ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Ordinary Time
Top Five (contemporary christian female authors) By Amy
Over the next few weeks the staff will use the main part of the newsletter to share lists of top fives. The topics of these lists can range from books, to music, to thinkers.
A few things seem worth mentioning. This section of the newsletter is (loosely) given to thoughts that are about formation. As such it is worth mentioning that you will consistently see material that is sometimes labeled secular and material that is considered explicitly Christian. This is a not a bad place to remind ourselves and everyone else what we believe about truth and culture ... the sacred and the secular which can be read here.
UBC celebrates a diversity of voices and opinions. These are our opinions. As with any list there will be disagreement. Please use the comments section on Facebook and/or the comments feature on the website to provide your own feedback and lists.
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While in undergrad, I (Amy) was surprised at how few women were directly involved in my education. It wasn’t just professors, but also how few books I was assigned were authored by women, from my biblical studies classes to English classes. When I began to investigate, I was shocked to find such a huge disparity between the genders. On average, 30% of books are written by women (even less when looking at academic books, but more in a few rare instances). Since then, I have been trying to be more intentional about reading female authors. This issue also translated into my academic life; my MA in New Testament has been entirely devoted to reading and recovering women in the Bible and ancient world. I am finishing up a thesis on books starring heroines in the time of Jesus. In all this, I have found a number of incredibly formative and challenging female authors that are simply must reads who I would love to share with you.
1. Barbara Brown Taylor – Several years ago, I stumbled across An Altar in the World and it was one of the most life-giving books I’ve ever read. Taylor has a number of books, articles, and sermons that are such insightful pieces of literature that each chapter feels like a holy experience. She has a way of approaching everything in such an imaginative and new angle; especially when it comes to well-loved biblical stories where I feel like I couldn’t possible hear a unique interpretation or sermon. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to take a class on Jesus and World Religions with her. She was more amazing then I dreamed she would be; I have been a devoted disciple ever since.
2. Phyllis Tickle – Tickle has been writing on the Christian spiritual life for decades. She was one of the first Greats I came across. Her insight into prayer has left a lasting impression on me. The last several years she has focused a lot of attention on the so called “decline” of American Christianity. Sadly, she died this week after being diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year. The way she spoke of life, prayer, and God in recent month, with full knowledge of her impending death, has left me in admiration. I can’t help but reflect on how my life and relationship with God might have been different without her guidance especially while I was a teenager.
3. Sarah Bessey – Bessey is a relatively new author, but she has been a celebrated blogger for years. She recently wrote the book Jesus Feminist, which celebrates what the church looks like when we all have a seat at the table. Each word is full of love, passion, and encouragement for what we are and what we can become together. As a woman trying to get by in the world of ministry and academia, I felt like passages of the book were specifically written for me. She helped me to begin healing after a particularly rough time working for a church which turned out to have a particularly low view of women; rather than resentment for the bride of Christ, I again became excited about my calling and work.
4. Rachael Held Evans – Held Evans became a life raft for me when I questioned the relevance of the affluent, safe Christianity I saw around me. Like Bessy, she is most well-known for her blogs and articles. She has become one of the few Christian commentators on politics, policy, and the day-to-day life of the church that I look to in order to help me think through and gain perspective on rather complex issues, even if we end up disagreeing. Her work on gender, sexuality, and race have been particularly valuable for me. Her most recent work has been on the sacraments and is a beautiful approach to a number of areas in religious life we often take as a matter of course.
5. Nadia Bolz-Weber – Nadia is known for being a pastor for those the church has rejected. Her congregation is an amazing mix of drag queens, the homeless, gay teens disowned by their parents, and sweet old ladies. She released a book a few weeks ago that immediately shot to #12 on the New York Times best sellers list entitled “Accidental Saints: Finding God in all the Wrong People.” Bolz-Weber has been influential on me for a number of reasons; part of it can be summed up in the title of her book – the more open I am to God, the more I keep “finding God in all the wrong people.” I first read her work when I lived in a place where my neighbors consisted of a sex-offender, two retired carnival gypsies (their own terms), an open-carry NRA libertarian, and a few other colorful members. She initially inspired me to be open to others; it ended with me somehow becoming our unofficial neighborhood chaplain. The gospel she espouses is not for the faint of heart, but difficult and yet beautiful.
HR Team Nominations
The fearless Jeff Walter's stint as a HR team member is coming to an end. Therefore, we need to find a replacement. If you have an interest in serving or nominating someone for the HR team, email that name to josh@ubcwaco.org. Here is some information on the HR team from the bylaws.
(C) Qualifications. HR/Staff Support Team members shall have been an active participant in the life of UBC for no less than one year, have received a bachelor’s degree (or roughly an equivalent amount of experience in personnel management, ministry, or other related field,) and have a demonstrable understanding of organizational management.
(A) Purpose. The Human Resources/Staff Support Team shall exist for the following purposes:
a. To establish procedures for the hiring of ministerial and non-ministerial staff, and to enact those procedures when advised by Leadership Team to do so.
b. To advise Leadership and Finance teams on issues regarding long-term staff needs.
c. To create and implement staff review procedures.
d. To advise Leadership and Finance teams on matters regarding staff compensation, benefits, grievances and termination.
e. To be a liaison between the congregation and staff during times of conflict after all attempts at personal, one-on-one resolution has been made.
College Retreat - October 9/10 - $50
This is the last week to sign-up. Join us for a great weekend away learning more about the core values that shape UBC. Your cost includes 3 meals, lodging, and a UBC shirt. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org
Thailand Mission Trip - May 2016
If you are interested in learning more about UBC’s work in Thailand, there will be an interest meeting after church on October 4th in the Rock n Roll Room. There will be a sign-up sheet in the foyer if you would like to receive more information. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org
SWCC Halloween Festival - October 20th
This will be our third year to help with the largest Halloween Festival in South Waco! This year the festival will be held on Tuesday night, October 20th, and we need your help. This year we are needing almost 100 volunteers, so please mark it on your calendar and sign-up to help in October. Be on the lookout for more information in the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org
JSL Prayer
Thank you to everyone who came out to help with the JSL bag packing on Wednesday night. Tonight, September 25th, is the outreach. Please pray for the JSL team members and volunteers who are going out to the clubs tonight. Please pray for the women who they will talk to. Pray the love of Christ will be made known to the women and club owners.
Town Hall Recap
This last Sunday we meet for our quarterly town hall meeting. Here are a few talking points from that meeting.
1. finances: I shared a few things about the finance meeting. In short for the months of July and August we brought in roughly the same amount that we spent. The most up to date finance numbers can be seen monthly in the newsletter. our last finance report was published in the newsletter last week.
2. budget accountability: the human resources team asked us to show how the additional money that we had in this years budget was being spent on ministry. Toph gave a few examples. If you would like an in depth report, please feel free schedule a meeting with Amy@ubcwaco.org.
3. Mission: Toph gave a report on our mission trip to Thailand in May. Specifically Toph shared stories about the work our partners are doing. There names are anonymous (not in print) for their protection. If you would like more information email toph@ubcwaco.org.
4. Mid year reviews: are taking place in October. After our annual reviews in April, we decided UBC would be served better if Toph began doing work as the HR liaison. So he will be conducting those with the HR team in early October. Please contact any of HR members with questions or concerns. Their emails are listed at the bottom of the newsletter.
5. OAR update: The ownership and accountability team met for the first time last Sunday. Toph gave brief report on what was discussed, their starting point and who is on that team. The OAR team is made up of ten members. They are:
- Kareem Shane: kareem.shane@gmail.com
- BJ Parker: b_j_parker@baylor.edu
- Liz Andrasi: andrasi.e@gmail.com
- Leigh Curl: leigh_curl@baylor.edu
- Brandon Morgan: Brandon_Morgan@baylor.edu
- Dani Miller: Dani.Miller@familyabusecenter.org
- Jacob Robinson: jacobkylerobinson@gmail.com
- Kristin Dodson: kschwebke@prodigy.net
- Toph Whisnant: toph@ubcwaco.org
6. Youth Pastor: Josh concluded the meeting by inviting the congregation to begin thinking about and praying with us about the youth ministry. As of now, UBC has a few kids in that age range. Eventually that will get bigger. We'd for you to partner with us in dreaming and praying about how to minster now and then and what God would have us do moving forward. Please email questions or concerns to josh@ubcwaco.org
Satan Slayers Recap
Well ... you've got to admire their persistence. The Slayers were dealt a pair of losses this week dropping one to Buzzard and the other to The Boomstick Mafia, which might be the best named team in the league.
Coach Roldan changed some things up in the rotation hum chucking Amber Wilhite in game one. "It was a tight strike zone," Roldan observed, "Amber's screwball was k-ing betters, but a couple of her fastballs got hung up in the zone and tattooed by the middle of the order." After dropping a respectable game to Buzzard, the Slayers played host to a clinic put on by the Mafia losing 19-0. Jacob Robinson picked up his third loss of the year.
The only thing darker than the night sky after they shut off the lights at River Bend Stadium last Thursday night was the mood in the clubhouse. Still looking for their first win, it seems the blame game has started. Here's a few soundbites I got from post game interviews.
Kelsey Lawson: "I mean it's like Coach doesn't know how to manage the rotation. After Jake gave up that three run shot in the 3rd he didn't take a trip to the mound to check on him. He was busy reading early reviews of Ryan Adams 1989 on his phone."
Jacob Robinson: "You know if this doesn't work out ... i can always fall back on my film career. Have you seen A League of Their Own? I didn't make that movie, but that was my idea. If I can't play softball I'm going to depict it."
Evie Swanson: "This stuff never happens in Minnesota. They call this softball? I can't wait until my name goes on waivers."
Jeff Latham: "Have you ever seen Breaking Bad? I'M THE ONE WHO KNOCKS! Micdrop."
Work is Worship
Greeters: Haines Family & Will DeWitt
Coffee Makers: Chad & Joel
Mug Cleaners: Leigh
Announcements:
Sunday Sermon Text: Matthew 14:1-12
College Retreat -October 9-10. $50 cJoin us for a great weekend away learning more about the core values that shape UBC. Your cost includes 3 meals, lodging, and a UBC shirt. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org
we will be partnering with the South Waco Community Center on October 20th to put on a Halloween Festival for the community. We need 80 volunteers. Please contact toph@ubcwaco.org for more information
Our next UBCYP event will be Friday October 16th. Contact jamie@ubcwaco.org for more information
Date Night will be Friday October 16th. More information to come.
We will be celebrating the life of Kyle Lake during our worship service on Sunday October 25th. Please invite friends that you think might be interested in joining us that day.
Do you have an Emergency? Do you Need to talk to a Pastor?:
254 498 2261
Leadership Team
If you have a concern or an idea for UBC that you’d like to share with someone that is not on staff, feel free to contact one of our leadership team members.
Chair- Kristin Dodson: kschwebke@prodigy.net
Joy Wineman: joy.wineman@gmail.com
Stan Denman: Stan_Denman@baylor.edu
David Wilhite: David_Wilhite@baylor.edu
Byron Roldan: Byron_Roldan@baylor.edu
Sharyl Loeung: sharylwl@gmail.com
Jon Davis: jdavis83@gmail.com
UBC Finance Team
Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members.
Tom Haines: thomas_haines@baylor.edu
Josh McCormick: Josh.McCormick@dwyergroup.com
Chris Kim: chris_kim@alumni.baylor.edu
Hannah Kuhl: HannahKuhl@hotmail.com
Justin Pond: pondjw@gmail.com
Lacy Crocker: lacykcrocker@gmail.com
UBC HR Team
If you have concerns about staff and would like contact our human resources team, please feel free to email any of the following members.
Maxcey Blaylock: maxceykite@gmail.com
Mathew Crawford: mathewcrawford@yahoo.com
Callie Schrank: Callie_Schrank@baylor.edu
Jeff Walter: Jeff_Walter@ubcwaco.org
Rob Engblom: Rob_Engblom@baylor.edu