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U Matters

The T8 warning Sunday did what nothing else had been able to do since WW2.  We had to cancel a worship service.  Let me make a plug for the new Union Church app.  We apologise to those who didn’t get the news and showed up.  But I have to admit that the fellowship was fantastic as we got to know each other waiting for the storm that never came.

This week we end our series on James.  To have a faith that works requires prayer. “The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16b)  Sometimes my prayer life is like Typhoon Roke—more in theory than in practice. But this week I want put prayer into practice as we prepare for the exciting days ahead.
 
Pastor Greg

This Week

PRAYER Gathering at Sunlight Tower, Sunday 30 July, 12:30PM
There will be a prayer gathering at Sunlight Tower, 248 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai. All welcome as we gather to pray during this transition time for our church and community. For more information, please contact . Meeting point: G/F, Sunlight Tower.

VBS Sunday School
See what all the buzz is about at VBS “Maker Fun Factory”. We’ve got fun wrapped up for 5 Sundays in the summer starting this Sunday, July 30 and Aug 6, 13, 20, 27 at 9.30AM & 11.00AM service for Kingdom Kids ages 3 to 11 years old. Maker Fun Factory is filled with incredible Bible learning experiences, cool worship songs, Science-Fun Gizmos, team building game and tasty treats. Registration is on going and if you would like to volunteer, there are still slots needed in the next few Sunday so get in touch with us at . Register your children HERE or sign up at the VBS 2017 Registration Table in the courtyard.

Name tags available!  Stop by the Name Tags Table and pick up your name tag this Sunday!
 Our Union Welcome Committee have provided name tags to help us all get to know one another better during our time of transition. If your name does not appear we will be happy to provide one for you.  Let’s encourage one another and build up our fellowship together!

BUFF

1 Timothy 6:18 “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

Paul urges Timothy to teach the rich in Ephesus: to invest their treasure into eternal purposes. The purpose of wealth is to do good with it. Note that he doesn't command the rich to become poor. Instead he commands the rich to be generous, "rich in good deeds." They give up one type of riches to gain another. And in doing that, they break the enslaving grip that treasures have on our heart. In short, the antidote for money's poisonous effect in our lives is generosity. It's an antidote of drinking the sweet medicine of trusting in God's control of the future, trusting in the "life that is truly life." This is first of all a generosity of the heart. The heart has to turn from loving good deeds more than loving riches. But that is a measurable turning. The desire to give is easily quantified-when money actually leaves the account and goes to God's kingdom.

As we get closer towards the move to Sunlight Tower, please give generously to the Redevelopment Fund or sponsor an item for Sunlight Tower. Pledge envelopes are available in the pews. Cheques may be written to “Union Church” or “Friends of Hong Kong Charities, Inc.” (for US tax payers only) with a notation for “BUFF” written at the back.

Please click on the links below to see the sponsorship items, the sponsorship form and the commitment form:

Items available for Church Members
A number of hard furniture items at Union Church cannot be moved to the new location at Sunlight Tower. So these are now being offered to Church Members in the first instance. Those not taken up will be donated to charity.

HERE is a link to a list of these items, and if interested in any please contact Hunter Purvis by email or telephone at 2101 0423.

It will be necessary to make own arrangements for physical uplift and removal.

While early collection is encouraged, some will still be required for use until the last service on Sunday 27 August and must be removed on Monday 28 August, before the full Church exit by the removalists on Tuesday 29 August.

Members wishing to take advantage of this offer are encouraged to consider a donation towards Building Union for the Future (BUFF), using the commitment form that has been widely circulated

Family Matters

Family in Need (FIN): If you have a fan, small fridge, small gas cooker, pots or cooking utensils please contact either our FIN team Charles Schmidt or Isabel Morrison.

Opportunities

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. 

ALPHA RETURNS!
We will kick off our next Alpha course on Wed 11 Oct 2017 in Sunlight Tower. Over the summer, pray about who you can invite to the Intro Dinner that day. Contact .

Baptism and You
If you have not been baptized and would like to be, please see Pastor Michele or Pastor Greg.
- Baptism by immersion on Sunday 13 August: Classes will be held soon.
- Baptism of babies and children, as well as dedication can also be arranged. Please contact Pastor Michele or Pastor Greg to schedule a meeting.

Membership
There is no better time than NOW to become a member at Union Church. If interested in membership, please see Pastor Michele or Pastor Greg for details. 

Feeling Anxious?...Try prayer.  Seeking peace?...Try prayer!  Looking for guidance and answers???...Try Prayer
Please join your fellow Union Family members for a time of community prayer leading up to our move to Sunlight Tower. During the month of August we will gather weekly, on Wednesday evenings 7:30PM, Union Church 22A, for relaxed prayer times.  Many small groups and ministries teams have been praying during their individual meetings but as we look to our new temporary home and seek to lift up our yet to built new church home - we feel the need to cover this time in prayer - together as a church family.  
 
SO please come on down to Union Church at 22A Kennedy Road every Wednesday 7:30PM during the weeks of August beginning on 2 August.  Come ready to join others in prayer as:
 
"We spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, but let us encourage one another --and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Youth

Youth Summer Program – Movie Night
This Friday and every week this Summer, our Youth Group meets for a casual Hang-out from 6 to 9PM, for both Juniors and Seniors. This week we’ll be getting together and watching a movie in the Youth Lounge! Dinner and Popcorn will be provided.

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 (Friday, Sunday), Youth Band, Christian Clubs, Confirmation etc.
Don’t wait September to join us! If you’re in Hong Kong this summer, we meet every Friday at Union Church for a casual Hang-out from 6:00 to 9:00PM, for both Juniors and Seniors.
 
Questions? Email 

Kingdom Kids

Sunday School 2017/2018 Registration 
Sunday School Registration for academic year 2017/2018 is now open. In order to help us plan our program well and serve your family better, we would appreciate it if you could 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 2101 0414.

Sunday School Teachers Wanted
But Jesus called the little children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14)  It is a great opportunity to be a part of the children’s lives as they grow up learning about Christ and have a closer relationship with Him. At Union Church, we have a thriving Children Ministry with children who longs to learn about Jesus. If you would like to know more about serving Christ in this capacity, please contact us and we would love to tell you more about the wonderful time we have spent with the little ones. Come and say Hello to us at the Kingdom Kids table in front of the Lower Annex or you may reach us . We look forward on seeing you soon.

Mission

All-Church Mission Trip to Manila, October 2017
Sign-up now for Union Church’s annual All-Church Mission Trip to Manila in partnership with Kids International Ministries (KIM).
Everyone is welcome to join: KIM is baby and youth friendly! 
The dates of the trip are 29 September to 02 October 2017, but you can also extend your stay in the Philippines if you want to! The current early-bird price for the trip is $4200.
Unaccompanied youth will stay 3 more days with Anto (until 05 October, price: $5600) to enjoy a visit of Puerto Galera. Contact t
o register. 

Last Week's Sermon

Please click on the link below to download

"Faith Works: Power of Patience" by Pastor Greg Anderson
 

Union Church, 22A Kennedy Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2523 7247 | Fax: +852 2524 0473
Email:    www.unionchurchhk.org