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 Weekly E-news
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Dear youth and parents,
I returned from UCC's Spring Break Mission Pilgrimage to El Paso on Saturday night and I can definitely say that it was an amazing experience. I was able to serve alongside 25 others ranging from 3rd graders through retirees, replace fluorescent light fixtures in a church, use a nail gun on a shed, spread compost on a farm, share communion with our neighbors through the border fence, hear first-hand stories from undocumented workers and a border patrol agent about the difficulties of life in a border community, marvel at the vastness of the cosmos at McDonald Observatory, and grow closer to God and friends from UCC (both new and old). That's just a snapshot of the experience, but there are LOTS of great photos posted online that document our experiences on the trip. Be sure to visit the trip webpage to see for yourself.
Read on for another family-oriented reflection from the Sticky Faith Lenten resource we're using at youth groups, a movie night for guys, an easy way to volunteer, mission trip details, and more!
Grace and Peace,
Russ |
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Lenten idea for parents: Lament
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From Jessica Vacketta:
Lament isn't a topic we often spend a lot of time talking about. It is important to remember that lament begins and ends with the understanding that God is present in the midst of our suffering, but it is difficult to remember God's presence in our suffering. Music often helps us articulate our emotions. In fact, many psalms of lament are songs that have been sung in worship for years. This week, take some time to share songs (religious or otherwise) that have been significant in your spiritual journey - either songs that have expressed your lament in a particularly difficult time or songs that have reminded you of the goodness of God. Why were those songs significant to you? Be sure to share your own as well as inviting your kids to share their songs. Also, be prepared to listen without judgment even if your kids share songs that you think hold little value; this is a time to listen and affirm!
For more ideas for this week, click here.
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Guys' movie night this Saturday: A River Runs Through It
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This Saturday night, March 24, UCC's Men's Ministry will sponsor a viewing and discussion of Robert Redford's 1992 film, A River Runs Through It. We'll gather in Room 207 at 6:30 p.m. $5 gets you dinner from Raising Cane's, a movie, and great fellowship. Guys of all ages are invited for this PG film.
Winner of two Academy Awards, the film is set in and around Missoula, Montana, and follows two sons of a Presbyterian minister - one studious and the other rebellious - as they grow up and come of age in a time that roughly spans the Prohibition era (1919-33) in the United States. Rev. Daniel Terry will facilitate a discussion afterwards as we explore the film's themes of fly fishing, family, rebellion, and redemption.
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Volunteers needed to pick up Sunday morning summer snacks
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From Susan Rogers, Sunday Snack Coordinator:
Each Sunday the youth ministry provides tasty refreshments for youth who make the effort to get up, get dressed, and come to Sunday School. This is a much-loved part of our program whose success depends on the coordinated help of parent volunteers. It is also, in my experience, one of the more rewarding short term, low-commitment volunteer activities you can undertake at UCC.
We need volunteers for Sunday morning snack pick up in July and August. It's an easy assignment: pop in to a local vendor where our order awaits you, grab the bagels or donuts, and go to church. You will get a friendly reminder twice before your pick up dates by email, text, or both.
This is a great way to cement your child's connection to the church by being a little involved (but not so much that you are uncool), accompanying them upstairs to deliver the food, and then going on to your Sunday a.m. activity.
Please consider assisting. If you can only take a couple of dates in these months, your help would still be very welcome! If you'd like to help, please contact me at sundaysnackvolunteers@yahoo.com to sign up.
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Registration open for youth mission trips to LA and OKC!
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Registration flyers for our summer youth mission trips are now available! Here's the skinny on both trips:
The Chi Rho Mission Trip to Oklahoma City for grades 6-8 will take place June 3-6. The group will be working at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, visiting the Okalahoma City Memorial and Museum, and cooling off at a local water park at the end of the trip. Cost is $175 per person and scholarships are available upon request. Full details are available on the registration flyer.
The CYF Mission Trip to Los Angeles for grades 9-12 will take place July 21-28. The group will be working at Loch Leven Camp and All People's Community Center, touring Chapman University (a Disciple college), and visiting several cultural attractions in the area. Cost is $375 per person and scholarships are available upon request. Full details are available on the registration flyer.
Remember that April 1 is Camp/Mission Trip Registration Sunday, so be sure to turn in the completed registration flyer and $50 deposit that day to save your spot! |
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Prom Dreams is open - sign up online to volunteer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Prom Dreams opened 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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Dude! Sign up 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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Register now for summer camps at Disciples Crossing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  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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Youth events and key dates on the horizon...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 24 - Men's Movie Night - "A River Runs Through It" - 6:30 p.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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