~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Weekly E-News January 15, 2016
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Dear youth and parents,
I wanted to let you know that you will be seeing some nice upgrades to the classrooms here on the 3rd floor over the next few weeks. The church's capital budget for this year includes new chairs to replace the hodgepodge of plastic chairs in the gathering room, the kitchen, and various classrooms. The new chairs will be much more durable than the old IKEA chairs in the kitchen and look a lot nicer than the old brown molded plastic chairs in the gathering room and various classrooms. Additionally, we received a generous gift from a UCC family to replace a lot of the old couches in the youth rooms with nicer, more comfortable, longer-lasting furniture. The first room to benefit from this gift was Room 301 (the 11th-12th grade classroom), which had already received an impressive makeover via Chris Cooper's Eagle Scout project. Here's a photo of the new furniture, ready for this Sunday: 
Grace and peace, Russ
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Last week to register for Chi Rho Midwinter Retreat!
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Our youth have the opportunity to join others from Disciple churches around the area for two upcoming retreats at Disciples Crossing, our church camp in Athens. The Chi Rho Midwinter Retreat for grades 6-8 will be February 5-7, and the CYF Midwinter Retreat for grades 9-12 is February 19-21. 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 (click on "Upcoming Retreats"). Online registration must be completed by January 22 for Chi Rho and February 5 for CYF.
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New high school classes continue this Sunday morning
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Our high school youth began two new 8-week classes during the Sunday school hour last Sunday morning:
Our 9th-10th grade youth started Generation Change, a personal finance series for youth based on Dave Ramsey's popular Financial Peace University program. Stuart and Linda Smith are leading the class, which will help youth to understand money and resource management as spiritual practices while teaching basic budgeting principles.
Our 11th-12th grade youth began a series called "Preparing for Life After High School," focused on topics related to transitioning from high school to college and young adulthood. Daniel and Rebecca Terry are leading the class, and are focusing on a mix of topics that will help participants think through the challenges and opportunities that await them after graduation.
For more information on each of these studies, click here for a parent letter.
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Register for Just Say Know sexuality education classes
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Our church is pleased to offer "Just Say Know" sexuality education classes again this year. This program provides comprehensive human sexuality education for youth and children grounded in Christian spirituality that fits who we are as University Christian Church. The schedule for 2016 workshops is as follows: Elementary school workshops (grades 4-5 with a parent) Sunday, February 28, 12:15-3:45 p.m. Separate workshops for boys and girls Middle school workshop (grades 6-8 with a parent) Sunday, February 21, 12:15-3:45 p.m. One workshop, boys and girls separate for Q&A at the end Cost is $20 for the first registration, $10 for each additional child registered from the same family. Registration cost includes lunch, course materials, and a copy of Kate Ott's book Sex+Faith: Talking with Your Child from Birth to Adolescence. (If your family already has a copy of the book, subtract $10 from your first registration.) Scholarships for all courses will be available upon request. Click here to register, and be sure to invite friends and neighbors to take advantage of these classes! For additional information on topics covered in the courses, click here for content overviews from the publisher, CLER Ministries. Questions? E-mail Jennifer Lanter at jennifer.lanter@gladney.org.
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Youth groups visit Alliance For Children on January 24
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On Sunday, January 24, our evening youth groups will move to the afternoon as both the middle school and high school youth visit the Alliance for Children. Alliance for Children (AFC) is a local nonprofit children's advocacy center and describes itself as "the only Tarrant County non-profit organization involved directly in protecting children from abuse through coordinated and teamed investigations with law enforcement, Child Protective Services, Cook Children's Medical Center, the District Attorney's Office."
Last week, Alison and Tyler had the opportunity to meet with AFC staff members and discuss a continuing relationship between UCC's youth and AFC. On January 24, the youth will have an opportunity to tour their facilities and learn about the nonprofit, so that future service projects will be enriched by an understanding of all that the organization does for local children.
Youth will gather for lunch at 12:15 p.m. in the 3rd floor kitchen, then depart for AFC at 1:00 and return by 3:15. The lunch will replace that evening's snack supper, so please bring $3 for the meal or check off your meal card.
Parents: If you would like to drive to/from AFC or join us for the tour, please contact Tyler at tyler.heston@uccftw.com.
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Snack supper volunteers needed for 5 upcoming Sundays
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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...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 24:Youth group field trip to Alliance For Children - 1 p.m.
February 5-7: Chi Rho Midwinter Retreat (grades 6-8) at Disciples Crossing
February 19-21: CYF Midwinter Retreat (grades 9-12) at Disciples Crossing
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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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