~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Weekly E-News April 22, 2016
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Dear youth and parents,
This Sunday our youth will be raising awareness of child abuse by observing "Blue Sunday," a way for faith communities to participate in Child Abuse Prevention Month. This initiative is an extension of our partnership with the Alliance For Children (AFC) who are providing us guidelines for a different service project each month that makes a difference in the lives of the children they serve. Read more about Blue Sunday below, and remember to wear blue on Sunday morning to help raise awareness!
Also, please note that the Children's Choir Spring Musical will be this Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Come to Walker Hall for a complimentary snack lunch, then enjoy a creative retelling of Daniel in the lion's den as the children's choir presents the musical Rescue In The Night.
Read on for info Youth Sunday preparation, Alison's ordination road trip to Iowa, and more.
Grace and peace, Russ
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Wear blue to raise awareness of child abuse this Sunday
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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and this Sunday, April 24, is "Blue Sunday," a day when faith communities raise awareness about child abuse. In partnership with Alliance For Children, UCC's youth will be honoring Blue Sunday several different ways. On April 10, youth put together a bulletin board in the church and prepared handouts and prayer cards which will be available at an information table in the gallery this Sunday. Any youth interested in helping out at the booth Sunday morning can email Alison at alison.nicoll@uccftw.com. Also, when you're getting dressed on Sunday morning remember that everyone is encouraged to wear blue this Sunday as a visual recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
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Youth Sunday preparation this Sunday at youth groups
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Youth in grades 6-12 will be leading our morning worship services on Sunday, May 1 and we will continue preparations for the services at Sunday evening youth groups this Sunday, April 24. We encourage all youth to come contribute to the service planning and preparation, which will primarily center on creating decorations for the sanctuary this week. If you are unable to be at youth groups this Sunday and would like a part in the service (especially a speaking part), e-mail Alison at alison.nicoll@uccftw.com. Also, be sure to mark your calendar for rehearsal on Saturday, April 30 from 1-3 p.m.
Remember that Chi Rho (grades 6-8) meets from 5-6 p.m., CYF (grades 9-12) meets from 6:30-7:30, and a snack supper is available in the 3rd Floor Kitchen for $3 in between groups from 6:00-6:30.
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Road trip to Alison's ordination Memorial Day weekend
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Alison Nicoll is going to be ordained on Saturday, May 28 at West Des Moines Christian Church (her home congregation in Iowa) and we're organizing a group from UCC to be there for the big day! We will be departing via rental vans right after school on Friday afternoon, May 27 and returning around dinner time on Monday, May 30. In addition to attending Alison's ordination service and reception, over the course of the trip we will be staying overnight at a Disciple camp and two Disciple churches, enjoying good food and fun in Des Moines and Kansas City, seeing the World Series champion Kansas City Royals take on the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium, and taking time each day for prayer and reflection. Click here to download a copy of the trip schedule. The total trip cost is $150 per person (covers transportation, lodging, and most meals), and scholarships are available upon request. Click here to sign up and submit a $25 deposit to reserve your spot, and we will collect final payments a week before the trip. If you have questions, contact Russ Boyd at russ@uccftw.com.
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Registration continues for mission trips to LA & Houston
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We have two great mission trips planned for this summer, one for grades 6-8 and one for grades 9-12. Here are the details on both trips:
The Chi Rho Mission Trip to Houston for grades 6-8 will take place June 5-8. The group will be working at the Houston Food Bank before cooling off at Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark. Cost is $200 per person and full or half scholarships are available upon request. Full details are available on the registration flyer. Registration deadline is May 22.
The CYF Mission Trip to Los Angeles for grades 9-12 will take place July 16-23. The group will be working at Loch Leven (a Disciple church camp in the San Bernardino Mountains) and All Peoples Community Center (a Disciple mission center in south LA). Outside of work time the group will also take a tour of Chapman University and spend a day at Disneyland. Cost is $475 per person and full or half scholarships are available upon request. Full details are available on the registration flyer. Registration deadline is June 19.
You can register for the mission trips three different ways:
1. Sign up and pay the deposit online at uccyouth.org/missiontrips, or
2. Add mission trip registrations to your order when you sign up for summer camps, or
3. Submit a registration flyer (linked above) to the youth office with a deposit check
If you have questions about either trip, contact Russ at russ@uccftw.com.
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Register for summer camps at Disciples Crossing by May 15
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Our church camp, Disciples Crossing in Athens, has a full slate of camps for children, youth, and families available this summer. UCC automatically covers half of the cost of the early bird registration price for every participant from our church. That means that a week-long camp with a regular price of $370 is only $200 with the UCC supplement. For a promo flyer with dates and descriptions for all the camps, click here.
The UCC discount and any parking funds or scholarship monies can be selected on UCC's registration and payment page before proceeding to the camp website. Please be sure to complete the sign up process with UCC and Disciples Crossing by May 15 to ensure you are fully registered for camp by the registration deadline.
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Volunteer with Prom Dreams on Saturday or Thursday
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Prom Dreams Boutique, a ministry of University Christian Church that provides free prom dresses to local girls who need them, opened for its sixth season on March 31. Over the last five years this ministry distributed dresses, shoes, and jewelry to over 500 girls - all of which is made possible by volunteers who sort donations, organize the boutique, and help each young woman select just the right dress.Volunteers are needed to help staff the boutique Thursdays from 5-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. through May 7. For more information or to volunteer for an upcoming date, contact promdreams@uccftw.com. The boutique is located on the upper level of the duplex next door to the church (2618 University Drive).
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Youth events and key dates on the horizon...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May 1: Youth Sunday worship services - 9 and 11 a.m.
May 4: Senior Banquet - 6 p.m. May 28: Alison's ordination service in West Des Moines, Iowa
June 5-8: Chi Rho Mission Trip to Houston for grades 6-8
June 21-24: Vacation Bible School (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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