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 Weekly E-news
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Dear youth and parents,
I attended a great all-day workshop yesterday called "Join the Conversation: Understanding and Supporting LGBTQ Youth and their Families" that brought together counselors, child advocates, social workers, school employees, and faith leaders. During the course of the day, we learned about the work of the Family Acceptance Project, an initiative of San Francisco State University dedicated to conducting research and creating resources to help parents support kids who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ). The research we reviewed was disturbing (but not completely shocking), and it highlighted how a family's rejection of their child makes him or her exponentially more likely to wind up in a myriad of negative, unhealthy, or life-threatening situations (depression, suicide, homelessness, substance abuse...the list goes on).
What most impressed me about the Family Acceptance Project was their focus on helping families from conservative evangelical, Catholic, or Mormon backgrounds learn how to support their kids. Their working premise is: Regardless of what your faith tradition teaches about human sexuality, you love your kids and want them to live a healthy, happy life. However, families often have a hard time knowing how to do that when their theology or understanding of the Bible creates a conflict, often leading to words and actions that communicate things no parent means to communicate to their child. The Family Acceptance Project provides these families (as well as churches, schools, and other communities) with the information and tools needed to care for their child without compromising their beliefs.
I will be working with Kera Watts, our Director of Children's Ministries, to explore how we might offer a workshop or series for parents that takes advantage of these life-changing (literally) resources and research. Even if your child does not fit the LGBTQ description, you could be the person who helps your friend or neighbor navigate these difficult waters, and I want our church to equip you for that imporant ministry. Watch for more information about this opportunity, and be sure to learn more about the Family Acceptance Project by visiting their website, which includes many of their research findings and a moving documentary you can view online.
Read on for more information about our middle school ministry transition, football parking fundraiser, the Disciples Class registration deadline, and more!
Grace and Peace,
Russ
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What to expect during our middle school ministry transition
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I've heard from a lot of parents and youth who are curious about how the transition will be handled now that we have said farewell to Herb Murray as a member of our youth ministry staff. Here are a few points that you may find helpful:
Shortly after I received Herb's resignation, I updated the job description and position announcement for Ellen Lewis and Larry Thomas to review. With their approval, the position was posted at Brite Divinity School, on disciples.org, and with our friends at Youth Ministry Architects. I also spoke with Steve Sprinkle, Brite's Director of Field Education and Supervised Ministry, about the position, and we talked about several seminary students who might be a good fit.
I am currently in the process of reviewing resumes from potential candidates for the position, and I can tell you that I really like what I see. This Sunday at our Youth Ministry Committee meeting we will identify potential members of a small committee that will assist me in interviewing candidates and selecting a new Assistant Minister for Middle School. Members of this committee will include a mix of youth, parents, and volunteers. Once this committee is confirmed we will be ready to begin interviewing candidates. Ideally, I would like to have someone in place by Sunday, January 13 when our new semester of programming begins. However, I am committed to finding the best person for the position, and will not force the process just to have someone in place.
Until then, I will be handling the critical tasks that are normally part of the Assistant Minister's duties. (The biggest pieces are coordinating 6th-8th grade Sunday school and leading Chi Rho youth group on Sunday night in collaboration with the sponsors). This means that some of the "big picture" things I would like to work on will be put on the back burner to ensure the week-to-week youth ministry tasks are covered and our middle schoolers receive the pastoral care and attention they need.
I appreciate your prayers during this time of discernment, and I encourage you to trust that God's spirit will guide us to the person who is called to this important, challenging, and rewarding ministry. Along the way, don't hesitate to contact me at russ@uccftw.com or 817.373.7307 if you have questions or concerns.
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High school youth depart for CYF Fall Retreat today
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Football parking fundraiser - TCU vs. #2 KSU tomorrow!
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From Mike Morton, football parking coordinator:
The next football parking fundraiser is this Saturday, November 10 against #2 Kansas State, and we need 25-30 volunteers.
As a reminder, while every volunteer earns funds that can be used toward the cost of retreats, mission trips, handbell choir tour, and other youth activities, the majority of what is raised goes to help fund both UCC's youth ministry and youth handbell program. Our goal is to limit volunteer shifts to two hours each week and so that more people can earn funds to help with the net cost of youth activities.
The game against Kansas State is this Saturday, November 10 and kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. We need volunteers in the following shifts (and because we expect an early crowd, the early shifts are especially critical):
1:30 p.m. - 3 people (min. 2 adults) for 2-hour shift for TCU band and early customers
2:00 - 7 more people (min. 3 adults) for a 2-hour shift at the reserved lots
3:00 - 8-10 people for a 2-hour shift
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 me at m_morton@sbcglobal.net .
For a detailed explanation of how our football parking fundraiser works, click here. |
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Latte with the Ladies this Saturday at Agape Coffee Haus
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  ~ Latte with the Ladies, a monthly intergenerational gathering for women at a local coffee shop, will be this Saturday, November 10. Ladies of all ages are invited to gather at Agape Coffee Haus Bookstore (108 Jearl St. in Aledo) between 9 and 11 a.m. for tasty beverages and informal conversation. Invite a friend and drop in this Saturday morning! |
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Disciples Class registration deadline this Sunday!
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Youth in grades 6-12 interested in learning more about baptism/confirmation and church membership are encouraged to participate in this year's Disciples Class. The 12-week course provides a helpful introduction to what it means to confess your faith, join the church, be baptized or confirmed, take communion, share your gifts, and more! This year's class will take place on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. beginning with an orientation on December 2. Click here for more information on the class, or click here to register online. The registration deadline for this year's class is this Sunday, November 11. |
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Youth events and key dates on the horizon...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 9-11 - CYF Fall Retreat (grades 9-12) at Disciples Crossing November 10 - Latte w/ the Ladies at Agepe Coffee Haus in Aledo
November 10 - Football parking fundraiser - Kansas State vs. TCU
November 11 - Disciples Class registration deadline November 18 - Room In The Inn volunteer training - 12:15 p.m. December 2 - Hanging of the Greens service led by youth |
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More ways to keep up...
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 | UCC Youth
Text Alerts |
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| Staff Links
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Russ Boyd, Associate Minister for Youth - E-mail Russ
Jessica Vacketta, Assistant Minister for CYF (grades 9-12) - E-mail Jessica
Sharyn Peterson, Ministry Assistant - E-mail Sharyn
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