The Window: April 21, 2022

The Pane: Why UBC is Thriving

Over the last couple of weeks, I have had countless meaningful conversations with members of UBC. Many of the discussions have centered around two questions: 1) Why now; 2) How UBC will continue to thrive.

Each time the conversation has turned to “all the wonderful things you (Andy) have done here,” I quickly pivot the conversation to note in all authenticity and sincerity that all I have done is pull out and leverage what already existed within UBC’s fine people. UBC is indeed thriving because of our extraordinary people and their willingness to invest in creative Kingdom work.

So much of my sense of calling to come to UBC four years ago was discerning just how extraordinary the members of this faith community are. We sensed it in the pastor search team, thinking that if the rest of the congregation was anything like this group of people, we wanted to be a part of what was happening in Baton Rouge.

And our hunches were correct—UBC has many gifted, engaging, and wonderful people. And what makes you all so extraordinary is how you relate to one another in gracious, compassionate, and generous ways.

If you were to give an honest assessment of my time at UBC, you’d realize that all I was attempting to do was bring you all together in thoughtful and proactive ways. By bringing you together for intentional conversations, creative activities, and the spiritual discipline of having fun together, we created opportunities for relational boundaries to be torn down. By investing time together, we built the kind of mutual respect, trust, and love that lead to thriving.

UBC is thriving because God has uniquely placed this set of people together in this particular context for such time as this. UBC is thriving because you all have been willing to love God and love each other as we faithfully discover together what God is doing in and through us.

Let this be a comforting and empowering thought as you venture into the next chapter of your lives together.

Care Packages for Highland Elementary Staff

We invite you to collaborate with our partners at Highland Elementary by providing care packages for the staff.

We invite you to sign up to provide a care package for one of these 37 staff members. The care package should include 5 small snack items such as chips, crackers, candy, nuts, cookies, and a small gift of your choosing. Please note - the bags are 7"x9 1/2 inches, so please purchase your items with this size in mind.

Once you have purchased the items, drop by the church office to fill one of the official package bags, and write a personal note to put on the finishing touch. The office will be open on Sundays 9-11:30 am and, Monday through Thursday, 9 am-4:30 pm.

We will be delivering the bags on May 2, so please have your bag filled at the church by April 27th.

RELATIONSHIPS

Young Adults Night Out

Our next Young Adults Night Out will be on April 22nd, 5:30-8:00 pm. The group will gather at a local restaurant for dining and conversations. Realizing not everyone can arrive by 5:30 pm, plan on joining the group as you are able.

If you have kids, you can drop them off at the church, beginning at 5:15 pm, for dinner and activities for $10 for the first child and $5 for each additional child.

Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 20th. The restaurant location will be texted to you.

Please sign up here:

Young Adult's Night Out Sign Up

Barnabas Project Partners

Are you in a Barnabas Projection connection? The Barnabas Project is an intergenerational connection between retirees and children with their families at UBC.

To start your Barnabas Project connection, reach out to Tanya, Minister of Children and Retirees, at 225-766-9474 or tanya@ubc-br.org.

Summer Gatherings Survey

UBC will host three Summer Gatherings on the second Sunday of every month in June, July, and August.

In the past, these events have centered on community and shared-interest activities. In planning, we want to know the types of activities that interest you. Please take a few moments to fill out this poll to give us helpful insight:

Summer Gathering Survey

H.O.P.E Grief Support Groups

The Hospice of Baton Rouge would like to invite you to their H.O.P.E Grief Support Group. This 6-Week support group will be held at UBC’s Heritage Room Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. All groups are provided to the public at no charge.

You can log-on to our website at: https://hospicebr.org/bereavement for more information. To reserve your spot or you may also contact Christine Brasseaux at The Hospice of Baton Rouge at (225) 341-9703 or (225) 767-4673.

VOLUNTEERING

We Need Your Help as Our Church Grows

As out church continues to grow, we need your help. Consider volunteering for one of the above.

Join Us for Choir

The choir is back! We are currently rehearsing Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Music Suite. All are welcome. Previous experience not required. Safety precautions include masks and distancing. Join us! Contact justin@ubc-br.org for more information.

TBR: Making Baton Rouge a Better Place

Are you interested in making Baton Rouge a better place to live? If so there are currently 3 organizational meetings with TBR and community groups to start working on the following issues:

-Access to healthy food in North Baton Rouge,

-Policing and mental illness

-Education

If interested in making Baton Rouge better, contact Herb Bennett at Herbbennettbtr@gmail.com to get connected with one of these groups.

Thank you,

TBR: Faith, Community and Justice Connect Group

TBR: Improving Public Safety

Does crime in Baton Rouge concern you?

If so, Together Baton Rouge (TBR) is hosting meetings to discuss your thoughts on how to improve public safety. Come join UBC’s connect group called Faith, Community and Justice as we meet with members of other Baton Rouge Churches. These meetings to discuss public safety in person will be held on the following dates; May 5th, May 19th or May 26th at 5:30 pm. Also there will be a Zoom option on May 12th at 5:30. Locations for these meetings and further details will be shared in upcoming editions of the Window and Check It Out!

Make a difference and have your voice heard on one of these dates in May. Thank you.

TBR: Faith, Community and Justice Connect Group

MISSIONS

Ecuador Supplies Support

UBC’s Ecuador Mission Immersion is just months away.

We are beginning now to collect key hygiene and medical items for the trip. You can partner with us by dropping of the following items in marked bins in the Narthex and Office: toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, feminine products, pocket containers of lotion, bars of soap, Band Aids, individual alcohol wipes, nail filers, wash clothes, and gallon zip-lock bags.

Pick Up Your Kindness Bags

Over 300 Kindness Bags were made at the January 30th Missions Sunday. They are simple food and hygiene kits you can keep in your car to give to someone in need.

Pick up a bag at the office during the week or grab one in the Narthex on Sundays.