Setlist 9-27-2015

This week, our songs were gathered around the theme of need.  Below, you’ll find the list of the songs and artists. Clicking the song titles will take you to the lyrics. Below the songs, there is an example of one way you might think of these songs in light of this week's theme. If you want to talk about any of these, feel free to comment at the bottom of this page or email me atjamie@ubcwaco.org.

Songs

Come Thou Fount

This is Amazing Grace by Phil Wickham

Lord, I Need You by Matt Maher

Shadow by Jameson McGregor

House of God Forever by Jon Foreman

Doxology

How They Fit In:

There are many ways to think about the significance of songs and the way they fit together–-this is simply one way you can look at these songs in light of this week’s theme. 

Come Thou Fount: We sang this song to express our need for God to partner with us in life and in our acts of worship.  At ubc, we often talk about seeking to be formed in the way of Christ.  This choice of words centers our attention on God's action within us.  We don't get to pass through life without trying to do things (live like Christ, eat pizza, dance, throw dinner parties, worship, etc), but the things we do are worthwhile because of what is done in us by God.  

This Is Amazing Grace: We sang this song to think about the radical grace of God, who is clothed in unlimited cosmic power, yet cares for humanity enough to endure suffering and to patiently coax us into a relationship with Godself.

Lord, I Need You:  We sang this song to remind ourselves quite clearly that we need to turn to God when we think the least of ourselves.  The grace we sang about in the previous song means we don't have to be afraid that God is going to run out of patience with us.  Furthermore, we don't have to try to make ourselves look and less broken than we are in order for God to want to come to our aid.  The Christian life is the life of a work in progress.

Shadow: Sometimes in Christian circles, we talk about "dying to self."  I won't claim to fully understand this image, but I think it communicates the idea that, though the way we operate as humans is ultimately a selfish existence, Jesus calls us to focus our attention on God and other people.  This song is about the lingering impulse to keep our thinking turned in on ourselves that we have to kill in some way daily, and that we are are ultimately in need of God's help every day to make this happen.  I wanted to write a really long post explaining the ins and outs of every image in this song, but I think these few sentences are enough to provide the context for you to read the lyrics for yourself and see what the images say to you.  As always, feel free to email me with any questions or concerns about this new song.

House of God Forever:  We sang this song to take a look over our shoulder at last week's songs.  Here's what we said about House of God Forever then: We sang this song to proclaim that God does not simply pay attention to us or pursue us.  Instead, God draws us near--takes care of us.  At this point, we are a far cry from what we might expect of the Holy God we sang about in the first song.

Doxology: We close our time together each week with this proclamation that God is worthy of praise from every inch of the cosmos. 

-JM

ITLOTC 9-26-15

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.

______________________________________________________________

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: 

1. Kareem Shane: kareem.shane@gmail.com
2. BJ Parker: b_j_parker@baylor.edu 
3. Liz Andrasi: andrasi.e@gmail.com
4. Leigh Curl: leigh_curl@baylor.edu
5. Brandon Morgan: Brandon_Morgan@baylor.edu
6. Dani Miller: Dani.Miller@familyabusecenter.org 
7. Jacob Robinson: jacobkylerobinson@gmail.com
8. Kristin Dodson: kschwebke@prodigy.net 
9. 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

Setlist 9-20-2015

This week, our songs were gathered around the theme of God's freedom.  Below, you’ll find the list of the songs and artists. Clicking the song titles will take you to the lyrics. Below the songs, there is an example of one way you might think of these songs in light of this week's theme. If you want to talk about any of these, feel free to comment at the bottom of this page or email me atjamie@ubcwaco.org.

Songs

Holy, Holy, Holy

Heart Won't Stop by John Mark McMillan

House of God Forever by Jon Foreman

Wild One by Jameson McGregor

Be Thou My Vision

Doxology

How They Fit In:

There are many ways to think about the significance of songs and the way they fit together–-this is simply one way you can look at these songs in light of this week’s theme. 

Holy, Holy, Holy: We sang this song to begin our time together by establishing that God is beyond us--out of our reach.  We offer our attention and praise to God, though God has no "need" of this, and really is not obligated to listen to us.

Heart Won't Stop: We sang this song to think about the fact that God not only chooses to take notice of us, but continually pursues us, even when we have made our home in places we might assume God will not go.

House of God Forever:  We sang this song to proclaim that God does not simply pay attention to us or pursue us.  Instead, God draws us near--takes care of us.  At this point, we are a far cry from what we might expect of the Holy God we sang about in the first song.

Wild One:  We sang this song as a response to the tension presented between the first song and the second two:  God is not limited by who we expect God to be or by what makes sense to us.  God is holy and "removed," yes, but God is also present in the midst of what seems to be the farthest from holy, working to establish a relationship with creatures who[(m) i really never know which one] God could easily destroy and move on.  God is not hemmed in by red tape and policies in order to be holy--God is free.  And God uses this freedom in surprising ways, continually showing us just how little we understand about love.

Be Thou My Vision: We sang this song to look over our shoulder at last week's songs.  This is what we said about Be Thou My Vision then: We sang this song as a communal prayer that God would transform the way we see the world, and the way we live in it.  [I changed a line of this song over the summer--if you missed the explanation for that change, you can check out the setlist from that week here.]

Doxology: We close our time together each week with this proclamation that God is worthy of praise from every inch of the cosmos. 

-JM

ITLOTC 9-18-15

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church) 

Ordinary Time

Top Five (christian non-fiction books)

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.  

A special note on this entry.  Some of my choices are probably too specific in focus.  By that I mean they are scholarly works dealing with new testament issues and/or theology.  I'm leaving those out because I don't think anyone cares about those books. 

1. Harry Potter (i'm just kidding) 

1. Lament For A Son - Nicholas Wolterstorff: Wolterstorff is a retired philosophy professor who spent most of his career serving at Calvin College and Yale.  In 1985 he lost his son who died in a climbing accident.  Lament For A Son reads like a journal that Wolterstorff shares with those who are willing to sit and listen.  The first time I read this book I almost suffocated.  It is raw, honest and powerful.  Wolterstorff manages to find language full of meaning to describe an experience in which many people can barely say anything at all.  I now read this book during Lent every year.  Sometimes I get so wrapped up in it, I finish it one sitting.  

2. The Pastor - Eugene Peterson: I wonder as I write this if I enjoyed Peterson's book because I am a pastor.  I think the answer has to inevitably be yes.  And still, I think the book is accessible and enjoyable for everyone.  If I were to form a Fellowship of the Ring out of a bunch of characters form real life, I'd ask Eugene Peterson to be Gandalf.  I was recently talking to Truett  professor Robert Creech who has taught a class on Eugene Peterson and he said that, "more than one pastor has told me that her career has been saved by Peterson's writing."  I get it.  He mentors with his words and God uses him to restore souls.  This book then, is the story of a Pastor who has meant so much to so many pastors.  The is the story about becoming a real life Gandalf. 

3. Leaving Church - Barbara Brown Taylor:  Do I talk about her too much?  Yes and No.  Barbara Brown Taylor is fun to read because she's an artists whose craft happens to be writing.  I think she is the absolute best at putting together words in one sentence to create meaning that I didn't know was possible with just letters.  Leaving Church is, as the rest of the title declares, a memoir of faith.  In it she describes her journey out of full time parish work and into the academy, but it's also a model about how to hold the faith. But BBT is uniquely powerful in another regard.  Usually when artist crosses over into science I find myself disappointed.  But Taylor's work as an artists makes her work as a theologian all the more profound.  Neither motif is dispensed in service to the other and that is a rare gift. 

4. The Naked Now - Richard Rohr: Rohr is a Franciscan monk who lives in the dessert and thinks and writes about amazing ideas.  The subtitle of this book is "learning to see as the mystics see."  I'm not sure I'm any closer to being a mystic or even understanding mysticism, but reading Rohr's book helped me settle down.  The Naked Now is short, not even 200 pages, and yet it took me a long time to read because I could only get 5 pages in before needing set it down and think for a while.  I'd sum up my major discovery this way.  Rohr taught me two ideas could be true even if I didn't think they could.  He helped introduce a humility in my thinking that has set me free from the bondage of needing to be right. 

5. After You Believe - N.T. Wright: I'm going to begin with a criticism.  I think Wright and his publisher Harper One have discovered that his stuff is so successful, that he is now rewriting the same books over and over.  Head the religion section at your local Barnes and Noble and you're likely to find at least one Surprised by Something or Mere Something.  Still those ideas Wright is sharing are important and summarized well (which is why he keeps getting published).  Of his popular works my favorite is After You Believe. At some point in my deconstructionist phase I figured out that Evangelicals had made millions of converts not Christians.  I wanted a theology that demanded more from me without falling prey to legalism.  N.T. Wright writes about a theological world where that's possible and this the book that describes it.  

Those are my books. What are yours? 

JSL Outreach Help!

We are sponsoring the September outreach for JSL this month, and we need your help putting together bags and writing notes.  Join us at 5:30pm, Wednesday September 23, at UBC.  We will be putting bags together for the dancers, and writing encouraging notes.  If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwac.org .  

Family Weekend Breakfast - September 20, 2015

Bring your family to church next weekend and eat breakfast with us!  The breakfast will be at 9:30 in the Backside.  If you would like to help with breakfast, please sign-up on Sunday to bring a dish.

nUBC’ers Luncheon - September 27, 2015

If you are new to UBC in 2015, we would love to have you stay for lunch after church on the 27th.  This will be a time you can hear more about the history of the church, our current initiatives, and ask any questions you may have.  There will be a sign-up sheet in the foyer on the 20th.  If you have any questions, please email

Town Hall - September 20th, 2015

We are having our quarterly town hall meeting after church on September 20th.  We will give you a few minutes for people to connect after the service, as well as leaving time for those to leave who do not wish to stay for the town hall.  If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org

Cesar Chavez Partnership Meeting

We will have a short meeting after church this Sunday for those interested in serving in our programs at CCMS.  We will meet in the red room after church (the room just pass the coffee room on your left), and the meeting will only be about 15 minutes.

Financial Report

THE PLAN:  Our fiscal year runs from the first of July through the end of June.  This year’s budget is $309,412.  Fixed expenses (staff salaries, building and office expenses) accounts for $253,373, or 81.9% of the total, and ministry expenses (the many things our church does for our community and for those who attend) accounts for $56,039 or 18.1%.

OUR EXPENSES AND INCOME:  Between July 1st and September 8th, we have spent $55,170.  Those items considered fixed accounted for 90% of this spending and those considered ministry about 10%.  Our income from tithes and offerings during this period totaled $56,501.  About 45% of our income is received through online methods (PayPal and EasyTithe); the other coming from Sunday morning collections.

OUR STATUS:  UBC’s cash (checking account) balance is currently about $25,400, with another $86,285 in savings.  We continue to carry no debt.

As you can see, our expenses and income are very close and our cash balance covers a little less than two months of expenses.  So we rely heavily on weekly tithes and offerings.

If you’d like to be a financial partner with UBC, you can sign up for monthly giving through EasyTithe

Satan Slayer Recap

The Satan Slayers lost another game on Thursday night, this time to the TSTC Tornado & Two Other Words I Can't Remember.  I've been a sports columnist now for the whole of four weeks now and I can tell you in my decorated journalism career I've not quite seen a team who can lose one like the Slayers.  The Tornado squad came out fierce and the Slayers quickly figured out they were no longer in Kansas.  One explanation is that the Slayers were without a full squad.  That McNeil guy wasn't there because he had to work a late shift at Billy Bob's.  Catcher Amber Wilhite was not able to be there to control the pitching and it showed.  When asked about her absence Amber replied, "For the love God the game started at 9:30 PM, I'm in bed and into my third chapter of Anne of Green Gables by that time.  Obviously the committee making schedules has never had 6 AM wake up calls filled with tired children, emerging teenagers and a world class patristic scholar who can't spell his name before he's had a cup of coffee."  

When I contacted the city's record keeping department to get a score I was put on hold for 15 minutes until a guy name Butch finally answered.  He told me he didn't know that the city had a softball league and transferred me to parks and rec.  There I talked with Vicky who said that they aren't allowed to share scores without a valid drivers license or water bill.  So I went downtown and showed Vicky my license.  She had to verify it in the verifying machine, but it was broken.  Maintenance had put in order to get it fixed, but that part of the budget is up for debate in city council.  So in all likely hood I won't be able to get the score until the season is over.  

So what do we make of the slayers season at this point?  Coach Roldan told me he's not discouraged.  He said the night is darkest before dawn and that he's seen the movie Facing the Giants and so I shouldn't worry.  He knows how to get this team some W's.  I asked coach if he was nervous about job security.  He told me that front office doesn't have the courage they need to fire him and that nobody in their right mind would take over coaching the Slayers.  

We shall see.  The Slayers will be back in action last night.  Yep you read that correctly.  The newsletter comes out on Fridays and I give you the news from the week before.  So who knows?  Perhaps as you read this, the Slayers have already turned a corner.  Let's hope.  

Work is Worship

Greeters: MaryGayle (Goldberry) and Blaylocks 

Coffee Makers: emmy & stephen

Mug Cleaners: the cooleys 

Announcements:

• Sunday Sermon Text:  Matthew 13:53-58: "Bless, Send, & Let Go" (Parents Weekend)

• Pub Group this Wednesday at 5:30pm (note the time change) at the Dancing Bear. Come have a pint with some other UBCers and talk about stuff (and things). 21 and up.

• 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

Setlist 9-13-2015

This week, our songs were gathered around the theme of transformation.  Below, you’ll find the list of the songs and artists. Clicking the song titles will take you to the lyrics. Below the songs, there is an example of one way you might think of these songs in light of this week's theme. If you want to talk about any of these, feel free to comment at the bottom of this page or email me at jamie@ubcwaco.org.

Songs

Amazing Grace by Citizens & Saints

How Great Thou Art

Be Thou My Vision

Pain by Jameson McGregor

Fall Afresh by Jeremy Riddle

Doxology

How They Fit In:

There are many ways to think about the significance of songs and the way they fit together–-this is simply one way you can look at these songs in light of this week’s theme. 

Amazing Grace: Perhaps the most surface-level take away from this song is that the Grace of God has saved us, and I think that is legitimate, but we sang Amazing Grace this week to think about the fact that this gift of Grace does not merely change our status of salvation, but knocks around in our lives and transforms us into people who are more like Jesus.  

How Great Thou Art: We sang this song to practice recognizing the works of God in history, and responding with praise.  This response is something we partner with the Holy Spirit to cultivate within ourselves--a transformation that we would do well to leave ourselves open to.  We can easily get to a place where we accept the wonders of God as simply the way things are, but this song calls us to maintain a sense of awe--to allow ourselves to be transformed into a people who carry a sensitivity to such wonders.  This might look like being the kind of people who are excited--and driven to worship--when the scientific community discovers another layer of complexity in the cosmos, knowing that science more often than not opens up doors to seeing just how much we don't know about the way things work.  It might also look like being the kind of people who, upon seeing someone do something we would consider awful, turn our minds to the dark places in ourselves and think about what God has done for us, and how much more God can do within us.  

Be Thou My Vision: We sang this song as a communal prayer that God would transform the way we see the world, and the way we live in it.  [I changed a line of this song over the summer--if you missed the explanation for that change, you can check out the setlist from that week here.]

Pain: This song is about the danger of keeping our pain locked up in ourselves.  I have two broad categories of pain in mind here.  On the one hand, this pain might be considered externally caused--the emotional effects of something that has happened.  On the other hand, the pain I'm talking about is self-inflicted--it's the guilt, the fear of being found out, that accompanies our own downfalls.  I can't speak for you, but I know that my tendency is to try and ignore things that hurt me (in an emotional sense), regardless of how serious they are, thinking I can move on unscathed this way.  The problem is, I've found that pain has a way of poisoning me to a certain extent--be it through leaving me with a dull anger that affects my general mood, or through sizzling like white noise, clouding my thoughts and social interactions.  My inclination is to carry my own weight, so to speak, but I'm ill-equipped for such a task.  Jesus talks about setting aside our heavy "yokes" and taking up His easy "yoke."  I'm pretty sure he's talking about setting aside a meticulous code of religious laws, and taking up the law of love, but I don't think it is inappropriate to apply the same image to our own anxieties and sources of pain.  I've been thinking about anxiety and emotional suffering a lot lately, and I've been asking a lot of questions.  One of these is why the pain of [insert source of emotional suffering] fades over time.  Why do things that wreck us emotionally have the potential to get better over time?  One answer might be this: the context changes: the world didn't end, life moved on, or something good came out of a bad situation.  I think this sort of change of context is what we are offered by God.  While God doesn't necessarily take our pain away, the Gospel extends to us the hope of a context-change that just might take some of the weight away in the present.  In God, we find the potential for the way we think about pain to be transformed.  This is a new one, so be sure to check out the lyrics and email me with any questions.

Fall Afresh: We sang this song to look over our shoulder at last week's songs.  Here's what we said about Fall Afresh then: We sang this song to voice our dependence on the Spirit for living life to the fullest and for taking our journey of faith seriously.  

Doxology: We close our time together each week with this proclamation that God is worthy of praise from every inch of the cosmos. 

-JM

ITLOTC 9-11-15

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church) 

Ordinary Time

Top Five (formative fiction books of all time)

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.  

1. The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis - It should not be surprising that the top spot is given to one of the most celebrated Christian authors of all time.  Lewis is a unique figure who has managed to simultaneously fill up evangelical bookstores and garner the respect of atheist critics.  Perhaps there is some truth then to Tolkien's criticism that he is every man's theologian.  Still, though I've grown up with and in some sense past C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce shaped the way I understand formation, choice, life, death, heaven and hell like nothing I've ever read.  If I could only have one book to teach people about following God outside of the Bible, it would be this book. 

2. Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry - Wendell Berry does so much with these characters in the Port Charles.  In it you will find themes of agriculture, the destructive effects of technology, and healthy relationships.  But all of those themes are subservient, in my opinion, to the larger story of the formational life of the community.  We spend an entire life with Jayber.  And while living in it with him, readers grow in faith, commitment, and care for the people around them.  Jayber Crow was the first book to teach me how the transcendent is packed into the seemingly mundane nature of immanence.  

3. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver - At some point I began to take apart the worldview I grew up with.  It started in college when I began to see what people, that I respected, thought about the world in a way that was different than me.  It has continued today.  The process of discovering the new and consequently that you are continually wrong in your suppositions, is a painful and precious one. Kingsolver's book puts that process in a story that's moving, challenging and educational.  And it's just sooooo good!

4. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens - I read A Tale of Two Cities because it was assigned to me in high school.  I read A Christmas Carol because I love Christmas.  The only other Dickens book I was crazy enough to try and read was this book.  It was every bit as tedious and long as you might expect a Dicken's orphan novel to feel.  It took me months, some of them agonizing, to get through it.  And when I was done I found a reward.  Like Jayber Crow, David Copperfield, took me on an adventure in which I got to observe the full scope of a narrative. With that vantage point I got to see how precious his life and the lives of those around him were.  

5. Life of Pi by Yann Martel - I cruised through this book fairly quickly. It is interesting and obscure.  You move with Pi, who is the son of a Zoo owner from India, across the ocean in a life boat with a tiger named Richard Parker.  That story is interesting in and of itself.  What blew my mind about this book is in the last twenty pages.  Without telling you what happens I will tell you this.  This book taught me something about reading scripture.  There is fancy word, hermeneutics, that describes the lens or perspective from which we read a story.  Life of Pi, shaped my hermeneutic for reading scripture.  

This is my list, what is yours? 

Family Weekend Breakfast - September 20, 2015

Bring your family to church next weekend and eat breakfast with us!  The breakfast will be at 9:30 in the Backside.  If you would like to help with breakfast, please sign-up on Sunday to bring a dish.

nUBC’ers Luncheon - September 27, 2015

If you are new to UBC in 2015, we would love to have you stay for lunch after church on the 27th.  This will be a time you can hear more about the history of the church, our current initiatives, and ask any questions you may have.  There will be a sign-up sheet in the foyer on the 20th.  If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org

Town Hall - September 20th, 2015

We are having our quarterly town hall meeting after church on September 20th.  We will give you a few minutes for people to connect after the service, as well as leaving time for those to leave who do not wish to stay for the town hall.  If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org

College Retreat - October 8-9

The cost of the retreat is $50, which covers lodging, 3 meals, and UBC swag.  There will be a sign-up sheet in the foyer on Sunday, please email toph@ubcwaco.org if you have any questions.

HR Team Member Needed

The fearless Jeff Walter is hanging up the jersey after a few years of serving on our HR squad.  Are you interested in serving on the Human Resources/Staff Support committee or would you like to nominate someone you think would be good?  Please send your name to josh@ubcwaco.org

 

Satan Slayers Recap

The Satan Slayers lost another close one to improve to 0 and 3 on the season.  The Melody Ranch Ranch Hands dropped the Slayers like a bad habit in five innings.  The 13-10 final communicates that the Slayers lost, but what it does not show is the heart of this team and the fierce comeback that they put on display at River Bend Stadium last Thursday.  

When asked about the comeback Coach Roldan said, "This team has got a heart so big, it crushes this town ... that's what my buddy Tommy Petty always says." 

Indeed the Slayers did show heart ... and knees.  Skinned knees.   Just ask shortstop Brad Rettler who left it all on the field including a couple of layers of the epidermis.  Or how about Rob Engblom who bobbled a ball, but then used Jedi like concentration to haul it in.  Or how about Amber Wilhite who consistently punished Ranch Hands trying to sneak  onto home plate.  These kids did it all on Thursday.  

Roldan continued: "It doesn't matter the size of the dog in the fight, it matters what the size of the fight is in the dog."  

and then after wiping a tear from his eye "there's no "i" in team."  

After a few more t-shirt slogan answers I asked Roldan about the presence of Dani Miller in the dugout.  

"Dani came to give emotional support.  That's what good leaders do and that's what she is.  Her hand is healing up nicely and we expect to see her in the next week or two."

Later that evening I caught up with Kelsey Lawson who remarked, "there's a sale at Penny's!" 

Roldan kept himself off the diamond and then gave the starting nod to reliever Jacob Robinson.  Robinson threw five frames walking 7 and giving up 22 hits, yielded 13 runs.   Some people might have been discouraged by that 23.4 ERA, but not Jake.  Here's what he had to say after the game.  

"Hey do you know where that group is meeting in the parking lot?  We were supposed to celebrate with some Zebra Cakes and and game of Settlers."  

Work is Worship

Greeters: Kelsey, Rick, the Walters 

Coffee Makers: Joy & Ryan (Dream Team)

Mug Cleaners: Emmy 

Announcements:

• Sunday Sermon Text:  Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23:  "Matthew's Farm Part 2" 

• Pub Group this Wednesday at 5:30pm (note the time change) at the Dancing Bear. Come have a pint with some other UBCers and talk about stuff (and things). 21 and up.

• On September 18, UBCYP (ubc young professionals) will meet at Jamie's house at 7 for food, fun, and good times. There will be a sign up sheet in the lobby starting this Sunday for those who are interested. 

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

Community Voices

The benefits of being human in Church 

What does it mean to be convicted? For me growing up it meant that sinking feeling in the pew of a too cold sanctuary when my spirit was squeezed to the point of crushing as I was faced with the "truth" that I was not enough.

You see my humanness prevented me from living up to the commandments from the pulpit- those that exceeded the 10, those that called me to the narrowest tightrope. The unofficial-official rules of the playbook.

God loves you- but watch out-he'll judge you at the pearly gates.

God forgives you and all is wiped away, but you must confess continually without ceasing to this community, which may or may not be emotionally or theologically safe.

Walk this painful and lonely road- we will support you in your decision to do so, but in the midst of it you will turn around and we will be in our quiet times, doing devotionals, or watching 7th heaven and we will be to busy to prop you up.

Maybe pray more?

There is an unpardonable sin, and you may be doing it, so you better check yourself before you wreck yourself.

Josh acknowledges often that we are a church of the over churched and under churched. I fall into the former. There was no reciprocity in the religion of my childhood- it's our way or the highway. I remember attending a small private Christian college in the Midwest and learning there were denominations. Up until that point I thought all Christians were like my community- except for Catholics- Catholics weren't Christian at all.

God was in a box, he was proclaimed to be omnipotent and yet, could only redeem those powerful enough to determine and disseminate the rules from their lofty places in the church. Oh yes, and I could never achieve such a position due to my two X chromosomes. Darn you X chromosomes! It was a helpless feeling in a system that blamed those who felt helpless for not trying hard enough, or doing “it" wrong. This faith thing.

So in-my-life-of-the-church here at UBC many wounds have been healed. Perhaps this is the experience of many of the over-churched amongst us, or perhaps it is unique to me. I am vulnerable to feeling unique (I’m a 4 on the enneagram, don’t judge). The inclusivity, transparency, vulnerability and humility of the leadership; the way in which she stands for a God who can meet you in an industrial building (didn’t it used to be a piggly wiggly?), with open cups of coffee in mismatched mugs, in all your humanness; these are the cornerstones of my new faith. I have been born again, but not in the way my parents might hope.

So to end, where I began- feeling convicted. God slaps me in the face at least once each Sunday between the hours of 10:30-12:00pm. He shows up in the poetic worship, in the authentic liturgy, in the chocolate doughnuts and the sound of my daughters’ shoes slapping against the raw concrete. Her feet sounding applause. I feel God calling me to a better, to a less finite version of him, a more complex understanding that shakes me in a good way. Our community is woven together with filmy thin tendrils of love. The gossamer membership of this precious community in which just showing up affords you belonging; I am happy to be part of this body, and to feel God calling me to be more generous, kinder, vulnerable and open. My heart is squeezed in the “pew," and it's a giant hug, and I am grateful. God is enough, so I don’t have to be.

Setlist 9-6-2015

This week, our songs were gathered around the theme of dependence.  Below, you’ll find the list of the songs and artists. Clicking the song titles will take you to the lyrics. Below the songs, there is an example of one way you might think of these songs in light of this week's theme. If you want to talk about any of these, feel free to comment at the bottom of this page or email me at jamie@ubcwaco.org.

Songs

Hope by Jameson McGregor

Your Love Is Strong by Jon Foreman

Fall Afresh by Jeremy Riddle

Feel by Jameson McGregor

Wayward Ones by The Gladsome Light

Doxology

How They Fit In:

There are many ways to think about the significance of songs and the way they fit together–-this is simply one way you can look at these songs in light of this week’s theme. 

Hope: We sang this song for the first time last week, and I would encourage you to go back and read the entry I posted here to get a better idea of what this song is about.  In the context of this week's songs, Hope reminds us that God is present with us in the midst of darkness, and we can depend upon God to carve meaning into our darkest moments.

Your Love Is Strong:  We sang this song to proclaim that we can depend on the love of God to take care of us in the midst of life's struggles, great and small.

Fall Afresh: We sang this song to voice our dependence on the Spirit for living life to the fullest and for taking our journey of faith seriously.  

Feel: The first long paragraph is a jumble of thoughts I have in the background of this song, and the the second paragraph is more directly about the song itself:

There are times in the journey of faith where God seems to go "dark"--where we don't feel God.  This is chronicled in the Psalms, the prophets, on the lips of Jesus.  It's something I've experienced, and something many of my friends have experienced.  With this in mind, I'm going to go ahead and assume that it's a normal part of the rhythm of faith.  Yet, we don't really talk about it (I think we should).  This is understandable to an extent.  We can expect to get better at most things we do in life over time.  Practice makes perfect, so to speak.  So, when we don't "feel" God anymore, the first assumption is that we're doing faith wrong.  But what if faith isn't like this?  What if instead of getting more and more connected to God over time, our experience is more akin to a journey over mountainous terrain, complete with high points and low points, and more high points, and more low points? This is hard to take in when the low points are marked by feeling abandoned by God in some way, but what if the feeling of abandonment actually had nothing to do with God abandoning us?  When relating to God, we enter a relationship where we do not see or hear the Other, but we do, in a sense, feel God.  This label of "feeling" is imprecise, but we might think of it as some assurance of God's presence with us.  Anyway, when the feeling is taken away, it naturally feels like God has gone away, but this is not necessarily the case.  In general, "God never leaves us.  God is perfectly faithful to us," is a safe theological statement.  The story of Scripture shows us as much as God remains faithful to people who are not faithful to God.  God's relationship toward us is about what God has decided to do, not what we deserve.  So how is God present when we do not feel God?  My answer to this works for me, but I by no means expect you to buy into it. It's this: God is present through the community of faith.  As flawed as it is, the fact that the community of faith is identified as the Body of Christ communicates to me that it is, in one way or another, the presence of Christ in the world (Yeah, I know that some people wear the label of "Christian" and don't act like Jesus--I'm not extending this to all people who label themselves Christians at all times.   Instead, I'm suggesting that those who are being formed in the way of Christ have the potential to be agents of God's presence).  We generally accept this idea when thinking about caring for the poor or loving people as the "hands and feet" of Jesus, but I propose that the same is true as we relate to one another.  We are agents of presence to one another--whether we are aware of it or not.

So.  This song is a collection of language I've used in prayer when I go through a season of not being able to "feel" God.  The temptation in these times is to stop praying altogether--if for no other reason, because it's hard.  But it's not quite as hard when we allow ourselves to be honest; to let the content of the prayer be about why we don't want to pray.  I should stop here and clarify: I wrote this song after having experienced this feeling of disconnect quite a few times, thus I have grown to expect that these seasons are temporary.  If you are experiencing something like this for the first time, I realize that you may not share my inclination to continue to seek God in any way through it.  I'm not trying to tell you that you are wrong, but I am being honest about how things have gone for me.  For me, these dark times have been awful, hopeless, draining, confusing, on and on, and I never feel like the darkness serves a purpose in the moment.  But.  On the other side of these seasons, I look at them as times of growth.  I don't think I can quantify this growth, but I'm certain of it.  And, while I may not feel God personally in these times, I have benefited greatly from being around those who do.  In a way, I have found that the people in my community of faith can feel God for me.  Thus, in the context of this week's songs, we sang this to think about depending on God through the people of God.  As always, I haven't said everything I want to about this song, though I've said more than most people wanted to sit and read.  If you have questions/concerns, please email me.

Wayward Ones: We sing this song every time we take communion to remind ourselves of a couple of things.  First, we are a broken people--though we are seeking to become more like Jesus, we often fail at this.  Second, Christ has given Himself for us despite our brokenness.  We take communion to remember the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf, even though we did not, and do not, deserve it.

Doxology: We close our time together each week with this proclamation that God is worthy of praise from every inch of the cosmos. 

-JM

ITLOTC 9-4-15

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church) 

Ordinary Time

Words

Matthew 12:36-37: "I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter;  for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” 

I wanted to chase a rabbit that I won't be able to address in Sunday's sermon.  Here's what I would have said on another day. 

First, something from this sundays sermon

I just finished a book called The Name of the Wind.  It officially belongs to the genre of fantasy nerd … so I’m not going to waste your time trying to explain much about the names or the characters.  Just know that what I’m about to write below is a conversation between a university professor and a student.  You could say the professor among other things is a linguist of sorts … and they are having a conversation about words. 

Student: I still don’t understand about names.

Professor:  I will teach you to understand, the nature of names cannot be described, only experienced and understood.

Student: Why can’t it be described?  If you understand a thing you can describe it. 

Professor: Can you describe all the things you understand?

Student: Of course.

Professor points at a boy: What color is that boy’s shirt?

Student: Blue.

Professor:  What do you mean by blue?  Describe it. 

And then something I read a while back

A few months ago Radiolab did a fascinating program on perceiving colors.  The specific color in question is blue.  The program begins by noting that about 150 years ago William Gladstone began reading through books from antiquity noting both that some objects were describe with a peculiar color (sheep = violet, honey = green) and that some colors were not mentioned at all.  At one point they interview Guy Deutscher who is the author of Through the Language Glass: Why the World Looks Different in Other Languages.  Deutscher decided to do an experiment with his daughter.  He made a point never to describe the color of the sky to her.  I'll quote at length here.  

In theory, one of children's first questions is, "Why is the sky blue?" So he raised his daughter while being careful to never describe the color of the sky to her, and then one day asked her what color she saw when she looked up.

Alma, Deutscher's daughter, had no idea. The sky was colorless. Eventually she decided it was white, and later on, eventually blue. So blue was not the first thing she saw or gravitated toward, though it is where she settled in the end.

One of the points of the program is to explore the relationship between language and perception.  The suggestion is that we can't perceive what we can't describe.  If we don't have a word for blue we cannot see blue.  If you are more interested you can read this summary. 

Hebrew people and their words

God spoke the world into existence with words.  God let Adam name animals.  God changed Abram's name.  God changed Sarai's name. God changed Jacob's name.  God told Hosea to name his kids something awful.  When was describing Jesus in John 1 and echoing the creative word in Genesis One, he picked the word, "word" to describe Jesus.  In the bible, words have a life of their own.  They have a power.  They aren't used casually.  

There's a Hebrew davar it's tangled up in the Genesis 1 text and John 1 texts I just referred to, but let me give you an easier example to follow. Isaiah 55:11 says, "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Davar proceeds from the mouth of God and does not return empty. You get the picture.  Davar means to give status to.  To assign being and life and creative force.  

Matthew's words

For this reason Matthew's words make me pause.  How many cavalier things do I say everyday that are, without my intention, shaping the world in a very real way?  Let's create a world that will be justified. 

Membership Update 

A few years ago, with the blessings of LT, a committee was put together to pursue the idea/possibility of membership at UBC.  After some great work by the committee, the LT felt there were still some questions of how this idea of membership would be implemented at UBC, and the conversation was given back to the staff to continue to guide the process.  We are picking up the conversation again, and here are the key questions the committee will seek to answer: how do we create a greater sense of ownership at UBC; and how do we foster a greater sense of accountability and discipleship.  The goal of this committee will be to answer the questions above (as well as others that might come up), and to help create a system of belonging at UBC that is true to historical tradition within the Church and true to UBC’s unique identity within that historical tradition.  The OAR Team will meet for the first time on September 13th.  If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

Children's Ministry Information

We have had a great time in our UBCKids Sunday School this Summer, but it’s time for something new…(drumroll, please…)  

Beginning September 13th, "God in the (kids)Movies" is BACK, but with a twist!  This year, our kids in grades 1st-4th (or above!) will be starting the year with Phil Vischer (AKA The creator of VeggieTales and voice of Bob the Tomato…for those of you who aren’t up with the who’s who of Hollywood...) and his newest project, "What’s In The Bible?”!  Phil has created a video series that, after watching it in its entirety, (the first time out of curiosity…the 5 or so times after, out of sheer enjoyment!) I can only describe as educational-inspiring-hilarious-enlightening-engaging-awesome!  I have described it to some as “Seminary with puppets and animation”…who wouldn’t want that?!  Has anyone at Truett considered this idea…because, they should!  We will watch one video each week and build a creative journal as we deepen our understanding of this great book we all love and may not know enough about (yet!), The Bible!

For those parents who have kids younger than 1st grade that want to attend Sunday School, or for the younger siblings of those kids attending Sunday School, YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN!  We feel pretty strongly that 2 hours of curriculum is too much for most tiny tots, so we provide a safe and happy environment for free-play during this time!  Because it requires additional volunteers, please let Emily know if you intend to take advantage of this time so that we can plan to have the appropriate supervision for your tikes!  Feel free to email Emily (emily@ubcwaco.org) to let her know what to plan for or with any other questions or concerns you might have! 

Volunteer Training:    

Are you fun?  Do you like to hang out with people shorter then you?  Do you love God, embrace beauty and live life to the fullest?  Well, UBCKids has a place for you!  All current and future volunteers mark your calendars for the UBCKids Volunteer Training on September 13th!  There will be food and insight into the UBCKids program and policies…and did I mention FOOD?!  

Join us on September 13th (from the end of church until 1:00) for the UBCKids Volunteer Training to help share God’s love with the littlest UBCers!      

Made In Waco:

UBC is committed to finding God’s beauty in the world around us, even the beauty we create and appreciate is an extension of God’s love for us!  To celebrate this, UBC hosts an annual handmade market called Made In Waco!  We realize that handmade and crafted things take time, so we thought we’d let you know now that Made In Waco will be held on November 7th at UBC and we’d love to have you take part!  For more information, email Emily at emily@ubcwaco.org!

Satan Slayers Recap

The Slayers opened their 2015 campaign with a pair of losses.  Their first loss came at the hands of the night crew from Uncle Skip's tire shredding factory.  It was a barn burner.  The Slayers had the game in hand until some guy named Wally hit for the cycle ... twice ... in one in inning.  Wally's 3rd cousin from Marlin subbed for the tire shredders and he hit three home runs.  Coach Roldan later commented saying, "I mean what did you expect, we shred satan, these guys (and gals) shred tires."  We hear you coach.  Sometimes metaphysical warfare doesn't translate to W's on the diamond.  Highlights included a Brad Rettler grand slam and a Kelsey Lawson web gem.  

In their second loss the church squad lost to a familiar organization ... the Antioch Community Church semi-pro city league softball team or ACCSPCLST for short.  I thought about trying to craft this paragraph in a way that didn't look bad, but that'd be a failure in journalistic integrity. The Slayers got slaughtered.  In fact, had they not eked those pair of runs in the 3rd inning, the game would have been called because of runs.  When I first saw the score of this one on the ESPN ticker I thought it was a football game.  I mean I've seen Baylor non conference football games that were closer than this.  

After their second loss I caught up with MVP hopeful Kelsey Lawson. Here's what she had to say, "we just need to make better plays." 

Yes, yes you do Slayers.  

Lawson continued, "but I liked the people, that guy Rob is hilarious. And Evie made some good plays at third base."  

When questioned about his sour outing reliever Jacob Robinson responded, "did you know we have a team song?  It's centerfield by John Fogerty.  It gets me jacked up!" 

To make matters more complicated the city of Waco incorrectly recorded the UBC squad's name.  Instead of Satan Slayers, the scoreboard read "Satan Slavers."  You can imagine the media frenzy. Already struggling with a fast and loose reputation in the local community, the Satan Slavers have added injury to insult.  When we contacted UBC's lead pastor Josh Carney he replied: 

"What, satan slavers?  I thought we all agreed on hashtag champions4thelord.  Heads are going to roll in the marketing department."  

Apparently coach Byron Roldan took the evening pretty hard.  Here's a bit from my interview with coach Roldan from after the game. 

Majkowski: Coach you guys seemed like you just couldn't get it together tonight.  What happened? 

Roldan:  What kind of question is that Flip?  Did they teach you that in journalism school?  You were here tonight, what did you see? 

Majkowski: Coach I know it was a tough night, but can you elaborate on what you think went wrong? 

Roldan: I'll tell you what's wrong Majkowski.  We're a small market team and our fan base is abysmal.  If we could get some decent media coverage, we might be able to generate a small fan base increase ticket and merch sales and THEN I COULD BUY A PITCHER IN THE OFF SEASON THAT'S WORTH A DARN AND SNAG AN OCCASIONAL WIN.  Let me ask you a question.   When did you get to be such a smart alec Flip? Was it before you overpaid for that piece of paper from the university of plagiarism or after?  You're terrible. 

Majkowski: All right, back to you guys in the studio. 

Survey

A former UBCer and good friend of our Hannah Howard is studying Anthropology and a few other words I can't pronounce at a school in Virginia named after famous Americans.  I can't remember which ones. Anyhow she is great and needs your help.  I know what your thinking ... "I don't need to take this survey, because everyone else will."  Nope, everyone else just had that same thought, so if you don't take this survey then the world will go into chaos and the stock market will crash.  no pressure, no diamonds.  you can fill out the survey here.  

Work is Worship

Greeters: Evie

Coffee Makers: Chad & Joel 

Mug Cleaners: Haines 

Announcements:

• Sunday Sermon Text:  Matthew 13:31-32 ... and possibly some other bible verses:  "Matthew's Farm Part 1" 

• Our next town hall to prep people for the October leadership team meeting will be after church on September 20th.  

• Pub Group this Wednesday at 8pm at the Dancing Bear. Come have a pint with some other UBCers and talk about stuff (and things). 21 and up.

• Parents Breakfast: Sunday September 18th from 9:30-10:15. 

• New UBCers Lunch after church on September 27th.  More information to come

• On September 18, UBCYP (ubc young professionals) will meet at Jamie's house at 7 for food, fun, and good times. There will be a sign up sheet in the lobby starting this Sunday for those who are interested. 

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