and values of the church, and be willing to fulfill all responsibilities in the Leadership Team job description.

(E) 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.  Members serving as student member commit to a year with the chance to renew up to three years. 

Nominations begin now.  So if you'd like to nominate yourself or anyone else, please send an email to anyone on staff, toph or taylor

We also have some previously scheduled Finance Team rotations! And so we’re also looking for new Finance Team members. Here is some information to consider from the Bylaws:

Finance Team: The Finance Team is an advisory group to the staff and  Leadership Team, providing guidance, support, and oversight of the financial  aspects of the church. This 5-7 person team of lay members, in consultation with  the Lead Pastor and Office Administrator, meets at least quarterly to prepare the  proposed annual budget, review the church’s fiscal condition, and make  recommendations and decisions regarding expenditures, investments, and other  financial matters. Qualifications and terms for Finance Team service are outlined in  the UBC Bylaws. 

These positions are incredibly important for our community and an important way to serve! Thanks for considering carefully if you are interested or if you know someone who might do a good job. Nominations begin now.  So if you'd like to nominate yourself or anyone else, please send an email to anyone on staff, toph or taylor

UBC Clean Day - August 7th

We are gearing up for the fall, and we are hosting our annual clean day to help get the building ready. Please plan to stick around after church on August 7th, to help us to do some summer cleaning. We will have some pizza available and drinks. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

Summer Calendar!

We have many exciting events coming up this summer and you can find our full calendar of events here on our website if you’re looking to schedule which events you want to attend this summer!

UBC LGBTQIA+ Community Meetup

UBC is excited to host another LGBTQIA+ Community Meetup! We’ll be meeting on Tuesday, August 9th at 7 p.m. at Pinewood. This is a time for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to meet one another, connect, and have a fun time. We hope you can join us! If you have any questions, you can email Toph@ubcwaco.org

UBC Meal Calendars

Hi friends! Here are the current Meal Calendar opportunities to serve members of the UBC community:

The Pittman Family: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/mm81m6

The Howerton Family: mealtrain.com/08y894

The Hill Family: mealtrain.com/dy98dv

Parishioner of the Week

Jon Davis for working tirelessly on updating our Wifi so we can continue streaming on Sunday mornings. If you see Jon around this week, buy him a cup of coffee or a pint.

Preaching Schedule

Staff has put together a preaching rotation through the summer so that we might hear from the UBC community during this season. Here’s a reminder of that lineup for y’all:

July 24: Kerri

July 31: Kirk

August 7: Sharyl

August 14: Patrick

August 21: Taylor

August 28: Craig

ITLOTC 7-12-2022

Ordinary Time

Summertime

Hey friends!!

It is so incredibly hot. So hot. My mom keeps talking to me about the summer of 1980? And I keep reminding her about the summer of 2011. Neither of us is rally listening to each other because we are both SO RIDICULOUSLY HOT.

I can’t think straight. We’ve reached a part of the summer season where it no longer matters if you’re standing in the sun or the shade - it feels exactly the same. My car does not cool in time to impact the temperature before I reach my destination. We’ve reached a critical mass where unless there is water involved I cannot participate in outdoor activities (and neither should anyone else).

It’s made me reflect - because normally being outside is a very helpful self-care practice for me. But not right now. It’s made me think about the ways things change. Normally being outside is good for me. But if I just continued going outside without making any adaptations it would not be a helpful practice. I have to adapt. I have to make changes, to ask for help.

All of our practices are this way. And I hope this summer as you attempt to rest that you remember to check in. Make sure your practices are working, that they are helpful, and that they make you feel better after them. I’m thankful for all of you and I hope you’re all taking time to rest! You can make it through the heat! See you this Sunday!

Waco Dives - July 3 - noon - Wako Taco

We would love for you to come hang out tomorrow at Waco Dives at noon, at the Wako Taco. This is a great time to enjoy some good food, and get to know other UBC’ers. Wako Taco has some great tacos, in my humble opinion. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

Leadership and Finance Team Nominations

First we'd like to applaud Kathy Krey and Taylor Beard for their leadership these last three years.  Kathy and Taylor’s stints on LT are coming to an end this August. We are thankful for their service to our community

So that means we are looking for new folks to serve on the leadership team.  Here is some information for you to consider from the bylaws. 

Section 1.  Leadership Team

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

(C) Qualifications.  Each member of Leadership Team shall have been a member of UBC for at least one year, exhibited an understanding and commitment to the mission and values of the church, and be willing to fulfill all responsibilities in the Leadership Team job description.

(E) 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.  Members serving as student member commit to a year with the chance to renew up to three years. 

Nominations begin now.  So if you'd like to nominate yourself or anyone else, please send an email to anyone on staff, toph or taylor

We also have some previously scheduled Finance Team rotations! And so we’re also looking for new Finance Team members. Here is some information to consider from the Bylaws:

Finance Team: The Finance Team is an advisory group to the staff and  Leadership Team, providing guidance, support, and oversight of the financial  aspects of the church. This 5-7 person team of lay members, in consultation with  the Lead Pastor and Office Administrator, meets at least quarterly to prepare the  proposed annual budget, review the church’s fiscal condition, and make  recommendations and decisions regarding expenditures, investments, and other  financial matters. Qualifications and terms for Finance Team service are outlined in  the UBC Bylaws. 

These positions are incredibly important for our community and an important way to serve! Thanks for considering carefully if you are interested or if you know someone who might do a good job. Nominations begin now.  So if you'd like to nominate yourself or anyone else, please send an email to anyone on staff, toph or taylor

5/6 Grade Movie Day! July 16 - 1pm

We have a 5th and 6th Grade event this Saturday! We will meet at UBC at 1pm-3pm to watch a movie and eat some movie snacks! I'm excited for us all to spend some time together! If you have time to let me know if your student will be there just let me know!

UBC Neighborhood Parties - July 22nd - 6pm

We are excited to announce our first round of UBC Neighborhood Parties. This will be on Friday night, July 22, at 6pm. We will have one location in the Hewitt/Woodway area, and one location in town in Castle Heights. UBC will provide the main dish, we ask that you bring a side dish or dessert to share. There are sign-up forms in the lobby on Sundays, and/or you can email toph@ubcwaco.org to sign-up. This is a family friendly event, so definitely bring the kids, and invite your friends. If you have any questions, please contact Toph.

Summer Calendar!

We have many exciting events coming up this summer and you can find our full calendar of events here on our website if you’re looking to schedule which events you want to attend this summer!

UBC LGBTQIA+ Community Meetup

UBC is excited to host another LGBTQIA+ Community Meetup! We’ll be meeting on Tuesday, August 9th at 7 p.m. at Pinewood. This is a time for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to meet one another, connect, and have a fun time. We hope you can join us! If you have any questions, you can email Toph@ubcwaco.org

UBC Meal Calendars

Hi friends! Here are the current Meal Calendar opportunities to serve members of the UBC community:

The Pittman Family: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/mm81m6

The Howerton Family: mealtrain.com/08y894

The Hill Family: mealtrain.com/dy98dv

Parishioner of the Week

Thanks so much to all our summer guest preachers! We have been so formed by you this summer and I’m excited to see the ways you will continue to form us moving forward!

Preaching Schedule

Staff has put together a preaching rotation through the summer so that we might hear from the UBC community during this season. Here’s a reminder of that lineup for y’all:

July 17: Lilly

July 24: Kerri

July 31: Kirk

August 7: Sharyl

August 14: Patrick

August 21: Taylor

August 28: Craig

ITLOTC 7-5-2022

(In The Life Of The Church)

Ordinary Time

UBC Kids Hangouts

Hey friends!!

This summer we’ve been hanging out around Waco with our UBC Kids and families! Today we went to the Splash Pad at Cameron Park and had a great time!!

I hope you’ll be able to come join us sometime! We’ll see you soon!

-TCP

Waco Dives - July 6 - noon - The Eatery

I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday weekend. We would love for you to come hang out tomorrow at Waco Dives at noon, at the The Eatery. This is a great time to enjoy some good food, and get to know other UBC’ers. The Eatery has the best soul food in town, in my humble opinion. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

Leadership and Finance Team Nominations

First we'd like to applaud Kathy Krey and Taylor Beard for their leadership these last three years.  Kathy and Taylor’s stints on LT are coming to an end this August. We are thankful for their service to our community

So that means we are looking for new folks to serve on the leadership team.  Here is some information for you to consider from the bylaws. 

Section 1.  Leadership Team

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

(C) Qualifications.  Each member of Leadership Team shall have been a member of UBC for at least one year, exhibited an understanding and commitment to the mission and values of the church, and be willing to fulfill all responsibilities in the Leadership Team job description.

(E) 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.  Members serving as student member commit to a year with the chance to renew up to three years. 

Nominations begin now.  So if you'd like to nominate yourself or anyone else, please send an email to anyone on staff, toph or taylor

We also have some previously scheduled Finance Team rotations! And so we’re also looking for new Finance Team members. Here is some information to consider from the Bylaws:

Finance Team: The Finance Team is an advisory group to the staff and  Leadership Team, providing guidance, support, and oversight of the financial  aspects of the church. This 5-7 person team of lay members, in consultation with  the Lead Pastor and Office Administrator, meets at least quarterly to prepare the  proposed annual budget, review the church’s fiscal condition, and make  recommendations and decisions regarding expenditures, investments, and other  financial matters. Qualifications and terms for Finance Team service are outlined in  the UBC Bylaws. 

These positions are incredibly important for our community and an important way to serve! Thanks for considering carefully if you are interested or if you know someone who might do a good job. Nominations begin now.  So if you'd like to nominate yourself or anyone else, please send an email to anyone on staff, toph or taylor

UBC Neighborhood Parties - July 22nd - 6pm

We are excited to announce our first round of UBC Neighborhood Parties. This will be on Friday night, July 22, at 6pm. We will have one location in the Hewitt/Woodway area, and one location in town in Castle Heights. UBC will provide the main dish, we ask that you bring a side dish or dessert to share. There are sign-up forms in the lobby on Sundays, and/or you can email toph@ubcwaco.org to sign-up. This is a family friendly event, so definitely bring the kids, and invite your friends. If you have any questions, please contact Toph.

Summer Calendar!

We have many exciting events coming up this summer and you can find our full calendar of events here on our website if you’re looking to schedule which events you want to attend this summer!

UBC Meal Calendars

Hi friends! Here are the current Meal Calendar opportunities to serve members of the UBC community:

The Pittman Family: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/mm81m6

The Howerton Family: mealtrain.com/08y894

The Hill Family: mealtrain.com/dy98dv

Parishioner of the Week

Finance Team! Thank you guys for all you do for UBC!

Preaching Schedule

Staff has put together a preaching rotation through the summer so that we might hear from the UBC community during this season. Here’s a reminder of that lineup for y’all.

6-26 Kerri Fisher

July 3: Taylor

July 10: Sharyl

July 17: Lilly

July 24: Kerri

July 31: Kirk

August 7: Sharyl

August 14: Patrick

August 21: Taylor

August 28: Craig

ITLOTC 6-28-22

(In The Life Of The Church)

Ordinary Time

Introducing Kirk Hatcher - New Interim Pastor!

Hey there UBC’ers!

My name is Kirk Hatcher, and if I haven’t met you yet, I hope we’ll meet soon! I get the privilege of serving as UBC’s Interim Pastor for as long, or as short, as it takes to find the right person for the job of UBC’s lead pastor.

I am married to Jill. Last weekend, we shared our 28th anniversary. We have three boys: - Britton, married to Erin, living in Houston with our granddog Theo, - Caeden, engaged to Sophia, living in Waco (wedding in November!), and - Dylan, just finished his freshman year at Baylor. We have a mostly empty nest, that we are growing to love more and more. In this nest you will also find our 2 pups: - Lucy, a 1 yr old Schnoodle who barks at anything and everything - which leads to many nights of fear when she barks out of nowhere, and - Minnie, an almost 3 month old goldendoodle who will be bigger than Lucy at any moment. These two keep the nest less empty and nearly as loud as it was with three boys.

I went to Baylor as an undergraduate student. I went to Truett Seminary, graduating a long time ago with the first class. Since then I’ve served in churches along the coast of Texas, in Temple, in Houston, and in Norman, OK, for a total of 25 years.

We moved to Waco in 2017 so that my wife could begin work in Baylor’s Spiritual Life department. Since moving here, I’ve begun work in Baylor’s HR department. We LOVE being back in Waco, going to parts of the city we never went to as students.

My hope and prayer for this interim time is that we could all collectively take a breath and prepare the church for a new lead pastor that will be coming very soon. This preparation can come in many shapes and sizes, and we may very well see all those sizes and shapes together.

As we worship together, as we are formed together, as we serve together, as we listen carefully together…may we be who God asks us to be.

-Kirk

UBC Kid’s Hangouts

If you are interested in having some fun and getting to know some other UBCers then come meet us next week, July 5th, at the Cameron Park Splash Pad! Throughout the summer we are going to be having UBC Kids Hangouts! We'll meet next week at 2pm and we'll splash around and UBC will provide some waters and snacks and we’ll all have a great time! If you think you're interested in coming let Taylor know so she can be on the lookout for you!

Leadership and Finance Team Nominations

First we'd like to applaud Kathy Krey and Taylor Beard for their leadership these last three years.  Kathy and Taylor’s stints on LT are coming to an end this August. We are thankful for their service to our community

So that means we are looking for new folks to serve on the leadership team.  Here is some information for you to consider from the bylaws. 

Section 1.  Leadership Team

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

(C) Qualifications.  Each member of Leadership Team shall have been a member of UBC for at least one year, exhibited an understanding and commitment to the mission and values of the church, and be willing to fulfill all responsibilities in the Leadership Team job description.

(E) 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.  Members serving as student member commit to a year with the chance to renew up to three years. 

Nominations begin now.  So if you'd like to nominate yourself or anyone else, please send an email to anyone on staff, toph or taylor

We also have some previously scheduled Finance Team rotations! And so we’re also looking for new Finance Team members. Here is some information to consider from the Bylaws:

Finance Team: The Finance Team is an advisory group to the staff and  Leadership Team, providing guidance, support, and oversight of the financial  aspects of the church. This 5-7 person team of lay members, in consultation with  the Lead Pastor and Office Administrator, meets at least quarterly to prepare the  proposed annual budget, review the church’s fiscal condition, and make  recommendations and decisions regarding expenditures, investments, and other  financial matters. Qualifications and terms for Finance Team service are outlined in  the UBC Bylaws. 

These positions are incredibly important for our community and an important way to serve! Thanks for considering carefully if you are interested or if you know someone who might do a good job. Nominations begin now.  So if you'd like to nominate yourself or anyone else, please send an email to anyone on staff, toph or taylor

UBC Neighborhood Parties - July 22nd - 6pm

We are excited to announce our first round of UBC Neighborhood Parties.  This will be on Friday night, July 22, at 6pm.  We will have one location in the Hewitt/Woodway area, and one location in town in Castle Heights.  UBC will provide the main dish, we ask that you bring a side dish or dessert to share.  There will be sign-up forms in the lobby starting this Sunday, and/or you can email toph@ubcwaco.org Waco to sign-up.  This is a family friendly event, so definitely bring the kids, and invite your friends.  If you have any questions, please contact Toph.

Summer Calendar!

We have many exciting events coming up this summer and you can find our full calendar of events here on our website if you’re looking to schedule which events you want to attend this summer!

UBC Meal Calendars

Hi friends! Here are the current Meal Calendar opportunities to serve members of the UBC community:

The Pittman Family: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/mm81m6

The Howerton Family: mealtrain.com/08y894

The Hill Family: mealtrain.com/dy98dv

Parishioner of the Week

Margo Shanks - for being a champion!

Preaching Schedule

Staff has put together a preaching rotation through the summer so that we might hear from the UBC community during this season. Here’s a reminder of that lineup for y’all.

6-26 Kerri Fisher

July 3: Taylor

July 10: Sharyl

July 17: Lilly

July 24: Kerri

July 31: Kirk

ITLOTC 6-22-2022

(In The Life Of The Church)

Ordinary Time

VBS Compassion Camp!

Last week we had SO much fun at Compassion Camp VBS! Pic for proof:

We learned about sharing LovingKindness with our friends and families, with ourselves, and with our neighbors and communities. We learned to jump into compassion. And we learned the stories of Miriam, Elijah, the Good Samaritan, Pentecost, and a thankful Paul. We also learned a helpful chant to remember to have empathy for others, “I see your hurt, I feel your hurt, I help ease your hurt.”

I am so thankful for your support as a community - through both your. donation of time from our volunteers and also through your monetary giving so we could afford supplies and space for our kids to learn and have fun and be formed safely! Thanks so much for your participation in our community. I am very thankful

Interim Pastor Announcement from LT

Dear UBC,

The Leadership Team is pleased to announce the appointment of Kirk Hatcher as UBC’s Interim Pastor. Kirk lives here in Waco where he works in human resources at Baylor. Previously, Kirk served for over 25 years in churches in Texas and Oklahoma as Pastor to Students, Minister of Youth and Minister of Spiritual Formation. He has an MDiv from Truett and an accounting degree from Baylor.

Kirk has accepted a part-time interim pastor position with UBC, beginning on June 26th. During this time of interim he will be responsible for administration and pastoral leadership, including working with the Leadership, Human Resources, and Finance teams and supervising staff to ensure that UBC runs smoothly. Kirk will also be responsible for pastoral care including preaching and worship collaboration.

The Leadership Team would like to express our gratitude to the congregation for your patience, prayers, and words of support during this transition season. We especially appreciate the work of everyone on HR and Finance Teams for their dedication and service. Lastly, an extra measure of gratitude is due to the staff for scheduling weekly supply pastors and overseeing our Sunday worship services during this time of pastoral transition.

Kirk is eager to begin the work of pastoring UBC, and we are excited for him to meet our church community. He will have more specific information regarding office hours and contact information very soon. We hope you will make plans to join us this Sunday, June 26, as we welcome Kirk Hatcher to UBC!  

-LT

UBC Kid’s Hangouts

If you are interested in having some fun and getting to know some other UBCers then come meet us tomorrow at UBC for a movie day! Throughout the summer we are going to be having UBC Kids Hangouts! We'll meet tomorrow at 2pm and we'll watch a movie and eat some movie snacks and have a great time! If you think you're interested in coming let Taylor know so she can be on the lookout for you!

Leadership and Finance Team Nominations

First we'd like to applaud Kathy Krey and Taylor Beard for their leadership these last three years.  Kathy and Taylor’s stints on LT are coming to an end this August. We are thankful for their service to our community

So that means we are looking for new folks to serve on the leadership team.  Here is some information for you to consider from the bylaws. 

Section 1.  Leadership Team

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

(C) Qualifications.  Each member of Leadership Team shall have been a member of UBC for at least one year, exhibited an understanding and commitment to the mission and values of the church, and be willing to fulfill all responsibilities in the Leadership Team job description.

(E) 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.  Members serving as student member commit to a year with the chance to renew up to three years. 

Nominations begin now.  So if you'd like to nominate yourself or anyone else, please send an email to anyone on staff, toph or taylor

We also have some previously scheduled Finance Team rotations! And so we’re also looking for new Finance Team members. Here is some information to consider from the Bylaws:

Finance Team: The Finance Team is an advisory group to the staff and  Leadership Team, providing guidance, support, and oversight of the financial  aspects of the church. This 5-7 person team of lay members, in consultation with  the Lead Pastor and Office Administrator, meets at least quarterly to prepare the  proposed annual budget, review the church’s fiscal condition, and make  recommendations and decisions regarding expenditures, investments, and other  financial matters. Qualifications and terms for Finance Team service are outlined in  the UBC Bylaws. 

These positions are incredibly important for our community and an important way to serve! Thanks for considering carefully if you are interested or if you know someone who might do a good job. Nominations begin now.  So if you'd like to nominate yourself or anyone else, please send an email to anyone on staff, toph or taylor

Summer Calendar!

We have many exciting events coming up this summer and you can find our full calendar of events here on our website if you’re looking to schedule which events you want to attend this summer! We’ll also be printing a hard copy for you to take home and keep on your fridge or wherever you keep your calendar! So be on the lookout for that!

UBC Meal Calendars

Hi friends! Here are the current Meal Calendar opportunities to serve members of the UBC community:

The Pittman Family: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/mm81m6

The Howerton Family: mealtrain.com/08y894

Parishioner of the Week

All of our VBS Volunteers! Thank you so much for making VBS a hit! You all did such a wonderful job!

Preaching Schedule

Staff has put together a preaching rotation through the summer so that we might hear from the UBC community during this season. Here’s a reminder of that lineup for y’all.

6-26 Kerri Fisher

July 3: Taylor

July 10: Sharyl

July 17: Lilly

July 24: Kerri

July 31: Interim

ItLOTC 6-15-2022

(In The Life Of The Church)

Ordinary Time

Waco Dives – by Toph

Greetings UBC’ers! It’s summer, and one of my favorite summer events is Waco Dives. Each week we gather at a different Waco food paradise to enjoy some delicious cuisine, and get to know one another. We had our second one today, and would love for you to join us next Wednesday at noon at the Route 77 Food Park. We will take a break on June 29th, as I will be at CBF General Assembly in Dallas that Wednesday. You can find a list of the rest of summer dive locations on the calendar at www.ubcwaco.org .Speaking of food, here are 5 of my favorite places in Waco (in no particular order), and what you should order:

El Crucero: soyrizo, potato, and cheese taco – it’s the perfect amount of heat, grilled potato,

and cheesy goodness

Curry Up and Wok This Way: pad see eww – it’s the most authentic one I’ve had outside of

Thailand.

Revival Eastside Eatery: whatever the special of the day is, particular if it’s a sandwich or burger

– always fresh, and often some surprising flavor combinations that you don’t think will work, but does.

Kitok’s: bulgogi burger and oriental fries – great Korean flavors meet the classic American

burger and fries. This might be Waco’s best food creation.

Tru Jamaica: jerk chicken – the perfect blend of some savory island flavor with a great kick – for

extra spicy, ask for the scotch bonnet hot sauce to add to your rice and peas

Leadership and Finance Team Nominations

First we'd like to applaud Kathy Krey, Jose Zuniga, and Taylor Beard for their leadership these last three years.  Their stints are coming to an end this August and they will rolling off over the course of the Fall. We are thankful for their service to our community

So that means we are looking for new folks to serve on the leadership team.  Here is some information for you to consider from the bylaws. 

Section 1.  Leadership Team

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

(C) Qualifications.  Each member of Leadership Team shall have been a member of UBC for at least one year, exhibited an understanding and commitment to the mission and values of the church, and be willing to fulfill all responsibilities in the Leadership Team job description.

(E) 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.  Members serving as student member commit to a year with the chance to renew up to three years. 

Nominations begin now.  So if you'd like to nominate yourself or anyone else, please send an email to anyone on staff, toph or taylor

We also have some previously scheduled Finance Team rotations! And so we’re also looking for new Finance Team members. Here is some information to consider from the Bylaws:

Finance Team: The Finance Team is an advisory group to the staff and  Leadership Team, providing guidance, support, and oversight of the financial  aspects of the church. This 5-7 person team of lay members, in consultation with  the Lead Pastor and Office Administrator, meets at least quarterly to prepare the  proposed annual budget, review the church’s fiscal condition, and make  recommendations and decisions regarding expenditures, investments, and other  financial matters. Qualifications and terms for Finance Team service are outlined in  the UBC Bylaws. 

These positions are incredibly important for our community and an important way to serve! Thanks for considering carefully if you are interested or if you know someone who might do a good job. Nominations begin now.  So if you'd like to nominate yourself or anyone else, please send an email to anyone on staff, toph or taylor

VBS - Compassion Camp!

Our VBS is happening right now! It’s called “Compassion Camp - Changing the world with LovingKindness!” It’s for kid’s ages 2yo-4th grade and 5th Grade-Adults are welcome to come serve as volunteers. We have three more more days and we’re meeting nightly from 5:30-8pm! If you would like to volunteer to help or if you would like your child to attend you can still come. Just email taylor@ubcwaco.org

Summer Calendar!

We have many exciting events coming up this summer and you can find our full calendar of events here on our website if you’re looking to schedule which events you want to attend this summer! We’ll also be printing a hard copy for you to take home and keep on your fridge or wherever you keep your calendar! So be on the lookout for that!

Foster Care Awareness

Want to learn more about foster care and ways to get involved? Interested in engaging faith communities? There will be Foster Care Awareness Events on June 21 and 22 at St. Alban's Episcopal Church to learn more about foster care in our community sponsored by St. Alban's and Families and Foster Care Coalition. Dinner and childcare provided. Learn more details and RSVP at https://forms.gle/YnMqWyMKyXiMtkNy8.

UBC Meal Calendars

Hi friends! Here are the current Meal Calendar opportunities to serve members of the UBC community:

The Pittman Family: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/mm81m6

The Howerton Family: mealtrain.com/08y894

Parishioner of the Week

The Carrons for filling in for worship on Sunday! Thank you so much for leading us on Sunday!

Preaching Schedule

Staff has put together a preaching rotation through the summer so that we might hear from the UBC community during this season. Here’s a reminder of that lineup for y’all.

6-17 Lilly Ettinger

6-26 Kerri Fisher

July 3: Taylor

July 10: Sharyl

July 17: Lilly

July 24: Kerri

July 31: Interim

ITLOTC 6-7-2022

(In The Life Of The Church)

Ordinary Time

Y’all means ALL – by Toph (he/him) 

Coming back from sabbatical is always a transition.  It is such a gift to be given an extended amount of time to reflect and recharge, but it takes me a little while to ease back into the rhythm of routine.  During my sabbatical I was able to worship at a few different churches, those which family and friends attend in Thailand and Tennessee, and it always makes me miss UBC.  I love the community we, you and I, have built here together.  I love the freedom to be able to voice our convictions, both publicly and privately, and know even if we disagree it does not mean we are not community, or we are not pursuing the holy work of loving God, embracing beauty, and living life to the fullest. 
In Cole Arthur Riley’s book, This Here Flesh, she writes: “I don’t have many certainties about God.  I do have many hopes.  Chief among them is that it’s true what they say: that God is love, is made of love, and looks at the faces of you and me and my gramma and, without hesitation or demand, delights.”As one of your pastors, let me affirm this hope, and let you know that the Creator of the cosmos, created you, and takes great delight in you.  I am also mindful it is Pride month, and the Church has done so much harm through the years to the LGBTQIA+ community.  As a CIS-gender heterosexual white male, I have not felt this pain, but as I listened in 2019 to many of our LGBTQIA+ folks, I heard their pain and their stories.  So today, being my first newsletter back from sabbatical, I wanted to remind all of us that God is Love and takes great delight in you. 

We did this “for the sake of clarity” post last year, and this is what we said:  “UBC  unequivocally supports the queer community, completely affirming them in their identity, and their calls to service and ministry.  Queer folks can serve in all capacities, engage in communion, and be married at UBC.”  Amen.One of my favorite parts of returning from sabbatical is seeing you and knowing at UBC we are doing our best to create safe spaces for ALL people to know, feel, and experience the radically inclusive love of God.  If the Church, or in particular UBC, has caused you pain, I would love to listen to your story and ask for forgiveness.  If the Church, or in particular UBC, has been a place of refuge and comfort, I would love to listen to your story and give thanks to God together.  One of the favorite parts of my job is sit across from another human, and listen, and be invited into a space in which our stories might form one another and challenge us to live into the great Story.  If you would like to grab coffee, lunch, or a pint soon, I would love that.  I’ve missed y’all.

Leadership and Finance Team Nominations

First we'd like to applaud Kathy Krey, Jose Zuniga, and Taylor Beard for their leadership these last three years.  Their stints are coming to an end this August and they will rolling off over the course of the Fall. We are thankful for their service to our community

So that means we are looking for new folks to serve on the leadership team.  Here is some information for you to consider from the bylaws. 

Section 1.  Leadership Team

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

(C) Qualifications.  Each member of Leadership Team shall have been a member of UBC for at least one year, exhibited an understanding and commitment to the mission and values of the church, and be willing to fulfill all responsibilities in the Leadership Team job description.

(E) 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.  Members serving as student member commit to a year with the chance to renew up to three years. 

Nominations begin now.  So if you'd like to nominate yourself or anyone else, please send an email to anyone on staff, toph or taylor

We also have some previously scheduled Finance Team rotations! And so we’re also looking for new Finance Team members. Here is some information to consider from the Bylaws:

Finance Team: The Finance Team is an advisory group to the staff and  Leadership Team, providing guidance, support, and oversight of the financial  aspects of the church. This 5-7 person team of lay members, in consultation with  the Lead Pastor and Office Administrator, meets at least quarterly to prepare the  proposed annual budget, review the church’s fiscal condition, and make  recommendations and decisions regarding expenditures, investments, and other  financial matters. Qualifications and terms for Finance Team service are outlined in  the UBC Bylaws. 

These positions are incredibly important for our community and an important way to serve! Thanks for considering carefully if you are interested or if you know someone who might do a good job. Nominations begin now.  So if you'd like to nominate yourself or anyone else, please send an email to anyone on staff, toph or taylor

VBS - Compassion Camp!

Our VBS is right around the corner! It’s called “Compassion Camp - Changing the world with LovingKindness!” It’s for kid’s ages 2yo-4th grade and 5th Grade-Adults are welcome to come serve as volunteers. It will be the week of June 13-17 (Mon-Fri) and it will be nightly from 5:30-8pm! If you would like to volunteer to help or if you would like your child to attend you can email taylor@ubcwaco.org

Summer Calendar!

We have many exciting events coming up this summer and you can find our full calendar of events here on our website if you’re looking to schedule which events you want to attend this summer! We’ll also be printing a hard copy for you to take home and keep on your fridge or wherever you keep your calendar! So be on the lookout for that!

Waco Dives - Kitok’s at noon!

In the summer we like to get together and get lunch at a different local Waco restaurant! This week our local restaurant expert (Toph) has chosen Kitok’s as the restaurant for the week! So we will meet there tomorrow (Wednesday) at noon to enjoy lunch together! We hope you can make it!

Foster Care Awareness

Want to learn more about foster care and ways to get involved? Interested in engaging faith communities? There will be Foster Care Awareness Events on June 21 and 22 at St. Alban's Episcopal Church to learn more about foster care in our community sponsored by St. Alban's and Families and Foster Care Coalition. Dinner and childcare provided. Learn more details and RSVP at https://forms.gle/YnMqWyMKyXiMtkNy8.

UBC Meal Calendars

Hi friends! Here are the current Meal Calendar opportunities to serve members of the UBC community:

The Pittman Family: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/mm81m6

The Howerton Family: mealtrain.com/08y894

Parishioner of the Week

The Carrons for filling in for worship on Sunday! Thank you so much for leading us on Sunday!

Preaching Schedule

Staff has put together a preaching rotation through the summer so that we might hear from the UBC community during this season. Here’s a reminder of that lineup for y’all.

6-12 Craig Nash

6-17 Lilly Ettinger

6-26 Kerri Fisher

July 3: Taylor

July 10: Sharyl

July 17: Lilly

July 24: Kerri

July 31: Interim

0 LIKES

ITLOTC 5-31-2022

(In The Life Of The Church)

Easter

Hawaiian Falls!

Friends - this Friday will be our UBC Summer Kick-Off event! We will be going to Hawaiian Falls from 3-7pm to hangout, have some fun, and spend some time together - I am so excited to see as many of you as possible!

We did also receive a QR Code for HALF OFF tickets. You can scan the QR Code you find in this email to buy half off tickets for your entire family!

Normally we have a blog entry at the top of the newsletter but honestly I’m so excited about this that I decided to put it at the top! I think we are going to have such a good time and I hope that as many of you as possible will come join and hang out on Friday afternoon. It’s going to be a great way to kickoff the summer!

The last thing I’ll leave you with is similar to what Jamie said last week. I know that Waco summer is slow (and believe me I love that) but church isn’t on hold. We have so many fun and formational things planned for this summer and I hope sincerely that you’ll be a part of them. I hope that we can come together and know and love each other better by the end of this summer! Even if (especially if) that means a conversation over snow-cones at Hawaiian Fall. So I hope you’ll dive in. And honestly - I’ll still understand if you don’t ;)

I’m thankful for you friends! And I hope to see you there on Friday!

-Taylor

PINTS WITH TOPH IS BACK (still true)

Toph has returned and will be at the Pinewood Public House at 6pm for all of your beer and Toph needs.

Summer Calendar!

We have many exciting events coming up this summer and you can find our full calendar of events here on our website if you’re looking to schedule which events you want to attend this summer! We’ll also be printing a hard copy for you to take home and keep on your fridge or wherever you keep your calendar! So be on the lookout for that!

VBS - Compassion Camp!

Our VBS is right around the corner! It’s called “Compassion Camp - Changing the world with LovingKindness!” It will be the week of June 13-17 and it will be nightly from 5:30-8pm! If you would like to volunteer to help or if you would like your child to attend you can email taylor@ubcwaco.org

Pastoral Associate Applications

If you are interested in serving as one of our Pastoral Associates in the coming year you can find the application here: PA Application So please go check out the application and let us know if you have any questions!

Parishioner of the Week

Toph Whisnant for being back from sabbatical!!

Preaching Schedule

Staff has put together a preaching rotation through the summer so that we might hear from the UBC community during this season. Here’s a reminder of that lineup for y’all.

6-5 Taylor Post

6-12 Craig Nash

6-17 Lilly Ettinger

6-26 Kerri Fisher

Liturgy Stuff 5-29-2022

May 29, 2022

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on May 29th (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 thine 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 Eternal One

the One who is near to the brokenhearted
who lifts up the downcast

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

turning our hearts and minds
toward god
by turning our hearts and minds
toward our neighbors

amen

Rise Up

for the lowly and forgotten
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

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

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 bear your holy arm
to keep them safe from harm
may your kingdom come
o rise up

Where God Has Always Been

praise be the lord of all with their backs against the wall
hands above their heads and eyes
lifted up to that impossible line
where the hill meets the sky
who wonder if the distance is a trick of the earth
or a trick of the mind
and if help will arrive before they slip away
praise be the lord of all who wrestle until dawn
wear their scars like names yet find
heaven and earth strangely aligned
like water in the sour wine: hidden in plain sight

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

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

All My Hope Is In This

this I call to mind—all my hope is in this
each breath is a gift, a shelter in the stern of the ship

I heard you used to sleep while the storm it raged
while I can barely keep my feet amidst the slightest change
if I could touch the edge of your shirt would it help
ease the terror in my chest and bid my mind be still
and if I could not reach, but just called your name
would your eye fall upon me through the gloom
like the break of day
and if I could not speak, would you hear me still
my groans too deep for words would
you gather me up in your quilt
would you gather me up in your quilt?

this I call to mind as walls start closing in
your love’s like the wind
never starts and never ends, it only flows
whether whisper or din, return infinite

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament lectionary reading is Psalm 97:

The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice;
    let the many coastlands be glad!
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him
    and consumes his adversaries on every side.
His lightnings light up the world;
    the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
    before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
    and all the peoples behold his glory.
All servants of images are put to shame,
    those who make their boast in worthless idols;
    all gods bow down before him.
Zion hears and is glad,
    and the towns of Judah rejoice
    because of your judgments, O God.
For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
    you are exalted far above all gods.

You who love the Lord, hate evil;
    he guards the lives of his faithful;
    he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
Light dawns for the righteous
    and joy for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
    and give thanks to his holy name!

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading, and Ericka’s sermon text, is John 17:20-26:

“I ask not only on behalf of these but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them and I in 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.

Waking Life

you’re a hammer blow to the barricade
that I built up in my mind to separate
that which I hold with warm embrace
from that which I have reduced to an empty phrase
you’re a falling blade to the knot I tied
to secure a heavy shade over my eyes
and as if I had never tasted light
a stabbing pain slowly gives way to a truer sight

you’re the waking life piercing sleep
reality, reframing the dream
and as I rise, I don’t recognize my speech
find a garden shed where I once kept my armory

you’re an ember thrown from a funeral pyre
that infiltrates the cavalcade of an outrage choir
through the withered aisles of my fevered mind
now that hollow rage is wholly remade into a signal fire

you’re the waking life piercing sleep
reality, reframing the dream
and as I rise, I don’t recognize my speech
find a garden shed where I once kept my armory

like the waking life, piercing sleep
like reality, reframing the dream
I don’t understand what is happening
but somethings changed in a place I cannot reach
and there’s this ache where I once kept my apathy
like there’s a depth to life and breath in everything

Doxology

praise god from whom all blessings flow
praise god all creatures here below
praise god above ye heavenly host
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 5-25-2022

(In The Life Of The Church)

Easter

Bye for now

Well, my friends, this Sunday will be my last for a while as I embark on sabbatical.

If you weren’t around for town hall, the main thing I’ll be working on is a set of liturgical calendar resources for our community.  I’ll also be spending some time revisiting a philosophy of ministry paper I wrote my last semester of seminary/first semester of this job. My hope with this is to reflect on what I’ve learned over the last seven years, and to form that into a vision for the next chapter of my time at Ubc.

I’ll be sorry to miss the rotation of preachers and musicians we have lined up this summer, but I’m so thankful for the embarrassment of riches we have in the gifts of our community.  We have already been in a season where we are reminded that Ubc does not reside in the personality of a single individual, and this feels like a very meaningful way to embody that together.

To that end, I have one simple pastoral word to offer you for these coming months:

The life of Ubc is not on hold right now. Your life is not on hold right now.  And so may you continue to seek to be formed in the way of Christ; to love God, embrace beauty, and live life to the fullest.

I’ll miss you all while I’m away, and look forward to being back in August.

-Jamie

PINTS WITH TOPH IS BACK

Toph has returned and will be at the Pinewood Public House at 6pm for all of your beer and Toph needs.

Summer Calendar!

We have many exciting events coming up this summer and you can find our full calendar of events here on our website if you’re looking to schedule which events you want to attend this summer! We’ll also be printing a hard copy for you to take home and keep on your fridge or wherever you keep your calendar! So be on the lookout for that!

Summer KickOff - Hawaiian Falls!

Our first Summer event as a community will be June 3rd at Hawaiian Falls! We’ll meet there and have a super fun day in the sun! If you have any questions please email Taylor at taylor@ubcwaco.org.

Pastoral Associate Applications

If you are interested in serving as one of our Pastoral Associates in the coming year you can find the application here: PA Application So please go check out the application and let us know if you have any questions!

Parishioner of the Week

Kathleen Post and Emily McDonald for helping make Kid’s Sunday run smoothly this past Sunday!

Preaching Schedule

One of things the leadership team asked Josh to do before he left was schedule preaching through May. Here’s a reminder of that lineup for y’all.

5-29 Ericka Graham

6-5 Interim Pastor

6-12 Craig Nash

6-17 Lilly Ettinger

6-26 Kerri Fisher

Liturgy Stuff 5-22-2022

May 22, 2022

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on May 22nd (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 minds
and the heart of the 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 minds
and the heart of the 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 Eternal One

the creator and sustainer of all that is

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit of God might form our hearts and minds

drawing our lives into the way of Christ

amen

Holy, Holy, Holy

holy, holy, holy, lord god almighty
early in the morning, our song shall rise to thee
there is a sign at the sight of thee, merciful and mighty
god in three persons, blessed trinity

holy, holy, holy, though the darkness hide thee
though the eyes of sinful ones thy glories may not see
only thou art holy, there is none beside thee
perfect in power, love and purity

holy, holy, holy, lord god all mighty
all thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea
there is a sign at the sight of thee, there is none beside thee
god in three persons, blessed trinity

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

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament lectionary reading is Psalm 67:

May God be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
that your way may be known upon earth,
    your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
    for you judge the peoples with equity
    and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has yielded its increase;
    God, our God, has blessed us.
May God continue to bless us;
    let all the ends of the earth revere him.

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading, and Ericka’s sermon text, is John 5:1-9:

After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many ill, blind, lame, and paralyzed people. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The ill man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am making my way someone else steps down ahead of me.” Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.

Now that day was a Sabbath.

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.

All Creatures

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

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

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, alleuia

Doxology

praise god from whom all blessings flow
praise god all creatures here below
praise god above ye heavenly host
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 5-17-2022

(In The Life Of The Church)

Easter

Listening to Our Community

Hello friends!

I’ve been thinking a lot about summer lately. I’m actually normally thinking about summer so it isn’t particularly out of pocket for me to be thinking about summer. I was born in May and I really love being in/beside any and all kinds of bodies of water and so I think I was just born loving summertime. Even in Texas. Even in 100+ degree heat. It’s the best I love it.

And so, I’ve been thinking, especially, about this summer. As a pastoral staff we’ve been careful this year to plan and provide moments that provide both relational capacity and spiritual formation. We want to provide moments that are meaningful and help all of us get a chance to come together as a community. Moments that help us love God. Embrace beauty. And live life to the fullest. All the good stuff.

This summer one of the ways. we are going to do that is by listening to voices from within our community during our worship hour. We have a great list of preachers and worship leaders lined up from within the UBC community who will help lead us as we move through this season and learn from each other.

And one of the reasons I’m so excited, one of the reasons I think listening to each other is so important right now is because I think one of the most important questions we can be asking each other right now is, “Who is UBC?” Not because we don’t know the answer. But because it’s always good to do a check in when big moves are being made. To say “who are we?” and “how can we live that out?”. We might find things we like, things love, things we’ve taken for granted, and we might find things we want to change. But who better than our fellow community members to walk with us through this process.

So I’m excited about laying by a body of water, about it being sunshiny and warm and I’m really excited to spend time with all of you as we hear from and are formed by our fellow community members and as we spend time together getting to know each other well

-Taylor

This is 40ish

This group is for those who identify as female, who are out of college and the young professional world, who are closer to 40ish and older, and are looking for a place to connect with other UBC women. Also, as with most groups at UBC, age is relative, so if you are keenly interested please reach out to us. The next gathering will be this Saturday, May 21 at 7, at the new Slowrise on MLK Blvd on the river. If you would like more information, please contact Noel Carlson (612-801-5831) for more information.

Summer Calendar!

We have many exciting events coming up this summer and you can find our full calendar of events here on our website if you’re looking to schedule which events you want to attend this summer! We’ll also be printing a hard copy for you to take home and keep on your fridge or wherever you keep your calendar! So be on the lookout for that!

Summer KickOff - Hawaiian Falls!

Our first Summer event as a community will be June 3rd at Hawaiian Falls! We’ll meet there and have a super fun day in the sun! If you have any questions please email Taylor at taylor@ubcwaco.org.

Pastoral Associate Applications

If you are interested in serving as one of our Pastoral Associates in the coming year you can find the application here: PA Application So please go check out the application and let us know if you have any questions!

Parishioner of the Week

Kathleen Post and Emily McDonald for helping make Kid’s Sunday run smoothly this past Sunday!

Preaching Schedule

One of things the leadership team asked Josh to do before he left was schedule preaching through May. Here’s a reminder of that lineup for y’all.

5-22 Ericka Graham

5-29 Ericka Graham

6-5 Interim Pastor

6-12 Craig Nash

6-17 Lilly Ettinger

6-26 Kerri Fisher

Liturgy Stuff 5-15-2022

May 15, 2022

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

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 power 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
and I shall bow with humble 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

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship the Eternal One

the God of the stars and seas,
of the birds and the trees

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 one another
in our ordinary lives

amen

Your Love Is Strong

dear Heavenly Father, you always amaze me
let your kingdom come in my world and in my life
you give me the food I need to live through the day
and forgive me as I forgive the people who’ve wronged me

lead me far from temptation, deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window, the birds are composing
and not a note is out of tune or out of place
I walk through the meadow and stare at the flowers
better dressed than any girl on her wedding day

so why do I worry, why do I fear, god knows what I need
you know what I need

your love is, your love is, your love is strong

the kingdom of the heavens is now advancing
invade my heart invade this broken town
the kingdom of the heavens is buried treasure
would you sell yourself to buy the one you’ve found

two things you told me: that you are strong and you love me

your love is, your love is, your love is strong

our god in heaven, hallowed be thy name above all names
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
give us today our daily bread, forgive us weary sinners
keep us far from our vices and deliver us from these prisons

All Creatures

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

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

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, alleuia

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading is Psalm 148:

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his host!

Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens
    and you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for he commanded and they were created.
He established them forever and ever;
    he 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.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
    praise for all his faithful,
    for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is John 13:31-35:

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for 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.

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 that we’ve unlearned
and in the wreckage of our selective loves
build a tower 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 tower and lock us in

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

Doxology

praise god from whom all blessings flow
praise god all creatures here below
praise god above ye heavenly host
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 5-10-2022

(In The Life Of The Church)

Easter

Kid’s Sunday

Hello friends!

This coming Sunday is Kid’s Sunday at UBC. So our kid’s will be leading us in worship!! They have spent the last few weeks preparing for this Sunday and I can’t wait for them to share with us. I am also genuinely a little bit scared because several of them walked up to me on Sunday and said, “Next Sunday WE’RE in charge!” in a way that was honestly a little bit terrifying. So - it’s kind of a 50/50 shot at what’ll be happening on Sunday.

And if you know anything about the Bloom Room I hope you’ll be excited to see Mr. Paul and the Bloom Room Bunch lead our offering. Mr. Paul is basically a celebrity in the Bloom Room and then everyone else is 2-4 yrs old and I cannot wait for the offering!

But one thing that I know for sure is that UBC Kids have taught me so much in my time at UBC. They are smart and funny and insightful and kind above all else! I am excited to learn from them on Sunday and I hope that you are too!

-Taylor

Summer Calendar!

We have many exciting events coming up this summer and you can find our full calendar of events here on our website if you’re looking to schedule which events you want to attend this summer! We’ll also be printing a hard copy for you to take home and keep on your fridge or wherever you keep your calendar! So be on the lookout for that!

Summer KickOff - Hawaiian Falls!

Our first Summer event as a community will be June 3rd at Hawaiian Falls! We’ll meet there and have a super fun day in the sun! If you have any questions please email Taylor at taylor@ubcwaco.org.

Pastoral Associate Applications

If you are interested in serving as one of our Pastoral Associates in the coming year you can find the application here: PA Application So please go check out the application and let us know if you have any questions!

Parishioner of the Week

Joseph Leman for working up in the booth this past Sunday!

Preaching Schedule

One of things the leadership team asked Josh to do before he left was schedule preaching through May. Here’s a reminder of that lineup for y’all.

5-15 Children’s Sunday

5-22 Ericka Graham

5-29 Ericka Graham

Liturgy Stuff 5-8-2022

May 1, 2022

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on May 1st (in the order they are needed).

Come Alive

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

until we come alive
o, come, alive

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

until we come alive
o, come, alive

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

just keep on holding

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship the Living God

in whose self-giving love we reside

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

that we might receive every breath as a gift
and every day as an invitation
into the love of God

amen

Mother

is there a hair on my head
you haven’t numbered yet, you haven’t numbered yet
in the night, crying in the cold
is there a pain of mine you haven't called your own
o mother comfort, mother known

though our minds so well ignore your grace
you bring it just the same, you bring it just the same
we reside in your self-giving love
but you’ve somehow found enough
for all the space that we take up

o mother wisdom, mother love
mother comfort, mother enough

through life and death, that cradled set
beginning and the end, Beginning and the End
you are a shield, a beacon of defense
and our weaknesses align as you gather us in

o mother warrior, mother age-to-age
mother wisdom, mother grace
mother comfort, mother love-that-can’t-be-bought
mother faithful, mother god

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’s 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 flikcering
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

Come Healing

o gather up the brokenness and bring it to me now
the fragrance of those promises you’ve never dared to vow
the splinters that you carry, the cross you 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 which tore the light apart
come healing of the reason come healing of the heart

o troubled dust concealing and 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 the spirit, come healing of the limb

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Jamie’s sermon text, is Psalm 23:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
    I fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    my whole life long.

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament lectionary reading is John 10:22-30:

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."

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.

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

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

with every breath, every breath
you return to me
in heights of joy or fear of death
you are the ground beneath

Doxology

praise god from whom all blessings flow
praise god all creatures here below
praise god above ye heavenly host
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 5-4-2022

(In The Life Of The Church)

Easter

This Sunday

Hello friends! I just wanted to make a note for all of you that along with being Mother’s Day this coming Sunday our very own Jameson McGregor is going to be in the pulpit! I am thankful for all (well…most) of my conversations with Jamie. And here’s why I think you should be extremely excited that Jamie is preaching this Sunday.

Jamie is funny and kind. As we all learned earlier this year he is an excellent preacher. And he is truly, one of the most careful thinkers and theologians that I’ve known. And (I think one of my favorite things about Jamie) he firmly believes that our values should shape the way that we live our lives and the choices we make. I’m sure you already knew those things but I just want to be double sure.

Another thing about Jamie is that he hates that I did that.

All that to say that Jamie is preaching this Sunday! And I’m super excited about it! And I hope that you are too!

And I hope to see you there!

-Taylor

Finance Report - May 2022

At Town Hall on Sunday, Jen Carron, Head of Finance Team gave an excellent presentation on the state of our finances. Some of you have asked for the slides so we made a blog post just for them: Finance Report - May 2022. If you have any questions you can email taylor@ubcwaco.org or jamie@ubcwaco.org!

Children’s Sunday (5/15)

On May 15 our kids will be leading us in worship! They’ll be preparing to do that over the course of the next few Sundays during the worship hour. So - if you are interested in having your child participate in leading us in worship make sure they’re in their Sunday School classes over the course of the next several weeks! If you have any questions you can email me at taylor@ubcwaco.org!

Pastoral Associate Applications

If you are interested in serving as one of our Pastoral Associates in the coming year you can find the application here: PA Application So please go check out the application and let us know if you have any questions!

Parishioner of the Week

Jess and Wes Smith for filling in in the Sprout Room on Sunday!

Preaching Schedule

One of thing the leadership team asked Josh to do before he left was schedule preaching through May. Here’s a reminder of that lineup for y’all.

5-8 Jameson McGregor

5-15 Children’s Sunday

5-22 Ericka Graham

5-29 Ericka Graham