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 Weekly E-news
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Dear youth and parents,
Our youth programs are back in full swing this weekend after an adjusted schedule for the holidays and the Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival. There are MANY ways to get involved in the coming weeks, from Sunday school to youth groups to lock-ins to retreats to service opportunities. Please take a moment to read through, I'm sure there are upcoming opportunities that suit your family!
 I wanted to briefly share a story that I heard last night at our monthly Youth Ministry Committee meeting. Not long ago I provided a video from the Fuller Youth Institute that introduced some of the "Sticky Faith" concepts that our church will be working to incorporate this year. If you missed the 2-minute video, click here to take a look. Committee member Stacy McCoy shared that she actually put the video's analogy into practice at one of their family's holiday meals - using placecards to intentionally mix up adults, youth, and children instead of separating them into an "adult table" and a "kids' table." It was definitely different than their usual experience, and allowed for a lot of great interactions that don't usually take place when the generations are segregated.
So, is that something you might be willing to do at your next family gathering? In many ways it's a lot easier to segregate, but we miss out on the enrichment that each generation receives when they're able to spend quality time together. If you try it, let me know how it goes. If we're able to do it in our own families, it will be much more natural to do it within our church!
Grace and Peace,
Russ
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This Sunday: Youth groups return, Disciples Class begins
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  ~~~~ After changes for the holidays and Boar's Head festival, we're back to our regular youth programming schedule this Sunday:
January 15
- Regular worship schedule (8:45 a.m., 11 a.m., and 5 p.m.)
- 9:45 a.m. Gathering time with refreshments in Room 303
- 10 a.m. Sunday school classes in various classrooms
- 6 p.m. Snack supper ($3) served in 3rd Floor Kitchen
- 6:30-7:45 p.m. Chi Rho & CYF youth groups meet
- 6:30-7:45 p.m. First meeting of Disciples Class in Room 207 |
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"Latte with the Ladies" at Avoca Coffee this Saturday morning
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In December, UCC's Women's Ministry kicked off "Latte with the Ladies," a monthly intergenerational gathering for women at a local coffee shop. Ladies from youth through retirees had a wonderful time together at Buon Giorno Coffee as people dropped in and chatted throughout the morning. This month's gathering will be tomorrow, January 14, and ladies of all ages are invited to gather at Avoca Coffee (1311 W. Magnolia Ave.) at 9 a.m. for tasty beverages and informal conversation. Invite a friend and come join the fun! |
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Chi Rho Lock-in for grades 6-8 this Sunday night
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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 semester in 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.
Answers to a couple of frequently asked questions:
1. Yes, you are welcome to bring a friend to the lock-in! It would be helpful if you would e-mail me their name and grade to help with planning - herb@uccftw.com.
2. Yes, we would love to have parents at the lock-in to supplement our staff and adult sponsors! If you'd like to volunteer for a 1 or 2 hour shift, e-mail me at herb@uccftw.com. There are plenty of behind-the-scenes jobs you could help with if you'd like to be invisible to your child. |
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Deadline Sunday to donate 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 (located outside Room 303). The collection concludes this Sunday, January 15. |
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Register by Monday for Chi Rho Midwinter Retreat
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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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Serve others as part of the MLK Day of Service this Monday
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The MLK Day of Service brings together people of all colors and religious beliefs to serve the larger community by volunteering their hearts, minds, and bodies to honor the unifying witness of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Last year Tarrant Area Community of Churches joined faith groups around the nation for a "day on, not a day off" event. A team from UCC joined many others in weeding community gardens, stocking food pantry shelves, painting apartments, preparing food at the Presbyterian Night Shelter, making care packages for children in hospital, and more. This year's event will be this Monday, and the schedule is as follows:
- Leave for your choice of assignment at one of 24 community agencies - serving the elderly, the homeless, victims of domestic violence, at-risk youth, prisoners re-entering society, families living below the poverty line, and more.
- End the day with lunch at 2 p.m. at Broadway Baptist Church, 305 W. Broadway.
Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. Click here to register and select your preferred volunteering sites on Monday. Families are welcome to serve together! |
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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 this Tuesday, 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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The Search invites you to meet The Muppets this Sunday
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This Sunday marks the beginning of a three week series focused on the Muppets at The Search, UCC's alternative worship at 5 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Turns out our fuzzy friends can teach us a few things about Christian community, and each Sunday we'll look at scriptures and corresponding clips from the recent film The Muppets. Check out this hilarious promo video to see what's in store:
 | | The Muppets are Coming! |
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Youth events and key dates on the horizon...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 15 - Chi Rho and CYF youth groups return - 6:30 p.m. January 15 - First session of Disciples Class - 6:30 p.m.
January 15 - Chi Rho Lock-In at UCC - 8 p.m. - 8 a.m.
January 16 - MLK Day of Service - Various sites in Fort Worth
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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