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 Weekly E-news
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Dear youth and parents,
 | | Russ & Jessica on the Continental Divide. |
I hope that you had a meaningful Christmas and a happy New Year! I enjoyed attending or participating in three of UCC's Christmas Eve services and leading worship on Christmas Day, after which our family headed across the metroplex to celebrate the holiday with Sarah's family in Garland. Soon thereafter I was blessed to celebrate the New Year with 36 youth and adults on the CYF Ski Retreat to Colorado. I'm still recovering this week, but I'm excited for what's coming in 2012 here at UCC. Read on for details on several upcoming opportunities, including a lock-in, a mission trip, and midwinter retreats at Disciples Crossing.
Grace and Peace,
Russ
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Sunday school returns, youth groups back on January 15
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  ~~~~ Even though the holidays have passed, we still have an adjusted schedule due to the Boar's Head & Yule Log Festival. Here is a handy guide for you to reference:
January 8 (Boar's Head & Yule Log Festival)
- Worship services at 8:45 and 11 a.m.
- Sunday school classes return at 10 a.m.
January 15
- Regular worship schedule returns (8:45 a.m., 11 a.m., and 5 p.m.)
- Sunday evening youth groups return (snack supper at 6 p.m., groups at 6:30)
- Disciples Class begins |
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Chi Rho Lock-in for grades 6-8 coming January 15
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From Herb Murray, Assistant Minister for Middle School:
What has games, food, friends and fun but requires no keys? The Chi Rho lock-in is what! Sunday, January 15 Chi Rho will be starting off the new semesterin style, so bring your PJ's, your pillow and prepare to have fun because we are going (almost) all night at UCC. The lock-in will begin at 8 p.m., conclude at 8 a.m., and each youth should bring $5 to help cover food and other costs. Sunday night youth groups will meet as usual at 6:30 p.m.
Questions? Willing to take a shift as a chaperone? Contact me at herb@uccftw.com. |
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Sign up now for the Spring Break mission trip to El Paso
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  ~ Want to spend your Spring Break serving others? Be sure to sign up for UCC's intergenerational Mission Pilgrimage scheduled for March 11-17! Our group of adults, youth, and older children will travel together to El Paso to work in partnership with Rippling Hope, learning about and working to make a difference in this important border community. We will make repairs on homes, expand a community garden, and work with social service agencies on the US side of the border. We'll spend the first night in Fort Davis and tour the McDonald Observatory, then travel on to First Christian Church in El Paso where our meals and lodging will be provided.
The cost is $225 per person, and a $50 deposit is due January 17. Orientation meetings for all participants are scheduled for January 29 and February 26 at noon. For more information or to sign up, contact Lynn Cross, Mission and Outreach Coordinator, at 817.926.6631 ext. 139 or lynn@uccftw.com. |
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Chi Rho boys collecting winter clothes for Union Gospel Mission
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The Chi Rho Boys Sunday School Class need your help! During this Christmas season, our 6th-7th boys have chosen to collect winter clothing on behalf of the Union Gospel Mission. Freezing temperatures are approaching and many women, men, and children are without sufficient clothing to stay warm. You can help by bringing old coats, sweaters, gloves, hats or other winter clothing items that you are not using to the collection point on UCC's 3rd floor. The collection concludes on Sunday, January 15.
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Register for Chi Rho Midwinter Retreat at Disciples Crossing
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Our youth in grades 6-8 have the opportunity to join middle schoolers from Disciple churches around the area for the Chi Rho Midwinter Retreat coming up February 3-5 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 Monday, January 17, and you can download one by clicking here.
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Youth events and key dates on the horizon...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 8 - Sunday school classes return - 10 a.m.
January 15 - Chi Rho and CYF youth groups return - 6:30 p.m.
January 15 - Chi Rho Lock-In at UCC - 8 p.m. - 8 a.m.
February 3-5 - Chi Rho Midwinter Retreat at Disciples Crossing
February 24-26 - CYF Midwinter Retreat at Disciples Crossing
March 11-17 - Intergenerational Mission Pilgrimage to El Paso |
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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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