ITLOTC 9-1-20

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

Haikus from England

Hey team, it’s Kieran! Happy Tuesday! 

I’m now officially in the newsletter rotation after my last entry was received so well. I’ll say a very humble and sincere thank you, and that if you have any complaints going forward, you’ve only yourselves to blame. 

Well friends, we are deep in both the summer heat and the never-ending existential crisis of quarantine, and that has manifested itself in my life through an ever increasing delirium and over-caffeination. I’m a Brit living in 100f+ temperatures, which basically means I evaporate on a daily basis, and the result of all of this feels rather like living inside a Salvador Dalí painting. 

In that spirit, this week I present to you all a series of haikus inspired by quarantine life. I hope you find in them a kindred spirit, and perhaps even a chuckle or two. Know that you are always in my prayers, UBC, and I could not be more proud or thankful to be a part of this church community with you. 

Without further ado, 

Ahem. 

A Series of Quarantine Haikus

I feel the movement,

Of time, space, the world turning, 

Is it still Monday? 

~

Animal Crossing

My only refuge, except

When the bees sting me

~

My cat wakes me up

At 5 am; all I think:

“Glad time isn’t real”

~

Somehow, each Sunday, 

Josh shows up in green robes,

Are they his PJs? 

~

Did I wear this shirt

Yesterday? Let’s do a sniff; 

Good Lord. Yes I did. 

~

Gosh, I must have had

Seven cups of tea

In the last hour

~

We are only two

People - yet somehow, there are

One hundred dishes

~

How many trips to

The fridge and back to the couch

Equal to a run? 

~

Today I found out

That there is no such thing as

Too many cookies

~

Plot twist - it turns out

That there was such a thing as

Too many cookies

Communion This Sunday

Heads up:  We will participate in communion together during the live stream this Sunday, so be sure to have some bread & wine/juice ready when you join us.

Staff Favorites

Because our newsletter has grown thin of late, i’ve added a new feature called, “staff favorites.” The instructions are as follows. Draw a line, either on a piece of paper that you printed this on or in your mind, connecting the correct individual with the corresponding category. After you venture your guesses, you can view the solution here.

Sign up for Sunday school!

Sunday school returns September 13th!  Both classes (see below) will meet via zoom at 9:30am on Sunday’s, and you can sign up by emailing jamie@ubcwaco.org.

The Making of a Psalmist (led by Bri Childs)

Join us as we journey through the Psalms, especially focusing on the main structures and types that the psalmists followed. With each type we study, you’ll get the chance to be a psalmist yourself, writing in the style that most resonates with you.

Book Study: Inspired by Rachel Held Evans (led by Craig Nash)

Rachel Held Evans invites readers on a journey of rediscovery as she explores the magic of the Bible, engaging the old, familiar stories in new ways that honor the past and enlighten the present. Drawing upon recent scholarship and literary analysis, Evans creatively retells our favorite Bible stories, explaining their contexts and possible interpretations, and then connects these ancient stories to our present-day ones.  Readers are invited to fall in love with Scripture all over again without checking their intellect--or their imaginations-- at the door

Family Food Pantry - this is our last week

UBC Family, thank you so much for your generosity over the past several months as we have partnered with local churches in helping to provide food for  families within Waco ISD.  Your generosity has allowed us to serve thousands of families over the last few months.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  This is the last week for the pantry, and we want to make sure every family gets what they need.  Please consider donating one last time by using the link below.  Items need to be dropped off at FBC Waco by 2pm on Thursday.  Drop-off hours are between 12-2 today, Wednesday, and Thursday.  We are also in need for more drivers to help deliver food on Friday.  If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084eacae2aabff2-community

UBC Masks

Look stylish, support our youth, and love your neighbor by wearing a mask.  Use the link below to get you very own custom UBC masks.  Please use the donate link at the bottom of the page to support the youth.  If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

https://ubcwaco.org/store/ubcmask

Back to School Help - Thank You

UBC Champions,

Wanted to say thank you. Last week we asked for 10 $100 gift cards to help moms with kids buy stuff to get ready for school. We and our community partner would like to express our gratitude for your generosity. Y’all nailed that one in a day. Don’t tell UBCers aren’t nice people. Y’all are giving satan a real hard time.

Parishioner of the Week

Katie Valenzuela for doing a great job leading Color of Compromise.

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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: Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@gmail.com

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position: Davis Misloski

Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members. 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@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.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Ubc Liturgy Stuff 8-30-2020

Ubc Liturgy Stuff

August 30, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on August 30th (in the order they are needed), as well as some resources for kids! (this includes some stuff that is print-able—if you need Taylor to print stuff for you in the future, just let us know, and we’ll get that set up).

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

o love that will not let me go
i rest my weary soul in thee
i give you back the life I owe that in
thine ocean’s depths its flow
may richer fuller be

o light that follows all my ways
i yield my flickering torch to thee
my heart restores its borrow ray that in
thy sunshine’s blaze its day
may brighter, fairer be

o joy that seeks me through the pain
i cannot close my heart to thee
i’ll trace the rainbow through the rain and feel
the promise is not in vain
that morn shall tearless be

o love, don’t let go of me
o light, hold my flickering
o joy, don’t lose sight of me
o love, don’t let go of me

o cross that’s lifting up my head
i dare not ask to fly from thee
though i lay in dust, life’s glory dead
from the ground there blossoms red
life that shall endless be

endlessly, endless be, endlessly

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship
the Eternal One

seeking rest in the refuge
of the God who Sees

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that we might find the Spirit of God among us

bending our hearts and minds towards mercy and justice
and forming us in the way of Christ

Amen

The World Is Yours

blessed are the withered ones out starving for a peace
whose taste they’ve never known
blessed are the ones who bear the shame of never quite
becoming who they’d hoped that they would be
blessed are the ones who wake and plead
that their whole life this far was just a dream
blessed are you, the world is yours

blessed are the bloodshot midnight mourners in the hall
their whole world standing still
blessed are the bloodshot midnight mourners in the park
no one speaks their names
blessed are the ones who know the sting
of the phantom limb embrace of love, removed
blessed are you, the world is yours

blessed are the ones who cast their mercy to the wind
now it goes where it goes
blessed are the ones who nurse a pain that’s not their own
the meek amongst the wolves
blessed are you when the knife is in your back
and they’re calling for your head
to finally shut you up
and blot out what you said
about the way the scales are rigged
that’s how its always been
just know you’re neither crazy nor alone
you’re not alone

so lift up your head, the world is turning upside down
and as the tables turn you’ll find you never left the ground
behold the great inversion, like a tide that lifts wrecked boats
is risen from the heart of one who’ll never let you go

Gospel Reading

Today’s Gospel reading is Matthew 16:21-28:

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Where God Has Always Been

praise be the lord of all with their backs against the wall,
hands above their heads and eyes
lifted up to that impossible line
where the hill meets the sky
who wonder if the distance is
a trick of the earth, or a trick of the mind
and if help will arrive before they slip away

praise be the lord of all who wrestle until dawn
who wear their scars like names, yet find
heaven and earth strangely aligned
like water in the sour wine, hidden in plain sight

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

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

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading is Exodus 3:1-15:

Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” He said, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.” But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’“ God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’:

This is my name forever,
and this my title for all generations.

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is Romans 12:9-21:

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Behold

behold the Lamb of God, lifted high
bloodied, bruised and bidding come and die
though all of this vapor and mist collide
the whispered light out in the darkness
is rising to a blaze
and every broken piece is realigning
into place
so hold on tight to twilight hope
and try to fan the flame
for as long as you’re still breathing
or the question remains

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

Worship Resources for UBC Kids and Families

(And also anyone who might want them)

Hello friends! (This is Taylor) Here is a link to some fun coloring sheets and activity ideas for Sunday. Also included is a kid’s worship bulletin - so if you print it off beforehand kiddos could do that while they watch our worship service! I’m excited to see what you do with these coloring sheets and activities - so please take a picture and tag @ubcwaco when you use them! Thanks everybody! Here is the link!.

p.s. - Remember! If you don’t have a printer just let me know and I can print them out for you!

New Giving App

In case you missed this info for the past couple of weeks:

We're excited to offer a new way to give to UBC - through a simple, fast and secure app!  You can download the free Church Center app and enter "UBC Waco" as your church.  In just a few taps, you'll have your account set up and can give any amount, anytime, from anywhere in the world.  You can make a one-time donation or set up recurring giving instantly.  Best yet, this app is designed specifically for churches, with reduced fees that make sure more of your donation actually goes to support UBC.  If you're not an app person, no worries - we've added Church Center as an option under the "give" tab on our website.  Thanks for your giving and support of our UBC community!

ITLOTC 8-25-20

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

Unintended Benefits

Well hello everyone.  

I subscribe to a podcast called The Daily.  You’ve probably heard of it.  It’s put out by the New York Times.  It’s an in-depth look at one story related to current events.  I don’t listen to it everyday.  I listen to it when the topic seems interesting, but I always listen on Sundays.  On Sundays, instead of doing the regular show they do something called the Sunday Read in which an individual reads an op ed that was previously published, usually in the Times.  Maybe always in the Times, I didn’t research that.   I find the Sunday read to be akin to a really good episode of Malcom Gladwell’s Revisionist History.   This past week’s Sunday Read was called “Sweatpants Forever.”  It was about the failure of the fashion industry.  We know about bank failures.  We know about the automobile industry failing back in 2008-10.  Turns out the fashion industry crashed.  Clothing sales dropped 78%.  But the problem was brewing before that.  The story details how the creative destruction was creating a vicious cycle of retailers needing more exclusive lines, which created more seasonal layouts, which created more fashion shows, which created more obscurity in the textile industry, which exhausted designers and pretty soon everyone was hating it. 

The episode told the story of the fashion industry from the vantage point of Scott Sternberg, a successful designer whose line Band of Outsiders was a success and then a business failure for all the reasons above.  His story is one example of why we knew the fashion industry was going to fail before COVID officially killed it.  Sternberg, however, has been a surprise success during COVID.  Here’s how - he got an idea for a simplified line, Entireworld, scaled back to simplicity.  Sternberg’s line included quality t-shirts, socks, underwear, sweatpants.  You can do the algebra.  He wrote a personal email on May 15 about COVID, not intended to be a sales pitch.  It did a kind of viral thing.  In an average day Entireworld had been selling 46 sweatpants a day.  Soon it was selling 1,000 a day.  I’m tempted to gloat here and suggest that as one who has always championed comfort over fashion, I had anticipated this, but that would detract from the point of this newsletter, which isn’t really about fashion or good business sense.  It’s a particular look at what’s thriving right now and why.  

Yes, we can wear sweatpants to zoom meetings, but Entireworld represents something more.  It represents someone who already failed and decided to enter back into a world he once loved with a simplified approach that returned him to his values.  Often commercial success follows.  It has to do with authenticity or love or something.  

I’ve been thinking about COVID and how it's wearing on me … on us.  The one thing I’m glad for is that it is forcing perspective.  It is forcing us to step back and evaluate what is broken.  We have time to see what was not working.  

The older I get the more the order of the ten commandments makes sense to me.  That idolatry is in the two spot used to puzzle me.  Now I don’t think it could be any other way.  Similarly, I used to think Sabbath sat too high on the list.  Now that i’ve been working for 13 years the scope and the wisdom of the commandment seems not just prudent, but salvific, especially for a culture that doesn’t know how to rest nor how the absence of rest detracts from our humanity.  What I have appreciated about the rest that COVID has forced on us (here I’m thinking specifically of UBC meeting) is that all of our volunteers are getting rest, and that is important.  Even churches can fall prey to the incessant demand to create new, better and more.  I know that not everyone is getting rest in COVID.  Some people’s ergonomic lives have been complicated.  Others are filling up the lack of ergonomic demand in their lives with the fear of not having enough, fiscally or otherwise.  I don’t want to brazenly pass by those realities, but I am glad that the world has slowed down.  Today I’m grateful for the rest. 

Back to School Help - Immediate Need

UBC, one of community partners has several moms who need help getting their kids ready for school.  We need 10, $100 gift cards for Walmart, so these moms can purchase clothes and back to school supplies for their children.  If you are willing to donate toward these gift cards, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org.  You can donate the full amount, or a partial amount.  

Staff Favorites

Because our newsletter has grown thin of late, i’ve added a new feature called, “staff favorites.” The instructions are as follows. Draw a line, either on a piece of paper that you printed this on or in your mind, connecting the correct individual with the corresponding category. After you venture your guesses, you can view the solution here.

Family Resource Pantry

UBC, we need volunteers this week, and for the rest of August on Thursday and Friday’s at the Food Pantry.  The need has increased, we are serving over 70 families a week now.  We need more hands to help pack boxes and deliver boxes on Thursday and Friday.  Please consider signing up for a shift using the link below.  If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org.  We are have decided to extend the pantry through  Labor Day, so please help out over the few weeks.

https://bit.ly/communityfoodpantry

Parishioner(s) of the Week

David Rehfeld for successfully defending his dissertation.

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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: Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@gmail.com

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position: Davis Misloski

Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members. 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@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.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Ubc Liturgy Stuff 8-23-2020

Ubc Liturgy Stuff

August 23, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on August 23rd (in the order they are needed), as well as some resources for kids! (this includes some stuff that is print-able—if you need Taylor to print stuff for you in the future, just let us know, and we’ll get that set up).

Mystery

sweet jesus christ, my sanity
sweet jesus christ, my clarity
the word eternal, brought low with me
cup of salvation, poured out to drink
jesus, mystery

christ has died and
christ is risen
christ will come again

sweet jesus christ, my evergreen
sweet jesus christ, my living peace
love embodied, broken for me
trampled redeemer, raised up and free
jesus, mystery

christ has died and
christ is risen
christ will come again

celebrate his death and rising
lift your eyes, proclaim his coming
and all who walk in dreadful darkness
lift your head, you’re not forgotten
celebrate his death subversion
recalibrate fear to purpose
and in the face of oppressive power
don’t calm down, sing it louder

christ has died and
christ is risen
christ will come again

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship
the Eternal One

to direct our attention
toward the Living God

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that we might find the Spirit of God among us

renovating our hearts and minds
and forming us in the way of Christ

Amen

Mother

is there a hair on my head
you haven’t numbered yet
you haven’t numbered yet

in the night, crying in the cold
is there a pain of mine
you haven’t called your own

o mother comfort, mother known

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

o mother wisdom, mother love
mother comfort, mother enough

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

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

Look to the Hills

i lift my eyes to the hills
to remind myself this isn’t all there is
i lift my eyes to the hills
and wait for help to appear

my help is from the lord
who breaks past walls and fortress doors
my shade in sun and shield from sword
yes, my help is from the lord

so i look to the hills
and i know the score
the mountains fall, the shadows, they soar
and every rough line
is impeccably placed
as valleys rise, forgetting their place
i look to the hills
and i know what i’m for
and know my help is going before

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading is Isaiah 51:1-6:

Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness,
you that seek the Lord.

Look to the rock from which you were hewn,
and to the quarry from which you were dug.

Look to Abraham your father
and to Sarah who bore you;

for he was but one when I called him,
but I blessed him and made him many.

For the Lord will comfort Zion;
he will comfort all her waste places,

and will make her wilderness like Eden,
her desert like the garden of the Lord;

joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the voice of song.

Listen to me, my people,
and give heed to me, my nation;

for a teaching will go out from me,
and my justice for a light to the peoples.

I will bring near my deliverance swiftly,
my salvation has gone out
and my arms will rule the peoples;

the coastlands wait for me,
and for my arm they hope.

Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth beneath;

for the heavens will vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment,
and those who live on it will die like gnats;

but my salvation will be for ever,
and my deliverance will never be ended.

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is Matthew 16:13-20:

When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Waking Life

you’re a hammer blow to the barricade
that i’ve built up in my mind to separate
that which i hold with warm embrace
from that which i have reduced to an empty phrase

you’re a falling blade to the knot i tied
to secure a heavy shade over my eyes
and as if i had never tasted light
a stabbing pain slowly gives way to a truer sight

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

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

you’re the waking life, piercing sleep
reality, reframing the dream
and as i rise, i don’t recognize my speech
find a garden shed where i once kept my armory
and like the waking life, piercing sleep
like reality, reframing the dream
i don’t understand what is happening
but something’s changed in a place i cannot reach
and there’s this ache where i once kept my apathy
like there’s a depth to life and breath in everything

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

Worship Resources for UBC Kids and Families

(And also anyone who might want them)

Hello friends! (This is Taylor) Here is a link to some fun coloring sheets and activity ideas for Sunday. Also included is a kid’s worship bulletin - so if you print it off beforehand kiddos could do that while they watch our worship service! I’m excited to see what you do with these coloring sheets and activities - so please take a picture and tag @ubcwaco when you use them! Thanks everybody! Here is the link!.

p.s. - Remember! If you don’t have a printer just let me know and I can print them out for you!

New Giving App

In case you missed this info for the past couple of weeks:

We're excited to offer a new way to give to UBC - through a simple, fast and secure app!  You can download the free Church Center app and enter "UBC Waco" as your church.  In just a few taps, you'll have your account set up and can give any amount, anytime, from anywhere in the world.  You can make a one-time donation or set up recurring giving instantly.  Best yet, this app is designed specifically for churches, with reduced fees that make sure more of your donation actually goes to support UBC.  If you're not an app person, no worries - we've added Church Center as an option under the "give" tab on our website.  Thanks for your giving and support of our UBC community!

ITLOTC 8-18-20

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

Hi Team! Taylor here. Here’s the thing – living in a global pandemic is not awesome. And that might seem obvious, but for some reason I keep being surprised by my own reactions to this season of life.

One of the things that continues to surprise me is my response to myself. I don’t know if any of the rest of you are experiencing this, but let me describe the cycle to you: I find myself growing frustrated because I am not performing and producing at the level that I normally can perform or produce. And then I get frustrated with myself for not performing and producing more efficiently. And then I remind myself that I am not built to just perform and produce but that I am a whole person living in a global pandemic and that it is reasonable that there might be a number of things hindering me from being as productive as I can be in other seasons. And so, then I try to extend grace to myself. And then (normally) I get frustrated with myself for not remembering sooner to offer myself grace. And then I tell myself that that is ridiculous, and I attempt to extend myself grace for not extending myself grace sooner. It’s a real spiral.

Two of my long-term goals for my own personal and spiritual development are: 1. To become present to the reality of each moment (including my own experience and the experiences of others) and 2. To be a non-judgemental presence to myself and in the lives of others. I think much of working towards these goals includes practicing what Brene Brown calls authenticity. Brown says, “To be authentic, we must cultivate the courage to be imperfect—and vulnerable. We have to believe that we are fundamentally worthy of love and acceptance, just as we are. I've learned that there is no better way to invite more grace, gratitude and joy into our lives than by mindfully practicing authenticity.”

In this article Brown gives three tips for practicing authenticity:

1)    Develop a playlist. Literally – she says hers is a mix of Johnny Cash, Alicia Keys, and The Who. Fill the playlist with songs that help remind you who you are and help you to embody your full self. (As a side note - if you make a playlist for yourself I would LOVE to know what you put on it! Please let me know!)

2)    Share your practice with someone you love and trust. Brown says that acknowledging your struggles to a friend can help remind you to make conscious choices that lead you into authenticity. And in this season where so many of use desire community and friendship a phone call can often help us develop relationships and feel better about the choices we’re going to make moving forward.

3)    Have the courage to say no – and yes. I found this to be a particularly potent reminder. This season is filled with so much unknown and that can make it hard to say yes to good things! But when we are our healthiest selves we say yes and no in ways that are boundaried and help us to grow!

I hope that you find these tips for practicing authenticity helpful! I have found that in this season it has been more important than ever to focus on my own self-care and growth. Which has been surprising! I would not have expected that when we began quarantining in March. I hope that you are finding ways to care for your self and offer yourself grace and rest in this season!

Staff Favorites

Because our newsletter has grown thin of late, i’ve added a new feature called, “staff favorites.” The instructions are as follows. Draw a line, either on a piece of paper that you printed this on or in your mind, connecting the correct individual with the corresponding category. After you venture your guesses, you can view the solution here.

Family Resource Pantry

UBC, we need volunteers this week, and for the rest of August on Thursday and Friday’s at the Food Pantry.  The need has increased, we are serving over 70 families a week now.  We need more hands to help pack boxes and deliver boxes on Thursday and Friday.  Please consider signing up for a shift using the link below.  If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org.  We are have decided to extend the pantry through  Labor Day, so please help out over the few weeks.

https://bit.ly/communityfoodpantry

Parishioner(s) of the Week

One of our student leadership team members, Maddie O’Shaughnessy married her long time lover, fellow UBCer Joe Hayes.

Great job team. Way to help love flourish during the pandemic.

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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: Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@gmail.com

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position: Davis Misloski

Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members. 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@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.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Ubc Liturgy Stuff 8-16-2020

Ubc Liturgy Stuff

August 16, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on August 16th (in the order they are needed), as well as some resources for kids! (this includes some stuff that is print-able—if you need Taylor to print stuff for you in the future, just let us know, and we’ll get that set up).

Future/Past

you hold the reins on the sun and the moon
like horses driven by kings
you cover the mountains, the valleys below
in the breadth of your mighty wings
all treasures of wisdom and things to be known
are hidden inside of your hand
and in this fortunate turn of events
you asked me to be your friend

you asked me to be your friend

and you, you are my first
you are my last
you are my future and my past

the constellations are swimming inside
the breadth of your desire
where can i run, where can i hide
from your heart’s jealous fire
all treasures of wisdom and things to be known
are hidden inside of your hand
and in this fortunate turn of events
you asked me to be your friend

you asked me to be your friend

and you, you are my first
you are my last
you are my future and my past

you are the beginning and the end

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship
the Living God

the Eternal One
in whom all creatures
are known and named

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit of God might form us more fully in the way of Christ

teaching us to love
our neighbors,
our enemies,
and our selves
as God does

Amen

Be Thou My Vision

be thou my vision, o lord of my heart
naught be all else to me, save that thou art
thou my best thought, by day or by night
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light

be thou my wisdom and thou my true word
i ever with thee and thou with me lord
thou my great father, spirit, and son
thou in my dwelling and i with thee one

riches i heed not, nor man’s empty praise
thou mine inheritance, now and always
thou and thou only, first in my heart
high king of heaven, my treasure thou art

high king of heaven, my victory won
may i reach heaven’s joys, o bright heaven’s son
heart of my own heart, whatever befall
still be my vision, o ruler of all

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading is Isaiah 56:1, 6-8:

Thus says the Lord:
Maintain justice, and do what is right,

for soon my salvation will come,
and my deliverance be revealed.

And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,
and to be his servants,

all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it,
and hold fast my covenant--

these I will bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of prayer;

their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;

for my house shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples.

Thus says the Lord God,
who gathers the outcasts of Israel,

I will gather others to them
besides those already gathered.

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is Matthew 15:21-28:

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Eternal Anchor

eternal wisdom, eternal grace
is there a creature you have not named
and known in greater depth than the cells of which its made
and bound up in a love not even death could separate?

eternal anchor, eternal grace
wrapped in light like eternal flame
would you incinerate the thorns stabbing in my brain
and with a word obliterate the cycles i retrace?

would you raise a staff, split the sea
and graft my withered branch into your family tree
and come to my defense if my brother called it cheap
as if my every breath someone else had planned to breathe

eternal anchor, eternal love
is there a distance you would not run
with glory gathered up, kicking up the dust
to close the gap i made to try my luck

would you raise a glass, call a feast
and grace my withered hand with your family ring
and as i search for words to try and explain
would they be drowned out with your redemption parade
and as the forests clap their hands, mountains stomp their feet
would a thousand trumpets roar as trampled voices sing
and would i be caught up in that embodied melody
of the all-creation, misfit family band of everything

will all that was lost yet be found
will all that was lost yet be found
name beyond all naming, love beyond all framing
will all that was lost yet be found

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

Worship Resources for UBC Kids and Families

(And also anyone who might want them)

Hello friends! (This is Taylor) Here is a link to some fun coloring sheets and activity ideas for Sunday. Also included is a kid’s worship bulletin - so if you print it off beforehand kiddos could do that while they watch our worship service! I’m excited to see what you do with these coloring sheets and activities - so please take a picture and tag @ubcwaco when you use them! Thanks everybody! Here is the link!.

p.s. - Remember! If you don’t have a printer just let me know and I can print them out for you!

New Giving App

In case you missed this info for the past couple of weeks:

We're excited to offer a new way to give to UBC - through a simple, fast and secure app!  You can download the free Church Center app and enter "UBC Waco" as your church.  In just a few taps, you'll have your account set up and can give any amount, anytime, from anywhere in the world.  You can make a one-time donation or set up recurring giving instantly.  Best yet, this app is designed specifically for churches, with reduced fees that make sure more of your donation actually goes to support UBC.  If you're not an app person, no worries - we've added Church Center as an option under the "give" tab on our website.  Thanks for your giving and support of our UBC community!

ITLOTC 8-11-20

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

Kingdom Rights

“You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

-Romans 6:18

My favorite book of all time is The Great Divorce.  It has done more to shape my theology than any other book I read.  It set me on the trajectory that made me theologically curious.  All discovery on my journey has been subsequent to what I first wondered about after finishing that book.  If you’ve never read it, it’s about ghosts from hell that visit heaven and the incompatibility of the two.  It’s much more than that, but if you really care, you can research it.  

I’d like to tell you about one fellow from the book who I’ve been thinking about a lot lately.  A ghost from hell.  He’s nameless, as almost all the ghosts are, but he can be identified by his insistence.  The word “rights” occurs nine times in The Great Divorce.  Seven of those occur in a dialogue with a solid man (heavenly person).  Six of the seven in that dialogue are from the ghost who insists on having his rights.  That’s his insistence … his main interest.  His rights.  After about the third time of insisting that all he wants are his rights, the solid man says this: “Oh no. It's not so bad as that. I haven't got my rights, or I should not be here. You will not get yours either. You'll get something far better. Never fear.”  If you’d like to read more on the exchange you can find it near the beginning of chapter 4.  

A number of years ago, UBC hosted the Mi Casa Olympics.  It was an all day extravaganza of fierce competition in events like Hipster Jousting and the Dizzy Bat Challenge and of course the day was capped off by with a game of Bible trivia.  Every team came up with a uniform clothing piece.  For most teams that was a shirt.  My mi casa was the Carnadians.  There was one mi casa whose host family had a child with a misshapen head.  This is not uncommon in toddlers.  The solution is a specially designed helmet that corrects the bone plate growth in the skull over time.  Children that wear these get all sorts of creative designs on them.  They can be a fashion piece.  One particular family I know had their son’s turned into a Green Bay Packer helmet.  Back to the mi casa olympics.  The mi casa in question decided that their unifying clothing piece would be misshapen head helmets.  It was a simple act of solidarity that I found moving.  

It reminded me of a Canadian tire commercial I saw a few years ago.  Some boys are playing basketball.  Basketball roles away.  Another boy in a wheelchair sees it.  Boy retrieving ball sees boy in wheelchair looking longingly at the basketball game.  Then a basketball appears on the porch of the boy in a wheelchair.  Curiosity wins the day.  He takes the ball back to the basketball hoop only to discover that everyone has voluntarily confined themselves to some kind of wheeled transport … a wagon, a tricycle, an office chair.  then the original basketball boy issues an invitation, “come on.” 

There a story about this in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.  It’s about meat eating.  The gentiles eat market meat that has been offered to the gods as a sacrifice.  The Jews think the meat is tainted with demons.  Paul doesn't think the meat is tainted, but asks the more woke Gentile Christians to abstain from eating meat for the sake of the Jewish Christians.  

COVID has required us to surrender some of our rights.  Knowing which rights to fight for and when is not an invaluable task.  Some people have made great sacrifices in the name of fighting for people’s rights.  But I’ll tell you about one objection that doesn’t make any sense to me.  It’s not convenient for me.  I do believe in the science of wearing masks.  I could be wrong, but I believe in it.  But it strikes me that in Christian faith there is a mode of being that supercedes what scientifically suitable for me to do, and that is what love compels me to do.  

Let me step back from mask wearing, even though I feel strongly about that and speak more generally about the issue of insisting on our rights.  We should all be afforded civil rights, but the insistence on not doing something merely because it’s a violation of your rights might be one of the most anti-Christian postures to take.  The surrendering of comfort for the sake of the other in the myriad of forms that “sake” can take is the journey of the Christian.  Paul says that having been set free from sin we become slaves to righteousness.  

Meet Our Newest UBCer

Madison (“Maddie”) Michelle Balk

Birthday: 8/7/20

Birth Weight: 7 lb 14 oz,

Birth Heigh: 19.5”

Enneagram Number: 5 w 6

Family Resource Pantry

UBC, we need volunteers this week, and for the rest of August on Thursday and Friday’s at the Food Pantry.  The need has increased, we are serving over 70 families a week now.  We need more hands to help pack boxes and deliver boxes on Thursday and Friday.  Please consider signing up for a shift using the link below.  If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org.  We are have decided to extend the pantry through  Labor Day, so please help out over the few weeks.

https://bit.ly/communityfoodpantry

Parishioner of the Week

Will Knight for responding to the call to come help stack chairs after church on Sunday … ON HIS BIRTHDAY NO LESS! for the rest of you that didn't come help … remember, God is watching.

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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: Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@gmail.com

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position: Davis Misloski

Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members. 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@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.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Ubc Liturgy Stuff 8-09-2020

Ubc Liturgy Stuff

August 9, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on August 9th (in the order they are needed), as well as some resources for kids! (this includes some stuff that is print-able—if you need Taylor to print stuff for you in the future, just let us know, and we’ll get that set up).

Heart Won’t Stop

there is not a man or a beast
nothing on the land or underneath
nothing that could ever come between
the love you have for me
i could lay my head in Sheol
i could make my bed at the bottom of the darkness deep
there is not a place i could escape you

your heart won’t stop coming after me

there is not an angel of the stars
there is not a devil in the dark
nothing that could change the way you are
the love you have for me
i could lay my head in Sheol
i could make my bed at the bottom of the darkness deep
there is not a place i could escape you

your heart won’t stop coming after me

i could lay my head in Sheol
i could make my bed at the bottom of the darkness deep
there is not a place i could escape you

your heart won’t stop coming after me

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship
the Living God

the Help of the Helpless,
in whom mercy and truth have met

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that the Spirit of God might renovate our hearts and minds

forming us more fully in the way of Christ

Amen

Abide With Me

abide with me, fast falls the eventide
the darkness deepens, lord with me abide
when other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the Helpless, O abide with me

swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day
earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away
change and decay in all around i see
O thou who changest not, abide with me

thou has not left me, oft as i left thee
on to the close, o lord, abide with me
i fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless
ills have no weight and tears no bitterness
where is death’s sting? where, grave, thy victory?
i triumph still if thou abide with me

hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes
shine through the gloom and point me to the skies
heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is 1 Kings 19:9-18:

At Horeb, the mount of God, Elijah came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”

He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” Then the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Matthew 14:22-33:

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

There

before there were mountains to crumble
before there were seas to rise
before there was pain, the loss and the weight
you were there, you were there, you were there

although our fear is rising
although our fire has gone out
although our hearts are worried and fraught
you are there, you are there, you are there

i’ve got a problem, i’ve made a drug
of worrying over what is yet to come
it’s clouding my vision, strangling my love away

but after the sun stops burning
after the stars have gone out
after the world ceases to turn
you’ll be there, you’ll be there, you’ll be there
you’ll be there, you’ll be there, and we’ll be there

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

Worship Resources for UBC Kids and Families

(And also anyone who might want them)

Hello friends! (This is Taylor) Here is a link to some fun coloring sheets and activity ideas for Sunday. Also included is a kid’s worship bulletin - so if you print it off beforehand kiddos could do that while they watch our worship service! I’m excited to see what you do with these coloring sheets and activities - so please take a picture and tag @ubcwaco when you use them! Thanks everybody! Here is the link!.

p.s. - Remember! If you don’t have a printer just let me know and I can print them out for you!

New Giving App

In case you missed this info for the past couple of weeks:

We're excited to offer a new way to give to UBC - through a simple, fast and secure app!  You can download the free Church Center app and enter "UBC Waco" as your church.  In just a few taps, you'll have your account set up and can give any amount, anytime, from anywhere in the world.  You can make a one-time donation or set up recurring giving instantly.  Best yet, this app is designed specifically for churches, with reduced fees that make sure more of your donation actually goes to support UBC.  If you're not an app person, no worries - we've added Church Center as an option under the "give" tab on our website.  Thanks for your giving and support of our UBC community!

ITLOTC 8-5-20

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

A Podcast Rec (by jamie)

Greetings.  

If you’ve been around Ubc for a bit, you may recall a Sunday School class called “Attention Collection.”  Your attention collection is the cloud of influence that you have accumulated throughout your life, made up of that which has formed you into the person you are today.  The class was a sort of intensive show and tell where participants would bring a piece of art, a song, a memento, etc. and talk about how that thing had formed them over time.  It was great, and we may or may not be doing a zoom version this semester, so stay tuned.  

We got the idea for that class from David Dark, who has a chapter of the same name in his Life’s Too Short To Pretend You’re Not Religious.  David Dark is a person I admire, and one who well-embodies many of the values that Ubc has carried throughout our life (check out The Sacredness of Questioning Everything, if you’d like to see that on display).  He was recently a guest on Dustin Kensrue’s podcast (he’s the frontman for a band called Thrice), and I think finding an hour here and there to listen to that would be worth your time. 

You can find it here:

Apple

Spotify

Additionally, I don’t really know what you come to the newsletter hoping for, but if you don’t want to listen to that podcast, perhaps you will appreciate an activity that David Dark mentions near the end: take a piece of paper (or I suppose you could just imagine one), and write at the top “I used to think..." then finish the sentence..or list...or paragraph...or full-on essay.  Note: sometimes the things we used to think might be a source of shame, so I’d say up front be prepared to offer yourself some compassion—one way or another, we don’t know what we don’t know until we know it.  And perhaps in cultivating compassion for ourselves, we might also offer that compassion to people who now think something we used to.

-jamie

Backside Date Change (Now 8/6)

Backside will now be on Thursday, August 8th, at 7pm to let the building breathe a bit after the Covid Testing. As a result, you can still submit something for inclusion in the event until Monday, 8/3. Email jamie@ubcwaco.org for details

Family Resource Pantry

Thank you to everyone who has been volunteering and everyone who has donated so far.  This is our week to donate and buy supplies for the pantry, so please use the link below to see what still needs to be bought this week.  If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org. Here's that link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084eacae2aabff2-community

UBC Drive-In Movie

Alright friends, nothing says summer like the movies, and we also want to see everyone. What’s a safe way to social distance and be in the same space; stay in your car! We will be hosting our first drive-in movie on Friday night August 7th. There will be more details in the near future, but put it on your calendar.

Parishioner of the Week

Hogan Nance for his continued and relentless service in the family resource pantry.

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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: Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@gmail.com

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position: Davis Misloski

Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members. 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@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.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Ubc Liturgy Stuff 8-02-2020

Ubc Liturgy Stuff

August 2, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on August 2nd (in the order they are needed), as well as some resources for kids! (this includes some stuff that is print-able—if you need Taylor to print stuff for you in the future, just let us know, and we’ll get that set up).

Come Alive

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

until we come alive, come Alive

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

until we come alive, come Alive

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

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship
the Living God

the One who upholds all those who fall,
who lifts up those who are bowed down

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

finding rest in the Spirit of God

and finding our hearts and minds
formed more fully
in the way of Christ

Amen

Rise Up

for the lowly and forgotten
for the weary and distressed
for the refugee and orphan
and for all who are oppressed
for the stranger who is pleading
while insulted and despised
will you rise, will you rise?

rise up, rise up
the earth will fear the lord
when you avenge the poor
may your kingdom come
o rise up

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

rise up, rise up
the earth will fear the lord
when you avenge the poor
o rise up

as your will is done in heaven
may it now be done below
may our daily bread be given
may your kingdom come and grow
and lead us not into temptation
but deliver us, we cry
will you rise? will you rise?

rise up, rise up
the earth will fear the lord
when you avenge the poor
and bear your holy arm
to keep them safe from harm
may your kingdom come
o rise up

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading is Genesis 32:23-31:

The same night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.”

But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is Matthew 14:13-21:

Jesus withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Crown Him with Many Crowns

crown him with many crowns, the lamb upon his throne
hark how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own
awake my soul and sing of him who died for thee
and hail him as thy matchless king through all eternity

crown him the son of god before the worlds began
and ye who tread where he hath trod, crown him the son of man
whom every grief hath known that wrings the human breast
and takes and bears them for his own that all in him may rest

that all in him may rest

crown him the lord of peace whose pow’r a scepter sways
from pole the pole that wars may cease and all be prayer and praise
his reign shall know no end and round his pierced feet
fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever-sweet

crown him the lord of love, behold his hands and side
those wounds yet visible above in beauty glorified
crown him with many crowns as yours before him fall
crown him, ye kings and queens with crowns for he is king of all

for he is king of all

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

Worship Resources for UBC Kids and Families

(And also anyone who might want them)

Hello friends! (This is Taylor) Here is a link to some fun coloring sheets and activity ideas for Sunday. Also included is a kid’s worship bulletin - so if you print it off beforehand kiddos could do that while they watch our worship service! I’m excited to see what you do with these coloring sheets and activities - so please take a picture and tag @ubcwaco when you use them! Thanks everybody! Here is the link!.

p.s. - Remember! If you don’t have a printer just let me know and I can print them out for you!

New Giving App

In case you missed this info for the past couple of weeks:

We're excited to offer a new way to give to UBC - through a simple, fast and secure app!  You can download the free Church Center app and enter "UBC Waco" as your church.  In just a few taps, you'll have your account set up and can give any amount, anytime, from anywhere in the world.  You can make a one-time donation or set up recurring giving instantly.  Best yet, this app is designed specifically for churches, with reduced fees that make sure more of your donation actually goes to support UBC.  If you're not an app person, no worries - we've added Church Center as an option under the "give" tab on our website.  Thanks for your giving and support of our UBC community!

ITLOTC 7-28-20

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

The Theological Nature of Friendship

In the past year I had some of the largest shifts in life in terms of friendship.  I’m finally feeling those changes.  My nature is future oriented.  This means truth, or deep truth - the kind that changes me - I can only access retrospectively.  My retrospective experience with friendship has taught me how valuable it is.  

I’ll tell you something, I suspect you’ve all gleaned from me if I haven’t said it explicitly.  Waco is not my favorite place in the world.  It’s a place I have been immensely blessed in.  It is the place where the most significant formation has happened in my life, but if I were given a magic wand to perfect my life, the geographic location of my joy and transformation would not unfold in Waco, TX.  I like Waco.  It’s my favorite city in TX, but I don’t love the topography or the weather.  What I love about Waco is UBC, my job, and most of all, the people.  Waco has the best people.  The kind of people you want to have meaningful friendships with.  I’ve collected a small amount of anecdotal data over the years.  Stories of folks who moved back to Waco from amazing places after leaving because, they tell me, of the people.   I have a theory on why this is.  What is unique about Waco is Baylor.  Baylor is, according to my definition, the largest evangelical university in the world.  There are other universities that are larger.  There are other universities that are more evangelical, but as you move those two variables across the graph with x and y axises of largeness and evangelicalness they intersect at Baylor.  What this means is that you have the largest gathering of committed, thoughtful christians with what I call a confessional worldview.  Again you could find larger pockets of a particular kind of evangelicalism at other universities, but as a whole, when you gather all the subgenres of evangelical you get Baylor.  The good news is that no matter what flavor evangelical or post-evangelical you are, you’re likely to find a tribe, and a significant one at that.  It’s a statistical reality.  

This is why I think Waco has the best people.  And that’s not to say that I think you need to be Christian to be a great person or even a good friend, but one thing that worldviews do for us is develop us into a kind of person.  I find that often those persons have a faith commitment of some kind.  And a lot of those persons, whatever they believe, are in Waco.  I think the other reality is that it is probable that there are just as many great people in many other cities in America, but those cities are massive and so finding each other is much more difficult.  And in some cases, even if you can find them, the geographic spread of those large cities makes meaningful connection on a consistent basis difficult.  So again, Waco is a rich environment for good friendships.  

A few weeks ago I shared extensively about some data from a podcast that I found meaningful.  It was Dax Sheppherd’s podcast Armchair Expert in which he interviewed scientific journalist Lydia Denworth about her new book Friendship.  Denworth acknowledges historical, philosophical, and cultural value that’s been placed on friendship, but explores the health benefits of friendship.  I won’t reiterate all of those here, but a study of 139 studies found that friendship did more for long term health, than quitting smoking, eating healthy and exercise.  Isn’t that crazy.  Friendship is so important.  

On my vacation I’ve been reading Stanley Hauerwas’s The Work of Theology.  In his book I’ve been reminded that friendship isn’t just scientifically, philosophically, or even culturally valuable, it is also theologically so.  In an essay on learning to think theologically Hauerwas summarizes Eugene Garver.  Here I’ll quote him: 

According to Garver, friendship is crucial for the flourishing of practical wisdom.  Yet it is friendship, Garver argues, that the modern state has abandoned in its quest to secure order and stability.  Friendship has been abandoned in avor of trying to make justice the primary political virtue.  Yet it is only through political friendship that “practical reason can aim at truth while staying committed to public argument because ethical arguments can be more powerful and more rational than arguments from reason alone.” 

I had a birthday last week.  I turned 39.  Then on the next day, July 24th, Lindsay and I celebrated our 16th anniversary.  I always find myself reflecting at the end of July.  More so than any other time of the year.  I was wading through all of the texts, messages and social media well wishes.  They meant a great deal to me and seem to do so more every year.  I imagine every person taking the time to write their small messages and an immense gratitude swells in me.  These serve - in many different forms, some of them from people who are barely acquaintances - as small acts of grace and kindness.  They help to restore my soul.  Friendship can do that to us.  We are made for it.  

I’m wondering about you.  I was wondering if you have a good friend or friends?  You need them.  They can extend your life.  I think if you answer no, this should be the year you seek to change that.  You should make it a higher priority than work or even hobbies.  

If you google what kind of friendships are important, you’ll get a smorgasbord of different answers.  I’m going to compile my own list to get you started.  These are the 5 friends you should seek: 

1. A mentor:  Someone who you admire that you would give permission to speak into your life.  Someone who’s done what you want to do, not vocationally, but in becoming the kind of person you want to become.  

2. A mentee: Return the favor.  Seek out someone you’d love to invest in.  If they give you permission to be that person for them, pass along the good stuff you’ve learned.  Also, they’ll likely be younger than you and because of their vantage point have things to teach you as well. 

3. A friend to be vulnerable with: often this is a spouse if you have one, but it should also be someone out side of your marriage.  It’s a friend that you could tell anything to and completely trust. 

4. A friend to have fun with: this friend is your good- times-friend.  The friend you can bank on hanging with for a night filled with laughter and carefree activities. 

5. A friend to take you on adventures: this friend is one the who introduces you to what is lacking in your life.  Could be perspectives.  Could be a new restaurant.  Could be going to see a movie you’d never otherwise pick.  This friend is your source into worlds that you don’t naturally go.  

Good luck with your friend hunting.  

Backside Date Change (Now 8/6)

Backside will now be on Thursday, August 8th, at 7pm to let the building breathe a bit after the Covid Testing. As a result, you can still submit something for inclusion in the event until Monday, 8/3. Email jamie@ubcwaco.org for details

Family Resource Pantry

Thank you to everyone who has been volunteering and everyone who has donated so far.  This is our week to donate and buy supplies for the pantry, so please use the link below to see what still needs to be bought this week.  If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org. Here's that link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084eacae2aabff2-community

UBC Drive-In Movie

Alright friends, nothing says summer like the movies, and we also want to see everyone. What’s a safe way to social distance and be in the same space; stay in your car! We will be hosting our first drive-in movie on Friday night August 7th. There will be more details in the near future, but put it on your calendar.

COVID-19 Testing Site

UBC is partnering with Waco and McClennan County Emergency Management to be a walk-up testing site this week. UBC has andwill be open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 8am-4pm, if you are anyone you know would like to/needs to be tested for COVID-19. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

The Artist Way Fall Group

Hello friends. It’s me Josh. This spring a friend gave me Julia Cameron’s The Artist Way: A Spiritual Path To Higher Creativity. If you're like me, you skeptical of such things. Still, I committed to doing the book/workbook and discovered that it was profound. In her 12 week workbook Cameron takes creative hopefuls on a journey to unlock inner creativity and became the artist they want to be. By “artist’ Cameron means everything from dancer to writer to actor to singer to fashion designer. In whatever you might have a hidden artist dying inside, Cameron would like to speak to you. To this end I’m inviting 6 people to join me in doing the book together this fall. We will start in September and finish in December. Meetings will be once a week via zoom at a time to be determined. I’d like you to consider the following things before expressing interest. Are you willing to:

1. do the work. This will include daily journaling and a weekly date with yourself (by yourself).

2. reading the chapter each week

3. have the courage to be vulnerable about your artistic hope and speak with others about it

4. complete other assignments

5. hold other people’s artistic dreams with care

6. be an encourager

7. buy the book

8. commit to all 12 weeks

If you can answer yes to all of those and would like to sign up, you should do so by emailing josh@ubcwaco.org and say, “I am interested.” First come/first serve. I can’t do more than 6.

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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: Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@gmail.com

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position: Davis Misloski

Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members. 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@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.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Ubc Liturgy Stuff 7-26-2020

Ubc Liturgy Stuff

July 26, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on July 26th (in the order they are needed), as well as some resources for kids! (this includes some stuff that is print-able—if you need Taylor to print stuff for you in the future, just let us know, and we’ll get that set up).

Your Love Is Strong

heavenly father you always amaze me
let your kingdom come in my world
and in my life
you give me the food i need to live through the day
and forgive me as i forgive the people who’ve wronged me
lead me far from temptation, deliver me from the evil one

i look out the window, the birds are composing
and not a note is out of tune or out of place
i walk through the meadow and stare at the flowers
better dressed than any girl on her wedding day
so why do i worry? why do i fear?
god knows what i need
you know what i need

your love is strong

the kingdom of the heavens is now advancing
invade my heart invade this broken town
the kingdom of the heavens is buried treasure
would you sell yourself to buy the one you’ve found
two things you told me: that you are strong
and you love me

your love is strong

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

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship
the Eternal One

seeking rest in the refuge
of the God who sees

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

inviting the Spirit of God

to form our hearts and minds
in the way of Christ

Amen

Heart With No Companion

now i greet you from the other side
of sorrow and despair
with a love so vast and shattered
it’ll reach you everywhere

i sing this for the captain
whose ship has not been built
for the mother in confusion
her cradle still unfilled
for the heart with no companion
for the soul without a king
for the prima ballerina
who cannot dance to anything

through the days of shame that are coming
through the nights of wild distress
though your promise counts for nothing
you must keep it nonetheless

you must keep it for the captain
whose ship has not been built
for the mother in confusion
her cradle still unfilled
for the heart with no companion
for the soul without a king
for the prima ballerina
who cannot dance to anything

yes, i greet you from the other side
of sorrow and despair
with a love so vast and shattered
it will reach you everywhere

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Toph’s sermon text, is Genesis 29:15-28:

Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful. Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.) When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” Laban said, “This is not done in our country—giving the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52:

Jesus put before the crowds another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

“Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Where God Has Always Been

praise be the lord of all
with their backs against the wall,
hands above their heads, and eyes
lifted up to that impossible line
where the hill meets the sky
who wonder if the distance is
a trick of the earth or a trick of the mind
and if help will arrive before they slip away

praise be the lord of all
who wrestle until dawn
who wear their scars like names, yet find
heaven and earth, strangely aligned
like water in the sour wine
hidden in plain sight

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

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

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

Worship Resources for UBC Kids and Families

(And also anyone who might want them)

Hello friends! (This is Taylor) Here is a link to some fun coloring sheets and activity ideas for Sunday. Also included is a kid’s worship bulletin - so if you print it off beforehand kiddos could do that while they watch our worship service! I’m excited to see what you do with these coloring sheets and activities - so please take a picture and tag @ubcwaco when you use them! Thanks everybody! Here is the link!.

p.s. - Remember! If you don’t have a printer just let me know and I can print them out for you!

New Giving App

In case you missed this info for the past couple of weeks:

We're excited to offer a new way to give to UBC - through a simple, fast and secure app!  You can download the free Church Center app and enter "UBC Waco" as your church.  In just a few taps, you'll have your account set up and can give any amount, anytime, from anywhere in the world.  You can make a one-time donation or set up recurring giving instantly.  Best yet, this app is designed specifically for churches, with reduced fees that make sure more of your donation actually goes to support UBC.  If you're not an app person, no worries - we've added Church Center as an option under the "give" tab on our website.  Thanks for your giving and support of our UBC community!

ITLOTC 7-21-2020

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Well hi there UBC; Kieran here. Josh is still off swanning around somewhere that isn’t Waco, TX, and so this week it falls to me to introduce the newsletter. I know, I’m sure many of you are disappointed, but bear with me, and we’ll get through this together. 
So I thought I’d take this space today to share about some of the things I’ve learned during this period of quarantine, in this time of Corona. But not from me; no, I have all the introspection of a concrete bollard (do y’all have the word bollard in the US? It’s just one of those stone pillars you use to stop people from driving through somewhere. You get them in carparks, etc. Pardon my English if so). I wanted to talk about things I’ve learned from our brilliant, wonderful Youth during this time. 
As I’m sure most of you may be aware, UBC has continued to hold weekly meetings with the Youth Group, every Wednesday (we’ve been having a, dare I say thrilling, trivia competition of which tomorrow is the last session!), and Sunday (if you love Mark as much as we do, and you’re a Youth, you gotta check it out. Seriously. Please come and hang out with us). Since March/April we’ve been meeting online, and during that time, I have learnt so much from the younger members of our church. Here’s a small sample of things that came to mind: 
1. This is all really hard. And it’s okay to say that. It’s okay to think it, to feel it, and to sit with it. I’m the first person to want reframe things (Enneagram 7 reporting for duty), but the strength and vulnerability with which our youth tackle everything happening in our world right now is humbling, and inspiring. 
2. Laughing, and especially doing so together, is really, really important. It doesn’t mean we ignore the issues facing our world and this country right now - it doesn’t mean we don’t acknowledge, every day, the ways in which we are complicit in systems of oppression, be they white supremacy, be they patriarchy, be they stigmas attached to mental health. It means that in order to keep going, to keep our passion and drive to be anti-racist, to learn about our own implicit, deeply seated misogyny and racism, in order not be burnt out and leave these critical and fundamentally important movements behind, we have to laugh with each other. It builds relationships, it builds camaraderie, and perhaps most importantly, it makes it easier to cry with each other when we need to. 
3. Call your friends. Really, just do it. I am the worst for this - I let everything else happening in my life overtake me, and I make little time for friends and family who aren’t here with me. Some of you I’m sure are amazing at that, but for those of you who also struggle, make the time to check in with friends you haven’t seen or spoken to in a while. Community is harder to maintain in these times, but it’s not impossible, and it’s arguably more needed than it’s ever been. Our youth floor me with how they check on each other, how they call and seek out each other. Their love and commitment to one another is rare, if only because it is something otherwise so easily left on the shelf when there are a hundred other things more pressing to take down and hold on to. 
I’ll leave it there for now; but UBC, rest assured that the young people in our church are world-shakers and game-changers, and they teach me new things every time we interact. It is one of the greatest honours of my life to be alongside them as they grow with each other, and with God, and I hope that each of you gets the opportunity to see how brilliant and incandescent they are. 
Happy Tuesday, UBC. 

No Pub Group This Week (7/22)

There will be no pub group tomorrow! See you next week.

Drive-Up Food Distribution

UBC is partnering with several other churches for a drive-up food distribution this Wednesday (7/22). Family of Faith, a church in north waco, has been serving 1200-1600 families per week with boxes of food. For the next few weeks they are unable to do this work, so we are partnering with several churches to make sure these families still receive the food they need. This is a large operation, and we need your help. You can use the sign-up link below to sign-up. Please consider volunteering to help with this distribution this week. If you have any questions, email toph@ubcwaco.org
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084eacae2aabff2-driveup

Family Resource Pantry

Thank you to everyone who has been volunteering and everyone who has donated so far.  This is our week to donate and buy supplies for the pantry, so please use the link below to see what still needs to be bought this week.  If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org. Here's that link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084eacae2aabff2-community

Backside - July 31

We're having a very special Virtual Summer Edition of Backside on Friday, July 31st, at 7pm.  If you would like to submit a song, poem story, visual art piece, etc., email jamie@ubcwaco.org for details on how to make that happen.

UBC Drive-In Movie

Alright friends, nothing says summer like the movies, and we also want to see everyone. What’s a safe way to social distance and be in the same space; stay in your car! We will be hosting our first drive-in movie on Friday night August 7th. There will be more details in the near future, but put it on your calendar.

COVID-19 Testing Site

UBC is partnering with Waco and McClennan County Emergency Management to be a walk-up testing site next week. UBC will be open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 8am-4pm, if you are anyone you know would like to/needs to be tested for COVID-19. If you have any questions, please contact toph@ubcwaco.org

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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: Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@gmail.com

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position: Davis Misloski

Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members. 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@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.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Ubc Liturgy Stuff 7-19-2020

Ubc Liturgy Stuff

July 19, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on July 19th (in the order they are needed), as well as some resources for kids! (this includes some stuff that is print-able—if you need Taylor to print stuff for you in the future, just let us know, and we’ll get that set up).

The Word Is Yet Flesh

this peculiar collection of pieces you left
is knit with the needle of spirit, the Word is yet flesh
like a blanket, pulled tight over torn ligaments
but the hands have a problem with the shape of the feet
the mouth can’t decide if the jaws should be married
and the spine is just tired from fighting the pull of the earth

but this fractured collective can somehow still dance
kaleidoscope motion of a shaky pirouette,
borrowed brilliance refracted in sparks down the line
and as the warmth of the glow gives flight to the gloom
the kingdom of hope fades into view
and all that we’ve known—or thought that we knew
is now finally found silent in the light of the truth

word made flesh in whom all things hold
bind up tightly these collapsing bones
and raise again a body from the cold
’til nothing remains of these flickering days

come light of the world, thief of the night
be the lamp of the body, the lens to the eye
and though we’re scattered in knowing, be one in the mind
and bid our divine mirrors come and die

and then, word-made-flesh in whom all things hold,
bind up tightly these collapsing bones
and raise again a body from the cold
’til nothing remains of these flickering days

‘til nothing remains but the light and the flame

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship
the Living God

the Word who became flesh
and dwelt among us

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

in hope that the Spirit of God

might form us more fully in the way of Christ
and draw us into the work of God in the world
in our ordinary lives

Amen

Wideness

there’s a wideness in god’s mercy
like the wideness of the sea
there’s a kindness in god’s justice
which is more than liberty
there is welcome for the sinner,
the cast-off and the unloved
there is mercy with the savior
there is healing in his blood

for the love of god is broader than
the measure of our mind
and the heart of the eternal is
most wonderfully kind
but we make his love too narrow by
false limits of our own
and we magnify his strictness with
a zeal he will not own

there’s grace enough for thousands
of new worlds as great as this
there’s room for fresh creations
in that upper home of bliss
there’s plentiful redemption
in the blood that has been shed
there’s joy for every creature
in the sorrows of the head

for the love of god is broader than
the measure of our mind
and the heart of the eternal is
most wonderfully kind
but we make his love too narrow by
false limits of our own
and we magnify his strictness with
a zeal he will not own

o holy instructor,
i fear we’ve found a way to
be wholly destructive
and pin the blame on you
o wideness, come searching
and repair what went wrong

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading, and Taylor’s sermon text, is Genesis 28:10-19a:

Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the Lord stood beside him and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!” And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” 

So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called that place Bethel.

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43:

Jesus put before the crowd another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’” 

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!”

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Mother

is there a hair on my head
you haven’t numbered yet
you haven’t numbered yet

in the night, crying in the cold,
is there a pain of mine
you haven’t called your own

o mother comfort, mother known

though our minds so well ignore your grace
you bring it just the same
you bring it just the same

we reside in your self-giving love
but you’ve somehow found enough
for all the space that we take up

o mother wisdom, mother love
mother comfort, mother enough

through life and death, that cradled set
beginning and the end
beginning and the end

you are a shield, a beacon of defense
and our weaknesses align
as you gather us in

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

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

Worship Resources for UBC Kids and Families

(And also anyone who might want them)

Hello friends! (This is Taylor) Here is a link to some fun coloring sheets and activity ideas for Sunday. Also included is a kid’s worship bulletin - so if you print it off beforehand kiddos could do that while they watch our worship service! I’m excited to see what you do with these coloring sheets and activities - so please take a picture and tag @ubcwaco when you use them! Thanks everybody! Here is the link!.

p.s. - Remember! If you don’t have a printer just let me know and I can print them out for you!

New Giving App

In case you missed this info for the past couple of weeks:

We're excited to offer a new way to give to UBC - through a simple, fast and secure app!  You can download the free Church Center app and enter "UBC Waco" as your church.  In just a few taps, you'll have your account set up and can give any amount, anytime, from anywhere in the world.  You can make a one-time donation or set up recurring giving instantly.  Best yet, this app is designed specifically for churches, with reduced fees that make sure more of your donation actually goes to support UBC.  If you're not an app person, no worries - we've added Church Center as an option under the "give" tab on our website.  Thanks for your giving and support of our UBC community!

ITLOTC 7-14-2020

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Systemic Injustice calls for Systemic Change

(article written by Toph)

First, if you haven’t voted today, you should get out there and vote. It is our elected officials that often help create policy and measures that can change systemic issues in our country, and you have a voice you can use to vote for someone who will challenge the injustices that exists in our society. The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor. The work of neighborliness must translate to systemic change – policy work – on local/national/international levels. If we want to be neighbors who care, we must care about changing the systems that continue to keep large segments of the world in unfair and unjust and unsafe spaces. We need to learn what it means to be a good neighbor on systemic levels: which includes exercising our right to vote, fighting for policy change, and holding people accountable for their actions/inaction. We are the most connected generation in history, and if we take Jesus’ words seriously, then we must use our connectivity and information to be agents of change in this world.  We are too connected and have too much information not to advocate for systematic change.  Christ came to reconcile all things, how will you be a part of Christ reconciliation on a systemic level.

Below is something I wrote for the close of a service last year, and it is a good reminder for today.

God is not glorified when sexism and racism still exists within our systems.  

God is not glorified when crowds chant to exclude minorities and wish to send them away.

God is not glorified by keeping children in cages.

God is not glorified by turning away refugees.

God is not glorified by white nationalism.

God is not glorified with “all lives matter” when it is said in response to the suffering/oppression of black lives.

God is not glorified when we hate anyone.

God is glorified when we welcome the outcast and the sinner and dine with them.

God is glorified when we fight for equal rights, equal opportunity, and justice for all.  

God is glorified when we call out racism, sexism, xenophobia, and systems that continue to oppress people.

God is glorified when our love extends to all people regardless of race, gender, sexuality, or religious belief

God is glorified when the captives are set free and when the voices of the oppressed and poor are heard.

God is glorified when we love our enemy and pray for those who persecute.

The only way to drive out darkness is with light.  The only way to drive out hate is with love.  

UBC, may we continue to remind each other of God’s redemptive and radical love, and may we remember the call to love our neighbor is not a convenient request, but an urgent command.

Drive-Up Food Distribution

UBC is partnering with several other churches for a drive-up food distribution this Wednesday (7/15) and next Wednesday (7/22). Family of Faith, a church in north waco, has been serving 1200-1600 families per week with boxes of food. For the next few weeks they are unable to do this work, so we are partnering with several churches to make sure these families still receive the food they need. This is a large operation, and we need your help. You can use the sign-up link below to sign-up. Please consider volunteering to help with this distribution over the next two weeks. If you have any questions, email toph@ubcwaco.org
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084eacae2aabff2-driveup

Family Resource Pantry

Thank you to everyone who has been volunteering and everyone who has donated so far.  This is our week to donate and buy supplies for the pantry, so please use the link below to see what still needs to be bought this week.  If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org. Here's that link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084eacae2aabff2-community

Backside - July 31

We're having a very special Virtual Summer Edition of Backside on Friday, July 31st, at 7pm.  If you would like to submit a song, poem story, visual art piece, etc., email jamie@ubcwaco.org for details on how to make that happen.

UBC Drive-In Movie

Alright friends, nothing says summer like the movies, and we also want to see everyone. What’s a safe way to social distance and be in the same space; stay in your car! We will be hosting our first drive-in movie on Friday night August 7th. There will be more details in the near future, but put it on your calendar.

Town Hall - 7/19

We will be having a town hall after church this Sunday. Make sure to stay tuned in to hear updates about our finances and more. If you have any questions, contact toph@ubcwaco.org

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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: Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@gmail.com

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position: Davis Misloski

Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members. 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@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.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Ubc Liturgy Stuff 7-12-2020

Ubc Liturgy Stuff

July 12, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on July 12th (in the order they are needed), as well as some resources for kids! (this includes some stuff that is print-able—if you need Taylor to print stuff for you in the future, just let us know, and we’ll get that set up).

How Great Thou Art

o lord my god
when i in awesome wonder
consider all the worlds thy hands have made
i see the stars, i hear the rolling thunder
thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed

then sings my soul, my savior, god, to thee
how great thou art, how great thou art

and when i think
that god, the son not sparing
sent him to die, i scarce can take it in
that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing
sent him to die to take away my sins

then sings my soul, my savior god to thee
how great thou art, how great thou art

when christ shall come
with shout of acclamation
and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
then i shall bow with humble adoration
and there proclaim
my god, how great thou art

then sings my soul, my savior god to thee
how great thou art, how great thou art

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship
the Creator and Sustainer of all

to direct our attention the One
who is making all things new

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

that we might find the Spirit of God in our midst

and join our ordinary lives
to the work of God in the world

Amen

What the Dry Years Took Away

eternal, uncreated
who traced the frame before there was a frame
and never did forget it
thou the shape was mired along the way
would you now yet speak it
reassert the vision of the name
write it on our longing
like a pillar of fire, or cloud the same

with urgency and grace
would you restore
what the dry years took away

o god of life, may your mercy shine
upon the painted world
with power benign
and raise our hearts to sing
like the moon-pull to the tide
’til every riven thing
is found whole yet in plain sight

out here in the distance
among the fences we build around our dreams
there’s a numbing of the senses,
abject indifference, and ubiquitous fatique
so would you now yet speak it
holy beacon, the vision of the name
write it on our longing
like a pillar of fire or cloud the same

with urgency and grace
would you restore
what the dry years took away

o god of life, may your mercy shine
upon the painted world with power benign
and raise our hearts to sing
like the moon-pull to the tide
’til every riven thing is found whole yet in plain sight

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading is Psalm 65:9-13:

You visit the earth and water it,
    you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
    you provide the people with grain,
    for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly,
    settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
    and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with your bounty;
    your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
    the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
    the valleys deck themselves with grain,
    they shout and sing together for joy.

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading, and Bri’s sermon text, is Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23:

Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!”

“Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

There

before there were mountains to crumble
before there were seas to rise
before there was pain, the loss, and the weight
you were there

although our fear is rising
although our fire has gone out
although our hearts are worried and fraught
you are there

i’ve got a problem, i’ve made a drug
of worrying over what is yet to come
it’s clouding my vision, strangling my love
away

but after the sun stops burning
after the stars have gone out
after the world ceases to turn
you’ll be there

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

Worship Resources for UBC Kids and Families

(And also anyone who might want them)

Hello friends! (This is Taylor) Here is a link to some fun coloring sheets and activity ideas for Sunday. Also included is a kid’s worship bulletin - so if you print it off beforehand kiddos could do that while they watch our worship service! I’m excited to see what you do with these coloring sheets and activities - so please take a picture and tag @ubcwaco when you use them! Thanks everybody! Here is the link!.

p.s. - Remember! If you don’t have a printer just let me know and I can print them out for you!

New Giving App

In case you missed this info for the past couple of weeks:

We're excited to offer a new way to give to UBC - through a simple, fast and secure app!  You can download the free Church Center app and enter "UBC Waco" as your church.  In just a few taps, you'll have your account set up and can give any amount, anytime, from anywhere in the world.  You can make a one-time donation or set up recurring giving instantly.  Best yet, this app is designed specifically for churches, with reduced fees that make sure more of your donation actually goes to support UBC.  If you're not an app person, no worries - we've added Church Center as an option under the "give" tab on our website.  Thanks for your giving and support of our UBC community!

ITLOTC 7-7-2020

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

UBC Kids - Compassion Camp VBS!

Good afternoon friends! Next week is VBS (are you signed up for VBS? If not send me an email at taylor@ubcwaco.org and get signed up!) and so, as you can probably imagine it is the thing that most of my professional energy has been focused on for the past few weeks! Normally I look forward to VBS because it is a week when I get to spend so much time with all of our UBC kids as well as with all of our volunteers and youth volunteers. And I really love every moment I get to spend with our kids at UBC!!           

But this year – obviously – we aren’t all going to be together physically. We are all going to be in our separate homes doing VBS together but apart! We’ve been recording videos and preparing supply boxes for everyone to come pick up so that everyone can experience VBS! And I have found that even though being together is normally my favorite part that there are still so many reasons that I’m excited for VBS this year! And so, I wanted to share those reasons here with you! 

Reasons I am excited about UBC Compassion Camp VBS: 

1)    I am so excited about the theme! Compassion Camp is all about learning about all of the different gifts of compassion – how compassion helps us welcome and accept each other, how it helps us be brave and reach out to our neighbors, how it helps us show gentleness and kindness to ourselves, how it helps us follow God’s spirit, and how it can help us give fresh starts to ourselves and others!. I am so excited to learn more about the gifts of compassion – and I’m particularly excited to learn about it alongside all of you! 

2)    I am excited about the music! You can click here for a link to the Compassion Camp Album. When I tell you that these are the sweetest songs I truly truly mean it!! They have already taught me so much about how to be brave and compassionate with myself and with others! And to trust that God’s love gives me the ability to love myself and everyone I encounter. Go listen to them! 

3)    I’m excited to see all of the amazing things that our families learn together and all of the fun things that our kids and families create as we learn more about the gifts of compassion! I can’t wait to see all of the cool things that we learn and create as we walk together through our Compassion Camp VBS! Make sure that you tag @ubcwaco on social media so that we can see all of things you are learning and making! 

So, those are just some of the reasons why I am so excited about VBS next week! I hope that you’re excited too! And don’t forget to email me (taylor@ubcwaco.org) to sign up so that we can have a supply box ready for you to come pick up on Sunday Afternoon!

Sign-Ups for The Color of Compromise Groups:

On July 15th, we will begin discussing Jemar Tisby’s book: The Color of Compromise, and if you are a part of the UBC family we would love for you to join us.  We will be hosting two different discussion times; 6:30p and 8:15p.  These discussions will be held over zoom, and you must have read/watched/listened to the book/video series.  On July 15th, we will be discussing the first three chapters of Tisby’s book.  

As we navigate this book and the conversations that follow, it’s important not only to see the ways we, the American Church, have been complicit towards racism but the ways we as individuals have been complicit to racism.  If this is the first book you are reading that directly talks about racism in America, or if you are new to the journey of becoming/being anti-racist, we would ask you to sign up for the 6:30p group.  If you have been on this journey for a while, have read multiple books and have been doing the hard work of examining your own racial biases and tendencies, then please sign-up for the 8:15p discussion time.  The first group will probably not be a safe space for BIPOC, as we recognize the ways in which white people beginning to process their own racism can trigger past traumatic events in BIPOC lives.

We are so thankful you are willing to engage and discuss the white church’s complicity in racism in America, to begin/do the hard work of being anti-racist.  

You can sign up here.  

If you have any questions, email toph@ubcwaco.org.

Family Resource Pantry

Thank you to everyone who has been volunteering and everyone who has donated so far.  This is our week to donate and buy supplies for the pantry, so please use the link below to see what still needs to be bought this week.  If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org. Here's that link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084eacae2aabff2-community

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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: Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@gmail.com

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position: Davis Misloski

Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members. 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@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.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Ubc Liturgy Stuff 7-5-2020

Ubc Liturgy Stuff

July 5, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on July 5th (in the order they are needed), as well as some resources for kids! (this includes some stuff that is print-able—if you need Taylor to print stuff for you in the future, just let us know, and we’ll get that set up).

Wideness

there’s a wideness in god’s mercy
like the wideness of the sea
there’s a kindness in god’s justice
which is more than liberty
there is welcome for the sinner,
the cast-off and the unloved
there is mercy with the savior
there is healing in his blood

for the love of god is broader than
the measure of our mind
and the heart of the eternal is
most wonderfully kind
but we make his love too narrow by
false limits of our own
and we magnify his strictness with
a zeal he will not own

there’s grace enough for thousands
of new worlds as great as this
there’s room for fresh creations
in that upper home of bliss
there’s plentiful redemption
in the blood that has been shed
there’s joy for every creature
in the sorrows of the head

for the love of god is broader than
the measure of our mind
and the heart of the eternal is
most wonderfully kind
but we make his love too narrow by
false limits of our own
and we magnify his strictness with
a zeal he will not own

o holy instructor,
i fear we’ve found a way to
be wholly destructive
and pin the blame on you
o wideness, come searching
and repair what went wrong

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship
the Eternal One

to cast our burdens upon
the god of the lighter load

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

hoping the Spirit of God would form
us more fully in the way of Christ

awakening us to the work of God in the world

Amen

Pulse

there’s a secret pulse hidden in
the fabric of creation
and the story of every creature is:
bone from dust//gift from Gift

reconnect our hearts to that pulse you hid
resurrect the peace we’ve unlearned
and in the wreckage of our selective loves
build a tow’r that can’t be hid’n

there’s a remedy for the ache
that plagues us all in waves
and the cure for our other-scorning rage
is break my bread, i’ll break your shame

reconnect our hearts to that pulse you hid
resurrect the peace we’ve unlearned
and in the wreckage of our selective loves
build a tow’r and lock us in

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

Anthem

the birds, they sang at the break of day
start again, i hear them say
do not dwell on what is passed away
or what is yet to be
ah, the wars, they will be fought again
the holy dove, she will be caught again
bought, and sold, and bought again
the dove is never free

so ring the bells that still can ring
forget your perfect offering
there’s a crack, a crack in everything
that’s how the light gets in

we asked for signs, signs were sent
the birth, betrayed
the marriage, spent
the widowhood of every government
signs for all to see
but i can’t run no more
with that lawless crowd
while the killers in high places
say their prayers out loud
oh, they’ve summoned
they’ve summoned up a thundercloud
and they’re gonna hear from me

so ring the bells that still can ring
forget your perfect offering
there’s a crack, a crack in everything
that’s how the light gets in

you can add up the parts, but you won’t find the sum
you can strike up the march, but there is no drum
every heart, every heart to love will come
but like a refugee

so ring the bells that still can ring
forget your perfect offering
there’s a crack, a crack in everything
that’s how the light gets in

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading and Josh’s sermon text, is Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67:

The servant said to Laban, “I am Abraham’s servant. The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become wealthy; he has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys. And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and he has given him all that he has. My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live; but you shall go to my father’s house, to my kindred, and get a wife for my son.’

“I came today to the spring, and said, ‘O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now you will only make successful the way I am going! I am standing here by the spring of water; let the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I shall say, “Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,” and who will say to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also” —let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’

“Before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her water jar on her shoulder; and she went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also water your camels.’ So I drank, and she also watered the camels. Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her arms. Then I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to obtain the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son. Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so that I may turn either to the right hand or to the left.”

And they called Rebekah, and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will.” So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham’s servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “May you, our sister, become thousands of myriads; may your offspring gain possession of the gates of their foes.” Then Rebekah and her maids rose up, mounted the camels, and followed the man; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. Now Isaac had come from Beer-lahai-roi, and was settled in the Negeb. Isaac went out in the evening to walk in the field; and looking up, he saw camels coming. And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she slipped quickly from the camel, and said to the servant, “Who is the man over there, walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent. He took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30:

Jesus said to the crowd, “To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,

‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.’

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Boundless Love

i woke up this morning to a garbage truck
seems this ol horseshoe’s done run out of luck
if i came home, would you let me in
fry me some porkchops
and forgive my sins

and surround me with your boundless love
confound me with your boundless love
i was drowning in a sea, lost as i could be
when you found me with your boundless love

sometimes my old heart is like a washing machine
bounces around ‘til my soul comes clean
and when i’m clean, hung out to dry
i’m gonna make you laugh until you cry

and surround me with your boundless love
confound me with your boundless love
i was drowning in a sea, lost as i could be
when you found me with your boundless love

if by chance i should find myself as risk
a’fallin from this jagged cliff
i look below, i look above
i’m surrounded by your boundless love

and surround me with your boundless love
confound me with your boundless love
i was drowning in a sea, lost as i could be
when you found me with your boundless love
you dumbfound me with your boundless love
you surround me with your boundless love

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

Worship Resources for UBC Kids and Families

(And also anyone who might want them)

Hello friends! (This is Taylor) Here is a link to some fun coloring sheets and activity ideas for Sunday. Also included is a kid’s worship bulletin - so if you print it off beforehand kiddos could do that while they watch our worship service! I’m excited to see what you do with these coloring sheets and activities - so please take a picture and tag @ubcwaco when you use them! Thanks everybody! Here is the link!.

p.s. - Remember! If you don’t have a printer just let me know and I can print them out for you!

New Giving App

In case you missed this info for the past couple of weeks:

We're excited to offer a new way to give to UBC - through a simple, fast and secure app!  You can download the free Church Center app and enter "UBC Waco" as your church.  In just a few taps, you'll have your account set up and can give any amount, anytime, from anywhere in the world.  You can make a one-time donation or set up recurring giving instantly.  Best yet, this app is designed specifically for churches, with reduced fees that make sure more of your donation actually goes to support UBC.  If you're not an app person, no worries - we've added Church Center as an option under the "give" tab on our website.  Thanks for your giving and support of our UBC community!

ITLOTC 6-30-20

ITLOTC

(In The Life Of The Church)

Pentecost

Taking Delight

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

Of all the disciplines I regularly practiced in my evangelical past, the one I remain appreciative of was praying with my friend Nate.  In college we would often go to the woods of Bethel’s 200-acre campus, light an illegal fire, and pray for all kinds of things.  My prayer language, cadence and understanding has evolved since those prayers, but I believe it was in part the act of praying that allowed for that evolving.   One of the bible verses that Nate and I would often quote to each other was 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.  They almost read like pithy proverbs.  Brief imperatives. Yet despite their brevity and apparent simplicity they are all difficult to embody.  I liked the practice of thanking God though.  It felt right.  As a regular habit, it did something good for my soul. 

I have been giving more thought to the “rejoice always” part.  It strikes me as a particularly helpful antidote.  Rejoicing is hard.  Sometimes it can even seem inappropriate.   A current effort to rejoice without taking seriously the stark racial violence that is being unveiled would be a theological mistake.  Had Jesus laughed by Lazarus’ tomb instead of weeping with Mary and Martha we would have found that inappropriate. Sometimes, it is precisely in those circumstances that we need to rejoice.  

On Saturday I read a story about a murder mystery that had been solved after 38 years.  An eight year old girl in Columbus, OH was walking home and never made it.  They found her a few days later in a cornfield.  With DNA testing, they were able to identify her killer this week.  He’s been dead for a while.  I hate those stories.  I thought about the parents wondering all these years.  Wondered if there was any solace to be had.  About an hour later I was painting outside and listening to Dax Shepherd interview economist Jeffery Sachs on his podcast Armchair Expert.  One of the things Sachs talked about was how close we came to nuclear war with Russia. Allegedly, during the Cuban Missile Crisis the Russians had some bad intelligence information about an aggressive American act of hostility.  A Russian Admiral with a submarine in the Caribbean got clearance to launch the missile.  At the last minute he decided to consult fellow officers.  It was voted down 2-1.  That close though!  The world feels so fickle.  It’s that fickle right now.  

What do we do? The choice to see only good can be myopic.  The choice to meditate on the bad can be lethal.  I think a Christian response of discipleship is one that rejoices in the midst of both of them.  A friend gave me a copy of Julia Cameron’s The Artist Way this spring.  We are both aspiring writers and talk about writing occasionally, hence the gift.   The book is designed to be a kind of companion that calls for action on the part of the reader.  It assigns daily and weekly tasks that have the aim of developing the artist within you.  I started it on spring break, which coincided with the global shutdown due to COVID.  So I stopped.  I knew I couldn’t keep my commitments during the chaos.  I picked the book up again last week.  I want to share something that Cameron says: “The quality of life is in proportion, always, to the capacity for delight.”  Cameron is a theist, who is writing to elicit the creative spirit she argues abides in all of us.  But I think this is consistent with Paul’s admonishment.  Joy seems to have a relationship with the intent to take delight.  In this sense, joy is in part an effort.  But it might be better to return to the phrase in the transliteration, rejoice.  

I have been practicing taking delight.  In the morning I wake up with what sometimes feels like depressive feelings and despite those, I pray for the eyes to see and experience things to take delight in.  The murders and nuclear weapons haven’t disappeared since I’ve started, but the delightful has come into focus.  It’s getting easier to find.  So I will continue to make the effort to rejoice always. 

Meet Our Newest UBCer

Junia Truth Harris

Birthday: Born 6/25/20

Birth Weight: 7lbs 15oz 

Birth Height: 21 inches

Enneagram Number: 2w1

A Word About Cake & Pie

This week during our welcome time during worship Taylor posed the question, “what do you like better cake or pie?” As some of you indicated, it seems complicated perhaps unfair to pit cake against pie, especially now in a difficult time. I stand by my answer that in general, cake is better. But there are some good pies that beat some cakes. Someone also pointed out that cobbler is different than pie. If this is the case, that only works against pie, dropping it another notch for me. Also, as was discussed in the comments, there is the ambiguous category of cheese cake and the likes. Alas, I give you some cake/pie rankings: 1. Dirt Cake 2. Dump Cake 3. Chocolate Cake 4. German Chocolate cake 5. French Silk Pie 6. Assorted Flavors of Edwards Pie 7. Key lime pie 8. Boston Cream Pie 9. Peach Cobbler 10. certain cheesecake.

VBS Update

Hey UBC Kids and Families! We will be doing Compassion Camp Online VBS this summer! Everything will be on our website to watch and participate July 13-17! And we will have supply boxes for you to pick up on Sunday July 12! If your family would like to participate please email Taylor at taylor@ubcwaco.org and let her know you want to participate!

Family Resource Pantry

Thank you to everyone who has been volunteering and everyone who has donated so far.  This is our week to donate and buy supplies for the pantry, so please use the link below to see what still needs to be bought this week.  If you have any questions, please email toph@ubcwaco.org. Here's that link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084eacae2aabff2-community

Learning Together - Understanding the Church’s Complicity in Racism

“What we need is a generation of Christians, who will intentionally and in a sustained way consciously fight against the racism that still pervades our society.” - Jemar Tisby 

Starting in July, we will begin a six week series in which we read and discuss Jemar TIsby’s book: The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism.  There are many ways you can access the book: you can buy it, you can download the audiobook, or you can watch the 12 part series on Amazon Prime.  We will be reading/listening/watching two chapters a week, and we will meet every other week for discussion.  If you would like to purchase the book but do not have the funds available, please let us know and we will get you a copy.  We will begin reading/listening/watching on July 1, and our discussions will happen on July 15, July 29, August 12, and August 26th. Toph and Katie Valenzuela will be leading the discussion times, and we will be talking about 3 chapters each time.  We will have two times for you to sign-up for, and those will be available on Sunday after the service.  If you have any questions, email toph@ubcwaco.org

Work is Worship

Greeters: No Greeters this week

Coffee Makers: no coffee makers this week

Mug Cleaners: no mug cleaners this week

Money Counter:  no money counters this week

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: Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu

Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@gmail.com

Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com

Joanna Sowards: jo.sowards@gmail.com

Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com

Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com

Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com

Student Position: Davis Misloski

Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy

UBC Finance Team

Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members. 

Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com

Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com

Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com

George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@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.

Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com

Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com

Rebekah Powell: rpowell671@gmail.com

Kristen Richardson: wacorichardsons@gmail.com

Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu

Ubc Liturgy Stuff 6-28-2020

Ubc Liturgy Stuff

June 28, 2020

Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on June 28th (in the order they are needed), as well as some resources for kids! (this includes some stuff that is print-able—if you need Taylor to print stuff for you in the future, just let us know, and we’ll get that set up).

Waking Life

you’re a hammerblow
to the barricade
i’ve built up in my mind
to separate
that which i hold with warm embrace
from that which i have reduced to an empty phrase

you’re a falling blade
to the knot i tied
to secure a heavy shade over my eyes
and as if i had never tasted light
a stabbing pain slowly gives way to a truer sight

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

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

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

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

Call to Worship

we have gathered to worship
the God who sees

the Eternal One in whom
are life and breath and everything

to enter the story of God

and find our own stories reimagined

hoping the Spirit of God would form
our hearts and minds in the way of Christ

that we might join the work of God in the world
with our ordinary lives

Amen

What the Dry Years Took Away

eternal, uncreated
who traced the frame before there was a frame
and never did forget it
though the shape was mired along the way
would you now yet speak it
reassert the vision of the name
write it on our longing
like a pillar of fire and cloud the same

with urgency and grace,
would you restore
what the dry years took away

o god of life, may your mercy shine
upon the painted world
with power divine
and raise our hearts to sing
like the moon-pull to the tide
’til every riven thing
is found whole yet in plain sight

but out here in the distance
among the fences
we build around our dreams
there’s a numbing of the senses,
abject indifference,
and ubiquitous fatigue
so would you now yet speak it,
holy beacon,
the vision of the Name
write it on our longing
like a pillar of fire and cloud the same

with urgency and grace,
would you restore
what the dry years took away

o god of life, may your mercy shine
upon the painted world
with power divine
and raise our hearts to sing
like the moon-pull to the tide
’til every riven thing
is found whole yet in plain sight

Come Healing

o gather up the brokenness
and bring it to me now
the fragrance of those promises
you never dared to vow
the splinters that you carry
the cross you left behind
come healing of the body
come healing of the mind
and let the heavens hear it
the penitential hymn
come healing of the spirit
come healing of the limb

behold the gates of mercy
in arbitrary space
and none of us deserving
the cruelty or the grace
o solitude of longing
where love has been confined
come healing of the body
come healing of the mind
and see the darkness yielding
which tore the light apart
come healing of the reason
come healing of the heart

o troubled dust concealing
an undivided love
the heart beneath is teaching to
the broken heart above
let the heavens falter
let the earth proclaim
come healing of the altar
come healing of the name

o longing of the branches
to lift the little bud
o longing of the arteries
to purify the blood
let the heavens hear it
the penitential hymn
come healing of the spirit
come healing of the limb

Old Testament Reading

Today’s Old Testament reading and Josh’s sermon text, is Genesis 22:1-14:

God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.” Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.

When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading is Matthew 10:40-42:

Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple-- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Be Thou My Vision

be thou my vision, o lord of my heart
naught be all else to me, save that thou art
thou my best thought by day or by night
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light

be thou my wisdom and thou my true word
i ever with thee and thou with me lord
thou my great father, spirit, and son
thou in my dwelling and i with the one

riches i heed not nor man’s empty praise
thou mine inheritance now and always
thou and thou only first in my heart
high king of heaven, my treasure thou art

high king of heaven, my victory won
may i reach heaven’s doors, o bright heaven’s sun
heart of my own heart, whatever befall
still be my vision, o ruler of all

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Benediction

As we approach this week

May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest

Amen

Worship Resources for UBC Kids and Families

(And also anyone who might want them)

Hello friends! (This is Taylor) Here is a link to some fun coloring sheets and activity ideas for Sunday. Also included is a kid’s worship bulletin - so if you print it off beforehand kiddos could do that while they watch our worship service! I’m excited to see what you do with these coloring sheets and activities - so please take a picture and tag @ubcwaco when you use them! Thanks everybody! Here is the link!.

p.s. - Remember! If you don’t have a printer just let me know and I can print them out for you!

New Giving App

In case you missed this info for the past couple of weeks:

We're excited to offer a new way to give to UBC - through a simple, fast and secure app!  You can download the free Church Center app and enter "UBC Waco" as your church.  In just a few taps, you'll have your account set up and can give any amount, anytime, from anywhere in the world.  You can make a one-time donation or set up recurring giving instantly.  Best yet, this app is designed specifically for churches, with reduced fees that make sure more of your donation actually goes to support UBC.  If you're not an app person, no worries - we've added Church Center as an option under the "give" tab on our website.  Thanks for your giving and support of our UBC community!