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U MattersLet’s get the record straight. There are a few things I need to declare that were brought to my attention this week. Please note, I have not been traveling; I do not need help with an Amazon shipment; it wasn’t my cousin’s birthday; I don’t need a favour; nor do I need help with a vendor payment. Apparently I had a busy week. My apologies to those who received a spam.
This Sunday is Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday. It is a Sunday of declaration. Join us as we declare Jesus is King, our Messiah and Lord. Join us as we wave palm branches and sing triumphantly with shouts of praise. Join us as we begin Holy week, a week to remember and reflect on what Jesus faced which will culminate in the glory of the Resurrection.
This Sunday Monte Peterson will speak in the morning services and Pastor Michele will speak in the evening.
Blessings and peace,
Pastor Michele Information AvailablePlease help yourself to a copy of our Annual Report from the Welcome Table.
Family NewsOn behalf of Union Church we would like to express our condolences to Michael and Anne Sawyer Birley and Ceilidh Tesluk as they grieve their son and brother Zachary Tesluk. A memorial service will be held at Union Church on Monday April 15th at 6:00PM, followed by a reception at the Hong Kong Cricket Club, 137 Wong Nai Chung Gap road. In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to Alpha International Asia Pacific.
This WeekParents in Prayer, this Sunday 14 April, 12:30PM to 1:00PM, in the Sanctuary
We would like to invite all Union Church parents to join us for an opportunity to pray for our children immediately after the 11:15AM service. Please join us as we lift up our children (adult children too) and families in prayer. All are welcome for this time of prayer.
Lent & EasterLent invites us to make our hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ passion and celebrating Jesus’ resurrection.
April 14th, Palm Sunday Services - 8:45AM, 9:45AM, 11:15AM, 5:15PM
April 19th, Good Friday Service - 3:00PM
April 21st, Easter Sunrise Service at 22A Kennedy road - 7:00AM
April 21st, Easter Services at Sunlight Tower
- 9:45AM & 11:15AM : Easter Brass and Choir
- 5:15PM : Easter Praise
"One" Hong Kong 2019 Hearing the Word Campaign
To keep the momentum of the “One” Campaign accelerating, we invite you to journey with us by:
1) Completing the survey form http://www.onehtw.com/survey.html
2) Sending us Testimonies before 21 April, 2019 via email
or WhatsApp +852 97578990
3) Marking your calendar for The “One” Campaign Thanksgiving Celebration on 18 May, 2019 at Kong Fok Church from 11:00AM to 12:30PM (registration starts at 10:30AM). https://onethanksgiving.eventbrite.hk
For any enquiry, please contact the One Hotline at +852 97578990 (by phone or WhatsApp).
OpportunitiesUnion Church 'Deja New' Clothes Sale! (5 May, 1:00PM)
Union Book Group is making a return!
Tuesday, April 30, we'll gather at 7:30PM at church. Our first book: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman. Bring your friends, bring your favorite snacks, and bring your suggestions for future books! Sign up on our website or at the Welcome Table, or talk to Monte Peterson. Books are available for purchase at the Welcome Table--$140.
Bless the City - On Saturday, 4 May, we will gather to bless the city of Hong Kong in tangible, practical ways, partnering with Sons and Daughters, Hong Kong Church Network for the Poor, and more. Look for the brochure with all the opportunities listed, and sign up at the Welcome Table or on our website!
Collecting: Airline Toiletry kits and Hotel toiletries - note that kits can be brand new OR partially used! As part of Bless the City, we will be working with the Amber Foundation to assemble toiletry kits for Sons and Daughters and other ministries. Whether you are spring cleaning or spring travelling, bring these items to church during the month of April and we'll put them to good use!
One Worship, Sunday 26 May, 10:30AM
On Sunday, 26 May, we will combine the congregation for a joint worship service at SKH Tang Siu Kin Secondary School, 9 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai. This will be a wonderful opportunity to gather under one roof to worship and we hope it will allow everyone at Union to meet those who attend a different service. This is also a great opportunity to bring a friend. There will be a BBQ lunch immediately following the service. If you are interested in helping out, cooking a dish, bringing a dessert, ushering either on the street or in the sanctuary please contact Pastor Michele or David Ashton-Howorth, our Operations Director.
Union Family News
Union celebrates 175 years this year. If you would like to be a part of the planning team we would love to hear from you. Please see Pastor Michele.
ReChargePlease note that ReCharge is taking an Easter break, except Prayer for Discernment for Union Church, and will resume 8 May. Watch for announcements regarding the next group of studies!
ReCharge is a weekly night at Union Church where we fellowship, worship, and study.
Join us on Wednesdays: 7:00PM - dinner (suggested donation towards the cost of food: $80) 7:30PM - worship 7:45PM-9:00PM - classes *Prayer for Discernment for Union Church - will continue in the coming weeks, Wednesdays, 7:00PM - 9:00PM in the Sanctuary
A Discernment Prayer Group is meeting on Wednesday evenings. The purpose of this group is to pray and discern the next season of Union Church. Our prayer resulting from these discernment evenings, is that we not only step forward in God's time with the search for a new senior pastor, but we also discern God’s will and desired shape for Union Church in anticipation of returning to 22A Kennedy Road. It is imperative that we are Christ-centred and truly understand what God is calling Union Church to do, and who to lead us. Anyone feeling called to participate can join these prayer and discernment sessions.
LadiesSemi-Annual Ladies Dinner: Sowing Seeds
Join us for dinner on Tuesday 14 May, followed by worship and some talks. You won't want to miss this opportunity to meet other Union Church ladies - it's a great night! Bring a friend - sign up in the foyer.
Fertility & Pregnancy/Infant Loss Support Group - Struggling and could use some fellowship, friendship and support? Contact Sonia Lee.
Baptism and MembershipIf you are interested in baptism or membership please sign up in the foyer, collect a form and submit it or see Pastor Michele.
Adult EducationSunday Lunch Study
The Crucified Life: Seven Words From the Cross is a video-based class. Join us in the Youth Room after the 11:15AM service. This is our final session, and we will consider Jesus' two last statements: "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit" and "It is finished." Join us!
Small GroupSmall groups are one of the main ways we connect with each other and connect with God, learning what the Kingdom of God is all about. Interested in joining or starting a group? Contact Monte Peterson.
Young AdultsNew to Union?
Are you a Young Adult new to Union Church? Make sure you meet our Young Adults Director, Anto Ficatier, at the Welcome Table every Sunday. You can also email Anto for more information about Young Adults at Union! ServeUnion Church is always looking for people to serve. If you would like to be an usher, greeter or bible reader, please see Pastor Michele.
YouthFriday Youth Group Scripture Night – 12 April
Juniors (11-13) are asked to arrive from 6:00PM - 7:30PM
Seniors (14-18) are to arrive from 7:00PM - 9:00PM with ‘hangout’ in the Youth Room from 9:00PM - 10:00PM.
We will continue our theme of friendship, and will be looking deeper into Mark 2, when Jesus heals a paralytic man.
Sunday Youth Group – 14 April
Youth can attend at either 9:45AM or 11:15AM.
Juniors (11-13) and Seniors (14-18) will meet in Indigo Hotel 29/F, and Seniors will head out after prayer to have a biblical discussion.
Youth Mission Trip to Hengyang with ICC
On April 15, six of our Youth and two leaders will be heading up to Hengyang with ICC, to work with the young people there and continue the relationship of love and service that Union Church has built with the organisation and those they care for. Please pray that this will be a time of transformation in the lives of those we are serving, but also in the hearts of our Youth Team.
Ian Weathington, Natalie Shiu, Tom Colling, Grant Weathington, Tammer Haddad, Jonathan Nicholls
Kingdom KidsEASTER Sunday Children’s Program, Sunday 21 April, 9:45AM & 11:15AM services
Kingdom Kids invites children aged 3-11 years old to our Easter Sunday Children’s Program, followed by an Egg hunt. Friends are welcome to join and no registration is needed.
Sunday School 2018/2019 Registration
Filipino Ministry1:00PM - 1:50PM Congregational Prayer
2:00PM - 2:50PM Bible Study Groups
3:00PM - 4:00PM Worship Service
Every 1st Sunday of the Month from 9:00AM to 12:00PM Outreach & Evangelism
MissionsUpcoming trip to Myanmar - 6-9 June 2019
We are planning a trip to visit Light of the World (LOTW) Church and Preschool in Yangon, Myanmar. LOTW spreads the Gospel in a heavily Buddhist area. Union has been supporting LOTW since 2015, and some of our members have previously visited. Last year we raised a special offering to help with the construction of a new church building, and we would like to visit and worship with the pastors and congregation in their new church. Plans are to depart on the night of 6 June and return the night of 9 June (7 June is a public holiday in HK). We anticipate flight plus hotel costs to be c.$4200 HKD. Visas are required for Myanmar. We recommend this trip for adults and possibly teenagers accompanied by parents, but suggest the trip is not appropriate for young children. If you're interested in joining, please contact Ray Warhola and Kathy Foley.
Local Mission - Sons and Daughters (S&D) is a ministry that seeks to reach out to the men and women in the red-light districts of Hong Kong. There are many opportunities for volunteer support, including the following: lunchtime intercessory prayer, male and female volunteers for outreach ministry, house parents for their shelter, education providers for job skills/training as part of their exit program, administrative support, musicians and worship leaders, social work interns, cookie baking, card writing, and assistance with fundraisers. There are two upcoming information sessions on Wednesdays from 7:30-9:00PM (17 April, and 22 May). If you want to get involved or learn more, please contact Janice Chan or Brittney Tsang.
Family in Need (FIN)Sometimes life throws us challenges and we need to reach out for help. If you need spiritual, emotional, physical, and/or financial help, please contact Pastor Michele and/or members of the FIN Team: Charles Schmitt and Isabel Morrison. To maintain accountability, we ask that requests come through this group. If someone in need approaches you for financial assistance, please refer them to Pastor Michele or the FIN Team.
Last Week's Sermon"Words from the Cross: Abandonment" by Antonin Ficatier
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