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Small UCC youth logo
  Weekly E-news
         January 25, 2013

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in this issue
UCC hosts Reel Religion Film Festival tonight and tomorrow
Super Bowling for youth and children returns on February 3
Register now for CYF Midwinter Retreat at Disciples Crossing
Want a one-time volunteer gig? Sign up for Snack Supper!
Improve our camp at the Disciples Crossing work weekend

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Dear youth and parents, 

 

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Reel Religion Film Festival, and there are a lot of great movies showing tonight and tomorrow throughout the church.  Each year we typically have at least one film with a youth leading discussion, and this year is no exception.  Rachel Long will be leading a discussion following The Hunger Games, which will be screened tonight at 6:45 p.m.  Read the article below for more details about the festival, and come out for a couple of great (and free) movies!

I also wanted to let you know about something different we'll be doing at our annual Super Bowling outing at Cityview Lanes, scheduled for February 3.  Each year we have over 60 youth, children, and parents come out for an afternoon of bowling that's always a lot of fun.  This year we are adding a fundraising element to the event.  Youth can collect pledges from family, friends, and people at church to raise money for Week of Compassion based on their bowling score.  (Sorry kids: No "gutter guards" allowed.)  Check out the article below to learn more and download a sheet to start collecting pledges.


Read on for details about both of these events, as well as CYF Midwinter Retreat, a work weekend at Disciples Crossing, and more!


Grace and Peace,
Russ 



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UCC hosts Reel Religion Film Festival tonight and tomorrow
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UCC is excited to host Reel Religion 10: A Festival of Films of Religious Significance this weekend. There are lots of great movies to choose from that suit different ages and interests, and it's all free! Showtimes are 6:45 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday.

 
For a full schedule that includes film descriptions, click here to download the brochure. And don't worry - there will be plenty of popcorn!

 

 


Super Bowling for youth and children returns on February 3
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Bowling lane graphicIt's almost time for UCC's annual Super Bowling, where our middle and high school youth will take to the lanes alongside elementary children and parents for an afternoon of fun. This year's event will take place on Sunday, February 3 with check-in at 2:15 p.m. and bowling until 4:30 at Cityview Lanes (6601 Oakmont Blvd). $10 gets you two hours of bowling, shoe rental, pizza, popcorn and drinks.

This year, youth have an opportunity to raise money for Week of Compassion by collecting pledges from friends and family.  It's simple: Just use this sheet to invite them to pledge a certain amount for every pin you knock down in your best game.  (Example: If someone pledges $0.10 and you roll an 85, they owe $8.50.)  If you'd like to be part of this bowl-a-thon, just download the sheet and start collecting pledges from people you know.
 
Whether you're raising money or not, this event is a great opportunity to invite friends, challenge parents, or include younger siblings. Hope to see you there!

 


Register now for CYF Midwinter Retreat at Disciples Crossing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Bell at Disciples Crossing
Our youth have the opportunity to join others from Disciple churches around the area for two upcoming winter retreats at Disciples Crossing, our church camp in Athens. The Chi Rho Midwinter Retreat for grades 6-8 will be February 1-3, and the CYF Midwinter Retreat for grades 9-12 is February 22-24. These annual retreats offer youth 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.

Participants will meet at UCC at 5:30 p.m. on the Friday each retreat begins to share a charter bus to camp, and will return around 12:30 p.m. the following Sunday. The cost for each retreat is $90 and full or half scholarships are available upon request. The registration deadline for Chi Rho has passed, and CYF forms are due by February 3. You can download a form by clicking here
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Parents: We will need adult chaperones to attend these retreats as well. If you're interested in serving as an adult sponsor at the CYF retreat, contact
Jessica Vacketta at [email protected].

 


Want a one-time volunteer gig?  Sign up for Snack Supper!
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From Pam Miller, Youth Snack Supper Coordinator:

Youth parents! See the youth up close, personal and appreciative by serving Snack  Supper on Sunday night.  Snack supper is a great way to to see and get to know the youth, and it's fun!  
Snack supper graphic
The commitment is for one Sunday evening, from about 5-7 p.m., plus cooking or shopping time - you decide how much time you want to spend on preparation.  Dinner is served at 6 p.m. in the third floor kitchen for 30-40 youth and college students. All the paper goods, cutlery and drink supplies are there for you.  You provide the food, fix lemonade (provided), serve everything and clean up.  You can choose to donate the meal, or you can be reimbursed up to $100 if you provide receipts.  If you need suggestions on meal planning, you can contact me at 817-946-6322 or [email protected].  When you pick your Sunday, I will be in touch with other useful tips.  The third floor kitchen can be used anytime between morning services and the time to serve the meal. (Sandwiches are just as popular as anything else, so cooking isn't required  if that's not your thing.) If you prefer to purchase all or part of the food already prepared, that's great too. There's also a fridge and freezer you can stash things in.
 
You will receive a reminder the Sunday before your Snack Supper. Each month there will be an optional 15-minute meeting to show you the kitchen and how things in it work. (Usually just before Sunday School at 9:45 and it's just to familiarize you - there's nothing difficult about it, as those who have served will tell you!)

Ready to volunteer?  Pick one of the 5 available dates listed below and e-mail me at 
[email protected]:

January 27
March 17
April 14, 28
May 5

 


Improve our camp at the Disciples Crossing work weekend
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Disciples Crossing cross photo

Want to share your time, energy, and talent to improve Disciples Crossing, our church camp in Athens?  Come to the first annual Disciples Crossing work weekend! You can choose to attend as an individual, family, Sunday School class, or other group to help the camp prepare for one of the busiest summers of camps and conferences. Work day projects will include (but are not limited to) painting, staining, replacing flooring, pouring concrete slabs, replacing rotten siding, installing new tin on ceilings, building a boat shed, installing lighting on a basketball court, and clearing walking trails. Regardless of your age or skill level, there's a project for you!

 

The work weekend will take place February 15-16 (Friday-Saturday) and the $75 registration cost covers meals, overnight lodging, and work supplies. You may also register to attend Friday or Saturday only for $35 per person. Once registrations are in, we will organize a carpool of UCC participants to make it easier for everyone to get to and from camp.  Ready to register?  Click here to download a registration form. Questions about the work weekend? Contact Beth Morris, TBA Youth Minister, at 817-831-4442 or [email protected].



Youth events and key dates on the horizon...
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January 25-26 - Reel Religion Film Festival
February 1-3 - Chi Rho Midwinter Retreat (grades 6-8) at Disciples Crossing
February 3 - Super Bowling at Cityview Lanes - 2:15 p.m.
February 15-16 - Disciples Crossing Work Weekend (all ages)
February 22-24 - CYF Midwinter Retreat (grades 9-12) at Disciples Crossing

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Russ Boyd, Associate Minister for Youth - E-mail Russ
Alison Nicoll, Assistant Minister for Middle School - E-mail Alison
Jessica Vacketta, Assistant Minister for High School - E-mail Jessica
Sharyn Peterson, Ministry Assistant - E-mail Sharyn
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