~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Weekly E-News November 20, 2015
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Dear youth and parents,
As we enter the holiday season, we have several opportunities for youth and parents to join togetether in service, worship, and fellowship over the next 10 days... Families can serve together tomorrow morning as we prepare Thanksgiving grocery bags for over 200 families in our community. Families can share a meal together as multiple generations gather for our annual Youth Thanksgiving Feast on Sunday evening. Families can worship together as our youth lead the Hanging of the Greens worship service on November 29. I hope your family can take part in one or more of these special events! Read on for details on each of them, as well as the Dallas Stars outing, football parking fundraiser, and more.
Grace and peace,
Russ
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Dallas Stars hockey outing tomorrow - a few tickets left
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Our middle and high school youth will be taking the train to the American Airlines Center to see the Dallas Stars take on the Buffalo Sabres tomorrow (Saturday, November 21). For each ticket we purchase ($20 each), the Stars will donate a ticket to Buckner International so that an adoptive family can enjoy a hockey game together this season.
The group will check in at the T&P train station starting at 5 p.m. to take the 5:20 train to Dallas, and will return to the station around 11:15 p.m. (If you would prefer to drive and meet the group at the game, you're welcome to do so.) We have a block of 25 tickets reserved for our group, and once those are claimed additional ticket availability is not guaranteed. Click here to reserve your ticket for the game.
Adults: You are welcome to join us as a chaperone, just be sure to indicate that on the reservation form.
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Volunteer to fill Thanksgiving grocery bags tomorrow
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Need volunteer hours for school? Want to make a difference in the lives of hungry families in our community? Come to UCC tomorrow morning (Saturday, November 21) and help assemble Thanksgiving grocery bags from 9-11 a.m. in Walker Hall. Your time and effort will ensure that over 200 families experiencing food insecurity will have a happier Thanksgiving next week.
Questions? Contact Linda Smith, Director of Volunteer Services at the Tarrant Area Food Bank, at linda.smith@tafb.org.
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5th annual Youth Thanksgiving Feast this Sunday
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The 5th annual Youth Thanksgiving Feast will be this Sunday, November 22 and all 6th-12th graders, volunteers, and parents are invited, along with Sunday night children's and college programs who usually join us for snack supper. Turkey will be provided, and we ask that everyone bring a side or dessert to share. Food should be brought to Room 207 between 5 and 5:30 p.m. for setup, and from 5:45 to 6:45 we will enjoy dinner and fun Thanksgiving activities between youth groups and bell choir rehearsals.
If you plan to attend, please click the SignUpGenius icon below to see what others have signed up to bring and add your side or dessert to the list. Five green bean casseroles is probably enough (for most people, anyway).
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Next football parking fundraiser Nov. 27: TCU vs. Baylor
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There are only two more games at Amon G. Carter Stadium this year, and youth and parents have the opportunity to raise money by parking cars in the church lots for both of them. 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 game is Friday, November 27 when TCU takes on Baylor. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m., and we will need volunteers in shifts from 12:00-7:00 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:
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All youth on deck! Hanging of the Greens is November 29
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  The annual Hanging of the Greens worship service that decorates our sanctuary for the seasons of Advent and Christmas will be led by our middle and high school youth on Sunday, November 29 at 5:30 p.m. Youth who would like a speaking part should be present in the sanctuary at 2:30 p.m. to rehearse, while all other youth should arrive by 3:30 p.m. to practice processing and hanging the greenery. (Handbell ringers: You can ring in the bell choir and have a speaking part if you like.) This service requires over 50 youth, so we need you if you're available!
All participants should wear a green shirt for the service. If you purchased a long-sleeved Hanging of the Greens t-shirt in the past, plan to wear it. We have a limited number of additional Hanging of the Greens shirts you can borrow to wear during the service (and keep it for $10).
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Snack supper volunteers needed for next semester
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Youth parents! See the youth up close, personal and appreciative by serving Snack Supper on Sunday night. Snack supper is a great way to see and get to know the youth, and it's fun!
The commitment is for one Sunday evening, from about 5:30-6:45 p.m., plus cooking or shopping time - you decide how much time you want to spend on preparation. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. in the third floor kitchen for around 50 youth, children, and college students. All the paper goods, cutlery, drink supplies, and most condiments are there for you. You provide the food, fix lemonade (provided), serve everything, and clean up.
The third floor kitchen can be used anytime after 2:30 p.m. on Sundays for advance prep. (Sandwiches are just as popular as anything else, so cooking isn't required if that's not your thing.) If you prefer to purchase all or part of the food already prepared, that's great too. There's also a fridge and freezer you can stash things in. You can choose to donate the meal, or you can be reimbursed up to $100 if you provide itemized receipts. You will receive a reminder e-mail the week before your snack supper that includes additional useful tips and suggested menus.
Ready to volunteer? Use the link below to select a date:
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Youth events and key dates on the horizon...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 21: Prepare Thanksgiving grocery bags - 9-11 a.m. in Walker Hall
November 21: Dallas Stars hockey outing - meet at T&P station at 5 p.m.
November 22: Youth Thanksgiving Feast - 5:45-6:45 p.m.
November 27: Football parking fundraiser - TCU vs. Baylor - 6:30 p.m. kickoff
November 29: Youth-led Hanging of the Greens service - 5:30 p.m.
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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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