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 Weekly E-News October 10, 2014
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Dear youth and parents,
Registration for this year's Disciples Class begins today, and I'm looking forward to working with a new group of youth who are interested in learning more about baptism, confirmation, and what it means to join the church. If you know someone who has expressed an interest in this topic, please be sure to pass this information along so that they have an opportunity to sign up for the class. We have to cut off registration about four weeks before the first class to ensure we have time to coordinate small groups and adults mentors, so be sure to sign up by November 10 and encourage others to do the same!
Read on for additional Disciples Class details, information on our next football parking fundraiser, registration information for our upcoming fall youth retreats at Disciples Crossing, and more.
Grace and Peace,
Russ |
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Disciples Class prepares youth for baptism or confirmation
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Youth in grades 6-12 interested in learning more about baptism/confirmation and church membership are encouraged to participate in this year's Disciples Class. The 12-week course provides a helpful introduction to what it means to confess your faith, join the church, be baptized or confirmed, take communion, share your gifts, and more! This year's class will take place on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. beginning on December 7, and there is an orientation for all parents and participants on the evening of November 16. Click here for more information on the class, or click here to register online. The registration deadline for this year's class is November 10.
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Next youth football parking fundraiser is October 18
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 Football season is here again, and youth and parents have the opportunity to raise money by parking cars in the church lots for TCU football games. Part of the money raised goes into youth and youth handbell choir reserve funds, and part goes into the individual accounts of those who work each game to use for camps, retreats, trips, and other church events. This year, each hour is worth $50 per family member who works.
The next TCU home game is Saturday, October 18 against Oklahoma State. Kickoff is at 3:00 p.m., and we will need volunteers in shifts from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. to control access to our season parking lots and direct cars/take money for the daily parking lots. To see which slots are available and reserve your shift (up to 3 hours), click the button below:
All volunteers are required to sign up online in advance of the fundraiser. If you are having trouble with the SignUpGenius page, please contact me at russ@uccftw.com and I will schedule your shift for you.
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Register online for fall youth retreats at Disciples Crossing
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Our youth have the opportunity to join others from Disciple churches around the area for two upcoming fall retreats at Disciples Crossing, our church camp in Athens. The Chi Rho Fall Retreat for grades 6-8 will be November 7-9, and the CYF Fall Retreat for grades 9-12 is November 15-16. 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 Friday for the Chi Rho retreat and 7:45 a.m. on Saturday for the CYF retreat to share a charter bus to camp, and will return around 12:30 p.m. the following Sunday. The cost for Chi Rho is $45 and CYF is $35 (UCC covers half of the $90 and $70 registrations). Additional scholarships are available upon request. Online registration must be completed by October 27 for both retreats.
Please note: Disciples Crossing has switched over to online registrations, which should make the process much simpler. You will create an account on their secure website, select your event, make your payment, and complete a health form online. Afterward, that camper information is saved for future camps and retreats - all you have to do is validate or update the existing health form for the participant. Click here to create your account and register for the retreats.
On the payment screen, be sure to use the discount code HALFSCHOLARSHIP since UCC will be covering half of your registration cost. You will pay the remainder by debit or credit card. If you plan to use your football parking account to pay the remainder, use the discount code FULLSCHOLARSHIP and we will follow up with you to debit your parking account.
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 or Michael Yandell at michael.yandell@uccftw.com for the CYF Retreat.
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Check out the high school youth stewardship video for 2015
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From Drew Ruiz, 9th-10th grade Sunday school teacher:
Our high school youth have completed their 4th Annual CYF Stewardship Video and it is truly a music video. The stewardship theme this year is "Who We Are: God's Hands and Feet" and the video aligns perfectly. The video highlights UCC ministries across the entire church as you dance along to the song "Thank You" by 33 Miles. Please check out the video and post it on your Facebook page. The youth and teachers worked hard on the video and we want to see how many YouTube views we can get on the video this year!
 | | CYF Stewardship Video 2015 |
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Make your 2015 stewardship pledge online & support UCC!
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UCC's stewardshi p campaign for 2015 is underway, and this year's theme is "Who We Are: God's Hands and Feet." Please prayerfully consider your pledge commitment for the coming year and respond by turning in your pledge card or pledge online here by October 31.
Youth: Do you have an allowance? A part-time job? Income from babysitting or mowing lawns? Consider making a pledge to support your church! Just click here and take a minute to make your own stewardship pledge.
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Youth events and key dates on the horizon...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 18 - TCU vs. Oklahoma St. football parking fundraiser - 3 p.m. kickoff
October 26 - Interfaith Trialogue for grades 8-12 - meet at 9:30 a.m.
October 26 - Trunk-or-Treat - Volunteers needed at 5:30 p.m.
November 7-9 - Chi Rho Fall Retreat (grades 6-8) at Disciples Crossing
November 14-16 - CYF Fall Retreat (grades 9-12) at Disciples Crossing
November 16 - Disciples Class orientation - 5 p.m.
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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
Susan Henry, Ministry Assistant - E-mail Susan
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