The T8 warning Sunday did what nothing else had been able to do since WW2.  We had to cancel a worship service.  Let me make a plug for the new Union Church app.  We apologise to those who didn’t get the news and showed up.  But I have to admit that the fellowship was fantastic as we got to know each other waiting for the storm that never came.

This week we end our series on James.  To have a faith that works requires prayer. “The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16b)  Sometimes my prayer life is like Typhoon Roke—more in theory than in practice. But this week I want put prayer into practice as we prepare for the exciting days ahead.
 
Pastor Greg

PRAYER Gathering at Sunlight Tower, Sunday 30 July, 12:30PM
There will be a prayer gathering at Sunlight Tower, 248 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai. All welcome as we gather to pray during this transition time for our church and community. For more information, please contact . Meeting point: G/F, Sunlight Tower.

VBS Sunday School
See what all the buzz is about at VBS “Maker Fun Factory”. We’ve got fun wrapped up for 5 Sundays in the summer starting this Sunday, July 30 and Aug 6, 13, 20, 27 at 9.30AM & 11.00AM service for Kingdom Kids ages 3 to 11 years old. Maker Fun Factory is filled with incredible Bible learning experiences, cool worship songs, Science-Fun Gizmos, team building game and tasty treats. Registration is on going and if you would like to volunteer, there are still slots needed in the next few Sunday so get in touch with us at . Register your children HERE or sign up at the VBS 2017 Registration Table in the courtyard.

Name tags available!  Stop by the Name Tags Table and pick up your name tag this Sunday! Our Union Welcome Committee have provided name tags to help us all get to know one another better during our time of transition. If your name does not appear we will be happy to provide one for you.  Let’s encourage one another and build up our fellowship together!

1 Timothy 6:18 “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

Paul urges Timothy to teach the rich in Ephesus: to invest their treasure into eternal purposes. The purpose of wealth is to do good with it. Note that he doesn't command the rich to become poor. Instead he commands the rich to be generous, "rich in good deeds." They give up one type of riches to gain another. And in doing that, they break the enslaving grip that treasures have on our heart. In short, the antidote for money's poisonous effect in our lives is generosity. It's an antidote of drinking the sweet medicine of trusting in God's control of the future, trusting in the "life that is truly life." This is first of all a generosity of the heart. The heart has to turn from loving good deeds more than loving riches. But that is a measurable turning. The desire to give is easily quantified-when money actually leaves the account and goes to God's kingdom.

As we get closer towards the move to Sunlight Tower, please give generously to the Redevelopment Fund or sponsor an item for Sunlight Tower. Pledge envelopes are available in the pews. Cheques may be written to “Union Church” or “Friends of Hong Kong Charities, Inc.” (for US tax payers only) with a notation for “BUFF” written at the back.

Please click on the links below to see the sponsorship items, the sponsorship form and the commitment form: