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Small UCC youth logo
     Weekly E-News

                   July 24, 2015

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in this issue
 
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Dear youth and parents,

I returned yesterday afternoon from the General Assembly of our denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I attended business sessions, worship services, and luncheons - but, as always, the most helpful things I took away were new ideas and resources discovered through face-to-face connections with individuals. To share a couple:

- I learned a lot about the Green Chalice initiative, founded to help inspire and equip our churches to lead the way on environmental issues - taking seriously our call to be stewards of creation. One upcoming event they are promoting involves connecting with a local Catholic community to work together on a creation care project on September 24 - the day that Pope Francis speaks to Congress about environmental issues. You can read more about the Green Chalice ministry here.

- I discovered some great resources from a new publisher called Vibrant Faith that focuses on helping different generations connect at church and helping families take what happens at church and continue the activities and conversations at home. Their leaders are intent on harnessing the power of modern media platforms (especially smart phones) to continue to nurture and deepen our spirituality outside of church. You can read more about Vibrant Faith at vibrantfaith.org.

Read on for info on the UCC Ringers homecoming concert here at UCC, upcoming youth outings to Putt Putt and Burger's Lake, our annual Back-to-School Retreat, and more.

Grace and peace,
Russ   
 

 


UCC Ringers homecoming concert this Sunday afternoon     

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Our high school handbell choir, the UCC Ringers, recently returned from their eighth concert tour of England. After taking a few days to catch up on their sleep, they will be presenting a homecoming concert this Sunday, July 26 at 12:15 p.m. in Walker Fellowship Hall. In addition to performing the music from the tour, they will share pictures and stories about their experience spreading the love of God through music. The RSVP deadline for box lunches has passed, but you are still welcome to come enjoy the concert. 



 


RSVP for Tuesday's 8th-12th grade go-kart outing to Putt Putt    

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Our high school youth (plus incoming freshmen) will enjoy a night of go-karts, bumper boats, mini golf, and more at Putt Putt Golf & Games in Hurst on Tuesday, July 28. The group will meet at UCC at 7 p.m. and plan to return around 10 p.m. The cost is $10 per person. We need drivers to help transport youth (and you're welcome to stick around and play), so please let us know on the RSVP form if you're available to drive and/or chaperone. Youth are not allowed to drive from the church to the event.

RSVP online here so that we have an accurate participant count for our carpool.  



 


RSVP for Thursday's 5th-8th grade outing to Burger's Lake    

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Burger's Lake Water Slides ~ 
Our middle school youth (plus incoming 6th graders) will cool off with a swim day at Burger's Lake this Thursday, July 30. The group will meet at 1 p.m. and return to the church around 5 p.m. Cost is $10 per person. We need driver's to help transport kids (and you're welcome to stick around and swim), so please let us know on the RSVP form if you're available to drive and/or chaperone. Plan to wear/bring a swimsuit, clothes to wear over your swimsuit, sandals, a beach towel, and an appetite for ice cream sundaes. There is also a snack bar if you'd like to bring money for additional food.

RSVP online here so that we have an accurate participant count for our carpool.  



 


Register today for our Back-to-School Retreat - August 7-9    

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Summer is ending soon (I know, right?) and it's time to start looking ahead to a new school year with UCC's youth ministry - starting with the annual Back-to-School Retreat! This event brings together our incoming 6th-12th grade youth for a weekend of worship, fun, prayer, and community building. This year's retreat will take place August 7-9 at Briarwood Retreat Center near Flower Mound (meeting at 7 p.m. and returning in time for Sunday school) and participants can register and pay online. The cost is $50, and full or half scholarships are available upon request. Registration deadline is Wednesday, August 5.

Click here to get more information, register, and download a packing list and schedule. And get excited about a great start to the new school year! 
   
 


 


Relive the mission trips at the Shareholders Luncheon     

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Sunday School Sabbath month continues through Sunday      

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~sabbath rest image~ 
Sunday school classes for youth and children began a month-long break on July 5. (Preschool childcare is still available all morning each Sunday.) This Sunday School Sabbath is intended to provide a period of rest and renewal for teachers, participants, and families at UCC, and allows time to do some things you may not normally do on Sunday mornings. What can you do with that hour each Sunday morning?  Here are some ideas:

- Sleep in and take your time getting ready for 11:00 worship.

- Go to the 9:00 service, then go out for brunch with family or friends.

- Invite a friend to worship and show them around the building.

- Grab a couple of seats in one of the many conversation spaces throughout the building and catch up with someone you haven't talked to in a while.

However you choose to spend this time of rest and renewal from our usual programming, we hope it's a life-giving and rejuvenating time.   
  

 

 


Youth events and key dates on the horizon...
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July 26: UCC Ringers homecoming concert - 12:15 p.m.
July 28: High school go-kart outing at Putt Putt - 7 p.m.
July 30: Middle school swim day at Burger's Lake - 1 p.m.
August 2: Mission Trip shareholders luncheon - 12:15 p.m.
August 7-9: Youth Back-to-School Retreat - 7 p.m.
August 16: Youth Family Roundup - 10 a.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
Becca Owen, Summer Youth Ministry Intern - E-mail Becca
Kiran Penn, Summer Youth Ministry Intern - E-mail Kiran
Susan Henry, Ministry Assistant - E-mail Susan
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