April 1, 2021

Easter Message from Pastor Billy

Dear Union Family,

God has the last word! Always! Jesus’ enemies and I suppose, his friends too, thought the cross was the final word. When Jesus cried “It is finished,” They understood it far too simply. They thought he was gone, finished forever.

But, of course, resurrection morning dawned and the foundation of the whole universe shifted. The cross was not the end at all. It was just the beginning. The entire New Testament was written in the powerful reflection of Easter’s dawn. The Apostles boldly proclaimed the one whom everyone consigned to death was, in fact, alive and nothing would ever be the same again.

Now 2000 years later we look back to the empty tomb, the happy women who discovered it and the dumbstruck disciples who doubted what their eyes told them. He is risen indeed!

We must be very careful, however, not to face backwards on Easter. It’s about the future, not the past. Paul argues in I Corinthians 15 that the resurrection guarantees that history is under God’s control. That Christ entered history powerfully and creatively through the resurrection and is transforming it. God is bending history toward its proper conclusion. That’s really good news!

However, the even greater news is that God’s invasion of history in Christ includes us! The overwhelming power that is bending history works in and through the people of God. Indeed, the church is the primary force God uses in history! Therefore, we are people of hope. HOPE! Our faith has a very necessary future dimension. And our lives, all our lives, have divine purpose and significance. We, as God’s people, are on a fast trip forward toward God’s glorious and hopeful future.

So look up, people of God. God is on his throne. He hasn’t moved a single inch in all history. Look out, brothers and sisters. Christ is Lord of his church. Hell itself cannot and will not prevail.

Hallelujah! He is risen. He is risen indeed.

In hope,

Billy

Easter Weekend Schedule:

• Good Friday:

Traditional Tenebrae worship service in the sanctuary with the choir and communion at 7:00pm. (In-person or online)

• Easter Morning:

In addition to our online Easter services, we will be having in-person worship services at 9am (Contemporary) and 11am (Traditional).

** Please note that there will be no nursery care at any of these services.

to KTA’s (Kindness to All) meeting on Thursday, April 8th at 1 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Enjoy Bible Devotions, lots of conversation and a tasty desert on one of God’s Spring Days! Contact: Sally Lickovich (412) 787-2687.

Registration is open! VBS will be taking place this year from June 28th - July 2nd at the Lions Shelter on Park Road in McKees Rocks. There will be two sessions taking place, one from 9:30 - 11 a.m. and the second from 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. We are taking registrations for both participants and volunteers. For more information or to register please click the link below.

Following the outdoor service on May 23rd: The rolling meatballs Food Truck will make a return appearance, and the Union Church missions team will host a Chance Auction to Benefit the Mission Fund. The missions team is seeking donations for the chance auction. Please let us know if your family or your business can donate a basket or items for this chance auction. This chance auction will replace the annual Chili Cook-Off with a plan for it to return in 2022.

The Deacons are accepting non-perishable grocery items for the monthly food pantry. We need spaghetti sauces, cake mixes, icing, canned fruit and vegetables as well as chili ingredients. We do accept all food donations. Additionally, paper products, cleaning supplies, health and beauty items will be accepted. Please put all donations in the donation boxes in Fellowship Hall. Thank you for your support!

Currently a 412 volunteer delivers produce every Sunday between 10-12 that needs to be unpacked and separated into bags to be used before it spoils. We have offered this additional service to our present Food Pantry clients as a supplement to our monthly boxes. What food we have left we encourage our members to take to share with family, friends and neighbors who are food insecure. Anyone wishing to help with delivery and bagging is welcome to help. Please contact one of your deacons to volunteer!