U Matters
We are celebrating and reflecting on Biblical Stewardship for the month of November. What a wonderful opportunity to take stock and consider Psalm 24:1: "The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” C.S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity wrote,
“Every faculty you have, your power of thinking or of moving your limbs from moment to moment, is given you by God. If you devoted every moment of your whole life exclusively to His service, you could not give Him anything that was not in a sense His own already.”
God owns everything, and we are simply managers or administrators acting on His behalf. Have you ever thought of yourself as a manager or administrator? We all are – add that to the list of the many roles you play. What a privilege!
We are all called to manage the resources, abilities and opportunities that God has entrusted to our care. May God guide each of us as we seek to manage well.
This Sunday, we welcome President of Regent College, Dr. Jeff Greenman. We hope you will join us.
Blessings,
Pastor Michele
Thoughts on Stewardship from Committee of Management Members
Reflections on Christian Giving:
2 Corinthians 9:11 “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion... your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."
When we can bless others with our generosity, the praise goes to God. People who receive the generous grace of Christians are able to praise God "because of the surpassing grace God has given" . They know that such a financial gift comes from an even greater source - the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Giving is just a part of a lifestyle of generosity. Christians always give of our heart, our time, our hope, and our prayers. As we start our stewardship month, we reflect on all the different ways that we can give of ourselves. Jesus died for us to set us free from this life of death. By putting to death the old, we take on the new life found in Christ. We trust that God will provide us the strength to be content in all situations (Phil. 4:11-13) so that we can in turn sacrifice joyfully for the sake of the gospel.
In Him,
George Ding (CoM)
Recharge
Join us for dinner, worship and study together on Wednesday nights, 7:00 - 9:00 PM.
Study opportunities include:
- Celebration of Discipline: Richard Foster's classic book on Christian disciplines (see below for more details).
- Youth: Gospel of John - Revelation with Chris Fung, returning November 13.
- Young Adults: Jonah, the Prodigal Prophet
Celebration of Discipline
We are thrilled to share the opportunity to learn from so many of our own people on these foundational disciplines of the Christian life. Books are available ($120) if you'd like to read along, but are NOT required to participate in the class. Join us for as many as you are able.
November 13: Meditation with Catriona Woodrow
November 20: Worship with Chris Yorks
November 27: Solitude with Juliana Rottmeyer
December 4: Fasting with Terri Appel
December 11: Simplicity with Monte Peterson
Opportunities
Faith Comes By Hearing
Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH) Asia invites you to join us at our lunch on November 9th, 2019 (Saturday) from 12:00 noon to 2:45pm at Union Church. We will bring you exciting updates about the development of our Ministry. We would like to invite you to be part of the Vision 2033 movement for getting God's Word to every person. Please RSVP via
or 66847321.
Union Book Group
Our next book is Cara Wall's The Dearly Beloved, which tells the stories of two pastor couples in New York City, ministering through years of social upheaval. We're meeting on Tuesday, November 19, at 7:30 PM. Pick up a book at the Welcome Table!
Right Now Media
We're excited to give you free access to RightNow Media, a wonderful library of video resources for all ages to help you develop and grow as both a disciple of Jesus and disciple-maker. Link to join:https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Account/Invite/UnionChurch
'The Three-Mile An Hour God' Retreat
November 23, 2019, Bethany Retreat Centre, Cheung Chau: A weekend guided retreat offered by Basileia.
Elderly Home Visit
Join us in sharing God's love with the residents of China Coast Community on Saturday, November 30, 2:00 - 4:00 PM. 5 more spots available; please sign up at the Welcome Table! Contact
with questions.
Join the Union Team:
We are looking for an Assistant Youth Director, and a Crèche Coordinator. Please contact
stating which role you are interested in. We will contact you with more information about the role.
Upcoming Lunches and Dinners
One Worship, 17 November 2019 10:30 AM at Tang Shiu Kin Secondary School.
Please bring a dessert. Also, we need help cooking turkeys. If you are able to help, please sign up at the welcome table on Sunday.
Christmas Fair, 24 November
We have several of our missions partners coming to sell items to raise money. Come and buy some early Christmas presents.
Semi-Annual Ladies Dinner, 25 November
Join us for an evening of worship, great food, and a talk by Sonia Lee. You won't want to miss this. Sign up in the foyer, use the QR code, or this link - https://forms.gle/VidNpUqZ42fMuHbV6 . Bring a friend.
Join our 'Good Gift' socially conscious Christmas Fair!
Crossroads is partnering with Fair Trade Hong Kong to host a Christmas Family-Fun Fair at the Crossroads Village in the Gold Coast. Actvities include tree climbing and a zip line, bike riding, simulations run by Crossroads and crafts and fun by other vendors! Fill your Christmas stockings with Social Enterprise and Fair Trade gifts and snack on ethically sourced food and drinks.
Dates: November 23rd and 24th from 11am to 7pm on both days.
Venue: Crossroads Village. 2 Castle Peak Road, Gold Coast, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong
Cost: Free entry with a small entrance fee to some of the activities
Limited free parking.
Sign up to our Facebook event for more details.
https://www.facebook.com/events/410766489629980/
Save the Date
The 5th Annual Ladies Retreat will be held in Penang on Friday February 28th to Monday March 2nd. There are early and late flights available to accommodate individual preferences. Hope you can join us. Details are forming; if interested let us know by signing up at the welcome table, by using the QR code or the link - https://forms.gle/5Z9vdgVmDsMQUTiX9.
Prayer at Union
All are welcome to join us for weekly prayer.
Tuesday Morning Prayer - 7:30 AM
Wednesday Prayer and Discernment for Union Church - 6:15 PM to 7:00 PM or 7:45 PM to 9:00 PM
Discernment & Prayer Group:
Thank you for joining us in prayer and discernment for Union Church, both individually and corporately. Now that several weeks have passed and as previously mentioned, we would welcome the opportunity to hear what the Union Church community is discerning. In the coming weeks there will be opportunities to share as we would like to hear from you. If you would like to send any comments, please look for a box at the Welcome Table. Additionally, the Deacons will continue to meet with small groups and other pockets of the congregation. If you are not in a small group and would like to meet up with any of our Deacons, please look for opportunities to do so next week and in the meantime please do not hesitate to contact us.
Youth
Friday Youth Group – Friday November 8
Juniors (11-13) are asked to arrive from 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Seniors (14-18) are to arrive from 7:00 - 9:00 PM
This Friday will be a Scripture Night, where Youth are given a passage from scripture as well as discussion questions and have a chance to break off into small groups. The theme we will be discussing this Fall is Expectations.
Sunday Youth Group – Sunday November 11
Youth can attend at either 9:45 or 11:15 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 starting a new series in anticipation of the Advent season.
Wednesday Recharge – November 14
We are continuing with the Gospel of John Series by Joe Boyd! In his one-man performance of the Gospel of John, Boyd combines theatre, comedy and sermon to explore John in a entirely new way. We will be watching 30 minute segments of the video and then discussing together.
Kingdom Kids
Hallelujah Party, RESCHEDULED TO: Saturday, 16 November, 12:30 PM to 3:30 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., entitled "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's 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's Christmas Musical Rehearsals:
Sunday Rehearsals - 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 about our Children's Christmas Musical will be emailed to all the parents with registered kids in our Sunday School.
Children’s Christmas Community Outreach
Home of Loving Faithfulness (HOLF): Saturday, 14 Dec 2019, 1:00 - 5:00 PM
Join us as we share the joy of Jesus’s birth with the residents and workers of HOLF through our mini Christmas Musical Play. Transportation to and from the HOLF centre will be provided.
St. Barnabas Society & Home: Sunday, 15 Dec 2019, 4:00 -6:00 PM
Kingdom Kids will be leading a Children’s Christmas Program for the children in the care of the St. Barnabas Society. Families are invited to join us and share Jesus’s love with the underprivileged families.
To join the above outreach, please REGISTER at
, or at the Welcome Table.
Sunday School 2019/2020 Registration
In order to help us 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.
Missions
In keeping with the history of our church and the Great Commission, Mt. 28:18-20, we are excited about missions.
We are excited about the many ministries we support annually, both locally and internationally, and we hope you take advantage of opportunities to get involved. Each week, there will be a missions committee member at the welcome table; please ask them how you can participate or if you have questions. Additionally, please tune in to the video in the foyer to learn more.
We hope you welcome the many Lutheran Theological Students from Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand who are attending Union.
We also hope you join us for lunch on Sunday November 10th to learn about AIM, Agape International Missions, who are working to help girls caught up in the child sex trade in Cambodia.
Sons & Daughters
Sons & Daughters share God's love with men and women in the red-light districts of Hong Kong. They have asked for our assistance with providing practical items, such as food, toiletries, and household items, for use in their drop-in centre and family home. If you are willing to donate items, please see the list of items needed at the Welcome Table.
To get involved with these and other ministries, please talk to any member of the missions committee: Nick Appel (Chairman), Kathy Foley (Secretary), Dennis Hopton, John Jamison, Melody Landes, Jeff Cheung, KK Ip, Yan Yu (Deacon), Catriona Woodrow (Deacon), Michael Birley (COM). Additionally, David Ashton-Howorth and Pastor Michele attend meetings.
Filipino Ministry
Christmas Celebration: 8 December
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.
Stephen's Ministry
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
Small 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.
Ladies
Fertility & Pregnancy/Infant Loss Support Group - Struggling and could use some fellowship, friendship and support? Contact Sonia Lee.
Baptism and Membership
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 see Pastor Michele.
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 the Pastor or the FIN Team at
If you would like to help support our family in need ministry, which helps people monthly with basic needs, please mark your envelope "FIN".
Last Week's Sermons
"The Ultimate Truth About Money" by Roger Lam
Protest/Weather Procedures
In the light of the recent protests and their impact on Hong Kong, we need to ensure the safety of our congregation and staff. We will always try to hold our services as normal, but we will implement the following procedures for our Sunday services when needed:
• 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.