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 Weekly E-News September 27, 2013
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Dear youth and parents,
This Sunday night our middle school youth will be starting a special series that uses the film and book The Hunger Games as a launchpad for discussions about desensitization to violence, hunger, power and humility, and finding common ground. Alison has done an outstanding job putting together the series, which will begin with a viewing of the film over two Sundays and shift into four Sundays of topical discussions. One of the many things I appreciate about our church is that we encourage people to find important spiritual and religious themes in art and media that is not categorized as "religious" in nature. From our annual film festival to monthly book clubs to the songs students bring to our college Lunch Bunch program, there's a recognition that God is not limited to things that have been labeled "sacred." Rather, our church encourages us to regularly "seek the sacred" in the art and media we encounter on a daily basis - a practice that I believe helps us to see God in our daily lives and through the people we encounter. I'm looking forward to seeing how our middle school youth wrestle faithfully with the important questions raised by The Hunger Games in the coming weeks.
Read on for more information about our next football parking fundraiser, an upcoming CYF service project, fall retreats at Disciples Crossing, and more.
Grace and Peace,
Russ |
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TCU vs. SMU football parking fundraiser tomorrow morning
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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 and youth handbell choir 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.
The next TCU home game is this Saturday, September 28 against SMU with an 11 a.m. kickoff. We will need volunteers in 1-2 hour shifts to control access to our season parking lots and direct cars/take money for the daily parking lots. Specifically, we will need about 10 people there at 7 a.m., another 8-10 between 8 and 9 a.m., and 3-4 people (at least 2 adults) who will get there at 9:30 or 10 and commit to stay until 30 minutes after kickoff. If you have additional questions about this fundraiser, please email Mike Morton at m_morton@sbcglobal.net.
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Chi Rho Sunday night series: Faith and The Hunger Games
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From Alison Nicoll, Assistant Minister for Middle School:
This fall our Chi Rho youth group (grades 6-8) will be talking about some of the important issues and themes raised in the popular book series The Hunger Games. The series kicks off by viewing the film over two Sunday evenings, followed by several discussion nights to unpack different topics in both large and small group settings. Here's the schedule:
Sep. 29 - Movie night in Parable Pictures: We will start the movie right at 6:15, so be sure to grab your snack supper right at 6:00!
Oct. 6 - Movie Night: Same as above. We will use any remaining time to start to unpack the themes in the movie.
Oct. 13 - "Hunger is not a Game"
Oct. 20 - "Finding Common Ground"
*We will be take a break for Trunk or Treat and planning Youth Sunday at The Search
Nov. 10 - "Desensitizing Violence"
Nov. 17 - "How True Power Works"
Parents: For more information on both the study and the movie (rated PG-13), click here for a letter from Alison.
I'm really excited to start this new series on Sunday nights! Hope to see you there, and may the odds be ever in your favor!
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CYF service project: Build irrigation kits to send overseas
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High school youth (and any interested adults) have an opportunity to help people in the developing world by building drip bucket irrigation kits on Sunday, October 6 from 6:30-7:45 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Jon Fripp from Rush Creek Christian Church will be present to introduce the project and talk about how the kits help people around the world to grow fruits and vegetables to feed their families. Jon has been involved with development work in over a dozen countries through Engineers Without Borders, and has seen firsthand the difference these kits can make. Studies in Kenya suggest that two kits can provide the water needed to produce enough vegetables to feed a family of seven through the dry season. Click here for a great article explaining drip bucket irrigation, and plan to help build the kits on October 6!
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Register now for Chi Rho Fall Retreat at Disciples Crossing
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Our youth have the opportunity to join others from Disciple churches around the area for two upcoming fall retreats at Disciples Crossing, our church camp in Athens. The Chi Rho Fall Retreat for grades 6-8 will be November 1-3, and the CYF Fall Retreat for grades 9-12 is November 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. Registration forms are due to the Youth Office by October 6 for Chi Rho and October 27 for CYF. You can download a form by clicking here .
Parents: We will need adult chaperones to attend these retreats as well. If you're interested in serving as an adult sponsor, contact Alison Nicoll at alison.nicoll@uccftw.com for the Chi Rho Retreat or Michael Yandell at michael.yandell@uccftw.com for the CYF Retreat .
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2013 CYF Ski Retreat info meeting - Sunday, October 6
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High school youth have the opportunity to explore the beauty of God's creation together on the CYF Ski Retreat to Crested Butte, Colorado. The trip will take place December 27-31, and includes transportation by charter bus, hotel lodging in nearby Gunnison, and three days of skiing, snowboarding, or sipping hot cocoa and enjoying the view. Projected cost is $650 for skiers/snowboarders and $450 for non-skiers. There will be a pre-trip informational meeting for interested participants and parents on Sunday, October 6 at 12:15 p.m. in Room 207.
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Youth events and key dates on the horizon...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 28 - Football parking fundraiser - TCU vs. SMU
October 6- CYF Ski Retreat information meeting - 12:15 p.m.
October 6 - CYF service project: Build irrigation kits - 6:30 p.m.
October 27 - Trunk-or Treat Event - Youth volunteers needed
November 1-3 - Chi Rho Fall Retreat at Disciples Crossing
November 10 - Youth Sunday at The Search
November 22-24 - CYF Fall Retreat at Disciples Crossing
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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
Michael Yandell, Assistant Minister for High School - E-mail Michael
Sharyn Peterson, Ministry Assistant - E-mail Sharyn
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