The Pane: What a Growing Retiree Ministry Means for UBC
“Will you come to train us on how to reach young people,” was an invitational line I asked more times than I can count when I was CBF’s Church Start Specialist. As a pastor who had successfully created a new church reaching 20, 30, 40 somethings, many aging congregations wanted to know the secret.
“I’ll teach you how to reach young people if you train me on how to reach older people,” was my go-to response.
Not many churches talk about wanting to grow older, but that’s precisely what we are challenging UBC to do. We want to become a hub for retired age adults now. We are not only dedicated ministerial staff to this area of growth with our Minister of Children and Retirees, Tanya Parks, but we are also developing a Retiree Planning Team to focus our efforts.
With a broad range of ages, the retired population brings unique and exciting opportunities for points of connection with UBC.
Our first goal is to create opportunities to develop relationships. Building off of the monthly luncheon, we want to expand this opportunity to include shared interest groups. Come for lunch and stay for fun small group activities. We are also expanding points of connection by creating more monthly activities.
We want to build strong intergenerational connections throughout UBC by pairing members of the retired community with children and their families through the Barnabas Project. On October 1, we will offer a Barnabas Project Gathering during the Coffee & Community hour on Sunday. To be retired does not diminish one’s worth to the faith community but an opportunity to amplify it by discovering ways to share one’s strengths and passions. We want to help retirees find the joy and purpose behind volunteering to help UBC grow. Whether serving on the development team, greeting on Sundays, teaching children, or leading a shared interest group, there are limitless opportunities for retirees to share their best selves with UBC.
What growing a retiree ministry means for UBC is a willingness to step out in faith to participate, invite others to join you, and reach out to friends that are not a part of UBC. Do not underestimate the power of your willingness to show up by sharing your time, attention, energy, and passions.
Young Adults Night Out, July 23rd, 5:30 PM
Join our Young Adults Night Out on the third Friday, 5:30-8:00 pm. This month, we will meet on July 23rd.
The group will gather at a local restaurant for dining. 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 Tuesday, July 13th here: https://form.jotform.com/211795585027160. The restaurant location will be texted to you.
Ecuador Mission Trip Exploratory Meeting
UBC is heading back to Ecuador in 2022 for a one-week mission immersion.
If you are interested in joining the team, please join the July 25th Exploratory Meeting in the Heritage Room after worship. We will discuss the trip details, the types of ministries involved, requirements for the trip, and costs.
If you cannot join in person, you can join via Zoom, using the Mtg ID: 314 698 8114.
Musicians Ice Cream Social
Join Bob and Kay Hawthorne at their house on Saturday, July 24th at 3:00 p.m. for music and ice cream. No RSVP necessary.
Soccer Academy Early-Bird Registration Opens July 6th
We are excited to announce the return of UBC's Soccer Academy for six one-hour sessions in September and October for children ages three to ten years old.
Early Bird Registration opens on July 6 with savings through August 2nd.
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.
Welcome Tanya Parks by Signing Up for a Care Week
We want you to be a part of welcoming the Parks family to South Louisiana with hospitality and care. You are invited to sign up for one of ten care weeks. This is an opportunity to bring a meal or care package to the Parks family. You are encouraged to approach this with your unique personality and giftedness.
Each week has two spots available to allow more members to share hospitality. Sign up for a care week by clicking on this link or calling the office: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e4da8a82aa5f85-care1.
FORMATION
Audacious Series Daily Prayer
No prayer this week.
Noon Summer Book Club, Next Meeting is August 12th
Join our Noon Summer Book Club for a bi-weekly conversation about Jemar Tisby’s new book, “How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice,” continues on August 12th. Please read pages 181-206 before meeting.
The group will meet in-person and online in the Fellowship Hall on the Second and Fourth Thursday of June, July, and August.
Purchase the book on Amazon in digital, audio, and hardback editions.
For those joining via Zoom, use the Mtg ID: 314 698 8114.
Please contact Andy via email (andy@ubc-br.org) or phone (225.766.9474) if you plan to join.
Why Sunday School & Spiritual Formation Groups? A Weekly Dialogue
One of the successes we celebrate about UBC is the health of our Sunday School and Spiritual Formation Groups. We’d like to explore why.
Each week, we ask these groups to spend five minutes at the beginning of their meeting to discuss a provided question. Insight from the group’s discussion can be sent to Andy (andy@ubc-br.org) and Eric (eric@ubc-br.org).
July 25: One of the common strengths of our existing groups is a missional spirit. In missions, we become the presence of Jesus in the world by meeting the needs of others. What examples of missions can we identify in our group? How does Christ meet the needs of this world through these examples?
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.
Bags of Hope 2021
Please consider donating to Together for Hope’s Annual School Supply Drive and Mission Day. Donations will be accepted in the form of cash or a check. A donation of just $20 will provide one child with school supplies to last an entire year. Please send cash or check donations by August 5th.
RELATIONSHIPS
Summer Gathering & Kids Club August 8th
Join our first Summer Gathering and Kids Club on August 8th at 4:00 pm. Kids, ages infant through 5th grade, will enjoy activities, crafts, games, lessons, and dinner. Drop off will occur at the Children’s Branch entrance. Register here by Saturday, August 7th: https://form.jotform.com/211965313899165
Adults can pick one of the following activities: baking art, party games, brush lettering art, or disc golf. A dessert social will wrap up the event at 6:00 pm. Please sign up for one of the activities by visiting this link or calling the office: https:// form.jotform.com/211966110938155
The Summer Gatherings are intended to be a time to build stronger connections within and through UBC. We hope you will not only participate but invite others to join you.
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.
Participate in CBF's General Assembly
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.
HOPE Grief Support Groups
YOUTH
Youth Summer Event Schedule
For more information, contact Eric at eric@ubc-br.org or visit www.ubc-br.org/youth
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.
CHURCH OF THE NATIONS
Church of the Nations in the Sanctuary this Sunday
You may have heard that UBC recently hired a new Minister for Children and Retirees, Rev. Tanya Parks! Tanya will be preaching in the sanctuary on Sunday, and we invite you to come to get to know her and support her in her new role in our church! Worship begins at 10:30am in the Sanctuary. We hope to see you then!
GENERAL UPDATES
Return of the Normal Sunday Schedule
At the beginning of the pandemic, the Sunday School and Spiritual Formation start time changed to 9:15 am to allow for less time for excessive contact before worship.
On Sunday, June 20th, we will return to a 9:00 am start time for our Spiritual Formation and Sunday School groups and bring back the 10:00 am Coffee & Community time in the Heritage Room.
Sunday participants are encouraged to pick up a coffee and treat while utilizing the Heritage Room, Narthex, Sanctuary, and Courtyard for conversations during Coffee & Community.
Save The Dates
New Mask Policy
On May 14, Governor Edwards announced that Louisiana would fully adopt the CDC mask guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals. Those guidelines state that you are no longer required to wear a mask in indoor or outdoor public spaces if you have been vaccinated. If you have not been vaccinated, you are encouraged to continue to wear a mask to protect yourself and others.
Therefore, if you have been vaccinated, we would like to give you the option to choose whether you wear a mask when attending activities on UBC's campus.
For those working with children and for children under the age of eligibility for vaccinations, mask-wearing will be required.
We recognize that we are all in different places and will take a different timeline in removing masks in shared spaces. If you feel more comfortable continuing to wear a mask, please feel free to do so. We respect your choice.
How To Give
STAY CONNECTED DURING THE PANDEMIC
How to Live Stream Worship
To view Live Stream worship click on the links below:
YouTube: https://bit.ly/ubcbryt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ubcbr
