U MATTERS
As you know we have been in a series “What’s New in 22”. And this week we learned that there are new things happening in the lives of Brian Woo, Carrine Wong and their daughter, Hannah. Brian has accepted a call to pastoral ministry as Ministry Director discipling men at Saddleback Church. In addition to his role, he will also attend seminary. We are excited for them, although sad for us. We have appreciated Brian’s servant heart over many years of ministry at Union Church - Deacon, Alpha leader, Family in Need member, photographer and Christmas card/banner designer, to name a few roles. Brian has always been willing to lend a hand - we will miss him.
Over the years it has been exciting to see how God has been working in the lives of our Deacons. Many graduated from seminary and are engaged in various aspects of ministry. Catriona Woodrow - a Stephen Minister and teacher - will teach two sessions on the life of Robert Morrison in February. Alexander Mak who has been working at Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS), is actively engaged in small group ministry and plays a key role in the Faith in the Marketplace team, and Yan Yu who teaches at LTS is in pastoral ministry at the Hong Kong Mandarin Bible Church. Additionally, Deacons have been very engaged in various aspects of ministry in the workplace, in their neighbourhoods and with NGOs.
This week, thanks to Charles Caldwell who posts daily in our prayer chain Whatsapp group, we celebrated the four-year anniversary of praying the prayer “Lord, change me and use me. Lord, change Union Church and use Union Church. Amen!” Much has happened in the past four years and many took up the challenge to pray this prayer. If you have not prayed this prayer I encourage you to start. You never know how God can use it - in your own life, in the life of the church and the life of the city. Together let’s continue to be open to seeing what God is doing in our city - in our neighbourhoods, and in the lives of our brothers and sisters.
"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him… fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognise what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.” Romans 12:1-2
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year - God’s blessings to you -
Pastor Michele
CHURCH ONLINE
Join us for the livestream of the 9:45am (Traditional) and 11:15am (Contemporary) services here. It’s Communion Sunday and we will be celebrating Christ’s great love and sacrifice for us. Please prepare your bread and wine / juice in advance.
You may also catch up with friends during Zoom Coffee Hour, Sunday, 6 February, 10:45am. Email for the Zoom link. Check the website for all of the online programmes for children, youth, young adults, men and women.
THIS WEEK
Young Adults Study - "Your Time is Now": ONLINE Wednesdays at 8:00pm: We’re resuming on 9 February. Join us then as speaker and chaplain Jonathan Evans encourages us to walk in God’s purpose today and for the rest of our lives. Learn how we can take hold of what God wants to give us right now. For more details and the Zoom link contact Dan Tupps.
GriefShare course extended: We are continuing to learn about grief and the grieving process in sessions 5 to 8 on Tuesdays, 8, 15, 22 February and 1 March, on Zoom. The next session is about Grief and Your Relationships. Learn more about GriefShare.
UPCOMING
Robert Morrison, Pioneer Protestant Missionary to China, Online: Wednesdays, 16 and 23 February, 8:00pm - 9:15pm. Catriona Woodrow - former Deacon, historian and seminary graduate - takes us on another tour of church history. She will look at the significance of the life and work of Robert Morrison (1782 - 1834). This continues our heritage series of the rich historical foundations of Union Church Hong Kong, as we prepare to return to 22A Kennedy Road. Register now.
@thetable Zoom social, Tuesday, 22 February, 8:00pm, save the date for this fun gathering for all of Union's women. January's online social featured a great cross section of our diverse congregation - join us for the next one! Email for the Zoom link. (Hint: it's the same Zoom link as for the January social.)
Alpha Course, Thursdays, starting 10 March, 7:45pm, with the introductory session, Is There More To Life Than This? The Alpha course is your opportunity to ask any question about the Christian faith. Bring a family member, friend or colleague - ask God who that person is. Registration is open.
Walk to Emmaus - Men's Retreat No. 82, 24 - 27 March 2022: Men, save the dates to join this Hong Kong-wide Christian retreat aimed at strengthening Hong Kong churches and communities by developing Christian disciples and leaders. Learn more https://hkwalktoemmaus.org/#next. Registration is open.
KINGDOM KIDS
Online Sunday School, Every Sunday at 10:30am: Children ages 3 to 10 years old are invited to join us! There will be a time of worship, learning about God's Word, sharing and praying for each other and a Kahoot game. It will be fun to learn together. Please email to get the Zoom link.
Peace Vouchers: Sunday School families are invited to bless families in Hong Kong during this challenging time. "Peace Vouchers" in the form of PARKnSHOP vouchers will distributed through our partner, Hong Kong Church Network for the Poor. Include a loving message or Bible verse(s) on your envelope with any quantity of voucher(s). You may drop them off at the church office during office hours or mail them to us at 18/F Dah Sing Financial Centre, 248 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai. Please mark envelopes with "Peace Vouchers". The last drop-off date is 20 February. Thank you!
Kingdom Kids Sunday edition - Fishers of Men - will be available at the end of the 9:45am and 11:15am worship services on the Union Church website and Facebook.
Online Friday Youth - Tomorrow! - 4 February, 6:00pm - 8:00pm: We're starting a new series, Fruit of the Spirit: The 9 Keys to Happiness. We'll meet on Zoom at 6:00pm before heading into breakout rooms for Juniors and Seniors. See you on Zoom - the link is here.
Online Sunday Youth - 6 February, 11:15am: We'll continue our series on forgotten figures of the Bible for Juniors and Seniors, as well as having time to check in, pray and more. Youth can join the Zoom here at 11:15am.
MISSIONS
Sons & Daughters is one of our Ministry Partners, and they serve individuals caught in sexual exploitation so they may reclaim their lives and freedom in Christ. Thank you to our people who have supported them with baby formula and other forms of love and support. Their aftercare ladies have created a new candle for Valentine's Day and it's available at their social enterprise, ReStore. Please look at www.restoreshop.org for gift ideas.
4.2.20 Foundation, a Union Church ministry partner, gives praise for the astonishing growth of their online extension programme for biblical Hebrew training around the world as part of Bible translation services. In addition, the first residential programme in two years has started in Jerusalem. 4.2.20 asks for prayers for the continued processing of visas and entry permits for incoming students; for safe travel of a student from Tonga; and for the health of all students and staff during record numbers of omicron infection in Israel. Read their latest newsletter here.
ONE2022 Campaign: Let's continue praying for the upcoming ONE2022 campaign that kicks off at Lent. Pray for citywide unity and transformation as we get into the Gospel of John and the three Epistles of John. Rev Dr Edmund Cheung, Senior Pastor, Pentecostal Church of HK Taipo Church, reminds us how hearing the Word of God is essential to growing our faith and relationship with God. Watch the video.
Light of the World Church and Preschool, Myanmar: 1 February was the one-year anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar. Chaos, turmoil and violence continue in cities and the countryside. Pastor Vum asks for prayers that God extend special protection to save Myanmar. He gives thanks that they were able to worship last Sunday and start another week of the preschool.
Walk The Wall 2022 Hong Kong continues through 31 March: Register for Walk The Wall at https://walkthewall.org/hk/ to help give life and end abandonment for the most vulnerable children in China.
Stay connected while church is online. The support from your friends in a small group is tangible demonstration of God's love for us. Interested in joining one? There are groups for women, men, couples, day-time, night-time, etc. Contact so that we might suggest a good group for you.
Prayer
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Stephen Ministry
Going through a crisis or a difficult time? Stephen Ministers are members of our congregation who listen, care, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support during life's challenges. Please contact if we can help.
Last week's service
“What's New in 22 - Church Reimagined" Rev Dr Michele Bland
Social Media
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