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 Weekly E-News January 3, 2013
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Dear youth and parents,
As the Christmas season comes to a beautiful conclusion this weekend with the annual Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival, there are a number of great opportunities just around the corner for youth and parents. Today I specifically want to highlight the "Just Say Know" sexuality education courses, because the high school course kicks off on January 12. This is a great course for 9th or 10th graders who missed Eighter's Camp, or 11th and 12th graders who want to be prepared for some of the challenges of post-graduation life. The high school course covers all of the content from Eighter's Camp, and adds a lot of great information that will be helpful in the transition from high school to college. Since the course starts soon, be sure to use the registration link below to sign up so that we can prepare for the right number of participants. It's going to be a great 8-week program, and I'm so glad our church can offer it this year!
Read on for more information on the other Just Say Know workshops, the Boar's Head stage strike, midwinter youth retreats at Disciples Crossing, and more.
Grace and Peace,
Russ |
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Adjusted church program schedule for upcoming Sundays
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UCC will have an adjusted schedule due to the holidays and the Boar's Head & Yule Log Festival. Here is a handy guide for you to reference over the next two Sundays:
January 5 (Boar's Head & Yule Log Festival)
- Sunday school classes return at 10 a.m.
- No 5 p.m. worship (The Search)
- No Sunday evening youth groups
January 12
- Regular worship schedule returns (9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 5 p.m.)
- Just Say Know course for high school begins (12:15-2:30 p.m.)
- Sunday evening youth groups return (snack supper at 6 p.m., groups at 6:30)
- Disciples Class orientation (6:45 p.m. in Room 207)
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Youth (and adults) needed to take down Boar's Head stage
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From John Andrus, Boar's Head Stage Striking Guru:
We are looking for STRONG youth and adults to help with the BHYL Festival stage strike on Monday evening, January 7. We take down the stage from 5:30 p.m. until finished and will have the BCS national championship game piped into the sanctuary. Hopefully (with enough help) we will be able to watch the second half of the game.
Snacks are provided and you are not required to bring your own tools. However, gloves are a good thing to have (we'll have some cloth ones available) and a 9/16 wrench and socket wrench are the primary tools that are used (if you have a set, bring it). The main thing we need is people with strong backs and great attitudes. Thanks for considering this volunteer opportunity!
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High school sexuality education course begins January 12!
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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!
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Coming soon: Chi Rho Midwinter 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 winter retreats at Disciples Crossing, our church camp in Athens. The Chi Rho Midwinter Retreat for grades 6-8 will be January 31 - February 2, and the CYF Midwinter Retreat for grades 9-12 is February 21-23. 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 Sunday, January 12 for Chi Rho and Sunday, February 2 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 and Michael Yandell at michael.yandell@uccftw.com for the CYF Retreat .
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Parents: Two spots still available for the UCC 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. As of today there is room for two more couples to sign up, so secure your spot now!
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Youth events and key dates on the horizon...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 6 - Volunteers needed for Boar's Head stage strike - 5:30 p.m.
January 12 - "Just Say Know" high school course begins - 12:15 p.m.
January 12 - Disciples Class orientation - 6:45 p.m. in 207
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
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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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