The Window: August 26, 2021

The Pane: Thank You for Your Collaborative Partnership

The last 17-months brought world-altering change to our lives, communities, and church. For most, we could not see those for whom we care deeply and participate in activities that give us life for an unbearably long time. And when things seem to be getting back to a new normal, we face another wave of this pandemic.

Despite the many challenges, you, along with other members of our congregation, faithfully pivoted to meet this uncertainty with faithfulness and participation.

Many of our Spiritual Formation and Sunday School Classes grew while meeting virtually. Our livestream worship service touched lives well beyond Baton Rouge. Meeting the needs of our community came to the forefront as we provided meals and school supplies, sent disaster relief resources, resourced our Ecuador partnership, grew fresh vegetables for local food pantries, provided Christmas gifts for Highland students, and on and on. Our MDO is expanding even in the face of the challenges of educating children while using necessary safety precautions.

While many of our family and friends were faced with the insecurity of economic hardship, you remained faithful to the mission and vision of UBC by contributing your offering, time, passion, and goodwill. Although we ended the financial year under the budgeted contributions, we also underspent the budget in cost-saving and faith-centered decision-making.

As experts begin to see the positive effects of vaccinations in our area and country, leading to the reopening of our new normal way of life, University Baptist Church is moving forward in bold faithfulness to God’s calling. As we face “next” together, we will do so with courage, strength, and openness as we seek to fulfill the good work of redeeming God’s world through the Gospel ministry.

God is doing great things in and through UBC. Opportunities for spiritual formation and discipleship are blooming. The Mother’s Day Out program expansion will give us the ability to reach dozens of new families. Our aging building electrical and air condition systems are being updated. The Soccer Academy continues to reach over 70 children per season. The expansion of retirees, young adults, college, youth, and children’s programs will allow us to grow the church. And our continued community-centered events and small groups are building upon our ability to develop authentic relationships within our church, neighborhood, and city. We are growing!

My prayer is that each of us will examine how we can bring God the bounty of our best selves by sharing our strengths, time, resources, passions, and offerings for the excellent work of Jesus through UBC. Now, more than ever, we need collaborative partners to support the growth of this church.

Thank you for being a part of seeing this vision become a reality by contributing to University Baptist Church. As Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, “I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

Become a Reading Friends Mentor at Highland Elementary: Training Luncheon Rescheduled for the End of September

Join our decades long partnership with Highland Elementary by signing up to being a reading mentor for the school’s EverBody Reads program. Volunteer reading friends commit to mentoring one student 30-minutes per week, September to May.

Participate in CBF's General Assembly August 26-27

CBF will host another virtual annual gathering online. There are workshops, plenary sessions, and worship experiences that you can join online for free. For more information about the opportunity and to register for the event, visit https:// cbf.net/general-assembly.

Fall Soccer Academy Registration Ends on August 30th

UBC's Soccer Academy returns in September for six one-hour Saturday sessions for children ages three to ten years old.

The six-week academy begins on Saturday, September 18. The academy dates are September 18, 25, October 2, 9, 16, and 23.

Instead of trying to schedule your entire week around scattered soccer practices and games, especially if you have more than one kid playing, register your kid(s) for a series of 1-hour sessions on Saturdays for six weeks. Your child will learn the fundamentals of soccer through fun activities and a scrimmage at the end of each session, all in the comfort of one hour per Saturday for six weeks.

The first player in your family is $45, with each additional player at $35.

Registration closes August 30. For more information and to register, visit www.ubc-br.org/academy.

MISSIONS

Ecuador Mission Immersion

Thank you for taking the time to meet with us yesterday to explore the 2022 Ecuador Mission Immersion.

We are pleased to announce that the trip will be held on July 18/19 through 26/27 (37) from yesterday's feedback.

Please remember that the $100 deposit is due by September 12, which will also be our next team meeting.

In the next few hours, you'll receive several Google calendar invitations to key dates and meetings. Please RSVP to the calendar invites to help with clear lines of communication for these key dates.

As we get close to some of the later meetings (January, May, and June), we will set specific times.

In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.

I look forward to collaborating with you.

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.

Volunteers for Soccer Academy Wanted

UBC's Soccer Academy returns in September. We need 12 different volunteers each Saturday to make the Academy function.

Sign up to help for one or as many Saturdays as you are able. Volunteers can sign up here for set-up, player check-in, group guiding, coaching, snack distribution, and participant care: https://form.jotform.com/211653094079155.

RELATIONSHIPS

Fantasy Football League

UBC will be hosting a fantasy football league for newbies and so-called experts. For information on how to join, click on the image above.

Fall Registration for Palacios House of Arts’ Tiny Tots Class is Now Open!

Palacios is a space partner with UBC, utilizing the second floor of the education building 10 hours per week.

For more information, contact Palacios House of Arts at either (813)454-2127 or (225)279-6666, or visit palaciosarts.squarespace.com

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

Blessing of the Backpacks Sunday, September 5th

For more information, click on the image above.

UBC Hosts CBF’s Executive Coordinator Paul Baxley on September 19

UBC will host the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s Executive Coordinator, Rev. Dr. Paul Baxley, on September 19th.

We invite you and your Spiritual Formation/Sunday School class to join a special session with Paul at 9:00 am in the Fellowship Hall and also via Zoom.

Zoom Information: Mtg ID: 923 023 2464, Password: ubc

Paul will also preach in worship.

Sunday Name Tag Project

Get to know new and unfamiliar faces on Sundays by picking up a name tag as you enter the worship space. The name tags will be in the Narthex center table. Write your name and answer each week’s conversation starter question.

CHURCH OF THE NATIONS

Church of the Nations in the Sanctuary this Sunday, August 29th

Come join us for worship in the chapel this Sunday at 10:30am! Before worship at 10am, in the sanctuary narthex (outside through the courtyard), we will have Coffee and Community!

KIDS

Spiritual Formation Series

Please bring your children to join us for our current Spiritual Formation Series, “Seeking Justice Together.” The series is led by Rev. Tanya Parks and takes place in the Children’s Branch during Sunday school.

Tune into Sunday School on Zoom

For those of you who aren’t able to join us in person, we’d love to have you on Zoom Sundays at 9:15 AM.

Zoom Information

Meeting ID: 516 969 4578

Password: ubc

YOUTH

Youth Sunday School Schedule

For more information, contact Eric at eric@ubc-br.org or visit www.ubc-br.org/youth

GENERAL UPDATES

Save The Dates

Update from the Facilities Team

Click the image above for a message from the facilities team regarding the big projects taking place on campus.

How To Give

GIVE: https://www.ubc-br.org/give

STAY CONNECTED DURING THE PANDEMIC

Mask Policy Update

UBC once again recommends both vaccinated and unvaccinated participants wear a mask while indoors on campus.

We invite you to sign up to provide a care package for one of these 41 staff members. The care package should include candy, a $6 gift card to Lighthouse Coffee or CC’s, a small hand sanitizer bottle, lip balm, and something fun of your choosing.

We want to equip you to be the hands and feet of Jesus by pouring time, care, and attention into making one of these packages. This is why we are asking you to prepare the packages versus donating to the project.

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.