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Small UCC youth logo
  Weekly E-news
           November 4, 2011

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in this issue
Middle school youth depart for Chi Rho Fall Retreat today
Want to volunteer with Room in the Inn? Get trained Sunday!
First Sunday Lunch for youth and parents at La Playa Maya
UCC's youth raise $1,860 for hunger relief through CROP Walk
Nominate an adult mentor for UCC's Disciples Class
The Senior Minister Transition Team wants to hear from you!


Dear youth and parents,
 
I'm always moved when our youth lead the congregation in worship, and this past Sunday was no exception.  Our young people did a phenomenal job providing leadership for The Search - putting together the service, creating prayer stations, dressing the worship space, preaching sermons, offering prayers, receiving the offering, sharing a communion meditation, serving the elements, welcoming guests...the list goes on.  Thanks to all the youth and adults who helped make the service happen, and to so many of you who came to worship on Sunday night!  Thanks also to Herb and Jessica who worked so hard the last couple of weeks during my absence.  Not only did they coordinate that incredible worship service, they provided leadership for our youth ministry in so many different areas.  We're truly blessed to have them on our youth ministry staff at UCC!

I know I just returned from a two-week Army course, but I have two short trips this week and next as well.  I'm not thrilled that my required military education happened to hit at the same time as these two upcoming events (especially since it's Larry's first month as our Senior Minister), but these will be my last two Army-related trips this year.  I'll be an instructor at two different Strong Bonds Retreats, the first ones since I completed the instructor training back in August.  In particular, I'll be part of the teaching team that leads the Single Soldier Retreat, designed to equip soldiers to make better choices in their relationships.  If you'd like to read more about PICK, the curriculum that I'm certified to teach (in the Army AND here at church), click here.

Read on for more info on upcoming events and a couple of exciting announcements!
Grace and Peace,
Russ


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Middle school youth depart for Chi Rho Fall Retreat today
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26 youth and adult sponsors will travel to Athens today for the Chi Rho Fall Retreat at Disciples Crossing.  Please keep this group in your prayers as they gather with middle school youth from Disciples churches around the Fort Worth area to grow closer to God and one another on holy ground.  Our regular Sunday programming for youth in grades 6-8 (Sunday school classes, youth groups) will still meet as usual.

Retreat participants: Remember to meet at UCC at 5:30 p.m. to load the bus for camp on Rogers Street, and be sure to eat dinner before you arrive!
  

  


Want to volunteer with Room in the Inn?  Get trained Sunday!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brett at RITI

Are you interested in volunteering with Room in the Inn, a ministry that welcomes homeless guests into our building on the hottest and coldest Wednesday nights of the year?  Be sure to make a reservation for this Sunday's Room in the Inn volunteer training that will take place in Room 211 at 12:15 p.m.  Lunch will be provided - contact Lynn Cross at [email protected] to make your reservation.



First Sunday Lunch for youth and parents at La Playa May
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All youth and parents are invited to First Sunday Lunch this weekend.  Come to La Playa Maya (3200 Hemphill St.) following the the 11 a.m. worship service where we'll have a dining room reserved for good food and informal conversation.  Looking to meet other youth or youth parents?  This is a great way to connect!


UCC's youth raise $1,860 for hunger relief through CROP Walk
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I'm happy to share that UCC raised a total of $3,226 for the CROP Walk, supporting hunger relief on a local and global level through the Tarrant Area Food Bank and Church World Service.  What's really amazing to me is that $1,860 of that total was raised by our middle and high school youth!  Thanks to all the youth who walked and collected donations for the cause, and for our adult volunteers who helped drum up walk sponsors for those youth.  Your dedication is making a difference in our world! 



Nominate an adult mentor for UCC's Disciples Class
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Art chaliceRegistration ended on Monday for the Disciples Class, UCC's baptism and membership preparation course for youth in grades 6-12.  We're now in the midst of organizing the class into small groups and recruiting adult mentors for each of those groups of 3-5 young people. Though we have a great pool of adults to choose from at UCC, I know we always overlook people who would be great mentors.

That's where you come in: If you know an active adult member of UCC with a mature faith, a love for the church, and a genuine desire to nurture the faith of our young people - tell us!  Click here to view the volunteer job description for a Disciples Class mentor so that you know what's involved.  Then, if you know someone who would be a great fit, click here to complete a nomination form.

Note: Completing a nomination doesn't commit them to anything and doesn't guarantee they'll be asked. It puts them on our radar so that we know they're out there and someone thinks they'd be a great mentor!


The Senior Minister Transition Team wants to hear from you!
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From Monty Phillips, Senior Minister Transition Team chair:

The Senior Minister Transition Team
is meeting monthly to support Rev. Larry Thomas and all UCC staff. The team wants to hear from all members (including our youth!!) via email at [email protected].  Messages can cover a wide variety of topics, i.e. outreach ideas, UCC cheers and jeers, proposed sermon topics and comments, suggestions, and criticisms. Our team will review with Rev. Thomas each month to help ensure a healthy transition into his role as our Senior Minister.



Youth events and key dates on the horizon..
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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 19 - Parking lot fundraiser - TCU vs. CSU
November 20 - Disciples Class orientation for participants & parents - 6:30 p.m.
November 27 - Hanging of the Greens youth-led worship & dinner - 5 p.m.
December 18 - Chi Rho and CYF Christmas parties - 6:30 p.m.
December 28 - January 1 - CYF Ski Retreat to Monarch Mountain, CO

More ways to keep up...
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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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