August 8, 2021

11 a.m. One-Worship Contemporary Service with Baptism

Flower Dedication

The sanctuary flowers are given today in loving memory of William H. Shaefer Jr. from Marjorie Shaefer.

August 6, 2021

Hi Union Church Family and Friends!

Tami and I returned from vacation with our family Tuesday evening. We had a wonderful time away enjoying the Laurel Highlands just southeast of the city. We are blessed to have such beautiful parks and waterways within such a close distance to Pittsburgh. Each day brought us fresh reminders of the Lord’s beauty and goodness on display in his creation. All creation does indeed declare the Lord’s glory!
When we got home, it was clear that it had not rained much while we were gone. Everything in our gardens looked dry and droopy (gardens need real water to praise the Lord). It reminded me of my message from John 4 about the woman at the well and the importance of water! Jesus promises the Samaritan woman, and us, that he is the source of life-giving water.

The Psalmist sings:

1 You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

The answer to the thirst of our souls? The antidote for our dry and drooping spirits? Worship! Prayer! Praise! When we come before the Lord in worship and prayer, the Lord reminds of his never-ending love and goodness, which revives us! When thirsty, we long to bring a cool glass of water to our lips. When our spirits thirst for the Lord’s presence, we offer praise with our lips. The Lord’s Day is for drinking deeply from the living water that Jesus gives. It is a day to experience the Holy Spirit’s reviving power in our being, replenishing us for the week ahead. When we drink deeply from this Living Water, we become a source of that same living water – it overflows from us to the world around us.

With that in mind, we want to share an opportunity with you to “be living water” to others. We have an opportunity to serve one of our Union Christian Academy families in their efforts to raise funds for research into a rare disease affecting their son, Connor. Please read this message from Kelsey, the UCA director, and prayerfully consider your response of support through prayer and financial support. You will find information about making contributions to this effort in her message.

Hope to see you Sunday, thirsty for the Lord’s presence and ready for worship!

Peace,
Tom

Thomas B. Ribar
412.977.9454 (m)
Pastor, Mt. Pisgah Presbyterian Church 412.921.8444
Associate Pastor for Youth & Families, Union Church of Robinson 412.787.1818

P.S. - A Message from Union Christian Academy

Hi Union Families!
We are reaching out to all of you on behalf of one of our incredible Union Families. Their son, Connor Graban, was born with ataxia-telangiectasia, or “A-T,” an ultra-rare, progressive, degenerative and deadly disease. You can learn more if you’d like to by clicking this link: https://www.atcp.org/about-ataxia-telangiectasia/learn-about-a-t/what-is-a-t/ or https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ConnorsSuperheroes. Today, the scientific community has not found a cure or interventions that may slow the progression of A-T.

The Graban family is leading an audacious fundraising effort to fully fund an unique scientific study aimed at locating existing drugs or investigational compounds that might slow the degeneration going on in Connor's body, with the goal of finding a cure or slowing the progression of A-T. If they don't find something to slow the progression of A-T, it's likely that Connor will be in a wheelchair by the time he's 10 (or even earlier), develop distorted or slurred speech and swallowing problems, lose his ability to write and even read, etc.

Charles River Laboratories is the organization conducting the repurposing screen/unique scientific study. You can learn more about it here: https://www.criver.com/eureka/can-existing-drugs-find-new-purpose-ultra-rare-disease. In order to begin, the screen has to be fully funded! Which means time is of the essence. One week into the campaign and they have already raised $47,600 (or 25% of the goal of $185,000)!! If you feel led to do so, please visit the fundraising page and donate https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ConnorsSuperheroes (**It's important to note that all donations are tax-deductible and 100% go to the A-T Children's Project, a non-profit that is working with Michelle and Dan and Charles River on this repurposing screen.) If you are unable to give financially, please share the fundraiser with family and friends and above all else, please pray. Connor and his parents, Dan and Michelle need your prayers. Pray for Connor and his health, pray for the fundraiser to be successful, and pray for the study to be successful.

Additionally, we will be turning our annual Trunk or Treat event into a fundraiser to support Connor. More details will be sent closer to the date of the Trunk or Treat Fundraiser. Thank you for taking time to donate to the fundraiser and share the fundraiser to spread awareness of A-T. And, thank you for praying for the Graban family!

Kelsey Liwosz
Director, Union Christian Academy
6165 Steubenville Pike
McKees Rocks, PA 15136
412.787.7553 (p) 412.787.8126 (f)

August
Calendar
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New Hymnals on the Way!

We are pleased to announce that new hymnals have been ordered for the kick off of the upcoming fall worship season. On September 19th, we will be introducing a new hymnal called “The Celebration Hymnal”. This new hymnal will include most (if not all) of the well-known and beloved hymns that we have grown to enjoy throughout the years. If you would like to contribute to the expense of purchasing the new hymnals, please simply drop a check in the mail (or in the Sunday offering box) with “new hymnals” written in the memo portion of the check.

Knitters and Crocheters Outreach

Looking for a mission project? Come and learn how to knit or crochet baby afghans. We just gave 104 baby afghans to Magee Women’s Hospital picked up by MedSpeed and delivered to Magee and clinics throughout Alleghany County. They are given to the less fortunate newborns. We thank all of you who continue to give yarn and monetary donations, they are much appreciated. Call Loraine at (412) 452-0297.

Connor's Superheroes

We are reaching out to all of you on behalf of one of our incredible Union Families. Connor Graban was born with ataxia-telangiectasia, or “A-T,” an ultra-rare, progressive, degenerative and deadly disease. The Graban family is leading an audacious fundraising effort to fully fund an unique scientific study aimed at locating existing drugs or investigational compounds that might slow the degeneration going on in Connor's body, with the goal of finding a cure or slowing the progression of A-T. If they don't find something to slow the progression, it's likely that Connor will be in a wheelchair by the time he's 10 (or even earlier), develop distorted or slurred speech and swallowing problems, lose his ability to write and even read, etc. If you would like to help with the cause, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ConnorsSuperheroes

LOCATION
Union Church of Robinson Twp.
6165 Steubenville Pike
McKees Rocks, PA 15136

Ph: 4127871818
Email: Click Here

Services
Sunday Morning Combined Worship is at 11 a.m.