At the Crossroads A Word from the Interim Pastor - Happy New Year? - University Baptist Church
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DECEMBER 2020
At the Crossroads
UNIVERSITY BAPTIST CHURCH
A Word from the Interim Pastor
PASTOR BARRY JONES
Happy New Year?
In his memoir, A Coach’s Life, UNC basketball coach Dean Smith wrote that his favorite time of each year was the
seven weeks between the beginning of the fall semester and the start of basketball practice in October. During these
weeks, he said, he would start a new fitness routine or try to break an old habit. When basketball practice started, the
pressures of the season would drive him back to his old habits. For seven weeks, however, he enjoyed the opportunity of
a new start.
Though much of the world observes New Year’s Day on January 1, there are actually several “new year’s days.” For
universities, the new year starts each fall, as does the Jewish New Year. Many cultures start the new year in the spring,
and so does major league baseball. The church has its own new year season. It is Advent. The Christian calendar uses the
seasons of the year to tell the story of salvation, beginning with the season of Advent in late November and December.
Happy New Year!
During the four weeks of Advent, we remember the long years of promise leading up to the birth of Jesus. We look
forward to celebrating again the mystery of God entering into our human condition in the Incarnation. We also train
ourselves for our time of faithful waiting until God’s work is completed.
There is nothing like a fresh start. After the year we’ve had in 2020, who wouldn’t want to start the new
year in December! Thank God for Advent! This season of remembering past breakthroughs and anticipating new
ones is an appropriate season for University Baptist Church. The Pastor Search Team is entering into a new
phase of its work that will involve more and more church members in conversation and prayer. We will soon
elect new deacons for the coming year and some new ministry team members as well. Advent will look very
different than the past because we will still be worshiping via live stream on the Internet rather than meeting in
person. News of two effective vaccines, however, give us something new to look forward to in the months ahead
in our struggle with the corona virus. This Advent in 2020 will be different from past seasons, but it will also be
what we make it. This Advent season can be the beginning of a new phase in UBC’s transition to the next
chapter of ministry.
Anglican priest John Keble wrote the hymn “New Every Morning is the Love” about the possibilities
present in each new day and season.
New every morning is the love / our wakening and uprising prove;
through sleep and darkness safely brought, /restored to life and power and thought.
New mercies, each returning day, / hover around us while we pray;
new perils past, new sins forgiven, / new thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven.
If on our daily course our mind / be set to hallow all we find,
new treasures still, of countless price, / God will provide for sacrifice.
The trivial round, the common task, / will furnish all we need to ask,
room to deny ourselves, a road / to bring us daily nearer God.
May this Advent season be filled with new love, new mercies, new hopes, and new treasures, and may it be
a road that brings us daily nearer to God. Happy New Year!
Yours in Christ,
Barry Jones
Events & FYI's
Advent Devotionals begin, Nov. 29
As we begin plans for worship during the Advent season, please note the UBC staff will send Advent
Devotions to your email address every day during this season of remembering and preparing for the
Christ child.
November 29 - December 5 Anna Cherry (Youth Ministry Coordinator) and Samantha Shaw (College ministry Intern)
December 6 - December 12 Allison James
December 13 - December 19 Craig McCoy
December 20 - December 26 Barry Jones
Church Council, November 30 @ 7p
A Church Council is scheduled for November 30, at 7p. This meeting will take place via UBC's Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9632883898?pwd=MlhkL25GNllkNTBVT09TSnZTVGpOUT09
UBC Stands for Justice, Fridays @ 4p, No Gathering on December 25, Christmas Day
UBC members have had a presence not only physically on our corner, but also compassionately in the efforts of
supporting black lives by Standing and Praying Together for Justice. On Fridays, groups have come together from
4pm-5pm to silently hold signs in support of our black brothers and sisters. It has been a great opportunity to show
Chapel Hill the love of Christ for all God's children, and that UBC is a welcoming and loving church to all. If you are
interested in standing on the front steps of the church on any Friday from 4-5pm, please signup here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c044aabae2ea3ff2-ubcstands
**Congregational Pastor Search Meeting, December 13 @ 6p**
UBC Members are invited to a Congregational Pastor Search Meeting via Zoom on December 13, 2020 at 6p. In
order to attend, members will need to RSVP. Instructions for how to RSVP will go out at a later date. Please note
that this meeting will not be accessible via UBC's usual Zoom link. For questions, please contact Hollie at the
office.
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Events & FYI's-continued
Church Conference, December 16 @ 7p
A Church Conference is scheduled for December 16, at 7p. This meeting will take place via UBC's Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9632883898?pwd=MlhkL25GNllkNTBVT09TSnZTVGpOUT09
IFC Holiday Food Distribution at UBC, December 16, 22-23
UBC will be partnering with the Interfaith Council in order to provide holiday meals to community
members. See Missions' article on page 5 for more information.
UBC Book Club, December 22 @ 7p
Zoom Meeting: December 22 at 7p
Book: All the Broken People by Leah Konen
*To be added to the Zoom call, email Thomas Toms at ttoms1@nc.rr.com
Faith Community-Based YMCA Service Learning Center
About 20 local churches (including UBC), the YMCA, and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) system
have joined together to offer safe, productive and facilitated in-learning space for children grades K through 5
who were struggling with grades before the pandemic. It's called the "Faith Community-Based YMCA Service
Learning Center (SLC)" and there is more information in the SLC Overview Flier, attached in this link.
There are two ways to help:
1. Donate: UBC’s goal is to raise $5,000. That amount would fund 2 students, 5 days a week, for the entire 12
week program. To donate, you may send a check to the church designating the donation for the “Service
Learning Center” on the memo line. Keep an eye on our fundraising each week, here at this link, and prayerfully
watch as UBC reaches for its goal!
2. Volunteer: Find out how you can volunteer at https://ymcatriangle.volunteermatters.org/project-catalog/454
Church Cookbooks are Ready! Thank you to everyone who submitted a recipe!
The Youth Ministry received over 80 recipes that included breakfast,
THE CHURCH COOKBOOK IS desserts, bakes, dinner, and side dish recipes.
COMPLETE!
The digital cookbooks are now on sale through the end of
church December for $10. Since the cookbooks are digital, please do not share
copies but rather purchase additional copies, if you intend to share.
cookbook Additional copies may be purchased for only $5 more. All proceeds will
go toward supporting the Youth Ministry and this year's senior gifts.
To purchase a cookbook, you may mail a check to University Baptist
PROFITS WILL GO TO Church and write, "Youth Cookbook," on the memo line. The digital
SENIOR GIFTS AND FUTURE cookbook will be emailed to your email address on file with the church
EVENTS office.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Anna Cherry at
cherry5@live.unc.edu.
Christmas Office Hours
The church office will be closed December 24-25 in observance of Christmas and will close at 1pm
December 28th-31st. The office is closed on January 1 for New Year's Day as well.
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Pastor Search Team Update
Greetings.
Following our congregation's approval to work with the Center for Healthy Churches and The Pastor Search Team:
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of NC, your pastor search team has been working to Daun Whitley, Sharon
compile data and information to prepare for our next congregational meeting. This Zoom Kepley, Jessica Meyers
meeting is scheduled for December 13 at 6pm. Information for how to RSVP will go out at (diaconte chair), Marty
a later date. The meeting will focus on "Looking in the Mirror." Your support will be Maloney, Samantha
needed to prepare for this meeting and, given the virtual nature in which it will be
Shaw (secretary),
conducted, we ask that you participate in any survey requests or additional inputs that
Thomas Toms (vice
must be conducted in absence of face to face meetings. Please continue with your
chair) and John Ring
prayers in support of the PST and that God's will be done. Nothing more. Nothing less.
(chair)
Best regards,
John
Children's Ministry
Angel Tree Ministry for Our Chin Children
For the past several years UBC members have shared the gift of Christ and made a
loving impact in the lives of children by selecting an angel tag off the Christmas tree in
the gathering area and purchasing a gift for the child on the tag. Although we are not
gathering at church, we will still provide this ministry by using SignUpGenius as we did
for the Back-to-School Backpacks. As in the past, each child’s name is listed twice,
once for a special gift related to their interest and second for a new pair of shoes.
Please follow the instructions below to participate:
1. Go to SignUpGenius using this link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c044aabae2ea3ff2-ubcangel
2. Choose a child and the gift you would like to purchase, either shoes or a special interest gift
(or both if you’d like). You certainly may sign up for more than one slot. If you choose shoes,
please make note of the age of the child when determining the correct size shoe. Shoes come
in baby/toddler/children, older child/youth, and adult sizes. If you have any questions about
the correct shoe size for the child you chose, please contact Betsy Watson or Allison James. If
you purchase a toy that needs batteries, please consider including the appropriate batteries
with your gift.
3. Please wrap all gifts in wrapping paper or use a gift bag and include a tag with the child’s
name. You may leave the “From” part of the tag blank or write, “From: Your UBC Family”
4. Leave gifts under the tree in the gathering area by Wednesday, December 16th .
Remember the church office is open from 9am-3pm, Monday-Friday.
5. If you have any questions please contact Betsy (betsywatson42@gmail.com) or Allison
(allisonjames@ubc-ch.org).
December Children's Birthdays
Below are the birthdays for the children in our church. I encourage you to send
cards (or even a little note if you don’t have birthday cards) to wish them a Happy
Birthday. If you are not sure of an address, email me and I will send it to you. Thank
you for helping our birthday girls and boys feel loved! - Allison
4th Iliana Cortez-age 6 20th That Sian (Sumpi) Sum- age 12
7th Lincoln Durham- age 5 21st Yensen (Junior) Rodriguez- age 6
16th Solomon Mung- age 7 28th Joshah Mung- age 4
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Missions
Partnership with UBC & the Interfaith Council for Holiday Meals
Many thanks to the 20+ UBC volunteers who helped
distribute 350 Thanksgiving meals to the vulnerable in
our community. Recipients received all the fixins: turkey,
dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans, potatoes,
corn bread, brownies and more.
We are fortunate to have ANOTHER opportunity to help
provide an additional 350 meals at Christmas. If you are
interested in volunteering, please see the following
needs and contact Martha Peck, no later than
December 7, if you can help (mpeck07@gmail.com) .
Wed, Dec 16: 1 Shift from 11a-2p
Task : Filling bags with non-perishable
foods
Mon, Dec 21: 2 shifts from 9a-12p and 12p-4p
Task : Delivering meals via drive and
walk-through from UBC parking lot
Tues, Dec 22: 3 shifts: 9a-12p , 12p-3p , and 3p-6p
Task : Delivering meals via drive and
walk-through from UBC parking lot
If you can't work an entire shift but still want to
volunteer, that's Ok, too. Just let Martha know.
Note: We want to assure everyone that UBC is taking
extra Covid19 safety precautions (temperature, masks,
hand sanitizer, etc. will be in effect).
Egg Carton Drive
Please save your egg cartons and drop them off in a sealed plastic bag at the church. Also, please
consider joining Crawford Dairy Farms in donating eggs for refugee families. To donate, you may write a
check to UBC and note: “missions/eggs.” Checks may be turned in with cartons or mailed. The purchase
will allow us to assist more families each week. For questions, contact Martha (mpeck07@gmail.com).
Prayer Gatherings for Unity, Hope, & Peace
Downtown Clergy of Chapel Hill met at McCorkle Place to pray
together as a community each Thursday for 3 weeks during the month
of November. The purpose for these gatherings was for the religious
communities of Chapel Hill to come together to seek peace and unity
for the future of our community, state, and nation. Members of UBC
were in attendance.
Youth Ministry
Youth will not meet during the month of December and will resume socially distanced meetings in
January. Parents, please keep an eye on your emails for Youth Ministry updates and activities.
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Connect with UBC
Email: ubcinfo@ubc-ch.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/UniversityBaptistCH
YouTube: www.youtube.com, search "University Baptist Church-Chapel Hill, NC"
Giving to UBC Online?
CONTACT: JO ELLEN BLAINE
Use the bill pay feature on your online banking to set up
a one-time or recurring check, sent straight to UBC. You
ubc-ch.org
just need our address. No hassle, no stamps, free!
Questions? Contact Jo Ellen at the email below!
Sunday Morning Bible Study (@ 9:30a) & Wednesday Prayer (@ 6p) Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9632883898?pwd=MlhkL25GNllkNTBVT09TSnZTVGpOUT09
UBC Ministry Staff
Barry Jones-Interim Pastor
barryjones@ubc-ch.org
Craig McCoy-Minister of Music Jo Ellen Blaine-Financial Assistant
craigmccoy@ubc-ch.org jblaine-finance@ubc-ch.org
Allison James-Director of Children's Ministries Hollie Motley-Office Administrator
allisonjames@ubc-ch.org hmotley@ubc-ch.org
Hunter Hoyle-Accompanist/Organist Anna Cherry-Youth Ministry Coordinator
hunterhoyle5@gmail.com cherry5@live.unc.edu
Samantha Shaw-College Ministry Intern
samms@live.unc.edu
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