JAMIE’S POST
Greetings. At midnight on Saturday, I’m beginning my sabbatical. I am grateful to be a part of a community that cares for its staff by telling us to get lost for a couple of months every five years. This sabbatical marks my 10th year as Worship & Arts Pastor and happens to fall alongside my completion of a masters degree in counseling. I am a special kind of thankful for the timing of this opportunity to catch my breath.
When I first heard about sabbaticals at Ubc (I wasn’t on staff at the time), I remember someone referencing a dissertation or something about the benefits of dividing the time into three movements: decompression, focus, and re-entry. This has always struck me as a helpful framework, and I’ll be implementing those movements this summer.
My decompression period will involve a bunch of digging in the dirt, doing house projects, and other gloriously mundane things. The focus period will involve gathering some thoughts about the church calendar, as well as various Ubc liturgies, into written form. It will also involve spending some time writing and recording some new Ubc music. I’m going to a cabin in Tennessee for part of this. The re-entry period will be a time to reflect on my work at Ubc over the last ten years and start imagining what the coming years will look like in the Worship & Arts realm of the church. I’m particularly eager to see what ideas come in light of my new counseling skillset, building off the “feel your feelings” series of liturgies we’ve done in the past few years, as well as the Wheel of Awareness mediation group from Lent this year.
I consider it a great privilege to have a job that I love in a community that I love, and am again grateful for the opportunity to take time to rest and reorient in order to bring the best I have to offer to this role.
See y’all in August.
-Jamie
THIS WEEK
Youth Group is on Summer Break!
Pints w/ Toph- Wednesdays, Pinewood Public House, 6pm
GIVING
UBC survives on the generosity of our congregation. Your financial contributions allow us to continue to create a space that is welcoming to all, embraces beauty, and seeks to live life to the fullest.
You can give, as you’re able, on Sunday mornings or set up a single or recurring online gift here.
If you ever have trouble with giving online or have a question about how to give, feel free to email administrator@ubcwaco.org.
CHURCH NEEDS
NEW BABY ON THE LOOSE
This is Ginnie June Dizdar, born 5/20/25. You can sign up to take Nicole, Duke, and the kids food here.
ANOTHER NEW BABY ON THE LOOSE
This is Walt Howerton! Born 4/25/25. Kyle, Kristen and Cooper are all home and doing well! You can sign up to bring them food here.
Summer Lunch and Literacy program volunteers We are in need of some volunteers to help during the lunch hour in late June and early August. Volunteers would help with engaging with families who come for the Waco ISD free lunch served at UBC, reading with kids in smaller groups, and leading story times and/or crafts, as well as locking up the building after the hour is over. You can volunteer for one day, or many days! Sign up is here: Summer Lunch Program Volunteers and you can email nicole@ubcwaco.org for more information.
Book Drive
We are accepting gently used or new kids' books to have for our literacy program! We are looking for books ranging from preschool to 6th graders. Bring any donations to the kids' office in May and June! You can also donate funds to specifically use for purchasing books at ubcwaco.org/give, and select "Literacy Program".
Back to School Supplies for Arrow
We are beginning to collect supplies for Arrow Child and Family Ministries back to school backpack drive, and everything is due July 27th. We’ve committed to collect backpacks and supplies for 10 kids. You can sign-up in the foyer at church or email toph@ubcwaco.org When you sign-up, Toph will send you the list of supplies you will need to buy.
UBC NEW BABY TEAM
ALERT. We’ve got a veritable gaggle of babies on the way this year, and are in search of a group of volunteers who will help support the new families and little nUBCers by organizing meal trains, postpartum support, etc! Email nicole@ubcwaco.org if you're interested on serving on this team.
Are you one of our soon-to-be baby having families? Take a moment to fill out this form so we can prepare to support you and your nUBCer!
Kid’s Volunteers
SIgn up to help with ubckids! Do it for the future! You can sign up here.
GROUPS
Micasas
Micasas are designed to build more intentional community within the larger community of UBC. They meet on either Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday night. If you would like to get plugged into a Micasa, sign-up in the foyer or contact toph@ubcwaco.org for questions.
CAMP UBC: RENEW
We are putting on a day camp for rising pre-k through rising 3rd graders July 14th-17th from 9-noon. This four day camp will focus on a gardening/sustainability theme, and guide students through expressing their faith and love for the community around them.
Register your kids!
Share with your friends too! Learn more and register here.
Volunteer!
Adults and students 6th grade and up can volunteer! Sign up here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Summer Kick Off at Top Golf - Tuesday, June 3
Summer time is here, and we are kicking off the summer at Top Golf. UBC has a bay reserved and we would love for you to bring your friends and family and have a good time. There is plenty of space for kids to play near the picnic tables, and there is mini golf if you want to give that a try. We have a bay reserved from 6-8pm for those who want to give a swing! See you all next Tuesday at 6pm. If you have any questions, contact toph@ubcwaco.org
Waco Dives - Wednesday, June 4
Waco Dives is back and we are starting off with a classic: Kitok’s! We will be meeting at Kitok’s at noon next Wednesday, and would for you to join us. This a great time to hang out with other UBC’ers in the middle of the week, and join a local hole-in-the-wall spot for lunch. No need to rsvp, just bring yourself (and a friend if you want). If you have any questions, contact toph@ubcwaco.org
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Find more details and our full calendar of events on our website. This calendar is updated frequently, so check back often!
PREACHING SCHEDULE
5/25- Andie
6/1- Andie
6/8- Craig
CONTACT INFO
Pastoral Staff
Andie Pellicer, Lead Pastor
(andie@ubcwaco.org)
Toph Whisnant, Community Pastor (toph@ubcwaco.org)
Jameson McGregor, Worship & Arts Pastor (jamie@ubcwaco.org)
Nicole Dizdar, Kids Pastor
(nicole@ubcwaco.org)
Leadership Team (leadershipteam@ubcwaco.org)
Britt Duke
Andy Clark
Aleigh Ascherl
Marcus Franklin
Katie Robinson
Margo Shanks
Staff Support Team (staffsupport@ubcwaco.org)
Kyle Howerton
Jim Wren
Betsy Bracken
Finance Team (finance@ubcwaco.org)
Brandon Glover
Jonathan Hill
Ben Rose