The Pane: What a Growing Retiree Ministry Means for UBC
“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom,” wrote the Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Viktor E. Frankl.
Most churches want to grow younger, but many churches do not want to do what it takes to sustain youth. Stop and think about that for a second.
With Generation Z (born after 1996) and Millennials (1977-1995) composing the most significant generational gaps within most congregations, many churches deeply desire to find ways to reach them.
Growing younger is complex. It is not just about hiring the right staff and developing the correct type of programs. However, these are significant steps in the direction of growing younger. Just consider the great strides UBC has made in reorganizing its staffing structure, ministries, and marketing.
Growing younger also means embracing our intergenerational role in sustaining growth. What does that mean?
First, we must embrace that many of the young people who will darken the doors of our church will not look, think, or act like what you are accustom. Different does not equal wrong. Unfamiliar does not mean ungodly.
Second, like the generations before them, Gen Z and Millennials are passionate about what is happening globally and want to be a part of making positive change. This can often cause theological friction within churches that are not open to a diverse set of perspectives.
Third, waiting for your time is not something that young adults want to hear. They want to be a part of leading, serving and envisioning what God is doing in the local church now. This requires a bold openness to empowering leaders of all ages to serve.
Fourth, but not finally, growth means a need for systematic development to support it. More young people means more people are needed to volunteer in the myriad of the ministries necessary to connect with them, such as teaching children, mentoring through the Barnabas Project, sharing your time and presence at the Family Tree Café, nurturing an MDO class, investing one Friday evening per month to work with kids at the Young Adults Night Out, and so on.
What a growing young adult ministry means for UBC is bold faithfulness to embrace the new waves that come with exciting development.
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.
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.
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.
MISSIONS
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.
Make a Care Package for Highland Elementary Staff
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.
Update from the Facilities Team
UBC operates in a campus physical plant with buildings constructed from the 1950s to the 1990s. Understandably many of the building systems that operate in these facilities have exceeded their expected life and require updates and or replacement. This reality has become more acute with the summer heat, and multiple efforts are currently ongoing. Thankfully, our finance team has been anticipating this need and has set aside funds to make improvements.
Current activities fall into 3 general categories as outlined below. We will update you periodically as repairs are completed, and improvements are planned.
Contracted preventative maintenance and repairs:
• Regular maintenance of air conditioning systems and related components
• Repairs to systems components to keep air conditioning systems operational on an asneeded basis
• Juggling air conditioning systems where possible to minimize the impact of outages on church operations
• Activities are monitored daily by Don Garland and Aaron Biggers
Emergency Repairs that are larger and more urgent than can be addressed by our maintenance contract. Ongoing efforts include:
• Monitoring of campus electrical service and testing of primary campus electrical service components
• Restoration of the electrical service for the Fellowship Hall (currently scheduled this week)
•Replacement of one compressor for the Sanctuary air conditioning unit
• Activities are monitored by the Facilities Team and the Finance Committee
Planning for timely system updates to replace old equipment and Save energy:
• Team has engaged a consulting engineer to evaluate respective systems and recommend priority improvements
• Effort is evaluating spaces and components to optimize overall campus performance
•Effort will result in planned improvements when they are least disruptive to church operations
• Plans are being developed by the Facilities Team for review and approval by the Governing Board
In response to the growing challenges, the Governing Board established a subcommittee to study the shortterm and long-term needs - AC/Heating, Electrical, and Roofing - and resolve the needs expeditiously. The subcommittee is composed of Ken Tipton, Don Garland, Aaron Biggers, Terry Hill on the technical side, David Crifasi on Finance, and Martha Forbes and Russ Futrell on the Governing Board.
While UBC has set aside funds for emergency facility purposes, we encourage you to continue to give out of faithfulness to our growing church. Gifts to UBC can also include gifting stocks, mutual funds, or ETFs. You can explore some of these options with the Finance Committee and your accountant.
FORMATION
Audacious Series Daily Prayer
This week’s prayer is one of: Amnesty
Prayer written by mystic and friar Francis of Assisi.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,
not so much to be understood as to understand,
not so much to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.
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).
August 1: One of the common strengths of our existing groups is volunteering. Volunteering is the sharing of our time and strengths to fulfill the church’s mission and vision. What strengths do I have that I can share through volunteering? What can my group do to help me share my strengths?
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.
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.
RELATIONSHIPS
Young Adults Night Out, August 20th, 5:30 PM
Join our Young Adults Night Out on the third Friday, 5:30-8:00 pm. This month, we will meet on August 20th.
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, August 17th here: https://form.jotform.com/211795585027160. The restaurant location will be texted to 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.
Soccer Academy Early-Bird Registration Ends August 2nd
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.
HOPE Grief Support Groups
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.
YOUTH
Youth Summer Event Schedule
For more information, contact Eric at eric@ubc-br.org or visit www.ubc-br.org/youth
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
Save The Dates
How To Give
GIVE: https://www.ubc-br.org/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
