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 Weekly E-news
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Dear youth and parents, It was great to see so many of you this past Sunday as Rev. Larry Thomas joined us as UCC's new Senior Minister! I'm excited about working with Larry, and I hope that you have an opportunity to get to know him soon. There are a number of ways that you can do that over the next few months, so keep an eye out for one that suits you in the monthly Journal or the weekly Update in the bulletin. If you missed Larry's first sermon, you can watch it online by clicking here. (Note: If you look closely, you can see me in the background NOT DOING ANYTHING EMBARRASSING.) I will be leaving town this Sunday afternoon for the 2-week Chaplain Captain Career Course at the U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School, located at Fort Jackson, SC. This course is required for all Army captains to qualify for promotion to major, and I've passed up three opportunities to attend because they conflicted with key youth events (Youth Sunday, Senior Banquet, Back-to-School Retreat). With promotion eligibility looming, I had to bite the bullet and get a slot in this late October course. Though I hate to dissappear so soon after Larry's arrival and miss several events, I will be glad to finally have this course behind me! I'll be checking e-mail and voice mails each evening, so feel free to contact me while I'm away. Read on for info on upcoming events, including this Sunday's CROP Walk and the deadline for the Chi Rho Fall Retreat. Grace and Peace,
Russ |
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Chi Rho Fall Retreat at Disciples Crossing - register by Sunday!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Our youth in grades 6-8 have the opportunity to join middle schoolers from Disciple churches around the area for the Chi Rho Fall Retreat coming up November 4-6 at Disciples Crossing, our church camp in Athens. This annual retreat offers the opportunity to grow closer to God and one another through worship, recreation, prayer, small groups, and interest groups that include options like sports, dance, art, service, photography, and more.
Our youth will meet at UCC at 5:30 p.m. that Friday to share a charter bus to camp, and will return around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. The cost for the retreat is $90 and full or half scholarships are available upon request. Registration forms are due to the Youth Office by this Sunday, October 16, and you can download one by clicking here.
Parents: We will need adult chaperones to attend the retreat as well. If you're interested in serving as an adult sponsor, contact Herb Murray at herb@uccftw.com . |
Fight hunger at the Fort Worth CROP Walk this Sunday ~~~~  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The annual CROP Walk to support hunger relief will take place this Sunday afternoon, October 16, and we need your help! Many of our youth have found sponsors and collected donations for the event, but you're welcome to walk the 3.1 miles in solidarity with the hungry even if you haven't. Come to the Dee J. Kelly Alumni Center at TCU (2820 Stadium Drive) at 1:30 p.m. to be part of this walk that brings together churches throughout the area for a common cause. This year part of the proceeds will support the Tarrant Area Food Bank, and part will go to Church World Service to help people who walk even further distances for basic necessities every day.
There are trophies and prizes for churches with the most youth, total participants, fastest finisher, and more, so lace up some comfortable shoes, feel free to bring a pet or a stroller, and come walk this weekend! |
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Interested in joining UCC? Register for the Disciples Class!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Youth in grades 6-12 interested in learning more about baptism and church membership are encouraged to participate in this year's Disciples Class. The 12-week course provides a helpful introduction to what it means to confess your faith, join the church, be baptized, take communion, share your gifts, and more! This year's class will take place on Sunday evenings beginning with an orientation on November 20. Click here for more information on the class, or click here to register online. The registration deadline for this year's class is October 31. |
CYF Day at TCU - Regional youth event coming October 22 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  CYF Day, an annual youth event sponsored by the TCU Office of Admissions, is coming to UCC on October 22. Hundreds of Disciple youth from across the region will descend on our church for complimentary food, campus tours, inspiring worship, the TCU vs. Wyoming football game, and an "after party" in Fellowship Hall. Check out the schedule for the day and come for any or all of the event:
10:30 a.m. - Complimentary food from TCU catering available in Fellowship Hall
10:30 and 10:45 - Campus tours leave from Fellowship Hall
11:30 - Welcome and door prizes from TCU Admissions in Fellowship Hall
11:45 - Worship featuring The Search band in Fellowship Hall
1:00 p.m. - TCU vs. New Mexico at Amon G. Carter Stadium
4:00ish - "5th Quarter" After Party with games and food in Fellowship Hall - $5
Note: Our ticket order for the football game has already been placed, but we may have a few extras. Click here to get on the waiting list for these $10 tickets.
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Youth volunteers needed at "Trunk-or-Treat" event October 23
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  UCC will be hosting a Trunk-or-Treat event for children 5th grade and younger on Sunday, October 23 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the church's front and side parking lots. In addition to trick-or-treating from decorated vehicle trunks, there will be a carnival atmosphere with food and outdoor activities for kids. Last year we welcomed over 100 families to this event, many of them guests from the surrounding community. We know we need even more trunks and volunteers this year, so here's how youth and adults can help:
- Bring your vehicle (or a vehicle you borrow) to pass out candy from your trunk or tailgate. You're encouraged to decorate your trunk for Halloween or using a theme that suits you - awards will be given for the best trunks!
- Arrive by 6 p.m. to help get ready for the event so that everything is set when guests start arriving.
- There are plenty of other places to plug in on an as-needed basis. Help with the bounce house, assist with food, lend your talent to a trunk decorator who needs a hand, etc. Just come at 6 p.m. in a kid-friendly costume and find a job that suits you!
NOTE: There will be NO YOUTH GROUP MEETINGS or snack supper that Sunday night so that all youth can help with the trunk-or-treat event.
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Watch the UCC Youth stewardship video from our 9th-10th graders
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Our 9th-10th grade Sunday school class made an excellent video for UCC's stewardship campaign, and it's now available online to provide you with a thought-provoking take on giving. Thanks to their teachers, Stacy McCoy and Drew Ruiz, for coordinating and Tony Allred for putting the video together. Take a look:
 | | UCC Youth Stewardship Video |
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Youth events and key dates on the horizon..~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
October 16 - CROP Walk - 1:30 p.m. at TCU
October 16 - Chi Rho Fall Retreat registration deadline
October 22 - Parking lot fundraiser - TCU vs. UNM - come at 10 or 11 a.m.
October 22 - CYF Day at TCU - Regional youth event for TCU game - 10:30 a.m.
October 23 - "Trunk or Treat" community event - 6:30 p.m. in the UCC front lot
October 30 - Youth Sunday at The Search - 5 p.m. in Fellowship Hall
October 31 - Disciples Class registration deadline
November 4-6 - Chi Rho Fall Retreat (grades 6-8) at Disciples Crossing
November 18-20 - CYF Fall Retreat (grades 9-12) at Disciples Crossing November 27 - Hanging of the Greens youth-led worship & dinner - 5 p.m.
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More ways to keep up...
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 | UCC Youth
Text Alerts |
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| Staff Links
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Russ Boyd, Associate Minister for Youth - E-mail Russ
Herbert Murray, Assistant Minister for Chi Rho (grades 6-8) - E-mail Herb
Jessica Vacketta, Assistant Minister for CYF (grades 9-12) - E-mail Jessica
Sharyn Peterson, Ministry Assistant - E-mail Sharyn
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