~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Weekly E-News December 4, 2015
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Dear youth and parents,
First off, I wanted to say thanks to the dozens of youth and adults who helped lead the Hanging of the Greens service on Sunday evening. Youth and adult sponsors came to the sanctuary throughout the afternoon to practice readings parts and learn to process and hang the greenery, the children's choirs and youth handbell choirs rehearsed and performed several beautiful pieces, and I'm thankful that so many people devoted so much time to such a meaningful service. It was the best attended Hanging of the Greens in recent memory, with lots of families with young children participating in the service for the first time. Here are a couple of pictures:  
Grace and peace, Russ
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Youth Christmas parties this Sunday evening
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Our middle and high school youth will each have Christmas parties in host homes this Sunday evening, December 6. Here are the details for each party:
Chi Rho Christmas Party (grades 6-8), 5:15 - 7 p.m.
- Hosted by the Darr Family (2542 Stadium Dr.)
- Main course and drinks provided
- Bring your favorite holiday treat (dessert, appetizer, or side)
- Goofy gift exchange: Bring a wrapped or bagged silly gift that's $5 or less.
- Note for handbell choirs: A youth group sponsor will walk from the church to the party with handbell ringers who finish rehearsal at 5:00, and another sponsor will walk from the party back to the church with handbell ringers who begin rehearsal at 7:00.
CYF Christmas Party (grades 9-12), 6:15 - 8 p.m.
- Hosted by the Coffey Family (2566 Shirley Ave.)
- Prizes for the most festive holiday attire
- Main course and drinks provided
- Bring your favorite holiday treat (dessert, appetizer, or side)
- Re-gift exchange: Wrap or bag a never-used item from your home to exchange (like a present you received and never used, or something you bought that's been sitting around ever since).
- Note for handbell choir: A youth group sponsor will walk from the church to the party with handbell ringers who finish rehearsal at 6:00.
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Find creative presents at Gifts Of Hope Market this Sunday
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Looking for creative and meaningful gifts for people on your list this year? Come do your holiday shopping at UCC's 16th annual Gifts of Hope Market in the Gallery this Sunday morning. Your gifts will benefit charitable organizations such as The Children's Closet, Tarrant Area Food Bank, Heifer International, Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries and many more. Your friends and family will feel honored that food, clothes, or even farm animals will be purchased with your gift dollars. The gifts are inexpensive and fun!
If you can't make it this Sunday, volunteers will be at The Arches Information Desk on December 13 and 20 for those who missed the market or wish to purchase additional gift cards for friends, family, teachers, colleagues, etc.
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Volunteer with Christmas Angels Wrap Night on Dec. 13
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The Christmas Angels Ministry has been an outreach project at UCC for 19 years. This church-wide ministry supports economically disadvantaged children in our local community by providing them with much-needed clothing for the cooler weather: a new coat, sweatshirt, jeans, shoes, underwear and socks as well as an age-appropriate toy and book. On Sunday, December 13 from 5-8 p.m. we will gather to assemble the gift bags. Children, youth, and adults are invited to come help with this important event. Childcare available for children 2 and under if reservation is made with Ann Bowling (ann@uccftw.com or 817.926.6631, ext. 159) by December 10.
Check out the video below to learn more about Christmas Angels:
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| | Christmas Angels 2015 Promo |
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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...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 6: Disciples Class begins - 10 a.m. in Room 303
December 6: Youth Christmas parties in host homes
December 13: CYF Ski Retreat pre-trip meeting - 4:15 p.m. in 303
December 13: Christmas Angels Wrap Night
December 19-22: CYF Ski Retreat to Monarch Mountain, CO
December 29: Armed Forces Bowl football parking fundraiser
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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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