U Matters
Yesterday marked the 730th day of praying the prayer: “Lord, change me and use me. Lord, change Union Church and use Union Church. Amen.” Daily, for the past two years, people have been praying this prayer on the prayer chain. Thank you, Charles Caldwell, clerk of deacons, for daily posting this prayer and scripture verses. Such a gift to the community.
It has been said: “a prayerless Christian, is a powerless Christian.” It is so important that we pray for one another and the prayer chain is one way of praying. It is so easy, post a prayer and within seconds people are interceding to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. James 4:2 states, “you do not have because you do not ask.” Let’s continue to pray for our church, our city, and our world.
When asked what’s the role of the Christian, theologian and pastor R.C. Sproul stated, “Godliness born of obedience to Christ. Obedience unlocks the riches of the Christian experience. Prayer is what prompts and nurtures obedience, putting the heart into the proper ‘frame of mind’ to desire obedience.” Prayer is critical.
We are excited about the new series on Biblical Peacemaking. Conflict is messy, it is unpredictable, but it is also an opportunity. Through small groups, Recharge and the sermon series let’s discover together how we can be peacemakers and learn how to handle conflicting situations. Last week we learned how glorifying God is important in our conflict –“whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” 1 Cor 10:31 This Sunday we will look at the second G, “Get the log out of your own eye.” We hope you will join us.
Additionally, we would like to invite you for lunch on Sunday 12:30 La Cucina, QRE, especially if you are new or not feeling connected. It will be user pay and family friendly. Meet near the Welcome Table to walk together. We'd love to get to know you better!
Remember, ‘do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God,’
Pastor Michele
Save The Date
As part of supporting Sons and Daughters we will be holding regular prayer meetings and lunches at the Church throughout the year. The first of these will take place on Sunday the 19th of January following the 11:15AM service. Please join us as we learn more about their work and how we can help them. A light lunch will be provided, please sign up at the Welcome desk so that we know how many people to cater for.
We hope that you will join with Kowloon Union Church for a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, English service.
Date: 21 January 2020 (Tues)
Time: 7:30 pm
Venue: Kowloon Union Church, 4 Jordan Road, Kowloon
Theme: "They Showed Us Unusual Kindness" (Acts 28:2)
Preacher: Rev Mark Rogers, St John's Cathedral
Recharge
ReCharge is our chance to eat, worship and study together on Wednesday nights. Come get "recharged" for the rest of the week!
7:00PM dinner, 7:45PM classes begin.
Discipleship Explored: Discipleship Explored helps followers of Jesus go beyond the actions - attending church, praying, reading the Bible - and focuses on the heartbeat of discipleship: the love of Christ. This journey through Paul’s letter to the Philippians is ideal for new believers, those recommitting to their relationship with God, or anyone who seeks to deepen their discipleship.
Peacemaking: Resolving Everyday Conflicts - We all encounter conflict - whether it be with a coworker, family member, friend, or complete stranger. Resolving Everyday Conflict is a practical, biblical, and concise guide to peacemaking in everyday life. This biblical guidance will take you beyond simply ending conflicts and into true, life-changing reconciliation. Separate groups for adults, youth and young adults.
Small Groups
A new year is a great time to make a new commitment to fellowship and growth with other Christians! 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 to start the new year off right!
Upcoming Events
Men's Dinner - Save the date - Monday, 13th January, 6:30PM in the Sanctuary
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. Please sign up at the welcome table and complete your formal registration by completing your details online using the QR code or the link - https://forms.gle/5Z9vdgVmDsMQUTiX9. Deadline for sign up and payment is 31 January 2020.
Book Group
Love to read and discuss books? Join the Union Book Group! Our next book is Change of Heart: Justice, Mercy and Making Peace with My Sister's Killer, by Jeanne Bishop. An emotional, true story of forgiveness and reconciliation, which takes a real-life look at the call to peacemaking we are talking about in January. Books available at the Welcome Table ($100), and also available on kindle. We will meet to discuss the book on Tuesday, January 21, at 7:30pm. Join us!
Opportunites
Love is in the air! Join an ICM vision trip to Bohol/Philippines 14-16 Feb 2020
14 Feb is not only reserved for Valentines but also to show love and care to the ultra poor. International Care Ministries invites you to see what impact their Transform Program, Family Academy, and Thrive (Pastors gathering) have on the population on Bohol Island. The program will also include visits to Christian & Missionary alliance (CAMACOP) church planters. If you wish to stay behind after the program you may visit the Chocolate Hills or plan a beach holiday on nearby Panglao Island.
For sign-up and more information, please contact Marga Wulfgram at Phone: 61717334 or Dennis Hopton at Phone 98318959.
Registration Deadline: 19 January 2020
Approximate cost: HK4,000
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.
Looking Ahead
Are you parents with a new baby? Looking for fellowship with other parents also juggling the demands of work, marriage and parenthood? Let's gather on Sunday, February 16 after the 11:15 service for lunch, playtime, and mutual support. Contact Monte Peterson if interested in joining.
Midweek Bible Study
Looking to study the Bible with others during your lunch break? Yan Yu leads a Bible study group on Tuesdays, from 12:30-2:00. They are starting Galatians on Feb 4, so it's a great time to join! Bring your own lunch, Union youth room.
Evangelism Workshop, February 16
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).
Whether you joined us the first time around or not, please come for another opportunity to practice sharing our faith in everyday conversations, and 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, February 16, 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM. Light lunch provided.
Lunchtime Alpha
Lunchtime Alpha will return in February--Wednesday, February 19. Please start to pray about who you could invite, or better yet, bring along to this opportunity to learn about Christianity in a relaxed, non-threatening atmosphere. Pray that God works through this opportunity to bring Christ's light into Wan Chai!
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
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 January 10
We will be starting our first youth group of 2020 this Friday with a movie night! The movie will start at 6:30PM and will continue until a break at 7:30PM for dinner. Juniors are free to leave at 8PM while Seniors will stay as per usual until 9PM, with a hangout till 10!
Sunday Youth Group – Sunday January 12
Youth can attend at either 9:45AM or 11:15AM 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 about how to be a Christian in our world.
Mongolia Mission Trip – April 7-12
In partnership with Flourishing Futures, Union Youth will be traveling to Ulaan Bataar in Mongolia, where we will be assisting in their numerous ministries to vulnerable families and children in the city’s Ger district, as well as learning how to more effective disciples of Jesus Christ. Open to all members of the Union Church Congregation. Unaccompanied Youth must be ages 16+
Sign ups are now open and we need to put our team together as soon as possible! Please sign up HERE
Confirmation 2020
Confirmation is a chance for youth to confirm their faith in Jesus Christ with the support of the Congregation. This year’s course will be over 5 months starting in February.
All youth age 12+ are invited, if interested please contact us at
Kingdom Kids
Influenza Season Precautionary Measures
As we are entering the influenza season, we are enforcing strict hygiene procedures such as temperature check and the application of hand disinfectant spray before entering the classrooms. Our Creche centre and all Sunday School rooms are equipped with disinfectant spray machines which are safe and approved for use for babies and toddlers. If your child is running a temperature above 37.2 or is showing symptoms of cold and flu, we would appreciate it if you could keep your child at home until he or she is well. Thank you very much for your kind understanding and cooperation in keeping all of our children save and healthy.
In addition, to keep the Crèche Center clean and safe for babies to use, we would appreciate if parents could leave baby strollers at the designated stroller parking area which can be found at the church main entrance door.
Save the Date: Senior Sunday School Students Outing, Sunday 19 January 2020, 12.30 PM to 4.30 PM
Our Senior Sunday School students (age 10 to 11 years old) are invited to join us for our monthly outing. We will meet at the Youth Room at 12.20 PM for lunch and will proceed for to South China Athletic Association (SCAA) at 1.30 PM for a bowling session. Contact us at Children ( ) if your child would like to join us.
SUNDAY SCHOOL ARRANGEMENTS for CHINESE NEW YEAR (CNY)
Sunday, 26 January 2020: NO SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS DUE TO CNY HOLIDAY - Children are invited to join us for a children’s movie in rooms 2 & 3.
Sunday, 2 February 2020, 9:45AM & 11:15AM: Children’s Sunday School Resumes.
Sunday School 2019/2020 Registration
All children enrolling in our Sunday School and Creche Center MUST BE REGISTERED by filling in and signing the Registration Form HERE. For more information, please visit Union Church's website or contact us at CHILDREN or 21010414.
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.
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
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 ( )
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)
If you would like to help support our family in need ministry, which helps people monthly with basic needs, please mark your envelope "FIN".
"The 4G's of Peacemaking: Glorify God" by Pastor Michele
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.