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U Matters

My colleagues have been conspiring together for several weeks and their results excite me greatly. We are going to recharge ReCharge! Starting next Wednesday night, April 18, there will be opportunities for food, fellowship, and a menu of growth opportunities. Read all about it later in this newsletter.

Saturday, 21 April, we invite you to join us as we “Bless the City” by participating in a variety of caring opportunities around Wan Chai. If you would like to participate, please sign up this Sunday. If you have questions, the person with the answers is Monte Peterson.

For the next three Sundays we will be taking pictures and asking you to update your information for the 2018 Union Church Directory. Please stop by the Directory Corner at the back of Sanctuary to sign up or visit here.

Gratefully
Pastor Greg

This Week

2018 CHURCH DIRECTORY UPDATE
Please visit here or our mobile app to update your information and upload your photo. Alternatively, please stop by the Directory Corner at the back of Sanctuary to update or confirm your contact details this or the following three Sundays, 8, 15, 22 & 29 April. Photographers will stand by to take your pictures for the directory. Members as well as regular attendees are welcome to have their details included.

Taizé worship service, Sunday, 15 April, 5:15PM
Taizé is an ecumenical Christian monastic community in France with a strong devotion to reconciliation and peace. They are known for their contemplative, quiet style of worship and prayer which involves simple, repetitive songs, which become a way of listening to God. Worship will be followed by a fellowship dinner.

Get ReCharged on Wednesday nights. Join us for dinner and a new format.
7:00PM-7:30PM Dinner
7:30PM-7:45PM Worship
7:45PM onwards Join an event that best suits you:
Discipleship 6-week Class from 11 April: Manna and Mercy
Young Adults 6-week Bible Study from 18 April: Jesus Among Secular Gods
Pastoral Care Series: Talk + Q&A
18 April - Depression and How to Provide Support – Dr. Mark Gandolfi
25 April - Good Grief – Dr. Amos Lyso
2 May - CS Lewis and Pain – Rev. Dr. Greg Anderson
9 May - Suicide – Dr. Jamie Chiu
For questions see Pastor Michele.
Please sign up one of the event so we can get an idea for food.

Opportunities

BLESS THE CITY, Saturday, 21 April
Join us as we BLESS THE CITY, on Saturday, 21 April, living out God's promise of a new, upside-down kingdom.
9:30AM: Gather at Union for coffee and a brief worship
10:00AM: Go out in teams to do various acts of service, from visiting with our disabled neighbours, to crocheting kindness blankets, to a trail clean-up.
Find full details online and SIGN-UP here. RSVPs are necessary, as some teams have limited numbers and others require materials.
A great opportunity to bring your friends!

"ANGST: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety"
Save the Date: Sunday, 22 April 12:30PM to 2:15PM
Union Church presents ANGST: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety. A documentary film about anxiety, truth and hope. ANGST reveals the causes of anxiety and its sociological effects, along with the help, resources and tools available to address the condition. The film also includes a special interview with Michael Phelps, a mental health advocate and one of the greatest athletes of all-time.

ANGST is appropriate for students 5th Grade and higher, educators, parents, professionals, and adult who wishes to learn more about mental health issue.
There is a suggested donation of HK$50 per adult and a light lunch will be provided. Sign Up Now at the Welcome Table or with the number of people joining, on or before 17 April 2018.

Project Bridge
There is a critical need for volunteer families to open their homes temporarily (3-12 months) to children in desperate need of a safe and loving home, through Project Bridge, a program of Mother's Choice. On Monday, 16 April, there will be an information session to find out more about this need and how families can respond, held at Island ECC Church. Would you pray about what role you could play in supporting families in crisis in our community? Sign up here.

A Talk on "Depression", Wednesday 18 April, 7:30PM-8:30PM
Join us for a new Pastoral Care series starting with "Depression and how to help those you love" by Dr. Mark Gandolfi. This is a good talk for parents, teachers and anyone, including for those seeking to help on the pastoral care team. Join us or see Pastor Michele for questions.

Prayer for Union Come lift up the needs of Union Church. Join us every Tuesday morning at 7:30AM for a time of prayer in the sanctuary.
 

Membership

Welcome / Membership Lunch
Are you a newcomer and like to learn more about Union Church? Are you interested in becoming a member and meet one of our deacons at the lunch? Please join us for welcome/membership lunch on Sunday 29 April, 12:30PM in the Sanctuary. This is a family-friendly event. Please RSVP to Pastor Michele.
 

Serve

If you are looking for a place to serve at Union Church Pastor Michele would love to chat!
With growing services, especially at 11:15AM service, we have 4 locations operational at the same time, we could really use your help in the usher greeter team.
Options:
Main sanctuary (4 people needed each Sunday; welcoming, actively seating; offering);
Door (this is a meet and greet -traffic control -directing people -children, bathrooms, services etc)
Foyer (front line of Union Church -welcoming, directing people to Hotel Indigo when the 18/F is full)
If you can help once a month it would be greatly appreciated. 
 

Ladies

You won't want to miss the Semi-Annual Ladies Dinner on Tuesday, 15 May, 7:00PM-9:15PM. An evening of fellowship and worship. Speaker: Alia Eyres "Nothing is Impossible: Living with Courage + Hope". Please sign up at the Welcome Table.

Small Groups

Small groups are where we dig into the nitty-gritty of following Jesus. Studying the Bible, reading topical books, praying, laughing and eating together--small groups are where we connect with each other. Groups meet all over Hong Kong on different days of the week. Interested? Contact Monte Peterson or sign up here
  

Youth

Friday Youth Group, 13 April – Small Groups
This week will be centered on small group discussions, focused on the concept of mentoring and the importance of an adult presence in a Christian life.
Juniors (aged 11-14): 6:00PM-8:00PM
Seniors (aged 14-17): 7:30PM – 9:00PM (with an optional hang-out for Seniors until 10:00PM)

Dinner is from 7:30PM to 8:00PM with pasta being served!

Sunday Youth Group, 15 April
Youth of all ages (11-17) are welcome to join us from 9:45AM to 10:45AM in Pastor Greg’s Office every Sunday. We will be following the curriculum “The Story of Jesus” this semester, and this week’s theme is on Lent with a talk on New Beginnings.

Friday Youth Group, 20 April – ANGST
Union Youth will be showing ANGST: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety, a documentary film about anxiety, truth and hope. ANGST reveals the causes of anxiety and its sociological effects, along with the help, resources and tools available to address the condition. ANGST is appropriate for youth (aged 10 and up). We will have other youth groups from International Churches joining us for the night! There is a suggested HK$50 donation for copyrights and dinner.
Juniors (aged 11-13): 6:00PM - 8:00PM
Seniors (aged 14-17): 6:00PM - 9:00PM (with an optional hangout until 10:00PM).

Pasta will be served for dinner from 7:30PM – 8:00PM!

 
Other Youth activities
Are you a youth and want to be involved in our youth group? There are many ways you can be involved: Youth Group (FridaySunday), Youth Band, Christian Clubs, Confirmation etc.
 
Questions? Email YOUTH

Kingdom Kids

Sunday School Teacher Wanted
Kingdom Kids are in need of lead teachers for the 6-7 year old group at the 11:15AM service. If you are passionate about God’s word and love to share it and model it for our children to follow and available on Sunday, please get in touch with us at CHILDREN.
 
Mom’s Date, Saturday 19 May
Kingdom Kids would like to invite Moms and children to join us for a fun afternoon of soap making, dancing and tea time on Saturday, 19 May from 2:30PM-4:30PM. For more information or to sign up for this event, please click here or email us at .
 
Sunday School 2017/2018 Registration
If you are new to Union Church or if you have yet to register your children for our Sunday School program, kindly register your children here. All children enrolling in our Sunday School and Crèche 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.

Outreach

Prison Ministry: Are you interested in being a part of a team to go to Tai Lam Correctional Institution on Dragon Boat Festival public holiday, Monday, 18 June? It will be a great opportunity! We would meet a few times (Sunday after church) to plan. Deadline approaching, so if you are interested, please contact Melody Landes or Pastor Michele.

Last Week's Sermon

"Recognising the Resurrection" by Pastor Greg Anderson