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 Weekly E-news
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Dear youth and parents,
 | | This is Graham... |
Sarah and I had a pleasant surprise on Monday night: Our twins decided it was time to start the process of entering the world, and they arrived on Tuesday evening. Everybody is healthy, though Graham and Eleanor will likely be in the NICU until next week when they are able to eat enough on their own and no longer need a feeding tube. It sounds like Sarah and I will be heading home from the hospital here in Denton on Saturday, and will be driving up each day to visit, nurse, and deliver milk. Your prayers are appreciated as our expanded family transitions home over the next couple of weeks.
 | | ...and his sister Nellie. |
I am thankful that UCC has a generous family leave policy, and I plan to be out on paternity leave at least through Easter. Alison, Jessica, and I met last week to go over everything that will need to be covered while I'm out, so the youth ministry will be in good hands. There is an article below that will help you know who to contact in my absence. I will occasionally be checking in on things at church, but if something comes up it will be best to start by contacting the other staff and they can reach me if they need my help to address the issue.
Read on for more information on youth programming changes during Spring Break, a work day this Wednesday afternoon, and more!
Grace and Peace,
Russ
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Youth programming changes during Spring Break
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Since lots of people will be out of town this week for school breaks, here are some changes to the youth program schedule:
Sunday school: Classes meet as usual on Sunday morning, though some will be combined. Refreshments starting at 9:45 in Room 303, then classes from 10:00-10:50.
Youth groups: Chi Rho and CYF will not meet this Sunday night, and will return on March 17 with snack supper at 6:00 and youth group meetings from 6:30-7:45.
Youth handbell choirs: The Whitechapel Bells (grades 6-8) will not meet this Wednesday evening, but will return on March 20. UCC Ringers (grades 9-12) will meet in their normal 7:30-8:30 time slot.
High School Bible Study: No meeting this Wednesday, but the study resumes on March 20 at the normal time (6:15-7:30).
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Who to contact while Russ is on paternity leave
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 As I mentioned in my intro above, I will be on paternity leave for the next few weeks. In my absence, please contact the following youth ministry staff:
For high school youth questions:
Jessica Vacketta, Assistant Minister for High School
jessica@uccftw.com or 817.926.6631 ext. 145
For middle school youth questions:
Alison Nicoll, Assistant Minister for Middle School
alison.nicoll@uccftw.com or 817.926.6631 ext. 145
(until her office phone is fixed)
For general and administrative questions:
Sharyn Peterson, Ministry Assistant
sharyn@uccftw.com or 817.926.6631 ext. 136
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This week's Lenten idea for families: Yield
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From Alison Nicoll, Assistant Minister for Middle School:
 Since we do not have youth groups this week, Chi Rho will continue the Sticky Faith Everyday: Noticing God More study on March 17 when youth groups resume. We will be focusing on YIELDing in our relationship with God and paying particular attention to where we can make room for God in our everyday lives.
This week the family guide for our Sticky Faith curriculum talks about yielding for God in our relationships with others. Download a copy here for questions, prayers, and suggestions on how to "yield" to God in our interactions with family and friends. |
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Come help at our Spring Break work day this Wednesday!
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 From Jessica Vacketta, Assistant Minister for High School:
Are you hanging around Fort Worth this week? Couldn't make it on the Spring Break mission trip to El Paso, but still want to serve others alongside fellow UCCer's? Then we need your help! Please join the youth staff for a work afternoon THIS WEDNESDAY, March 13 from 1-5 p.m. We will be staining wooden tables, moving items from the 3rd floor to 1st floor for the Garage Sale (t.v.'s, books, lamps, etc.), stuffing envelopes for Prom Dreams, and cleaning/organizing classrooms and our storage closet.
Please e-mail me at jessica@uccftw.com if you are interested in volunteering or have questions.
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Donate or volunteer for the upcoming Garage Sale
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  ~ Spring cleaning time is fast approaching, so let UCC help you clean out your house for a good cause! Donate your items to the 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 this 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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Prom Dreams volunteer meeting on March 21 at 5 p.m.
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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 are interested in volunteering, mark your calendar for a volunteer meeting on Thursday, March 21 at 5 p.m. in the Prom Dreams space (upper level of the house next door to the church). Questions about Prom Dreams? E-mail Jessica Vacketta at jessica@uccftw.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...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 10-16 - Spring break mission trip to El Paso (intergenerational)
March 13 - Spring Break Work Day at UCC - 1-5 p.m.
March 21 - Prom Dreams ministry volunteer meeting - 5 p.m.
April 7 - Camp Registration Sunday
April 12-13 - Garage Sale benefitting youth camp scholarships
April 19-20 - "Just Say Know" sexuality curriculum teacher trainingMay 1 - Senior Banquet - 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall
May 5 - Youth Sunday in morning worship services
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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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