A Very Baptist Celebration

​October 11, 2016
 
Beloved:

I've no idea why, but in church life we call them anniversaries instead of birthdays.  I suppose because we say we've been together as a church for however many years.  All the same, University Baptist was born 50 years ago this month, and we are having a party to celebrate!

In 1966, Bloomington Baptist Church, the first Southern Baptist church in town, felt called to start a fledgling congregation to serve the university community.  Those first members met in various locations near campus until moving into First Presbyterian Church, on the corner of 6th & Lincoln – which would be home to University Baptist for the next 20 years.  In 1969 UBC bought 5 acres of property on East Third Street.  The property was paid off quickly and they began to save for a building.  I came around in the very late 1980's and had the privilege of being part of the groundbreaking and building in the summer of 1992.

While I could go on and on about why UBC is such an amazing church (I am a preacher after all), I'll keep my comments brief.  Our affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention is long over, but we’ve kept three of the best things about being Baptist.  One, we believe a person’s faith is between them and God.  That’s called soul liberty.  Two, we’re really big on the separation of church and state.  You can imagine what this campaign season is like for us!  Three, we really don’t think we’ve had a good church meeting if we don’t eat together.
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​Toward that end, this weekend – October 15-16 – we’ve planned a very Baptist celebration of our 50th anniversary of life together in Bloomington.  So, whatever your faith, please come and bring a friend.  The weather is going to be beautiful, so consider it an escape from the crazy campaigns besetting us all!  We’ll be in the parking lot Saturday from 1-5 pm with lots of good food, great people, face painting, a bouncy house, and whatever else I put together between now and then.  You may also join us for Sunday Worship at 10 am with a potluck meal after.  Childcare will be available for kids 3 and younger during the worship service, but we are also very happy to have little ones remain with their family during the service.

We’re calling it homecoming but I’d love to have people join us for the very first time as we begin our next fifty years of life together as the church.  What a privilege and joy to be part of what God continues to do through such a sweet congregation in this time and place.  
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~peace & prayers,
pastor annette

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