The Pane: Next Steps with a Holy Imagination
The great Albert Einstein once said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to transformation."
A few weeks back, we wrapped up our The Little-Big Things series, looking at the importance of holy imagination for our capacity to thrive.
We explored how easy and natural it is to live into anxiety, fear, and apprehension when faced with an unknown and uncertain future. So often, without meaning to, we get so caught up in the tension of the moment that we fail to see God at work right in front of us.
God is here with us, present as we face these challenging emotions and thought processes. God is here to fill us with hope and courage to face what is next. God is with us to lead us into an uncertain future.
What this moment requires of us is the faith to believe beyond what we can see and imagine. Holy imagination requires we open our lives to God’s wondrous possibilities and then do something about it.
As part of our worship conversation, we asked you to write on sticky notes and post on the live-stream the imaginative ways God is calling you and UBC in faith. Here are some of the responses from UBC members:
Volunteering to help grow UBC
Generosity to serve other
Find new ways to share the Gospel
Consistently pray for others in our church and community
Supporting the work of the Family Tree Café that’s seeing more and more new faces each week
Opening my home to share meals, tear down walls, and build relationships
Care for our homebound members
Supporting the work of Open Air Ministry
Discern new ways to serve the needs of our community
Be a catalyst for intergenerational relationships
Open my life to God working through me
To nurture my relationship with my Barnabas Project partner
To serve in new capacities at UBC
To commit to praying for new, creative, and unexpected possibilities
Support opportunities for relationships to strengthen at UBC
Expand the Soccer Academy to care for the players and parents
Be an active participant in bringing equality to our community
For all these things and more, we give thanks to God for God’s inspiration.
As God is inspiring you, I want to be a support system for you. So reach out to me, and let’s explore how God can use you through UBC.
Do we have the Holy Imagination to see and understand how God leads us? Will we have the faith required to do something about it?
Will we step into the moment, individually and collectively, to allow the Spirit of God to do something remarkable in our lives and through our Church?
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.
Easter Brunch
Join our annual Easter Brunch on Sunday, April 17 at 9:30 am.
Providing space for the flowering of the Easter Cross and Spiritual Formation/Sunday School groups to meet, the meal line will open at 9:30 am in the Fellowship Hall with ample space for people to eat in the courtyard.
Sign up here to bring an item for the meal. Please bring your item by the Fellowship Hall on your way to your Sunday Spiritual Formation group. Sign up to bring an item here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e4da8a82aa5f85-easter
RELATIONSHIPS
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.
In February and March, our Barnabas Project Partners had the opportunity to share why they loved their partner. For the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting some of those responses. For the complete collection, visit the Kids’ Corner in the Narthex.
To start your Barnabas Project connection, reach out to Tanya, Minister of Children and Retirees, at 225-766-9474 or tanya@ubc-br.org.
Special Note:
We will not be meeting the first week of April.
Join us May 1 after church for a meal with your partners.
More information to follow.
Concluding Soccer Academy
Another Soccer Academy session has ended. Over 70 children and their families participated in six Saturday sessions this season.
We want to thank the countless partners who sacrificed their time and energy to prepare the field, set up, check-in players, distribute snacks, lead groups, care for families, and coach groups.
Thank you for generously sharing your best selves with UBC.
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.
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: https://forms.gle/4BPLWEMA7LMYoJSh9
Faith, Community, and Justice Connect Groups
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
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.
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.
MISSIONS
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.
Ecuador Supplies Support
Pick Up Your Kindness BagsUBC’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.
UBC Stained-Glass Christmas Ornaments
For informant how to purchase your ornament, click the image above.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
UBC's Flowering of the Easter Cross
Whether you are coming for in-person Sunday activities or remaining at home, the Easter Cross will be available at 8:45 am on Easter Sunday for a moment of meditation and flowering. Located right outside the Sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall, participants will have a prompt for silent reflection and prayer before placing a flower provided onto the cross.
Thursday Prayer Group is Back!
The group meets every Thursday over Zoom at 12:30pm. We will be reading Walking The Way by John Dear.
Join us on Zoom.
Zoom ID: 570-645-5793
Password: ubc
CHURCH OF THE NATIONS
Worship in the Chapel this Sunday
Contact eric@ubc-br.org for more information.
GENERAL UPDATES
Save The Dates
MDO Job Opening
UBC’s MDO has a new job opening for MDO Director. UBC will be hoping to find a replacement by the end of April. If you feel you are a good fit, please visit our blog post for info, job description, and how to apply: https://www.ubc-br.org/post/mother-s-day-out-director-opening-1
Communication and Membership Update
UBC is updating its communication and membership records to more effectively communicate and connect. In the coming weeks, you will have the opportunity to fill out an online form, mail in a physical form to the office, or submit an insert from the worship guide to help us update our records.
Complete your form before April 1st, and your name will be automatically entered into a pool for several prizes, including gift cards to local restaurants.
If you would like to set up a time to talk with the pastor about becoming a member, please call the office (225-766-9474) or email (andy@ubc-br)
If you would like to learn more about the Communication and Membership Update, check out: https://www.ubc-br.org/post/the-pane-what-does-it-mean-to-become-a-member-of-ubc
How To Give
Mask Policy Update
Click on the image above to review our updated mask policy.
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