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 Weekly E-News February 14, 2014
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Dear youth and parents,
Many of you with elementary kids were present for our 4th and 5th grade Just Say Know workshops this past Sunday afternoon. Mike Coffey, Anne Darr, Jessica Vacketta, and Michael Yandell did a wonderful job leading the boys and girls workshops, and Jennifer Lanter's attention to detail as the JSK program director was evident (and appreciated). We received lots of positive feedback and helpful suggestions to make the program even better in the future, and our team is so thankful that 60+ children and parents participated. We're looking forward to another great weekend as our 6th-8th graders come for the first of two workshops this Sunday afternoon. I'll look forward to seeing many of you there!
Read on for more information on the annual Bible Bowl, a special guest at UCC this Sunday, Roots game night, a big announcement from Disciples Crossing, and more.
Grace and Peace,
Russ |
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11th-12th graders vs. 3rd graders in Sunday's Bible Bowl
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UCC's 3rd graders recently completed the 5-week Learning to Use My Bible class, and they are ready to put their knowledge to the test. This Sunday, February 16, they will take on our 11th and 12th graders in a Bible Bowl in Room 303 from 10:10-10:50 a.m. You are invited to cheer on your favorite high schooler (or third grader) in this fun, energetic annual event!
11th-12th graders: Come to Room 303 as usual on Sunday morning for gathering time. We will begin the Bible Bowl shortly after all the other classes are dismissed.
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Missionary returns to share about Nicaragua this Sunday
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This Sunday UCC will welcome a special (and familiar) guest to our church. Whitney Peters recently returned from Nicaragua and is visiting congregations to share about her experience as a mission intern there. A native of McKinney, Whitney served on our staff as a Summer Youth Ministry Intern in 2009 and was a dedicated Chi Rho sponsor and participant in our campus ministry throughout her time at TCU. She will be leading a combined 6th-8th grade Sunday school class at 10 a.m. in Room 308, reading scripture in the morning services, preaching at The Search at 5 p.m., and sharing about her experience at CCF/JYF on Sunday night. To read a description of Whitney's work as an intern with the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, click here.
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Just Say Know middle school course begins on Sunday
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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. Here are the details on the last component of the course:
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
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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Roots game night for 6th graders and mentors Thursday
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From Alison Nicoll, Assistant Minister for Middle School:
All UCC 6th graders and high school mentors are invited to a Roots Pizza and Game Night this Thursday, February 20 from 6:00-7:30 p.m! We will be enjoying some delicious pizza and playing all forms of games from board games to group games. This will also be a time for high school mentors and 6th grade mentees to hang out and check-in with one another. Meet us in the third floor kitchen with $5 to help with the cost of pizza and be prepared to play some games!
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Movie night: Big Fish on Saturday, February 22
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Youth are invited to a movie night sponsored by UCC's Men's Ministry on Saturday, February 22 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 207 featuring a chicken dinner ($5). The film Big Fish is the story of a son who tries to learn more about his dying father by reliving some of the fantastical tales he has told about his life over the years. The film stars Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney (plus many other familiar faces), and is rated PG-13. (For a parent guide detailing elements/scenes in the movie that contribute to the rating, click here.) Afterward, Dr. Daniel Terry will lead a discussion focused on some of the themes in the film.
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Disciples Crossing calls new Director of Programming
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Disciples Crossing, our church camp in Athens, announced this week that Tiffany Austin Williams has been called as Director of Programming (detailed announcement here). Tiff is well known at UCC from her seminary years when she served as Assistant Minister for Middle School, and since 2008 she has served as Associate Minister at First Christian Church in Granbury. This is a new position at Disciple Crossing, and there will be several noticeable (and positive) changes coming soon:
- All summer camp registrations will now be handled by Disciples Crossing, not by the Trinity Brazos Area (our denominational office).
- Retreat registrations will likely shift to the camp next program year.
- Much of the "big picture" camp and retreat planning currently handled by the three Areas that share the camp (Trinity Brazos, North Texas, and Northeast) will begin shifting to the camp. Tiff will continue to work with "Tri-Area" representatives on programming, but will serve as a central figure at the camp to oversee things like curriculum, diversity of camps offered, and new camp and retreat opportunities.
Please keep Tiff, her husband Daryn, and the new baby they are expecting in your prayers as they transition to a new life in Athens.
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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 to 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...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February 16 - Bible Bowl: 11th-12th grade vs. 3rd grade - Room 303
February 16 & 23 - "Just Say Know" middle school workshops
February 20 - Roots pizza and game night for 6th graders and mentors
February 21-23 - CYF (grades 9-12) Midwinter Retreat at Disciples Crossing
February 22 - Men's Movie Night: "Big Fish" in 207
March 1 - Chi Rho Lock-In (grades 6-8)
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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