A Letter from Rev. Dr. Russ Peterman, Senior Minister
Dear UCC,
The Easter season has dawned and we celebrate new life in Christ!
And we also begin a new ‘hybrid’ life of digital and in-person worship every week. Beginning this week, we will now return to our traditional three in-person Sunday services: at 9:00am and 11:00am in the sanctuary, and Simple Worship in the chapel at 9:30am.
We are continuing to ask you to register in advance, and social distancing and masks are still required. Over time, and as more of us are vaccinated, we’ll be able to increase our capacity and relax some of our protocols, but for now we’ll continue to do all that we can to ensure your safety and comfort.
And for all those who, for good reasons, are not ready for, or unable to attend worship, we will continue our two digital services at 9:00am and 11:00am online on all of our digital platforms. The digital worship has become a beloved part of our community as well! These services will be recorded in advance and designed and led just for online. The content will be the same as in-person worship, but produced in a way that better suits the digital format.
It is a true joy to begin a more regular rhythm of Sunday services. A sense of community is essential to the human spirit, and our togetherness is a sign of the power of the resurrection.
With gratitude and hope this Easter season,
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Rev. Dr. Russ Peterman
Senior Minister
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We will be starting Lawn Chair Circles back for four Sundays beginning this Sunday, April 11 - Sunday, May 2. We have several people below who have offered to host these gatherings on their front lawns. Please register below with whichever zip code is most convenient for you. At this time, there are a limit of 15 people per lawn. |
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Family Holy Week Outdoor Experience
Families gathered on Good Friday to walk through seven stations of Holy Week. At each stop, a unique portion of the Holy Week story was explored. Children of all ages visited the cleared temple, smelled the scent of perfume shared by a beloved follower of Jesus, washed the feet of a loved one, shared how each of us could be part of the vine that Jesus extends to all, left behind our fears and worries in the garden, and shared in communion with one another. At each stop, families were invited to explore scripture, take in the sights and sounds and talk with their family about Holy Week and the anticipation of the Hope of Easter. More than 150 friends walked through the experience and shared their gratitude for a chance to step into the story of Holy Week. Families engaging in spiritual experiences together is part of our Children’s Ministries Family Faith Formula.
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Children’s Worship - Easter
Our children worshipped together on Easter Sunday by creating and leading one another in worship. We opened worship with a dance party to celebrate Jesus resurrection. We read and acted out the story of Easter morning from the Gospel of Mark. We used our entire bodies to pray and thank God for the gift of Jesus. We imagined how we might tell of the Good News that Jesus lives and organized a parade filled with shouting and musical instruments so that all might hear the Good News. And last, we shared our benediction with everyone by leaving words and messages of blessing on the sidewalk for others to be blessed as they left Easter worship. Thank you God for our children and the faith they share!
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UCC OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES |
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Serve With Prom Dreams this Spring! |
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Our Prom Dreams Boutique is open for the spring season! Volunteers are needed to help act as sales associates while students shop. The boutique will be open for scheduled shopping appointments only on Thursdays from 5:00pm-7:15pm and Saturdays from 10am-12:15pm, April 1-May 15. No more than 10 people are allowed in the Boutique at one time.
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Small Electronics Recycling Collection |
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April 18th
9:45am - 12:15pm (Walker Hall)
& 5:00pm - 6:00pm
(Drop-Off under Porte Cochere)
In recognition of Earth Stewardship Sunday, the Caring for God’s Creation committee invites you to bring your unused and outdated small electronic recyclables to the church on April 18th.
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Items may be dropped off outside Walker Hall on Sunday morning, or under the Porte Cochere Sunday evening between 5:00 pm - 6:00pm. Recycling our electronic waste is just one way to Care for God’s Creation! |
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Examples of small electronics accepted:
• iPad, tablets, cellphones and PDAs
• VCRs, video games and consoles
• Cameras (digital, 35mm, 110, etc.)
• Cassette tapes
• DVD and CD players
• Laptops, keyboards, hard drives, zip drives
• Cords
If you forget to wipe out any of the data stored in a device, United Electronics Recycling will make sure it is destroyed as part of the recycling process.
Recycling our electronic waste is just one way to Care for God’s Creation.
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Literacy United Book Project |
Friday, April 9
10:00am - 11:30am
Walker Hall
This Friday we’ll be making books to help our partners at Literacy United. It’s easy - fold, staple, repeat.
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TCU/UCC Celebrate Bestselling Author Sue Monk Kidd
We hope you were able to tune in for this conversation today with Sue Monk Kidd, celebrated novelist, #1 New York Times bestselling author, and TCU alumna, about her most recent novel, The Book of Longings. It was also great to have our Senior Minister, Rev. Dr. Russ Peterman involved in the panel as part of this conversation.
If you were unable to watch the event LIVE, the conversation is available in its entirety On-Demand, by using the button below.
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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
JULY 13 - 16
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Registration is now open for kids, adult volunteers, and youth volunteers! |
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Online Worship
Children's Worship
8:00 a.m. with Rev. Kera Watts
Traditional Worship
9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
with Rev. Dr. Russ Peterman
Simple Worship
9:30 a.m. with Rev. Shannon Moore
All Church Sunday School
10:00 a.m.
with Rev. Renee Hoke & Rev. Jamie Plunkett
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