U MATTERS
What a week we have had. As if the cold temperatures and rain weren’t enough, the news, announcements, and speculations were enough to send cold chills down everyone’s back. It has been a challenging week for many in Hong Kong.
Early on in the pandemic I read Tom Wright’s book God and the Pandemic: A Christian Reflection on the Coronavirus and its Aftermath. In the book Wright answers the question “Where is God in the pandemic?” He adds, “Out there on the front line, suffering and dying to bring healing and hope.”
Wright adds, prayer has a key place in that work: “When the world is going through great convulsions, the followers of Jesus are called to be people of prayer at the place where the world is in pain.” That is a good word for us today.
May we join hands with other believers around the world and pray. Let’s continue to pray: For our leaders that God will give them wisdom as decisions are being made; for protection for our medical practitioners and front-line workers; for strength and creativity for our educators; for courage and rest for our parents with children who are studying and working from home. Let’s continue to pray for provision for the homeless and protection for those who care for them. For shelter and beds at hospitals for the most vulnerable. For comfort for those who are grieving. For peace for those who are riddled with fear, anxiety and whose mental health is teetering.
Invoked or not, God is present. He is Emmanuel God with us. His promises are true, “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:9-10
Peace and blessings - Pastor Michele
CHURCH ONLINE
This Sunday, we conclude the Psalms of Hope sermon series. Find comfort and strength in God's unwavering presence and love! Join us for the livestream of the 9:45am (Traditional) and 11:15am (Contemporary) services here.
International Women's Day: Tune in to RTHK on Sunday, 6 March, 11:05am to celebrate International Women's Day. A special Sunday radio worship service will feature female clergy and leaders in our city including participants Rev. Dr. Judy Chan, Pastor Maggie Mathieson, Pastor Michele and more.
Please note that the church remains closed to visitors, in line with the latest regulations. If you need to drop something off, there is a box right outside the front door. You can ring the bell or email Admin to let us know.
LENT
Lent starts on Wednesday, 2 March. In this season of reflection that leads to the cross and the Resurrection, we have a number of opportunities for prayer, study and fellowship. In the next week you should receive a package from Pastor Michele with her Easter letter, a palm cross, book mark and Lenten devotional (based on devotions in the ONE Hearing the Word app). Please let Admin know if you do not receive your package and provide your postal address to us. Thank you.
Ash Wednesday Service, 2 March, 7:30pm: We begin the journey to Easter with this worship service that will be broadcast on the Union Church website, Facebook and YouTube. Join us.
Praying as ONE - Individually and Corporately - Let’s stay grounded together as a church in scripture and prayer.
Individually -
- ONE2022 Hearing the Word campaign - listen to the Gospel of John and 3 Epistles of John on the app or read the hard copy booklet in your Lenten package
- “Praying as ONE” guides us daily through scripture from the ONE2022 campaign and prayers of our leaders. Receive your daily prayer starting 2 March through Union Church’s new WhatsApp number! Scan the QR code or click here to opt in to get the prayers and occasional messages from Union Church: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FV3FrwyVnR17J7ju4iE78u Please note that this is a WhatsApp group without the usual social media chatter!
Corporately - Let's pray for our city and world. We will gather on Zoom for Wednesday Evening Lenten Prayer on 9, 16, 23 and 30 March, 7:30pm - 8:15pm. Register here to receive the Zoom link.
Men's Online Study - Wednesdays 8:00-9:00pm and Thursdays 12:30-1:30pm, 7 weeks starting 9 & 10 March: Connect with other men during Lent as we journey through Jesus' seven "I am" statements from the Gospel of John. Two options: Andrew Lo and Warren Ke will facilitate on Wednesdays, while Dan Tupps will facilitate on Thursdays. Please register here.
Young Adults Online Study - Wednesdays at 8:00pm, starting 9 March: Join us during Lent as we journey through Jesus' seven "I am" statements from the Gospel of John. For more details and the Zoom link contact Dan Tupps.
ALSO THIS WEEK
Compassion Project: Let's pause, be still and listen to God as HE leads a new grassroots initiative where women help women. What might the Compassion Project look like? Join us and pray about this. Learn more here. The Creativity Ministry is targeting 1 March, 8:30pm for the first online meeting.
MORE UPCOMING
Women's Ministry - New Online Wednesday Lunchtime Study, 6 weeks, starting 9 March, 12:30pm - 1:30pm: Juliana Rotmeyer is leading a new online study group for busy women looking for lunchtime spiritual refreshment. Our first study is Eugene Peterson's Run with the Horses: The Quest for Life at Its Best. Please register so we can send you the book.
Alpha Online, Thursdays, starting 10 March, 7:45pm, with the introductory session, Is There More To Life Than This? The Alpha course is your opportunity to ask any question about the Christian faith. Bring a family member, friend or colleague to the online course - ask God who that person is. Registration is open.
Women's Ministry - Save the Date - Tuesday, 29 March, 7:30pm - 9:30pm: Let's Koinonia! More coming soon.
KINGDOM KIDS
Online Sunday School, Every Sunday at 10:30am: Children ages 3 to 10 years old are invited to join us! There will be a time of worship, learning about God's Word, sharing and praying for each other and a Kahoot game. It will be fun to learn together. Please email to get the Zoom link.
Kingdom Kids Sunday Edition will be available at the end of the 9:45am and 11:15am worship services on the Union Church website and Facebook. See recent episodes here.
Online Friday Youth - Tomorrow! - 25 February, 6:00pm - 8:00pm: We'll continue with our series, Fruit of the Spirit: The 9 Keys to Happiness. We'll meet on Zoom at 6:00pm before heading into breakout rooms for Juniors and Seniors. See you on Zoom - the link is here.
Online Sunday Youth - 27 February, 11:15am: We'll continue our series on lesser known figures of the Bible for Juniors and Seniors, as well as having time to check in with one another, pray and more. Youth can join the Zoom here at 11:15am.
MISSIONS
Virtual Tour with International Care Ministries (ICM), Philippines, Saturday, 12 March, 11:00am - 12noon: Our Missions committee and ICM invite you to immerse yourself in a live virtual trip to one of ICM's Transform communities near Dumaguete. Register to receive the Zoom link - scroll down on the Missions web page!
Alpha is bringing the hope of the Gospel to the younger generation! The Alpha Cantonese Teen Series (ACTS) is a Cantonese-language series designed to engage students in conversations about life, faith and Jesus. It is now soft launching one episode per week, downloadable and for free on their website. Here's quick glimpse of episode 1: https://youtu.be/nGfmSWzp_Ow. Find more details at http://alpha.org.hk/en/acts/.
MUSIC4MISSIONHK to benefit ICC, Sunday, 27 February, 7:00pm: Everyone is welcome to join this launch of Music4Mission by Union's Caleb Chung (on violin) and his friends, Aidan (viola) and Joshua (cello). The first charity they are raising awareness about is International China Concern HK (ICC). Zoom in here on the 27th. See also the details in the image.
Light of the World Church and Preschool, Myanmar: Covid cases are rising in the country as the political crisis worsens. Pastor Vum is thankful that his family's illness is passing. Please continue to pray for this congregation and the children and families they reach out to.
Giving
Giving by HK taxpayers: If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation, kindly date and send your cheques made payable to “Union Church” to the Union Church Accounts department no later than 31 March 2022. If it is late, your donation cannot be recognised in the 2021/2022 HK tax year. For other methods of giving, please refer to our website.
We appreciate that during this season of online-only worship, you continue to make your tithes and offerings.
Small Groups
Stay connected while church is online. The support from your friends in a small group is tangible demonstration of God's love for us. Interested in joining one? There are groups for women, men, couples, day-time, night-time, etc. Contact so that we might suggest a good group for you.
RightNow Media
Did you know that you can have free access to the amazing studies and resources at RightNow Media through Union Church's account? You'll find relevant content for every age group or spiritual season and you can search by category, topic, or speaker. Access RightNow Media through this page on our Union Church website.
Prayer
Prayer changes everything. Need prayer? Reach out to us confidentially at .
Stephen Ministry
Going through a crisis or a difficult time? Stephen Ministers are members of our congregation who listen, care, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support during life's challenges. Please contact if we can help.
Last week's service
“Psalms of Hope - Psalm 130" Dan Tupps
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