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 Weekly E-news
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Dear youth and parents,
I'm currently in El Paso on UCC's Spring Break Mission Pilgrimage, serving alongside 25 others ranging from 3rd graders through retirees. It's been really fun to see a lot of the things we've learned as part of the Sticky Faith initiative playing out as people across generations work side-by-side and learn together about poverty, immigration, and other challenges along the border. I'm posting pictures and updates from the trip online each day, so be sure to visit the trip webpage to see what we're doing. (And if you're a Facebook user, click "Like" to get those updates right in your news feed.)
Read on for another family-oriented reflection from the Sticky Faith Lenten resource we're using at youth groups, a CYF hiking outing, Prom Dream sign-ups, registration for Soul Brothers Retreat and summer camps, and more!
Grace and Peace,
Russ
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Click on  next to any headline to vist the related Facebook event. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Lenten idea for parents: Simplify
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From Jessica Vacketta: This week we are considering the ways that we can simplify our lives by letting go of things in order to have space to notice God and experience God's presence in our lives with one another. Take advantage of the school-free hours of Spring Break and have a family night where everyone unplugs from computers, internet, texting, and even television to play a board game or go out for ice cream, or even go for a hike together. Try to keep the activity as simple as possible, making sure that it doesn't cost you much to do it. To be really effective it's best to make this an invitation with your kids and not an imposition on them. At the end of your time together, spend time reflecting on where you saw God and brainstorm ways that you can further experience God's presence together as a family.
For more ideas for this week, click here.
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Spring Break hike for high school youth this Saturday.
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In high school? In town for Spring Break? Take some time to unplug and enjoy God's creation as we go to the Fort Worth Nature Center for a 6 mile hike this Saturday, March 17. Meet at UCC at 9:30 a.m. and bring a sack lunch and $5 for park admittance. We should return around 2 p.m.
Contact Jessica Vacketta at jessica@uccftw.com with questions and/or RSVP's.
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Sunday night programs return this Sunday
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  ~~ Our Sunday night programs following The Search will return from a Spring Break hiatus this Sunday. Disciples Class, Chi Rho, CYF, and our programs for children (CCF and JYF) will all resume with their normal schedule. Sunday school classes will also meet as usual this Sunday morning.
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Three week Chi Rho Sunday night series: Soul Surfing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  ~~ Beginning this Sunday night our Chi Rho youth group (grades 6-8) will begin a three week study exploring faith and perseverance through the inspiring film Soul Surfer. The movie tells the incredible true story of teen pro surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame the odds to become a champion again through her sheer determination and unwavering faith. Come to youth group starting on Sunday night, March 18, and bring a friend as we watch, relate to, and learn from the amazing story of Bethany's life.
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Prom Dreams opens this Saturday - sign up now to volunteer
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 Prom Dreams will open on Saturday, March 17 and volunteers are needed on Thursdays and Saturdays through April 21 to help during hours of operation. Volunteers will act as sales associates for the Prom Dreams "store" and will help girls select their dresses and accessories. It takes less than one minute to sign up - just click here to provide your information and select the dates you would like to work.
Dates volunteers are needed:
Thursdays, March 22 - April 19 from 5-7 p.m.
Saturdays, March 17 -April 21 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
As always, we are also in need of dresses (particularly sizes 12 & up), shoes, jewelry, and purses to restock our inventory. Donations can be dropped off at the UCC reception desk. Unsure if a dress will work? Bring it by anyway! Dresses that are not selected after two seasons will be donated to Berry Good Buys. If you have questions, please contact Jessica Vacketta at jessica@uccftw.com.
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Registration open for the Soul Brothers Retreat for guys ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  We're excited that UCC's youth ministry will again be partnering with our men's ministry to sponsor the Soul Brothers Retreat for guys 6th grade through adult, coming up April 20-22. This year's event will be held at Glen Lake Retreat Center in Glen Rose and will feature Rev. Rob Morris of Ridglea Christian Church as the keynote speaker. Cost is $80 for youth and $110 for men. A $50 deposit is required with registration, and scholarships are available upon request (as always). This is a great opportunity for our youth and adults to spend time together praying, playing, eating, and sharing life together - download a registration form to sign up, and pay online to secure your spot! |
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Registration open for summer camps at Disciples Crossing
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 Youth and children from Pre-K through 12th grade have the opportunity to grow closer to God and one another this summer at Disciples Crossing, our church camp in Athens. There are nine different camps spread across the summer, each with a different focus. To see a full list of camp descriptions, dates, and prices, click here. For a registration form, click here. UCC is covering $100 of the registration cost for those who register early, and additional scholarships are available up to the full early-bird price if needed.
The easiest way to register for camps and mission trips will be our Camp Registration Sunday on April 1. Sharyn Peterson will be set up in Fellowship Hall from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and again from 6-7 p.m. with plenty of blank registration forms and tally sheets. Registering that day ensures that you make the early bird deadline, saving $130 off the regular registration price. Youth and adult volunteers can also sign up for Vacation Bible School (June 26-29), or sign up any time online at www.ucckids.org. Mark your calendar and we'll see you there! |
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Save the date for 2012 Chi Rho and CYF mission trips!
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Registration forms for summer camps at Disciples Crossing are up, and registration flyers for mission trips to Los Angeles and Oklahoma City will be released soon. Be sure to save these dates on your calendar:
Chi Rho Mission Trip to Oklahoma City
Grades 6-8 * June 3-6 * $150
CYF Mission Trip to Los Angeles
Grades 9-12 * July 21-28 * $375 |
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Youth events and key dates on the horizon...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 11-17 - Intergenerational Mission Pilgrimage to El Paso
March 17 - CYF hiking day at Fort Worth Nature Center - 9:30 a.m.
April 1 - Camp/Mission Trip Registration Sunday
April 20-21 - Soul Brothers retreat for guys 6th grade - adult
May 6 - Youth Sunday in morning worship services
May 9 - Senior Banquet in Fellowship Hall - 6:15 p.m.
Summer 2012 - Camps and mission trips - Click here for the schedule |
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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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