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 Weekly E-news
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Dear youth and parents,
We have two special studies starting this week for the season of Lent that I'm excited about. On Wednesday evenings, Jessica Vacketta will be leading a Bible study for high schoolers based on the book Banned Questions About the Bible by Christian Piatt. On Sunday evenings, our middle school youth will be doing a study called "Noticing God More" produced by the Sticky Faith initiative at the Fuller Youth Instititute. If your schedule allows, I encourage you to check out one of these studies.
One of the things I like most about the Sunday night study is that every week includes ideas for families that follows up on what the youth will do together at Chi Rho youth group. Many of you have heard me say (perhaps more than you would like) that building connections between what our kids do in church on Sundays and what they do with their families during the week is one of the most critical factors in creating a faith that will last into adulthood. Parents: Even if your child isn't in the study on Sunday nights, I would encourage you to check out the ideas for families that we will be sharing each week in the e-news. You'll see lots of helpful ideas for your family, no matter what age your kids might be. See the article below for ideas related to this week's theme: Unplug.
Read on for more information on these studies, the CYF Midwinter Retreat, the UCC Art Show, and more!
Grace and Peace,
Russ |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Click on  next to any headline to vist the related Facebook event. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Middle school youth begin Sunday night series for Lent
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  ~ From Alison Nicoll, Assistant Minister for Middle School:
Each Sunday evening during the season of Lent, our Chi Rho youth group will be working through a study from the Fuller Youth Institute's Sticky Faith initiative called "Noticing God More." The study looks at different ways that we can take this time to find God in the midst of our sometimes crazy lives and spend more time with God during the week. We will be using this curriculum during the discussion portion of our youth group time, when the kids move into small groups led by our adult sponsors. The study also includes family ideas each week that you can try at home following the Sunday night lesson.
This week's theme is UNPLUG. We will be talking about the different distractions in our lives and how we can quiet those distractions in order to hear what God has to say. We will also be talking about what the Sabbath means and what that looks like in today's world. For ideas on how your family can unplug together in the coming week, click here for the weekly family guide.
This is a great opportunity for our middle schoolers to see where they can find God in their everyday lives and to learn what Lent is all about. I hope to see you on Sunday night! Remember that snack supper is from 6:00-6:30 and youth groups meet from 6:30-7:45.
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New high school Bible study begins this Wednesday
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 From Jessica Vacketta, Assistant Minister for High School:
I've had lots of requests for a mid-week Bible study, so I'm excited to offer one for 9th-12th grade youth this Lenten season. The study will begin this Wednesday, February 27 and go through March 27. We will meet every Wednesday evening from 6:15-7:30 p.m. in the 3rd floor kitchen. Dinner will not be provided, but we encourage participants to bring their own "sack supper" or eat beforehand. During this 5-week study, we will discuss questions from Christian Piatt's book Banned Questions About the Bible. Youth are encouraged, but not required, to purchase this book ($14) and bring it to our meetings. If you have any questions or are interested in participating in this study, please contact me at jessica@uccftw.com. **We are looking for 1 or 2 adults to serve as shepherds for the study, so please let me know if you are interested in sitting in with us!** |
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Check out the UCC Art Show this Sunday in Room 207
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  ~ The annual UCC Art Show will be this Sunday, February 24 in Room 207. Stop by any time between 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. to see photography, painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture from all ages of our church community. |
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Prom Dreams opens on March 23 - volunteers needed
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 Prom Dreams, a ministry of University Christian Church that provides free prom dresses to local girls who need them, will open for its third season on March 23. Last year this ministry distributed dresses, shoes, and jewelry to over 100 girls!
Prom Dreams is only possible due to donations and volunteers who help the young women select their "perfect" dress. Donations of dresses, shoes, jewelry, purses, and other accessories can be dropped off at the reception desk at any time. If you have questions, or are interested in volunteering with this ministry, please e-mail Jessica Vacketta at jessica@uccftw.com. |
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Save the date (and volunteer) for the UCC Garage Sale
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  ~ Spring cleaning time is fast approaching, so let UCC help you clean out your house for a good cause! Save your items to donate for this year's UCC Garage Sale benefitting our youth program. Preview sale is Friday, April 12 and sale day is Saturday, April 13. Donations will be accepted beginning on Sunday, March 3. Large item pick-up will be available again this year (though we cannot accept large appliances). Please consider donating your tax-deductible items and/or your time. This event requires many volunteers to make it happen! Questions? Contact co-chairs Cyrena Allen (817.692.2099 or cyrena@lawrence-allen.com) or Kellie Morton (817.296.9818 or krmorton@sbcglobal.net). Want to volunteer? Contact Robin Nelson at robin.nelson69@yahoo.com. |
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Mark your calendar for summer camps and mission trips
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Registration forms for summer camps at Disciples Crossing and mission trips to Memphis and Houston will be released soon, but it's not too early to save those dates on your calendar. Click here for a full list of summer camps and mission trips with dates and corresponding ages (including the new Equine Camp for youth interested in riding horses) and be sure to pass them along to others who are interested.
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Youth events and key dates on the horizon...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February 22-24 - CYF Midwinter Retreat (grades 9-12) at Disciples Crossing
February 24 - UCC Art Festival - 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. in Room 207
February 27 - High school Bible study begins - 6:15 p.m in 312
March 10-16 - Spring break mission trip to El Paso (intergenerational)
March 23 - Prom Dreams ministry opens
April 7 - Camp Registration Sunday
April 12-13 - Garage Sale benefitting youth camp scholarships |
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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
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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