PASTOR'S PEN
Looking to Discern the Steps of God’s Plan for Us (Part 1)
“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each, I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth…For we are Gods’ servants, working together…” I Corinthians 3:5-6, 9
In the Pastor’s Pen this past January, I
shared a little bit about our session (governing body of CUPC), and its genuine
work to discern the future direction for CUPC. In the end, everyone
on session felt that God was calling us to spend this year in strengthening and
equipping the existing ministries/groups within the church, rather than
focusing on ‘going out’ – just yet. Session also felt that it was
important to hear the voices of the members and friends of the congregation for
further input and discernment as we look to take concrete steps in our
strengthening and equipping.
With this in mind, session decided to hold ‘town
hall meetings’ that addressed each of the four areas that emerged as the focus
ministries/groups of CUPC. Upon hearing the congregation’s input and
discernment regarding the four areas: Seniors, Nichigo/Japanese-Speaking, CUPC
Youth, Young Families/Families with Special Needs – the session would then work
further to see how these ideas could be implemented in a realistic way.
As we haven’t finished all four ‘town hall meetings’, I would like to share
some of the voices of the congregation from the first two that we have had.
Focus group: Seniors
Question: What
are some of the needs of the seniors at CUPC that you would like to see
attended to?
Some answers were:
The
need for socialization (both project-oriented and not)
Working
with other senior organizations (Kokoro, Kimochi)
Small
group studies that would give opportunities for senior participation
Transportation
Attending
to the homebound
Elder
care resources for family/friends of seniors
Building
safety issues (railings, hearing assistance, lighting, wheelchair/cane access)
Working
with younger members/friends of church to address needs
Accessible
emergency information of seniors
Focus group: Nichigo/Japanese-Speaking
Ministries
Some recent thanksgivings were:
More
Japanese-speaking leadership
Gain
in Japanese-speaking membership/attendance
Weekly
small groups, monthly Bible Study in Japanese
Japanese
outdoor sign, Japanese sermon summary, Japanese prayer request cards
Bilingual
worship bulletins
Contribution
to church through sushi sales
Question: What
are some of the needs of the Nichigo/Japanese-Speaking Ministries that you
would like to see attended to?
Some answers were:
Continuing
support for senior members (transportation, Japanese food)
Opportunities
for fellowship between the Japanese and non-Japanese speaking
Outreach
to Japanese students, Japanese-speaking families, Kokoro
Need
for Japanese website, Summer Camp brochure in Japanese
Training
for more younger Japanese-speaking leaders
Opportunities
to teach Japanese food/culture to all who are interested
Japanese-only
worship service
Church
retreat in Japanese
Additional
paid staff
(The voices from the other two town hall meetings
will be featured in the next Pastor’s Pen)
I hope you can see that the voices of our members
and friends are genuine, true and diverse as those who said them. And
they are very integral to the session as they plan timelines and ways to
implement them! If you have a voice that is not reflected here, and would
like for it to be heard, please feel free to contact me anytime – I would love
to hear from you!
As in the Bible passage above, we are all
God’s servants (like Apollos and Paul – who were both leaders in the early
church), working together in the process to discern God’s will for us and the
direction that God guides us in. Of course, it is God that ultimately
guides us and enables us to do any of the things that are mentioned
above. But we are also invited to take part in the task – as co-creators
with God. What an honorable calling we are given!
So, I invite you to join in this process with us
– whether it is through your input, your prayers or hopefully both. Come
heed the call and discern with us!
DEACONS' REPORT
Happy Spring!! Hope everyone is enjoying
the beautiful springtime weather and all that comes with spring… warm sunshine,
flowers in bloom, and new beginnings. And during this season of
Lent, I hope everyone is preparing for Easter. I think one of the
ways we can prepare is by giving thanks. I for one am so thankful for all
the members and friends of CUPC who are so giving and willing to do God’s work
in this church. It is these individuals who keep CUPC sustaining and
growing. Thanks to all of you!
Although the Deacons haven’t met this past month,
we continue to provide and nurture the congregation. We will be
discussing a program called “ The Pastoral Partnership Program”. This is
similar to our current “Flock Program”, but will involve more members becoming
involved with caring and nurturing the congregation. Look forward to
hearing more about this program.
If you have a request or a need, please contact
the church.
Irene Woo, Vice Moderator
MISSION WORK UPDATE
TOKYO JAPAN
Spring is finally here and that means…new
beginnings, start of the new school semester, and sakura (cherry
blossoms). As we enter into the month of April, I am excited to be back
on campus with our new Shinkan (freshman welcome week) teams. The
leadership of JCCC decided to have mixed teams with STINTers, Japanese national
staff and International campus staff. It’s been really fun to partner
with them to do ministry together! Shinkan is a great time to meet
incoming freshman and gain new contacts. Our desire is to love and care
for the students and invite them to our many outreach events, English lunch
times, weekly meetings, bible study, etc., so that they may experience
authentic community and learn more about God.
March was a crazy month I call “March Madness” in
Tokyo. My STINT team and I had many visitors who came back to back.
First there was a vision team from USC. Our team showed them around and
they got a taste of Tokyo. Two of them were a couple on staff with CCC
and will potentially be next year’s STINT team leaders. After the vision
team, my friend Fumi from Kyoto came. We got to spend time together in
Yokohama and also sight-seeing around Tokyo. And last but not least…
Kimby came to visit Jill and me for a week! We had a great time showing
her around, eating out at good restaurants, shopping, and taking pictures of
the sakura.
Since coming back from Thailand over a month ago,
I feel a lot more connected with the Japanese staff and students here.
It’s been a real blessing to go deeper with them by praying together, having
them over for dinner, hanging out, doing ministry together, etc. I am
excited to be able to come back next year to Re-STINT in the fall and continue
to be a part of what God is doing here in Tokyo.
Last week we had our first Student Impact (Tokyo
inter-College) meeting. It was so encouraging to see students step up and
serve on the worship team, dance team, hospitality team, and prayer team.
God is really raising-up amazing student leaders here.
Thank you so much
for all your prayers and support. Happy Easter!
Blessings from Tokyo,
Kelly Der
STANFORD ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK PROGRAM
In March (3/24-3/30/07) thirteen students from
Stanford University stayed at the church for our Alternative Spring Break
program. The students spent one week studying homelessness in San Francisco.
This was not the first time that Christ United Presbyterian Church and Stanford
students have collaborated. In fact, the alternative spring break students have
been staying at your church for similar service project since the year 2000.
Highlights of our trip included serving food at
St. Anthony’s Foundation, working at the San Francisco Food Bank, volunteering
with Larkin Street Youth Services, and helping Working Essentials collect
supplies. The students were also given presentations by the Mayor’s Office, the
Fire Department, the Coalition on Homelessness, and several housing and shelter
agencies throughout the city.
Upon our departure, we express gratitude for “the
welcoming feeling that Christ United Presbyterian Church provided”.
Aaron Vagory, Group Leader
STURGE SUNDAY – MAY 20
May of every year is a special month for CUPC. A
special observance is held annually to celebrate the birthdays of our ‘founder’,
Dr. Ernest A. Sturge, and our church, Christ United Presbyterian Church. Dr.
Sturge was born on April 29, 1856 and Christ Church had its beginning on May
18, 1885.
Dr. Sturge whom we affectionately call the
“Father of Japanese Presbyterian Churches” in America was not originally called
to serve the Japanese. He had just returned to the USA to regain his health
after a grueling medical mission in Thailand. Dr. Sturge, while in San
Francisco, was assigned to help the Chinese in San Francisco, but found himself
serving the immigrant Japanese instead. Besides helping the Japanese in their
religious endeavors, Dr. Sturge assisted them in their social and physical
needs. In the course of serving the Japanese, he found the Japanese YMCA in San
Francisco as well.
We owe much to Dr. Sturge for organizing the
Japanese Presbyterian Churches throughout California. Dr. Sturge is remembered
and revered in all Japanese Presbyterian Churches on the West Coast.
Dr. Sturge and his wife owned and lived in their
San Francisco home next door to the church on 1500 Post Street, our last
address before the present site. He bequeathed his home to the San Francisco
Japanese community. When we built the present church facility, we built the
Sturge Building next to the church, just as it was on Post Street. This
building is separate from CUPC, and is owned and administered by the Board of
Trustees of the Japanese Church of Christ.
Although the Sturge Building is separate from
Christ United Presbyterian Church, the facility is managed and operated by the
church. We are indeed blessed to have use of the building throughout the year.
As we observe Dr. Sturge’s 151st birthday on
Sunday May 20, 2007, we should remember and give thanks to a remarkable servant
who gave so much to the founding of the Japanese Presbyterian Churches in the
USA, and CUPC in particular..
Kathy Reyes
NATIONAL ASIAN PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN GATHERING
The National Asian Presbyterian Women Gathering
will take place the weekend of April 20-22 at the Mercy Center in Burlingame,
California. APW leaders and clergy women from throughout the country will
gather together to worship, share, and fellowship as Asian Presbyterian Women
of PC (USA). Keynote address will be given by the Rev. Unzu Lee, PW Associate
for Leadership; Development.
A workshop study on “Asian American Women doing
Theology” will be led by Rev. Unzu Lee, followed by workshop for action: “What
does it mean to ‘go into the world and make disciples of all nations…?
Workshops will be led by Doreen Der-McLeod and Mary Wong Leong of Cameron
House.
Saturday morning devotion will be led by our
pastor, Rev. Grace Suzuki. The APW gathering will conclude on Sunday with
communion led by Rev. Unzu Lee as Celebrant.
APW participants will have time for singing,
getting acquainted, and fellowship.
For further information, contact Kathy Reyes.
"AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH"
You
are invited to join the Women’s Group on Saturday 04/21/07 at 7:00PM for a
viewing of the Academy Award winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth.
Come learn about the myths and misconceptions of
global warming as presented by Al Gore.
As stewards of God’s world we need to
be responsible citizens in learning and doing all we can to protect the earth
we are gifted.
Jackie Kwan
