OUR MINISTRIES and how you can get involved
The Power of Prayer
Do you have a prayer request? We would like to pray for you.
If you have a prayer request please let us know by contacting the office by email at admin@unionchurch.org
Bible Study
Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away…..”
Currently there are the following study groups ongoing at Union Church:
Tuesday Bible Study Group
10:00 am – Ivan Hall – Lead by the Rev. Mark J. Brady
Bible study groups take a break during June, July and August.
Would you like to join this faithful family of enquirers, or would you like to find or strengthen you own faith? Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, please join us.
For more information please contact the Church Office at
(408) 252-4478 or admin@unionchurch.org.
Sunday school
children and youth
Children, youth, and their families are invited to join with our entire congregation for the beginning of our service of worship at 10am Sunday morning. A “Children’s Moment” invites them forward for a special time with the pastor, the Rev. Mark Brady or Sunday School Superintendent, Barbara Murray. Following this time together, the children join their Sunday School teachers to go to their specific classes. Once in a class, we strive to live out our purpose together to grow in God’s grace.
We provide the following classes:
>Pre-K/Kindergarten – Montgomery Hall
>Grades 1-2 – Montgomery Hall
>Grades 3-4/5 – Ivan Hall
>Grades 6-7/8 – Montgomery Hall
>Grades 9-12 – Fireside Room
Volunteer helpers are always welcome. Come and Join the Team! If you think you might be interested or want more information please contact the Church Office or the Christian Education Committee.
Music
Youth Choir
Joyful Noise! is our choir for youth and is directed by Mindy Dickens. It’s open to all young singers ages 3 through 14. Songs are learned largely by rote and rehearsals include play, solfeggio, rhythm instruments, and basic ensemble etiquette. Ability to read music is not required to participate in choir. Membership in church is also not required. Rehearsals are during Sunday School on the first Sunday of the month and after church on other Sundays. If you are thinking about joining or have any questions, please talk with Mindy or email her at note@MindyMusic.com.
Adult Choir
The Choir meets Wednesday nights, from 7:30pm to 9pm, in the Sanctuary for a weekly rehearsal and sings during each Sunday worship service. We perform music from all periods, from Gregorian Chant to contemporary styles.
The Choir sings at several benefit concerts each year at Union Church in support of our community outreach programs. The choir also participates in an annual ecumenical Thanksgiving service, along with other local church choirs.
If you are interested in singing good music, warm fellowship and benefiting others through music, come and join us at our rehearsals. We welcome everyone including beginners.
If you would like additional information email
musicdirector@unionchurch.org.
Praise Band
The Praise Band, ‘The Revelations’ plays an average of once a month, and more frequently during the summer season, including outdoor services and special events. The band consists of musicians and singers from the church and local music community, as well as students from the music programs at De Anza College and San Jose State University. If you would like to know more about how to sing or play in the band, please contact Ross at: musicdirector@unionchurch.org
Benefit Concerts
Each year, Union Church holds a musical benefit concert. The proceeds go to support a local charity or cause, and local choirs and musicians have always enjoyed donating their time and talents to this collage concert. Previous guests have included the BoAi Choir, TenSync, Choral Cosmos, Union Choir, Zhi Yin Chorus, Lothar Bandermann, the Revelations, and the Messiah Brass.
Missions and Community Service
The Missions Committee of Union Church is committed to working within the community to help those in need. We work directly with the following organizations:
Adopt-a-Chaplain is a Christ-centered ministry that is dedicated to supporting our troops through the ministries of chaplains. By adopting chaplains and their families, we pray for and communicate with them regularly. Care packages are sent to chaplains serving in the Middle East and they distribute the items to our troops.
UC Christmas Box Project
Annually in December we come together as a church to fill up specially wrapped Christmas boxes with food for our neighbors located at the apartments next door. This special project was started many years ago by the leaders of the Christian Education Committee. Now, our Missions budget and individuals help with the expenses, too. Goodie bags and groceries are provided for each box. If you would like to contribute or participate please email the office at
admin@unionchurch.org for more details.
Seniors
Second Harvest Brown Bag Program
Second Harvest Food Bank’s Brown Bag Program provides weekly nutritious groceries to senior individuals (ages 60+) and disabled individuals (ages 55+) at distribution sites in Santa Clara County and San Mateo County.
Union Church hosts the Brown Bag program for seniors every other Thursday morning. To volunteer or if you are a senior wishing to apply to the program, please click “Second Harvest Brown Bag Program” above to visit their website.
Opened in 1973 and is named for one of the founders, a past mayor of the City of Santa Clara. Their Mission is to support and strengthen the community by serving youth and families through counseling, housing, education and advocacy. The Center serves over 10,000 clients in Santa Clara County annually.
Family Supportive Housing, Inc.
There are few options for extremely low income parents with children to live in our community. In 1988 this agency with the help of the City of San Jose converted an empty warehouse to a facility to house 35 homeless families to live up to 90 days. Family Supportive Housing offers a respite and an opportunity to make life-altering changes and provides a system to aid families in finding permanent housing.
Hospice of the Valley is a non-profit that works to help patients and families enjoy life to the fullest of their abilities, helping them create more cherished moments and memories together. They also honor their wishes, providing the support they need to live each day with dignity and hope. With more than 30 years of experience and expertise in caring for individuals and families in Santa Clara County, they provide a unique approach to care and services to help patients and families embrace living every moment.
LifeMoves (formerly InnVision)
Reaches throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties and serve more than 20,000 men, women, children and mentally ill adults each year at 20 different sites. InnVision addresses the multiple needs of people in transition, including emergency shelters, transitional/supportive housing, food, clothing, showers, laundry, healthcare, job training, classes, children’s programs and access to telephones and computers. The InnVision approach to breaking the cycle of homelessness is innovative and comprehensive.
Live Oak Adult Day Services
Provides support and respite for families who are caring for dependent older relatives. Numerous stimulating activities are provided including adaptive physical exercise, music programs, arts and crafts projects, discussions of current and reminiscent times and community issues. Breakfast and a hot, nutritious lunch are served daily.
Their mission is to End Domestic Violence in the Moment and for All Time. They provide prevention and intervention services to women, men, children and teens in Santa Clara County. The Agency serves over 9,000 people annually at seven locations with a wide array of programs to match each victim’s unique needs.
Salvation Army – Golden State Division
This is a non-profit organization and an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Programs include Rebuilding Lives of Missing Persons, providing Disaster Relief, Prisoner Rehabilitation, Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation and Fighting Human Trafficking. The PG&E REACH program is administered through this program.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara & San Mateo Counties
Second Harvest has been providing services to the community for 35 years. They are the single largest nonprofit provider of food to low-income households in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties and are the seventh largest food bank in the country. They provide food to an average of 176,000 individuals each month, numerous families with children and senior citizens.
VA Palo Alto Health Care System – Spinal Column Injury
The VA Palo Alto works to enhance the quality of life of persons with Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders. They provide comprehensive treatment and services in collaboration with these individuals to promote health, functional independence and community participation throughout their lifetime. Their team is dedicated to excellence in the provision of comprehensive, integrated rehabilitation and state-of-the-art health care and treatment for individuals with Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders. The program utilizes the rehabilitation model of health care with emphasis upon patient and family education, self-reliance, independence, and optimism about the future.
West Valley Community Services
This private, non-profit agency serves individuals and families in the West Valley communities of Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, West San Jose and the unincorporated mountain regions. Services include: information and referrals, food pantry, clothing, transitional housing, affordable housing, financial assistance, family support and case management services. Union Church collects food each month and delivers it to WVCS on the first Sunday of the month. RYDE (Reach Your Destination Easily) is a curb-to-curb transportation and local trip planning service for adults 55+ living in the west valley. RYDE fees are fixed based on the number of miles you travel to a destination.
Union Church is committed to community outreach. The Missions committee coordinates outreach efforts. If you would like additional information or you would like to know more about opportunities for your involvement please email us at admin@unionchurch.org.