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Weekly E-News

December 20, 2013

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in this issue

Family Caroling Party this Sunday evening at 6:30

Come worship on Christmas Eve at 4, 6, 8, or 11

All-Church Holiday Potluck Brunch - December 29 at 10 a.m.

Parents: Have you heard about the Couples Retreat?

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Dear youth and parents,

Christmas is just around the corner, and UCC has four great worship opportunities on Christmas Eve. The 4:00 and 6:00 services provide family-friendly worship options that include an eleborate drama, a keepsake for kids, and communion (at 6:00). The 8:00 service will provide an interactive, alternative worship experience in Fellowship Hall, and each attendee will receive a code to download a digital album of The Search band that you can share with a friend. The 11:00 service will offer a traditional worship experience in the sanctuary ending with a candlelight rendition of Silent Night. Hopefully you will be able to join us for one of these services if you're in town. And if you know someone who does not have worship plans for Christmas Eve, be sure to invite them!

Read on for information on several special holiday events, along with registration for the Couples Retreat and Just Say Know classes.

Grace and Peace,
Russ

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Family Caroling Party this Sunday evening at 6:30
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Join your UCC family this Sunday, December 22 at 6:30 p.m. to take the joy and spirit of Christmas into our community through song and fellowship. We will be gathering in the reception area at the church and then going out in groups to carol to folks in the community surrounding UCC. We will all gather after caroling to share hot cocoa, holiday goodies, and the warm fellowship of Christmas. All are welcome!

Come worship on Christmas Eve at 4, 6, 8, or 11
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University Christian Church will again offer four different Christmas Eve services, providing a great opportunity to invite friends and family to our church for one of these meaningful services. Click here for a full description of all four services, and we'll look forward to seeing you on Christmas Eve!

All-Church Holiday Potluck Brunch - December 29 at 10 a.m.

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In lieu of Sunday school classes on December 29, UCC will have a Holiday Potluck Brunch at 10:00 a.m. in Room 207. Bring your favorite dish to share, and enjoy a time of fellowship that spans across generations. Pre-school childcare will be available.

Parents: Have you heard about the Couples Retreat?
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Mark your calendar or UCC's Third Annual Couples Retreat, a chance to reflect, relax and reconnect at Still Water Lodge, located at Glen Lake Camp & Retreat Center in Glen Rose. This year's retreat will take place February 7-8 (Friday evening through Saturday afternoon) and learning sessions will utilize the LINKS curriculum, designed to help couples improve communication and learn to regularly diagnose and actively strengthen key aspects of their relationship. I (Russ) am actually a certified instructor for LINKS, and will facilitate the retreat. I have taught the LINKS principles at numerous Army-sponsored relationship enrichment retreats for soldiers and spouses around the country, and I'm excited to share this great program with couples at UCC. More information on LINKS is available at lovethinks.com.

The retreat cost is $215 per couple, and a $100 deposit reserves your spot. Click here to register online (ignore the deadline), and contact Jessica Vacketta at jessica@uccftw.com for more information.

Register today for new sexuality education courses
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UCC's children's ministry and youth ministry are excited to offer "Just Say Know" courses this winter, providing comprehensive sexuality education for grades 4-12. The schedule for the classes is as follows:

High school course (grades 9-12)
Sundays, January 12 - March 2, 12:15-2:30 p.m.
Capstone lock-in on Friday night, March 21
Cost: $40 per participant
Click here for course topics

Middle school workshops (grades 6-8 with a parent)
Sundays, February 16 & 23, 12:15-3:30 p.m.

Cost: $20 per youth participant
Click here for course topics

Elementary school workshops (grades 4-5 with a parent)
Sunday, February 9, 12:15-3:15 p.m.
Separate workshops for boys and girls
Cost: $20 per child participant
Click here for course topics

Registration cost includes lunch, course materials, and a copy of Kate Ott's new book Sex+Faith: Talking with Youth Child from Birth to Adolescence. $10 discount for each additional child registered per family (since each family only needs one book). Scholarships for all courses will be available upon request.

Click here to register online, and be sure to spread the word to friends and neighbors so they can take advantage of this important program!

Youth events and key dates on the horizon...

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December 22 - Family Caroling Party - 6:30 p.m.
December 27-31 - CYF Ski Retreat to Crested Butte, Colorado
December 29 - All-Church Holiday Potluck Brunch - 10 a.m.
January 12 - "Just Say Know" high school course begins
Jan 31 - Feb 2 - Chi Rho (grades 6-8) Midwinter Retreat at Disciples Crossing
February 9 - "Just Say Know" elementary school workshops
February 16 & 23 - "Just Say Know" middle school workshops
February 21-23 - CYF (grades 9-12) Midwinter Retreat at Disciples Crossing

More ways to keep up...

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