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 Weekly E-News October 24, 2014
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Dear youth and parents,
This afternoon I am departing Fort Hood after a week of training on two courses that will be very valuable to our church. I spent the first three days in a certification course for curriculum from Family Wellness Associates, and I was very pleased with the material and the different options for using it. The theory, research, and evidence-based approach behind their resources are all impressive, and the trainers did an excellent job of helping us practice as presenters/facilitators and figure out ways to adapt the courses to our unique contexts. I am now certified to teach seven different programs they offer, and two stand out as especially useful at UCC: Survival Skills for Healthy Families, which would be a perfect fit for a church-wide (or area-wide) retreat for families, and A Map For Marriage: Before You Say I Do, an 8-hour pre-marital program that UCC will now be able to offer to couples in the community (who would then qualify for a $60 discount on their marriage license).
The last two days were spent with trainers from the FranklinCovey organization who led us in a certification course for the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People curriculum. Again, I was very impressed with the research, materials, and applications, and as a certified instructor I can teach the adult and teen versions of the course. The cost of this week's in-person certification training and instructor materials is over $3,000...but it is free to UCC since I'm an Army Reservist. Not a bad deal for the church! I'm looking forward to sharing these great programs with our congregation and community very soon, and I appreciate the week away at this training event.
Read on for information about the upcoming Interfaith Trialogue, CROP Walk, Trunk-or-Treat, fall retreat registration deadline, and more.
Grace and Peace,
Russ |
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Parking fundraiser tomorrow - help needed 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
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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 this Saturday, October 25 against Texas Tech. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m., and we will need volunteers in shifts from 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. to control access to our season parking lots and direct cars/take money for the daily parking lots. At this point, our greatest volunteer need is for the shifts between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. 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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Youth Interfaith Trialogue begins this Sunday
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 UCC's 8th-12th grade youth will join with Jewish and Muslim youth for an "interfaith trialogue" spread over four upcoming Sundays. Our youth participated in a similar event in 2009, and many of them list it as one of the highlights of their time at UCC. This year's event promises to be just as interesting, educational, and meaningful. Here is the schedule for the four Sundays:
October 26: Meet in reception area at 9:30 a.m. to carpool to Beth-El Congregation to learn about Judaism. Program lasts from 10:00-12:00 and features a tour, presentation, and time in small groups to learn how Jewish youth live out their faith. Return to church by 12:30. 8th-12th grade Sunday school classes will not meet.
November 2: Meet in reception area at 11:45 a.m. to carpool to Museum of Science and History for IMAX movie Jerusalem with Jewish and Muslim youth. $5 per person, return by 2 p.m. Sunday school classes meet as usual.
November 9: Meet in reception area at 9:30 a.m. to carpool to Islamic Association to learn about Islam. Program lasts from 10:00-12:00 and features a tour, presentation, and time in small groups to learn how Muslim youth live out their faith. Return to church by 12:30. 8th-12th grade Sunday school classes will not meet.
November 16: Meet in Fellowship Hall at 9:30 a.m. to prepare to welcome Muslim and Jewish youth to UCC for a program on Christianity. We will provide a tour of the sanctuary, a presentation of Christian and Disciple beliefs and practices, and small group time that allows our youth to answer questions and share how they live out their faith. Program wraps up at noon. 8th-12th grade Sunday school classes will not meet.
Parents: If you would like to participate in any of these events and help out as a driver and chaperone, please contact me and let me know. The adults who participated in 2009 had a great time, learned a lot, and made friends with the Jewish and Muslim chaperones!
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Youth volunteers needed at Trunk-or-Treat this Sunday
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UCC's annual Trunk-or-Treat event is this Sunday at 6 p.m., and we're preparing to welcome children and parents from our church and our neighborhood to a fun-filled evening of costumes and candy. Youth are needed to help in a variety of ways: setting up and supervising simple games for kids, face painting, guiding families around the parking lot, distributing candy to all the trunks, and more. To help out, simply show up in the front parking lot at 5:30 p.m. Non-scary costume is optional but encouraged!
Because of this event, there will be no snack supper or youth group meetings on Sunday night. Hot dogs, chips, and drinks will be served at Trunk-or-Treat.
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Deadline to register for 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 this Monday, 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. Several people have reported difficulties with the webpage while using Firefox, so please use a different web browser to register (Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer).
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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Help raise money for hunger relief at the CROP Walk Sunday
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Would you like to raise money for hunger relief while getting some exercise on a (hopefully) nice fall day? Sign up for the CROP Walk, coming up this Sunday, October 26. The 3.1 mile walk around the TCU campus raises money for the Tarrant Area Food Bank, and there are trophies and prizes for the churches that bring the most youth, biggest overall group, oldest & youngest walkers, and more.
Use this link to sign up and start raising money. Just click "Join UCC's Team" and follow the instructions - and be sure to share the link with others to gather donations for our team. Walkers will meet at TCU's Dee J. Kelly Center (2820 Stadium Drive) at 2 p.m. and the walk begins at 2:30.
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Roots outing to Main Event on November 2 - RSVP today
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From Alison Nicoll, Assistant Minister for Middle School:
Roots participants (6th graders and high school mentors) will be playing at Main Event on the afternoon of November 2! The group will meet at UCC at 2 p.m. to carpool over (or meet us at Main Event at 2:30) and return around 4:45 p.m., before evening youth group (or pick up at Main Event at 4:30). For only $15, each youth gets an hour of bowling, a game of laser tag, $10 worth of arcade tokens, two slices of pizza, and a drink. We must provide a headcount several days in advance, so e-mail Alison at alison.nicoll@uccftw.com by Wednesday, October 29.
PARENTS: If you are able to drive please e-mail Alison and let her know how many youth you can transport in your vehicle. We will need several adults to take youth to Main Event and several to pick up when we finish.
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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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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 25 - TCU vs. Texas Tech football parking fundraiser - 2:30 p.m. kickoff
October 26 - Interfaith Trialogue for grades 8-12 - meet at 9:30 a.m.
October 26 - CROP Walk - meet at TCU's Kelly Center at 2 p.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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