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 Weekly E-News January 31, 2014
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Dear youth and parents,
I'm preparing to head to Athens for the Chi Rho Midwinter Retreat at Disciples Crossing with a group of 20+ middle schoolers and adult sponsors. One of our Chi Rho sponsors, Brittany Sellers, is co-directing the event, and we're looking forward to a great weekend. Meanwhile, Michael is making final preparations for tonight's CYF Lock-In (his first lock-in as a youth minister!) and he has a great evening planned for our high schoolers and adult sponsors.
Read on for more information on the lock-in, donations to feed hungry Stock Show workers, snack supper volunteer slots, dates for summer camps and mission trips, and more.
Grace and Peace,
Russ |
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CYF Lock-In for high school youth tonight!
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From Michael Yandell, Assistant Minister for High School:
Youth in grades 9-12 are invited to spend a night at UCC that will include an outing to Main Event (with dinner), midnight worship, sardines and more. We'll leave each others' company after breakfast Saturday, renewed and full of life. Plan to meet at UCC at 6:15 p.m. this evening to carpool to Main Event for bowling, laser tag, games, and pizza, then we will head back to the church for worship, sardines, and more. You can also meet the group at Main Event at 6:45 this evening if that's easier. We will wrap up at 8 a.m. tomorrow after a delicious homemade breakfast. Bring $10 to help cover the cost of the event. For more information, e-mail me at michael.yandell@uccftw.com.
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Middle school youth depart for Chi Rho Midwinter Retreat
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Evening programs take a break this Sunday, February 2
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UCC's Sunday evening programs will take a week off this Sunday, February 2. The Search worship, snack supper, Disciples Class, and youth/children's group meetings will resume on Sunday, February 9.
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CYF Midwinter Retreat registrations due this Sunday
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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 $45 and full scholarships are available upon request. Registration forms for the CYF retreat are due to the Youth Office by this Sunday, February 2. You can download a form by clicking here
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Donate to help provide sack lunches for hungry workers
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From Jessica Vacketta, Associate Minister:
The Fort Worth Stock Show is underway and I know many of you can't wait for the rodeo, the smell of fresh cow pies, and YES the 3rd Annual TACC Sack Lunch Chuck Wagon. The Chuck Wagon provides 300 sack lunches per day to the men and women who work the event, many whom are homeless day laborers. Because of your generosity two years ago, UCC has been able to provide lunches for workers in 2012 & 2013; however, it's time to raise funds so that we can do so again this year.
We invite you to bring donations to your Sunday school class or youth group this Sunday to help fund this important ministry. Pick up some loose change around your house, donate part of your allowance - maybe even bring the dollar amount you normally spend on lunch at school for one day. With your help, we will be able to provide lunches to hungry workers again this year!
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Elementary "Just Say Know" workshops coming February 9
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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 upcoming classes is as follows:
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 Your 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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Snack supper volunteers needed for several upcoming dates
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From Pam Miller, Snack Supper Coordinator:
Youth parents! See the youth up close, personal and appreciative by serving Snack Supper on Sunday night. Snack supper is a great way to see and get to know the youth, and it's fun!
The commitment is for one Sunday evening, from about 5-7 p.m., plus cooking or shopping time - you decide how much time you want to spend on preparation. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. in the third floor kitchen for 25-35 youth and college students. All the paper goods, cutlery, drink supplies, and most condiments are there for you. You provide the food, fix lemonade (provided), serve everything and clean up. You can choose to donate the meal, or you can be reimbursed up to $100 if you provide receipts. If you need suggestions on meal planning, you can contact me at pam@kepmiller.com . You will receive a reminder e-mail the week before your snack supper that includes additional useful tips.
The third floor kitchen can be used anytime between morning services and the time to serve the meal. (Sandwiches are just as popular as anything else, so cooking isn't required if that's not your thing.) If you prefer to purchase all or part of the food already prepared, that's great too. There's also a fridge and freezer you can stash things in.
Ready to volunteer? Pick one of the available dates listed below and sign up on our SignUp Genius page:
February 9 & 16
April 6
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Save the date for summer camps and mission trips
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A great summer filled with camps at Disciples Crossing and mission trips to Austin and Yakama Christian Mission in Washington is just around the corner. Be sure to mark these dates on your calendar so that you can plan your summer schedule around these meaningful opportunities to serve others and grow closer to God on holy ground. (Grades in parentheses indicate grade completed.)
Grand Camp 1 (age 4 - grade 3 w/ adult): May 30 - June 1
Grand Camp 2 (age 4 - grade 3 w/ adult): August 1-3
Discovery Camp (grades 2-3 w/ adult): May 23-25
Family Camp (all ages, must have a child 18 or under): June 6-8
JYF Camp 1 (grades 4-5): June 30 - July 4
JYF Camp 2 (grades 4-5): July 21-25
Chi Rho Camp (grades 6-7): July 7-12
Eighter's Camp (8th grade): July 6-12
Niner's Camp (9th grade): June 23-28
CYF Conference (grades 10-12): June 16-21
MAD Camp (Music/Art/Drama, grades 6-9): June 9-14
Equine Camp (Riding horses, grades 6-12): July 28 - August 1
Racial Reconciliation Camp (grades 9-12): July 14-18
Chi Rho Mission Trip to Austin, Texas (grades 6-8): June 15-18
CYF Mission Trip to White Swan, Washington (grades 9-12): June 29 - July 6
In March we will be mailing all the materials you need so register for these camps and trips, including descriptions, prices, and forms. This year UCC will automatically pay half the registration cost using funds from TCU football parking. Scholarships will be available upon request to provide additional assistance.
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Youth events and key dates on the horizon...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 31 - CYF Lock-In (grades 9-12) - 6:15 p.m. - 8 a.m.
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
March 9-15 - Spring Break Mission Pilgrimage to El Paso (3rd grade - adult)
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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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