~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Weekly E-News October 2, 2015
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Dear youth and parents,
It was great to see so many of our children in front of the congregation this past Sunday as part of our annual First Grade Inclusion ritual. 23 first graders completed a 6-week "Welcome to Worship" class led by Barbara Tucker (with the assistance of high school volunteers) and learned about the different parts of our weekly service, what they mean, why we do them, and how they can participate. Intentionally including children and youth in our worship services is something that distinguishes UCC from many other large congregations, where the primary worship services are only for adults and kids worship in separate services or stay in extended Sunday school programs. Research by the Fuller Youth Institute tells us that children and youth who worship together with adults each week are far more likely to stay involved in church after graduation because they develop a sense that worship is something that brings together the generations. By worshiping together and intentionally including young people in worship, we are teaching our kids that church is a place where all generations are welcomed and valued. As these first graders join us for worship each week, I encourage you to join me in helping them continue to learn what it means to worship together each Sunday by greeting them and assisting them when you find them sitting near you in the sanctuary.
Read on for details on a CYF Ski Retreat info meeting, the next football parking fundraiser, fall retreats at Disciples Crossing, and more.
Grace and peace,
Russ
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Info meeting Sunday for CYF Ski Retreat to Colorado
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High school youth have the opportunity to explore the beauty of God's creation together on the CYF Ski Retreat to Monarch Mountain, Colorado. The trip will take place December 19-22, and includes transportation by charter bus, hotel lodging in nearby Salida, and two days of skiing, snowboarding, or sipping hot cocoa and enjoying the view. Cost is $500 for skiers/snowboarders and $350 for non-skiers. Click here to download a flyer that covers most of the trip details, and secure your spot on the trip by completing the short registration here: uccyouth.org/skiretreat. There will be a brief informational meeting about the trip on October 4 at 12:15 in Room 303, so be sure to mark your calendar if you're interested in the ski retreat.
Note: We need a minimum of 20 participants to register for this trip, so if you're planning to go don't delay in signing up!
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Next youth football parking fundraiser is Saturday
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Football season is here, 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. Each hour is worth $50 per family member who works.
The next TCU home game is this Saturday, October 3 against Texas. Kickoff is at 11:00 a.m., and we will need volunteers in shifts from 6:30-11:30 a.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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Registration open for fall 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 6-8, and the CYF Fall Retreat for grades 9-12 is November 13-15. 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 the Friday of each retreat to share a charter bus to camp, and will return around 12:15 p.m. the following Sunday. UCC covers half of the registration fee, bringing the cost down to $50 per person. You can use your football parking fundraiser income to cover the cost, or request a scholarship if needed.
Registration is a two step process: Sign up and pay online with UCC at uccyouth.org/retreats first, then complete the Disciples Crossing registration and health form at disciplescrossing.org. Online registration must be completed by October 23 for both retreats.
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Wednesday evening Bible study looks at Philippians
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Our new high school Bible study is off and running, and youth are welcome to drop in any Wednesday even if they have missed the previous meetings. This week we will be looking at Philippians, and exploring the following questions: Who wrote it? Where does it fit in the Bible? What are the major stories and key verses found in the book? What did the book mean to the first people who heard it / read it? What does it mean for us today?
The group meets in the 3rd floor kitchen, with dinner provided from 6-6:30 followed by the Bible study from 6:30-7:30. If you'd like to learn more about the Bible with your youth ministers and your peers each week, we hope to see you on Wednesday evenings! For more information, contact me at russ@uccftw.com or 817-372-7307.
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Youth events and key dates on the horizon...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 3: TCU vs. Texas football parking fundraiser - 11 a.m. kickoff
October 4: CYF Ski Retreat info meeting - 12:15 p.m.
October 23: Registration deadline for fall retreats at Disciples Crossing
October 25: Trunk-or-Treat community event - youth volunteers needed
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More ways to keep up...
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| Staff Links
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Russ Boyd, Associate Minister for Youth - E-mail Russ
Tyler Heston, Assistant Minister for Middle School - E-mail Tyler
Alison Nicoll, Assistant Minister for High School - E-mail Alison
Susan Henry, Ministry Assistant - E-mail Susan
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