The United Nations, in 1992, declared October 17 as International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, otherwise known as World Poverty Day. According to the UN, this day recognises the fact that people living in poverty face many issues which often prevent them from realising their full human rights. Such issues include, but are not limited to, unsafe work and housing conditions, lack of nutritious food and political power.

We are grateful for the organisations who work on behalf of the poor in Hong Kong, Impact HK and their work with the homeless and Hong Kong Network for the Poor, to name a couple. This Sunday we will be taking up a special offering for the HKCNP. Last year, Hong Kong Church Network for the Poor reported that through donations from partners, 15,229 people benefited from food donations, 4,255 people benefited from services provided and 7,326 people benefited from resources. They are meeting real people with real needs.

Union Church has not only participated in the annual giving for HKCNP (10:10:10) but we have also collected Peace Boxes through Children’s ministry. What a privilege we have to help those in need. Jesus said, "for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me," Matthew 25:35. Let us come Sunday prepared to give to those in need.

175th Anniversary Update

I am so thankful for all those who attended and participated in the 175 Anniversary celebration. It was a wonderful evening! Thank you

I would like to especially thank the Committee; Anson Wang, Ken Morrison, Michael Birley, Charles Caldwell, Catriona Woodrow, Simon Ng, Chris Yorks, Linda Ngan, David Ashton-Howorth. Thank you for the many meetings which you attended, for planning, for your engagement and enthusiasm. Your support and participation was greatly appreciated.

Thank you also to those who gave generously to the ambitious goal of $175,000 for local mission, Kun Sun (prison ministry) and to Light of the World kindergarten and church in Mynamar. To date, $83,175.30 was raised. If you would like to give to these ministries in support of our anniversary it's not too late.

It was wonderful to receive an email from Christopher Legge, great grandson of founding pastor and missionary James Legge. He wrote, "‘Both Judy and I are sorry not to be present with you on the 175th anniversary of the Union Church. Change creates many difficulties but I know my great Grandfather would be most supportive. He also had more than once, to face up to the need to move with the times. But Legge would recognise here today in the changing world in which we all live, your commitment to maintaining the consistency of your worship, your faith and your community. I send my best wishes."

Grateful to all those who have served Union Church over those 175 years,

Pastor Michele

This Sunday

Evangelism Workshop
Scripture says, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15).
Yan Yu is going to lead a group in a relaxed workshop to practice sharing our faith in everyday conversations. We will reflect on why we evangelise, before practicing in pairs. We will then discuss as a group any difficulties we have come across. Our prayer is that our Union Church congregation will indeed be prepared to witness our faith to others and will do so "with gentleness and respect".
Sunday, October 27, 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM Youth Room. Light lunch provided. Sign up online - http://www.unionchurchhk.org/event/1441191-2019-10-27-evangelism-workshop/.

HKCNP (10.10.10)
PARTNER TO SERVE WITH IMPACT
Hong Kong Church Network for the Poor partners with Christian churches and community to build synergy to enable our partners and churches to effectively serve the underprivileged in their district.
We help one another to make a collective effort to make an impact to alleviate poverty in Hong Kong.
As a platform, HKCNP continually discusses with their partners to improve and build service models to provide structural solutions with an emphasis on empowerment of individuals and youth mentorship programs.

Parents in Prayer
We would like to invite all Union Church parents to join us for an opportunity to pray for our children immediately after the 11:15 AM service this Sunday. Please join us as we lift up our children (adult children too) and families in prayer. All are welcome.

ReCharge

Join us for dinner, worship and study together on Wednesday nights, 7:00-9:00 pm.
Study opportunities include:
- October 30: We will ALL meet together to hear from Roger Lam and his story with money (see below).
- November 6: Celebration of Discipline study will kick off with two weeks on Meditation with Catriona Woodrow.
- Youth: Gospel of John
- Revelation with Chris Fung will return November 13.

Stewardship
After working in the banking and finance industry for almost twenty-five years, Roger Lam discovered that Stewardship is his true calling. He is now a full-time, alternative missionary with a God-given vision to unveil the deceitfulness of wealth to Christ followers globally, in hope to cure the root problem of many social ills.
Union Church has several opportunities to hear and learn from Roger:
Wednesday, Oct 30 at ReCharge (dinner at 7, talk at 7:45)
Sunday, Nov 3, 12:30-2:00. Light lunch and talk after the 11:15 service.
Please sign up at the Welcome Table or email so we can order enough food!

 

Opportunities

  

 

Friday Youth Group - Friday October 25
Juniors (11-13) and Seniors (14-18) are asked to arrive from 6:30-8:30 PM
This week will be having a Youth Worship Night - a time for Youth to gather in worship together, to pray and to share the sacred moment of communion. Worship will start at 6:30, and we will end at 7:30 for dinner.

Sunday Youth Group - Sunday October 27
Youth can attend at either 9:45 AM or 11:15 AM in Indigo Hotel 29/F
Juniors (11-13) will be following the Be Bold curriculum, dealing with big questions around their faith.
Seniors (14-18) will be following the Bible Project series on Spiritual Beings.

Hallelujah Party: Saturday, 2 November, 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Kingdom Kids invite Union Church families and friends with children aged 1 to 11 years old to join us for our annual family "Hallelujah Party". There will be a live performance by Dove Tales Theatre Co titled Daniel in the Lion's Den and lots of games, prizes, face painting, cotton candy and snacks. Please sign up at CHILDREN MINISTRY or at the Welcome Table - with the number of people coming we would appreciate it if you could bring baked goods and/or savouries to share (NUT Free). DON'T MISS IT and bring your friends along too.

Children's Christmas Musical: Sunday, 8 December, 9:45 AM and 11:15 AM services
We are excited to inform you that this year Children's Christmas Musical will take place on Sunday, 8 December 2018 at both the 9:45 AM and the 11:15 AM services.
Important dates for this year Christmas Musical Rehearsals:
Audition - Sunday, 13 & 27 Oct
Sunday Rehearsals - Sundays, 27 Oct, 3 Nov, 10 Nov, 17 Nov, 24 Nov, 1 Dec
First Dress Rehearsal - Sunday, 1 Dec, 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Second Dress Rehearsal - Saturday, 7 Dec, 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM
More details on our Children's Christmas Musical will be emailed to all the parents with registered kids in our Sunday School. If you have not yet registered your children with us, kindly do so at your earliest convenience.

Sunday School 2019/2020 Registration
In order to help us plan our program well and serve your family better, we would appreciate it if you could kindly register your children HERE. All children enrolling in our Sunday School and Creche Center MUST BE REGISTERED by filling in and signing the Registration Form. For more information, please visit Union Church's website or contact us at or 21010414. Thank you.

1:00PM - 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.

 

A Stephen Minister can help. Stephen Ministers are members of our congregation who listen, care, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support to people going through a crisis or a difficult time. Please contact Pastor Michele if we can help ( ).

Small Groups

Ladies

Baptism and Membership

Family in Need (FIN)

 

• All services will proceed as normal as long as there is no protest planned for the area directly around Sunlight Tower.

• In case of spontaneous events that might impact our congregation coming to Church, then our staff will make a decision on whether to suspend services. An email will be sent to all of our members to inform them of which services will be suspended.

We will try wherever possible to give as much notice as possible should we feel the need to suspend any service. Please make sure that you check your email before setting off for Church. You can help us by ensuring that we have your most up to date contact information. If you think your information may be incorrect, please contact .

At this time, we would also like to remind you of our Typhoon/Severe Weather policy:

All Church activities remain unchanged when tropical cyclone warning signal number 1 or 3 is hoisted. They will also be unaffected by the amber or red rainstorm warning signals.

When the Hong Kong Observatory issues a ‘Pre No.8 Typhoon Warning Signal’ on a Sunday, we will complete any service taking place and ask people to leave the Church and make their way home. Services planned for after this will be suspended

When the black rainstorm warning signal or tropical cyclone warning signal number 8 or above is hoisted on a Sunday before 07:30AM, all Church activities (Worship services, Classes, Youth and Children’s programs etc.) scheduled at 9:45AM or before will be cancelled. If the signal is subsequently lowered 2 hours before the 11:15AM service, the 11:15AM service will be held as scheduled. If the signal is lowered after 1PM, the Church will remain closed for the rest of the day.