ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Christmas
The World I Want To Live In
I drive a scooter. You can read about the reasons for that and my enthusiasm for that kind of transportation here.
My mom’s dad passed away on Saturday morning. He was 99 and ready to die. Needless to say she bought a plane ticket and drove her minivan up to DFW to fly to Florida. With my mom went Wendell’s Monday/Wednesday child care and his transportation.
My mom is an enneagram 1 with a 2 wing. Obviously she was going to go to Florida, but the circumstances weren’t enough to make her feel excused of the duties she volunteers for i.e. taking care of a toddler two days a week. We encouraged her not to worry about because Lindsay and I are great people like that.
But this did put us in a small pickle. I’m talking about a 2 out of 10 pickle (my mom reads the newsletter, so I really need to downplay this part). Here’s how this solution came to us. Two different friends volunteered to watch Wendell on Monday and Wednesday. But there was still the issue of the car. At first Lindsay and I reasoned that we could just be a one car family in my mom’s (and her minivan’s) absence. But as we started dissecting the week and crafting plans, it became clear that this was going to be as easy as putting an air mattress back in the original box.
On Sunday morning when we woke up Lindsay suggested that we use the afternoon to make a car purchase. We’ve been planning on buying a 12 passenger van sometime in the next year, so she reasoned that we could move the purchase date up a few months. I have a self preservation instinct. I hate spending money, even if I plan to do it. So I talked her back away from the ledge and I put our car need on Facebook.
You probably won’t be surprised to hear that I had multiple offers. All my friends are big time generous winners. Eventually we selected the help of Mose and Kathy Dunning, all-American-champion transplants from Houston. On Sunday evening they rolled into our driveway with a sweet awesome Volvo something or another, a nicer car than I usually get to drive. #winning. It’s been my set of hot wheels all week.
I don’t like needing help. I always feel obligated in response. Jesus is right, it’s better to give than to receive, but I think I agree with him for the wrong reason. I don’t like feelings of indebtedness. Even if they are self-invented, they chip away at my internal sense of autonomy. So I agree it is better to give than to receive. But I made conscious choice on Sunday night. I meditated on the few times in my life when I have been able to provide for others. I reflected on how much joy I got from being able to do that. In that reflecting I gave myself permission to enjoy the help from my friends and I reminded myself that this is the nature of the kingdom Jesus proclaims.
So question for you. When was the last time you gave yourself permission to enjoy someone else’s generosity?
Parishioner of the Week
Paul Carron for his Grammy worthy performance of kids music in the bloom room.
Random Picture So This Blog has a Thumbnail and a Greater Chance of Being Clickbait
UBCYP Game Night (TONIGHT)
the second friday of every month, the ubc "young" "professionals" get together for a game night at Ricky Lovecky's house at 7pm. If you are interested in going, you can email ricky_lovecky@baylor.edu for further details.
Town Hall
Town Hall will take place after church this Sunday.
Sunday School
Sunday School will start this Sunday January 14th. We will be having two classes this Spring. The first class led by Val Fisk and Kelly Doolittle will be about Matthew's usage of the Old Testament in writing his gospel. The other class, Cheers, will resume and study the gospel of Mark. That class will be led by Dr. Adam Winn. YOUTH SS does not start until the following Sunday.
Work is Worship
Greeters: Ricky
Coffee Makers: Jacob & Katie
Mug Cleaners: Cooleys
Money Counter: Anna Tilson
Announcements
- Sermon Text:
- 1-28 Quarterly Leadership Team Meeting
- FEBRUARY BLACK HISTORY MONTH LITURGY
- 2-4 NUBCer Lunch
- 2-11 Love, Love Feast 6:00 PM CST
- 2-16 Date Night
- 2-12 Finance Team Meeting
- 2-14 Ash Wednesday Service, Lent Begins