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Dear youth and parents,

Many of you have already seen on Facebook or heard through the grapevine that my wife, Sarah, and I are expecting twins!  We are both excited and terrified, and we've appreciated all the well wishes and prayers (and hope that the prayers will continue).  If the pregnancy were to go full-term the due date would be April 4, so we're expecting something several weeks ahead of that with twins.  We will most likely know the sex of the babies (who appear to be fraternal twins) by Thanksgiving, and I'll be sure to share that news when it's known to us.

In other personal news, I leave on Sunday for my annual 2-week block of Army Reserve training and return on Friday, September 21.  This year I will be doing the Combat Medical Ministry Course at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, an intensive program for chaplains that trains us in ministry for traumatic events in medical settings.  The course will include rotations at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), the destination for many of our wounded warriors from overseas and a trauma center for the San Antonio area.  If you'd like a more detailed look at what I'll be doing (including a couple of promotional videos) click here.  Your prayers are appreciated over the next two weeks - it's a course that demands a lot of emotional and spiritual resiliency as a caregiver.

Read on for info about Sunday night youth programs, fundraising through TCU football parking, volunteering at "Bag-It Night, and more!

Grace and Peace,
Russ 

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Football season is here again, and youth and parents have the opportunity to raise  money by parking cars in the church lots for TCU football games. Part of the money raised goes into youth reserve funds, and part goes into the individual accounts of those who work each game to use for camps, retreats, trips, and other church events. This year, each hour is worth $50 per family member who works, and each person can volunteer up to two hours per game.  There are lots of changes this year, with two sold-out "season parking" lots and pre-sold parking for the TCU band.  So, whether you're new to this fundraiser or a seasoned veteran, if you are interested in parking cars to earn money I strongly encourage you to click here for a great explanation of how things will work this year from Mike Morton (the primary architect of our new parking system).

The first TCU home game is this Saturday, September 8 against Grambling State with a 6 p.m. kickoff.  We will need volunteers in several shifts:

2 p.m. - 4-6 people for a 2-hour shift for the TCU band and early cash customers

2:30 - 4 people (2 must be adults) for a 2-hour shift at the reserved lots

3:00 - 10-12 people to open the other cash lots and help with band parking

4:00 - 4-6 people for remaining band parking and finish cash lots

4:30 - 4 people (2 must be adults) for a 2-hour shift at the reserved lots

If you're available for any of these shifts, show up at UCC and sign in at the table in the small north parking lot (by the playground and dumpster).  If you have additional questions about this fundraiser, please email Mike Morton at m_morton@sbcglobal.net .

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Latte with the Ladies, a monthly intergenerational gathering for women at a local coffee shop, will be this Saturday, September 8.  Ladies of all ages are invited to gather at The Cup (3909 Camp Bowie Blvd.) between 9 and 11 a.m. for tasty beverages and informal conversation. Invite a friend and drop in this Saturday morning!