U Matters

This is the last U Matters for 2019, which means you have tuned into this space as many as 52 times.  WOW! Where did the time go? It has been a year to remember, both for our church and for the city. Congratulations on our church’s 175th anniversary, and 25 years of Alpha in Hong Kong.

As I reflect upon the year, I am so grateful. I am grateful for the vitality of the ministry teams that are in place: the COM, Deacons, Trustees, Staff, BUFF, Missions Committee, Choir, Worship leaders, Small Group leaders, Alpha leaders, Youth leaders, Stephen’s Ministers, Sunday School and Recharge teachers. I am grateful for the prayer initiatives that have happened throughout the year: weekly discernment prayer times, prayer walks, Zoom prayer, Praying the Word (daily prayers for our church which staff and leaders have been using), daily WhatsApp prayer groups and the Tuesday morning prayer time. I am grateful for the new initiatives: staff-leader day retreats, as well as, Easter Sunrise Service and Carols on the Green held at 22A Kennedy Rd. I am grateful for the generosity you have shown on various occasions, including one which enabled a young man in need to attend university and another offering which helped a church in need in Myanmar. The baptisms inspired me, the pastoral care encounters were rich and the missions trips impactful.

As we close out 2019, we read in 1 Chronicles 16:8-11 (MSG): 

Thank God! Call out his Name!
    Tell the whole world who he is and what he’s done!
Sing to him! Play songs for him!
    Broadcast all his wonders!
Revel in his holy Name,
    God-seekers, be jubilant!
Study God and his strength,
    seek his presence day and night;

Blessings to you all and wishing you a wonderful new year,

Pastor Michele

US Taxpayers
For US Taxpayers wishing to make tax-deductible donations for the 2019 tax year, please ensure that cheques are made payable to “Friends of Hong Kong Charities, Inc.” and are dated before 31 December 2019.

Please send your cheques to our Church Accounts Department latest by 31 December 2019, otherwise your donation will not be recognised in the 2019 tax year. Thank you for your ongoing support to Union Church.

Looking Ahead

In January we will be launching a study of Peacemaking, including a sermon series, ReCharge class and small group materials. We experience conflict in all areas of our lives - families, work, church and city - it's to be expected. But how do we resolve it faithfully, in a way that honours God? If you aren't in a small group currently, this is a great time to join one, or come on Wednesday to ReCharge.

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: Revd Mark Rogers, St John's Cathedral

Recharge

ReCharge is taking a break and will resume Wednesday, January 8 with some new classes including:

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. Details to follow.

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.

Opportunites

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.

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

We'll be taking a break from our regular Friday and Sunday Youth Group activities for the holiday season.

Our regular Youth Group activities will resume on the following dates:
Friday Youth Group: January 10th
Sunday Youth Group: January 12th

Kingdom Kids

SUNDAY SCHOOL ARRANGEMENTS

Sunday, 29 December, 9:45AM & 11:15AM: Children are invited to join their families for worship in the sanctuary or join us for a Children’s movie in Rooms 2 & 3.
Sunday, 5 January 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".

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.