ANDIE’S POST
Venn Diagrams
Thank you to all who joined us online last weekend. I hope you are staying warm and safe! A couple of upfront disclosures: I usually write my sermons the weekend I preach them. My ADHD brain basically requires me to complete them in one sitting or else I will for sure lose my place. It also allows me to incorporate any new events/tragedies that might happen later in the week. Second, I got a jump start on last weekend’s sermon, so at the time it was written and recorded, Alex Pretti had not been murdered. I want to address that here. This conversation is not just a political one, or an immigration one, or a gun reform one. This conversation is not just about government or fascism or racism. This conversation is also one of faith. If I were a betting man, I would put a lot of money on the odds that the Venn diagram of people who believe Alex Pretti’s death was justified, people who are pro-birth, and people who self-identify as Christians is a near-circle. Americans who have bought into the narrative that they are persecuted because of their faith see a reckoning and are taking up the cause of the oppressor. We need and deserve a healthy dose of perspective in the American Church. We have the right to practice our religions. We have the right to assemble at houses of worship. We have the right to free speech about our belief systems and more. How are we taking advantage of our rights for the benefit and betterment of the truly oppressed? Does our faith move us to speak, to protest, to have the hard conversations we’ve avoided? What does our Venn diagram look like? If it were up to me, our circle would be people who are trying our best to follow the teachings of Christ, people who are actively condemning violence in all forms, and people who are willing to risk discomfort for the truth. Love yall; stay safe, and as always, if you need a listening ear, I’m around.
THIS WEEK.
Youth Group- Wednesday, 6pm
The Book Club @ Ubc- Thursday, January 29th, 7pm
Next book is Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid on 1/27 from 7-8 pm. Join the UBC Book Club Group Me for updates: https://groupme.com/join_group/111260659/Y05RlzDf
Sunday Liturgy- Sunday, 10:45am
GIVING
UBC survives on the generosity of our congregation. Your financial contributions allow us to continue to create a space that is welcoming to all, embraces beauty, and seeks to live life to the fullest.
You can give, as you’re able, on Sunday mornings or set up a single or recurring online gift here.
If you ever have trouble with giving online or have a question about how to give, feel free to email administrator@ubcwaco.org.
CHURCH NEEDS
Mealtrain for Pryors
Jessica has made it back home after a very stressful several weeks in and out of the hospital in Denver due to complications from cancer. Sign up for meals or send gift cards here.
Pack of Hope Volunteers
Especially during Baylor breaks, there is a big need for packers on Tuesdays from 3:30-5:30 @ Poppa Rollo’s on Valley Mills. We send more bags home for breaks like Christmas break, too, so we need more hands! You can just show up, no prerequisites needed. Kids are welcome to come help pack bags too! More info at https://packofhope.org/faq or email nicole@ubcwaco.org.
Wanted: MiCasa Hosts!
We have a veritable slew of potential MiCasa participants waiting in the wings and we are looking for hosts and/or facilitators. Our small group format is communal, so you can trade off facilitating or pick someone to lead discussions/activities for the week or season. If you are interested in hosting a new group in your home or in facilitating one at the church, please email Andie at andie@ubcwaco.org. If you are interested in joining, same email, different subject line!
Prep Parties//Meals Available
After the Congressional Budget Bill passed in July of 2025, we knew that we had to respond with radical hospitality through practical means. The bill cut food assistance funding significantly, and will have lasting impacts on SNAP eligibility and work requirements. With so much food insecurity already in our community, we launched Prep Parties at UBC. Prep Parties are a chance for small groups of people to gather together, cook freezer meals, and stock the freezer in our kitchen. The meals are free to anyone in our congregation or broader community who may need them, whatever the reason. Too much month at the end of the money? Busy weekend protesting and advocating for policy change? Hosting a MiCasa and don't have time to cook? Please grab a meal!
If you are interested in joining our next round of Prep Parties, please email andie@ubcwaco.org. The plan is to restock on a quarterly basis, and we need shoppers, cooks, and hosts.
Freezer Meal Prep Parties
Love spreadsheets? Love organizing? Love feeding people? Join our Freezer Meal Prep Party Org team! This team places people together for the Prep Party, provides shopping lists and recipes, and oversees transport to the church. Email Andie at andie@ubcwaco.org to join!
Feed the Youths
Part of our youth group’s Wednesday gatherings is eating dinner, and you can sign up to be the source of said dinner!
ubcKids Donation Requests
Kids ministry is looking for some gently used donations! Contact nicole@ubcwaco.org if you have any of the following to donate:
complete puzzles for young kids-elementary
cars, hot wheels, etc
train tracks/train toys
magnatiles/magnetic toys
pots, pans, cookie sheets
play doh, play doh toys
Leadership Team Nominations
We’ve got an open spot on Leadership Team, and are taking nominations. If you know someone who would be a good representative voice for the congregation, email andie@ubcwaco.org!
Kid’s Volunteers
SIgn up to help with ubckids! Do it for the future! You can sign up here.
Tech Volunteers
Want to help keep the wheels from falling off on Sunday mornings? We are in need of volunteers to run lights, slides, and our livestream in the tech booth. No prior experience required--we will train you on whichever station you would like to help with. Email jamie@ubcwaco.org for more info.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Coffee Hour w/ Nicole @ CG Woodway- Wednesday, February 11th, 10-11am
ubcUniversity- Thursday, February 12th, 6:30pm
Special interest? Burning curiosity? Join us for ubcUniversity! You can present on your area of expertise and/or hear from fellow ubcers on theirs. Sign up here or in the lobby.
Galentine’s Day- Friday, February 13th, 6pm
The Gals are gathering at Andie’s for Galentine’s Day. Email andie@ubcwaco.org to sign up and hear more.
Lent Book Study- Sundays at 9:30 (beginning February 15th)
We’ll be reading Walter Brueggemann’s Interrupting Silence.
Love Lovefeast- Sunday, February 15th, 12pm
King Cakes & Pancakes- Tuesday, February 17th, 6:00pm
Sign up to make pancakes, bring a griddle, etc. here!
Ash Wednesday Liturgy- Wednesday, February 18th, 7am and 5:30pm (same liturgy at both times)
FuzzLab Waco Profit Share- Sunday, February 22nd, 2-5pm
Join us at Fuzz Lab Waco for a profit share! Fuzz Lab has multiple different crafts priced between $10-$68. Fuzz Lab will donate 10% to UBC kids which will help fund kids’ camp and other kids’ events!
All-Ubc Field Trip to the Perot- Saturday, February 28th, 10am-4pm
Fun Fact! With a Mayborn Membership , you get free entry into the Perot in Dallas! Blocking off this Saturday for UBCers to head there together have a day of fun! Expenses on UBCers (look up Mayborn Reciprocal Benefits for details on free admission), but Nicole will bring snacks to share.
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Find more details and our full calendar of events on our website. This calendar is updated frequently, so check back often!
PREACHING SCHEDULE
2/1- Andie
2/8- Jamie
COMMUNITY BOARD
Liturgies for Resisting Empire Boba and Book Talk @ Garland School of Social Work- February 17th, 12:15
CONTACT INFO
Pastoral Staff
Andie Pellicer, Lead Pastor
(andie@ubcwaco.org)
Jameson McGregor, Worship & Arts Pastor (jamie@ubcwaco.org)
Nicole Dizdar, Kids Pastor, Community Engagement Coordinator
(nicole@ubcwaco.org)
Hannah Kapitaniuk, Volunteer College Director
(hannah@ubcwaco.org)
Leadership Team
Maggie Griffin
Adam Moore
Travis Cheatham
Mary Ellis
Brooke Reich
Staff Support Team
Kyle Howerton
Jim Wren
Betsy Bracken
Finance Team
Brandon Glover
Jonathan Hill
Ben Rose