At the Crossroads A Word from the Interim Pastor - University Baptist Church
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JANUARY 2021
At the Crossroads
UNIVERSITY BAPTIST CHURCH
A Word from the Interim Pastor
PASTOR BARRY JONES
Let there Be Light
Charles Frazier’s novel, Cold Mountain, is set in the years just before and near the end of the Civil War. A central
character is Ada Monroe, an educated, privileged young woman from Charleston who is uprooted by her father and
transplanted to a rural farm in the western North Carolina mountains. Forced to take charge of the farm after her father’s
death, Ada grows to love the demanding work and yearly rhythms of farm life. When asked about her plans for the
future, Ada says that she would like nothing better than to go up on the western ridge line above the farm and cut a
notch in the trees between the point where the sun sets on December 24th and where it sets on June 24th, and then
spend the rest of her life watching the sun trek slowly back and forth from one end of the notch to the other.
We’ve now entered the half of the year when the sun begins to set a little bit later each day and travel a little higher
across the sky. It will continue on this trajectory until the end of June. For me as a professor and for you who live in the
university towns of Chapel Hill and Durham, this part of the year coincides with the spring academic semester. I have
always enjoyed the spring semester. The days gradually grow longer and warmer, the grass and trees eventually green up
again, and good things like spring break, baseball season, and Easter are all just over the horizon. Things seem to feel
better week by week.
The Christian calendar uses the time of year we are in now as another way to tell the story of Jesus. Many
denominations refer to the time between Christmas and Lent as Epiphany. This season describes the life of Jesus as the
revelation of the light of the world to all nations. The Scripture readings focus on the gospel stories of the life and
teaching of Jesus. Epiphany is an opportunity for reflection for each of us. In the short and cold days of winter, how does
the life of Jesus give light to our lives? What part of our thoughts, feelings, and relationships need to be illuminated by
the way of Jesus? What new stirrings of growth are waiting to sprout forth in the days and weeks ahead? What new
awareness of purpose or mission will grow clearer and more defined in the new year of 2021?
How can the light that appeared in the life and teachings of Jesus grow in our hearts, minds, and actions during
this season? A poem by the activist and mystic Howard Thurman describes the call to live by the light of Christ as, “The
work of Christmas.”
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among people,
To make music in the heart.
Yours in Christ,
Barry Jones
Events & FYI's
Christmas Office Hours
The church office will be closed December 24-25 in observance of Christmas and will close at 1pm
December 28-30. The office is also closed on December 31 & January 1 for New Year's.
2020 Contribution Deadline-Dec. 30-31
All contributions that are intended to be included in UBC Contribution Statements, which will be
distributed at the end of 2020, must be turned into the office by December 30, 2020 or postmarked
by December 31, 2020. Please contact Jo Ellen (jblaine-finance@ubc-ch.org) if you have any
questions.
**Congregational Pastor Search Meeting, January 24 @ 6p**
UBC Members are invited to a Congregational Pastor Search Meeting via Zoom on January 24, 2021 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.
Faith Community-Based YMCA Service Learning Center
UBC has a goal to raise $5,000 for the "Faith Community-Based YMCA Service Learning Center (SLC). There is
more information in the SLC Overview Flier, attached in this link.
There are two ways to help:
1. Donate: UBC’s goal of $5,000 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
UBC Book Club, February 2 @ 7p
Zoom Meeting: February 2 at 7p
Book: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
*To be added to the Zoom call, email Thomas Toms at ttoms1@nc.rr.com
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Children's Ministry
Happy New Year!
Typically at this time of year, I ask you to “Mark Your New Calendars for These Exciting Children’s Ministry Events!”
Unfortunately, we do not know when things will be safe enough to begin holding large events like the return of
Wonderful Wednesdays, the Father/Daughter Valentine Dance, the Mother/Son Jammin’ Fun Luau or even
Vacation Bible School. As the coronavirus vaccine becomes more available and we have better idea of exactly
when we will be able to gather again, I will be able start planning these special events and set their dates. So hold
on, keep safe, and stay tuned for updates.
Christmas Ornament
Creativity
For Advent I sent the
children a Christmas Tree
Blessing ornament for them
to decorate anyway they
wanted. Here are some of
them with their creations.
January Children's Birthdays
Here 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 15th Anderson Vesser-age 2
cards) to wish them a Happy Birthday. If you 28th Jack Durham- age 8
are not sure of an address, email me and I 29th Go Sian (SungNu)- age 8
will send it to you. Thank you for helping our
birthday girls and boys feel loved! - Allison
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Missions
UBC's generous spirit of volunteering enabled us to have another successful partnership with the Interfaith Council
(IFC). We distributed 350 Christmas Ham dinners to vulnerable people in our community. Thanks to the 20 UBC
volunteers who offered their time and assistance for this 3 day project.
We are concluding seven months of partnering with Baptists on Mission to distribute weekly produce boxes to the
Refugee Support Center (along with 52 dozen eggs and 25 gallons of milk weekly) and delivering to IFC meat and
dairy products. Thomas Toms has been our "trucker man" picking up from Raleigh or Durham sites and bringing
the boxes to Chapel Hill. Sharon Kepley, Joe Bray, Charles Pettee, and DeWanna Banks have played a huge
supporting role. We are waiting to hear from BOM about future food opportunities.
As this year comes to an end, I will be passing the Missions "Baton" to Rhonda Bangert who already is thinking about
meaningful projects to involve UBC in addressing needs in our community. She will be in further touch with our
UBC family. However, I want to say a heartfelt THANK YOU for the privilege of serving as Missions Leader for the past
3 years. It has been a pleasure, a humbling experience...and fun! Your support and involvement have been key, and
words cannot express my appreciation to you for this opportunity. -Martha
Connect with UBC
Email: ubcinfo@ubc-ch.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/UniversityBaptistCH
YouTube: UBC's YouTube Channel
Sunday Morning Bible
Giving to UBC Online?
Study (@ 9:30a) &
Use the bill pay feature on your online
banking to set up a one-time or recurring Wednesday Prayer (@ 6p)
check, sent straight to UBC. You just need
ubc-ch.org
Zoom Link:
our address. No hassle, no stamps, free!
Questions? Contact Jo Ellen at the email https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9632883898?
below! 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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