U MATTERS
Carpe Diem! Seize the day! In many respects I feel that is what we have done in the last 8 weeks of in-person worship.
During this time we offered new opportunities like Recreate! open art studio and a new 12:45 worship service, as well as, Men’s and Ladies ‘Dinners’; a Staff and Leaders Retreat; Kindness Walks; collection and distribution of gifts to St Barnabas' Society and Home; Baptism and Installation services; Connecting Lunches; Recharge; Youth Group; Young Adult Ministries; Book Club; Small Groups; Stewardship series with guest speakers; Youth and Children's Church; pre-recording of the Youth band and the Children's Christmas Musical; and our annual Missions Fair featuring many of our Missions partners (eg HK Christian Kun Sun prison ministry, Crossroads, YWAM, International China Concern [ICC], International Care Ministries [ICM], Sons & Daughters, The Hong Kong Church Network for the Poor, and Flourishing Future Mongolia).
And now we re-group and prepare for online worship services and the Youth Christmas Banquet (in individual homes). These are challenging times, but we are overcomers!
Fear Not - we bring good news! This Sunday we celebrate the second Sunday of Advent. We hope you will join us online as we worship together at 9:45am and 11:15am. There will be an online coffee hour at 10:45am if you would like to get connected. Additionally, if you have not picked up an Advent candle or devotional, please stop by the office.
"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.” Luke 2:10
May there be Peace on Earth, Pastor Michele
CHURCH FAMILY NEWS
Advent Gift Bags: If you were unable to collect yours in-person last Sunday, please come during the week from Monday to Friday, 9:00am - 6:00pm. Our Advent devotional, written by congregants and staff, will help you reflect on Immanuel—God is with us.
We are continuing to worship and meet online during the 4th wave of the coronavirus. Please check out our Advent and Christmas schedule on the church website: www.unionchurchhk.org/celebrating-christmas/. Share the link with your friends across the city and world and loved ones in quarantine!
STEWARDSHIP
We are grateful for pledges received during the Stewardship season. It is not too late to submit your envelope! We will share the outcome of the congregation’s generosity in the coming weeks.
THIS WEEK
Youth: Christmas Banquet – Tomorrow. Tune in! Entertainment, a silent auction and live auction will be zoomed in! For further information, please email Hunter Purvis.
Worship is online this Sunday, 6 December at 9:45am and 11:15am, in light of the latest Government measures. Online Sunday School is continuing as noted below. Despite the restrictions, we have a full worship schedule planned for this special season. Check it out here.
A new small group for women! Melody Meyers will lead this group through a study of The Broken Way, by Ann Voskamp, on Thursday nights, starting at 7:00pm. Books are available at church. Contact for more information.
ReCharge Advent Prayer: On Wednesday, 9 December, we will gather online for Advent prayer from 8:00pm - 8:30pm for praise and thanksgiving, silent confession, hearing and meditating on God's Word, and lifting our concerns before the Lord. A peaceful, calming way to end the day and prepare for the birth of our Saviour. Email Monte Peterson for the Zoom link.
Young Adults ReCharge: Please join us online for a time of study, fellowship and prayer on Wednesday, 9 December at 8:00pm. Contact Dan Tupps for the Zoom link.
Giving: Thank you for supporting God’s ministries at Union Church. You may give online or use the QR code below. You can also send us a cheque made payable to "Union Church" to: 18F, Sunlight Tower, 248 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
Giving by US taxpayers: If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation, kindly date and send your cheques made payable to “Friends of Hong Kong Charities, Inc.” to the Union Church Accounts department no later than 31 December 2020. If it is late, your donation cannot be recognised in the 2020 tax year.
“ReCreate!” Open Arts Studio – the remaining two sessions have been postponed.
UPCOMING
Blue Christmas: A Service of Reflection for Difficult Days - Christmas is often a season that brings up difficult memories and emotions, and with all the losses and changes of 2020, many may find Christmas a challenging time. Our "Blue Christmas" online service is meant to offer an opportunity to acknowledge the grief and pain we bring to the manger this year, and find some comfort in the birth of Immanuel, God with us. Join us online as we worship with music, silence, and prayers, and let God minister to our deepest needs. Wednesday, 16 December at 7:30pm.
Ladies Retreat: We hope to provide details and open registration soon. Please save the date, 28 – 29 January 2021.
Missions
Flourishing Future: The pandemic lockdown in Mongolia is severely impacting daily wage earners. Our UC Missions partner, Flourishing Future is serving 300+ hungry and cold families in -28C weather without money for coal and food. HK$900 will sustain one family for one month. Flourishing Future will be Union Church's love offering on Christmas Eve. Since we are worshipping online, you may send your cheque to the Church office any time. You may make out your cheque to "Union Church" with Flourishing Future on the reverse side. www.flourishingfuture.com.
Sons & Daughters: The mission of Sons & Daughters is to help those caught in sexual exploitation to reclaim a life of love, family, and freedom in Christ. The proportion of Hong Kong women being brought into sexual exploitation has increased since borders have closed during the pandemic. Sons & Daughters have started skills training with local women to offer alternative means of work. Please pray that these women thrive with confidence in new livelihoods. Sons & Daughters has also just introduced a Chinese Alpha course on Wednesdays. Please pray that for spiritual knowledge to take root in the women's lives and spills out to their families. Please consider donating everyday items for their drop-in centre and safe house: https://forms.gle/6pUQ7LqAte5DdY1bA.
Please continue to pray for our Missions partners at Light of the World Church and Preschool in Yangon, Myanmar where Covid-related hardship is severe. Please pray for Pastor Vum and his congregation to stay strong in their faith. They are thankful for partnership with Union Church!
Kingdom Kids
Online Sunday School: This Sunday, our children will be learning from Isaiah 9:6-7. We will learn about Jesus as the Wonderful Counsellor, Jesus the Mighty God, Jesus the Everlasting Father and Jesus the Prince of Peace on Zoom from 10:45am – 11:30am. Registration required.
Sunday School 2020/2021 Registration is open: All babies and children need to be registered for the Creche and Sunday School which also allows you to get the Zoom link for our online Sunday School. You may complete the registration form here. For more information, please visit the Union Church website or contact us by email or ring us on 2101-0414.
Youth
Friday Youth Group – Youth Group tomorrow night will be the Christmas Banquet! This year we will be meeting in our own homes. Entertainment and an auction will be zoomed in. Proceeds will support local and international Missions partners.
Sunday Youth – 6 December: We’re meeting online this week. Youth can join a Zoom call at 11:15am where we’ll read scripture together and discuss. Currently we are exploring the Psalms together. Youth can join with the following link.
Wednesday Church History Study – 9 December: On Wednesdays, we’re enjoying a series based around the History of the Church – diving into how the church started, and how it has evolved and grown over the centuries. Join us on Wednesday, 6:30pm – 8:00pm. Here’s your Zoom link!
Small Groups
Meeting as a small group at this time is challenging, but the support from each other is more important than ever. There are online options - please reach out if you need help figuring this out! If you aren't currently in a group, we encourage you to try it out. There are groups for women, men, couples, day-time, night-time, etc. Interested? Contact Monte Peterson.
The Friday mornings ladies group is continuing Goliath Must Fall and discovering key giants in our life: fear, rejection, comfort, anger and addiction. We gather online at 10:00am and go through the study from 10:30am-12:00 noon. Join us via Zoom and please contact Pastor Michele or Ellen Ahn to get the link.
Connecting
Pastoral Care: For prayer, please contact Ministry leaders directly or or call 6225 5042.
If you have been attending Union Church for a while and have never gone through the official process to become a member, now is your chance! Please collect a green form and make it official! If you have never been baptised and are interested, please contact Monte Peterson.
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 or if we can help.
Fertility & Pregnancy/Infant Loss Support Group - Struggling and could use some fellowship, friendship and support? Please contact Tess Lyons.
Families in Need (FIN)
Our Families in Need ministry helps people with their basic monthly needs. If you can help, we are grateful for your generosity. Please mark your envelope "FIN".
“Fear Not” – Rev. Dr. Michele Bland