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 Weekly E-News February 21, 2014
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Dear youth and parents,
I'm really excited that Disciples Crossing has called Tiff Austin Williams as it's first Director of Programming (there's an article below in case you missed it last week). Tiff was invaluable during my first year at UCC, and as a seasoned seminarian on staff she helped me navigate many of the challenges I encountered as I transitioned into a new job. I had a chance to chat with Tiff yesterday about some of the new possibilities at the camp, and I really like what I'm hearing. Just to share a couple of things we dreamed about:
- An interfaith camp that brings together Christians, Jews, and Muslims to learn about one another's faith traditions (similar to the youth "trialagoues" we have participated in several times over the last few years) over a weekend in a camp setting.
- A retreat that adapts the Just Say Know high school curriculum for a weekend retreat format, possibly held over a holiday weekend to allow extra time to cover the material. UCC would provide instructors and resources since we will have experience with the church based-program, but it would be open to other Disciple churches as well.
Again, these are not set in stone - just long-range dreaming. However, I thought they were worth sharing so that you have an idea of the new programming that will be possible with Tiff on staff at the camp.
Read on for more information on the CYF retreat, a men's ministry movie night, Chi Rho lock-in, and more.
Grace and Peace,
Russ |
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High school youth depart for CYF Midwinter Retreat today
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A group of our high school youth and adult sponsors will travel to Athens today for the CYF Midwinter Retreat at our church camp, Disciples Crossing. Please keep this group in your prayers as they gather with high school youth from Disciples churches around the Fort Worth area to grow closer to God and one another on holy ground.
Retreat participants: Remember to meet at UCC at 5:30 p.m. to load the bus for camp, and be sure to eat dinner before you arrive! A packing list for the weekend is available here if you missed the e-mail yesterday.
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Movie night this Saturday: Eat chicken, watch Big Fish
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Youth are invited to a movie night sponsored by UCC's Men's Ministry this 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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Chi Rho lock-in for grades 6-8 is coming on March 1
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From Alison Nicoll, Assistant Minister for Middle School: 
All UCC 6th-8th graders are invited to a Harry Potter-themed lock-in on Saturday, March 1! I encourage you to dress up as your favorite character from the book/movie series and come ready to have a great evening! We will be sorted by the Sorting Hat and having house competitions throughout the night by playing various Harry Potter games including Broom Races and Quidditch. The lock-in will start at 7:00 p.m. on Friday and pick up will be after the 9:00 worship service or Sunday school classes on Sunday. Dust off your wand and get ready for a fun night at Hogwarts!
Parents: You are encouraged to bring Harry Potter-themed snacks for the lock-in. You can find a lot of great ideas by Googling "Harry Potter snacks," and you can see some great examples here, here, and here (plus a gluten-free one here).
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Sign up to share your art in the UCC Decorative Arts Exhibit
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From UCC's Church and the Arts Ministry: 
What are the decorative arts? The Student Encyclopedia defines decorative arts as the art forms that have a mainly practical or ornamental purpose. Many of the decorative arts are associated with crafts, such as ceramics, basketry, furniture making, metalware, and glass blowing. They often involve the design or decoration of objects considered primarily useful.
The Church and the Arts Ministry would like to include the artisans in our youth ministry this year at a decorative arts exhibit and reception on Sunday, March 30. Registration forms with details about the decorative arts exhibit are now available in the Arches and the reception area or online here.
Each year the congregation is amazed at all the talents of our members. Make this the year you share yours with all of us! Questions? Contact Carolyn Critz at 817-292-6705 or carolyncritz1954@att.net or Martha Lunday at 817-831-1221 or martha@lunday.com.
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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 21-23 - CYF (grades 9-12) Midwinter Retreat at Disciples Crossing
February 23 - Final "Just Say Know" middle school workshops
February 22 - Men's Movie Night: Big Fish in 207
March 1 - Chi Rho Lock-In (grades 6-8) - 7:00 p.m.
March 9-15 - Spring Break Mission Pilgrimage to El Paso
April 6 - Camp / mission trip registration Sunday
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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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