~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Weekly E-News February 19, 2016
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Dear youth and parents,
It's a busy weekend for our youth ministry staff as Alison leads our high schoolers to Disciples Crossing for the CYF Midwinter Retreat, Tyler attends the Progressive Youth Ministry Conference that kicked off yesterday in Dallas, and I'm at my Army Reserve unit for a three-day Reserve weekend that started today. I'm looking forward to returning to church on Sunday to serve as one of the instructors at the middle school Just Say Know workshop, where a group of nearly 50 youth and parents will be present!
Read on for an exciting announcement about Alison Nicoll, departure info for the CYF Midwinter Retreat, Just Say Know info, dates for summer camps and mission trips, and more.
Grace and peace, Russ
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Alison Nicoll approved for ordination to ministry
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On February 6, Alison Nicoll was approved for ordination to Christian ministry after completing her final ordination interview with the Committee on Ministry for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Upper Midwest. Alison's approval came after 2 hours of answering questions about ministry, theology, the Bible, and her own experience and sense of calling. After clearing this hurdle, she will be fully qualified for ordination as a minister after she graduates from Brite Divinity School in May.
Alison's ordination service is scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, May 28 at West Des Moines Christian Church, her home congregation in Iowa. A number of youth and adults have expressed an interest in renting vans for a UCC trip to the service (and a few additional stops for fun) over that holiday weekend, so stay tuned for details. If you'd like to congratulate Alison, you can e-mail her at alison.nicoll@uccftw.com.
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High school youth depart for Midwinter Retreat today
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A group of our high school youth and adult sponsors will travel to Athens today for the CYF Midwinter Retreat at our church camp, Disciples Crossing. Please keep this group in your prayers as they gather with high school youth from Disciples churches all over north and east Texas to grow closer to God and one another on holy ground.
Retreat participants: Remember to meet at UCC at 5:30 p.m. to load the bus for camp, and be sure to eat dinner before you arrive! A packing list for the weekend is available here if you missed the e-mail earlier this week.
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Just Say Know elementary deadline this Wednesday
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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. We have two more workshops currently open for registration: Elementary school workshops (grades 4-5 with a parent) Sunday, February 28, 12:15-3:45 p.m. Separate workshops for boys and girls Registration deadline: February 24 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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Save the date for summer camps and mission trips
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A great summer filled with camps at Disciples Crossing and mission trips to Houston and Los Angeles is just around the corner. Be sure to mark these dates on your calendar so that you can plan your summer schedule around these meaningful opportunities to serve others and grow closer to God on holy ground. (Grades in parentheses indicate grade completed.)
Family Camp 1 (age 0-18 w/ adult): May 27-29
Family Camp 2 (age 0-18 w/ adult): August 12-14
Grand Camp (ages 4-10 w/ grandparent): May 20-22
Discovery Camp (grades 1-2 w/ adult): June 3-5
JYF Camp 1 (grades 3-5): July 4-8
JYF Camp 2 (grades 3-5): August 1-5
Chi Rho Camp 1 (grades 6-7): June 20-25
Chi Rho Camp 2 (grades 6-7): July 4-9
Eighter's Camp (8th grade): June 26 - July 2
Niner's Camp (9th grade): June 13-18
CYF Conference (grades 10-12): June 13-18
Adventure Camp (grades 6-12): June 8-11
Water Sports Camp (grades 6-12): July 25-28
Chi Rho Mission Trip to Houston, Texas (grades 6-8): June 5-8
CYF Mission Trip to Los Angeles area (grades 9-12): July 16-23
In March we will be mailing all the materials you need to register for these camps and trips, including descriptions, prices, and instructions for signing up online. UCC will automatically pay half the registration cost using funds from TCU football parking. Scholarships will be available upon request to provide additional assistance.
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Snack supper volunteers needed for 3 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...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ February 19-21: CYF Midwinter Retreat (grades 9-12) at Disciples Crossing
February 21: Just Say Know middle school workshop - 12:15-3:45 p.m.
February 28: Just Say Know elementary school workshops - 12:15-3:45 p.m.
March 20: Summer Camp Sunday - Register from 9:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
March 25: CYF Lock-In (grades 9-12) - 7 p.m.
April 1: Chi Rho Lock-In (grades 6-8) - 7 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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