The Pane: Bear the Sign of the Cross on Our Foreheads in Solidarity for the Sacrifice of Christ
In college, I let my suite mates convince me to join them in painting our chests and faces with our school colors before the big game. It was a painful experience as the hot climate of Campbell University’s basketball arena produced sweat on my forehead, causing the paint to run into my eyes. Getting the paint off was an exercise in patience, taking nearly three days to get it all off the hard-to-reach places.
What is about our favorite sports teams that cause us to pay thousands of dollars in tickets, gear, tailgating, and maybe a little body paint to cheer them on? What makes those crazy Green Bay Packer’s fans stand out in subzero temperatures with their shirts off?
As much as I love my favorite teams, I often reflect on how much time and energy is spent on them in comparison to, let’s say, my outward devotion to Christ. Sure, I study the Scriptures daily, have spiritual conversations, pray, and worship. But am I willing to mark my body out of devotion to Jesus?
Ash Wednesday is one of those rare days that we are invited to mark our foreheads with the sign of the cross out of solidarity for the sacrifice of Christ. The marking of the body with ashes reaches back thousands of years, as people did so as an emotional and spiritual symbol of humility, repentance, and mourning. See the story of Ester (4:1), Job (42:6), Jonah (3:5-6), Moses (Exodus 9:8-10), and Isaiah (61:3, 44:20) for starters.The usage of Ashes continues into the New Testament and in the early church writings of Tertullian and Eusebius. The “Day of Ashes” ritual is found in the earliest editions of the Gregorian Sacramentary, which dates at least to the 8th century.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season, in which we are invited to spiritually sojourn with Jesus to Jerusalem and his ultimate crucifixion. It is a spiritual season of reflection, prayer, confession, sacrifice, and growth.
Being marked with Ash is an outward symbol of an inward spiritual commitment. It is a way of saying that we are finite creatures, “Remember you are dust, and dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19), loved by an infinite Creator who calls us to change our way of thinking and living each day through Jesus. The ashes used come from the burned branches of Palm Sunday mixed with oil.
I invite you on this Lenten journey, beginning with Ash Wednesday on March 2. At noon, we will gather in the Chapel for a time of fasting for lunch, meditating, praying, and receiving ashes. We invite you to come into the worship space in quiet contemplation.
Communion
Soccer Academy Volunteers Needed
UBC's Soccer Academy returns in February. We need 12 different volunteers each Saturday to make the Academy function.
Sign up to help for one or as many Saturdays as you can. Volunteers can sign up here for set-up, player check-in, group guiding, coaching, snack distribution, and participant care: https://form.jotform.com/212913959293163.
RELATIONSHIPS
Save The Date For UBC's Spring Gathering
UBC will host its annual Spring Gathering on Sunday, April 3, on our Highland Road front lawn. This year’s event will feature a Meadow Ride, Bunny Hop (Trunk or Treat style egg share), lots of games, a free meal, and a silent bake auction.
Participants are encouraged to bring an Easter basket to collect all the goodies and a generous heart to contribute to the silent bake auction, benefiting our mission partnership in Ecuador.
This free experience is designed for all ages to enjoy, so please come and invite friends, family, and neighbors.
Parking will be available on the ball field parking lot with limited parking on the Highland side of the campus.
Volunteers Needed for UBC’s Spring Gathering
To help make the Spring Gathering a reality, we need your help. Sign up by using the following link above, click image, or by contacting the office.
Save the Date for Retirees' Outing
You may choose to meet us at the church or meet at the museum. We’ll leave from the church at 12:15 and be at the museum by 12:45. The Planetarium show is at 1:00. After the show, you’ll be free to walk around the museum.
The group cost is $8. You may sign up as a couple by just putting both first names in the First Name section. You will need to pay for each person visiting so I can pay for it as a group on the 24th. Feel free to email Tanya or call the church office.
MISSIONS
Ecuador Support Project
All contributions should be labeled “Ecuador Support Project.” You can also donate online here: https://form.jotform.com/213325214630140
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.
UBC Stained-Glass Christmas Ornaments
For informant how to purchase your ornament, click the image above.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Ash Wednesday
We will host a brief and meaningful Ash Wednesday service at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, March 2, in the chapel.
Participants are invited to begin the season of Lent by fasting for lunch, meditating, praying, and receiving ashes.
New Lenten Study
New Lenten Study starting Thursday March 2!
Join us for this six-week study as we consider Jesus' nonviolent ministry, his journey to the cross, and what this means for our lives as his disciples.
Every Thursday over Zoom from 12:30pm-1:30pm. Email eric@ubc-br.org by March 1 to register, or if you have questions!
The Little-Big Things Question of the Week
During our upcoming “The Little-Things” series, Sunday School and Spiritual Formation classes are invited to engage in a weekly dialogue about how their small group can help UBC thrive by living out these expressions: Spirit-Led, Formation, Relationships, Volunteering, Intergenerational Connections, Missions, and Holy Imagination.
The hope is that your group will center the brief conversation on practical and tangible goals for your specific group.
Thursday Prayer Group is Back!
The group meets every Thursday over Zoom at 12:30pm. We will be reading The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri J.M. Nouwen.
Join us on Zoom.
Zoom ID: 570-645-5793
Password: ubc
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.
CBF Church Works
UBC is hosting CBF’s ChurchWorks Conference, March 6-8. This is a gathering of ministers from across the country for a time of shared learning and networking.
If you are interested in helping host the conference, please reach out to Andy (andy@ubc-br.org or 225-766-9474).
Donate Items for Spring Gathering Bake Auction
The Ecuador Team will host a silent bake auction at the April 3rd Spring Gathering. We need a variety of bakers to provide a plethora of treats for the sale. Register today to donate a delicious treat for the sale: https://form.jotform.com/220465337845157
Choir is Back
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.
CHURCH OF THE NATIONS
Worship in the Chapel this Sunday
Contact eric@ubc-br.org for more information.
KIDS
Family Trip to DEFY
We’ll have a snack lunch at the church and then head over to DEFY for our 12:30 reservation. We’ll be able to jump for an hour. Please sign up by Feb 28th.
Cost to those registered by Feb 28th is $7 (One hour of jumping). Remember your Grippy socks! If you forget, they are $3 at the door. https://form.jotform.com/220474725543153
GENERAL UPDATES
Save The Dates
CONNECT GROUPS
Update UBC’s Faith, Community and Justice Connect Group
The display is called "Toward a Larger Freedom: Ten Years of Citizen Power Organizing with Together Baton Rouge" and is a free exhibition of oral histories by local civic and civil rights leaders paired with portraits by photographer Lily Brooks. The display is at the Goodwood library (entryway and second floor outside the archive room) through the end of February.
Alternatively, you can click on the link below to view the photo exhibit. If you click on the photos whose names have an asterisk, you can hear an excerpt of their oral history. If you scroll down far enough, once you are at the website, you'll see several of your fellow UBC members.
Alternatively, you can click on the link below to view the photo exhibit. If you click on the photos whose names have an asterisk, you can hear an excerpt of their oral history. If you scroll down far enough, once you are at the website, you'll see several of your fellow UBC members.
How To Give
Mask Policy Update
Click on the image above to review our updated mask policy.
