PASTOR'S PEN
Eastertide…
“I am the resurrection and the life…I have come to give you life so that you might have life abundantly.” John 11:25, 10:10
Happy Eastertide! In the last Pastor’s Pen, I
shared with you my reflections on the number 40. This time, it’s going to be
the number 50…
Although the store shelves have mostly cleared
the ‘Easter/Spring’ items, (and even if there are any left, they are 80% off!)
did you know that we are still in Easter season? For the Christian church,
despite the commercial factors that exist elsewhere, the time between Easter
and Pentecost (when we celebrate the day when the Holy Spirit came down on the
first Christian believers) is Easter season, or Eastertide. And Eastertide
consists of 50 days. (Pente, from the word Pentecost means 50).
This is the time of the church year where we
continue to recall, retell and reflect upon the resurrection stories that are
in the Bible. I admit, it’s hard to continue celebrating Easter when the ‘rest
of the world’ is already thinking about swim suits and summer vacations! But as
Easter (and not Christmas, believe it or not) was the first major ‘holiday’ to
be observed among the Christians, I believe that Easter Sunday deserves to be
treated not as an ‘ end goal’ of the Lenten season but rather as a
gateway into the season in which we bask in the joy of the resurrection.
The above passages from the Gospel of John have
Jesus making a self-statement: I am the resurrection and the life... I have
come to give you life so that you might have life abundantly. Jesus showed
us the power of the resurrection – and doing so, he shows us what abundant life
is. By being raised from the dead, God showed us that God’s power is greater
than even death – the ultimate enemy of life. And so through this power, we are
freed to have life in the most abundant was possible – not just after we die,
but even now.
If anything, Eastertide is not just about
celebrating God’s power over death, it’s also about celebrating God’s gift of
abundant life for us. How many of us, though physically alive, can claim that
our life in all its aspects (materialistically, spiritually,
emotionally, etc.) is truly abundant? Or do we hinder living life abundantly
with our own bitterness, complaints and negativity?
Living life abundantly does NOT mean that we won’t
have any challenges; physically, spiritually and otherwise. (Even Jesus had his
challenges in his earthly life!) But rather, it’s about basking in God’s
presence, power and love so that despite any situation, God helps us to see
that no matter what, there is nothing that can separate us from God and God’s
presence, power and love. Unfortunately, we are unable to experience this fully
if our own ‘baggage’ (like bitterness, complaining and negativity) gets in the
way.
So in a sense, Eastertide is perhaps about the
continued practice of setting aside those ‘baggages’ – putting them to ‘death’
so to speak – so that our lives may also be resurrected like Christ. And in
this resurrection power, we are enabled to receive that abundant life that
Jesus promises. Sounds simple enough?... Of course, it’s easier said than done!
But thanks be to God, our God is bigger than us – our baggages, our hindrances,
our weaknesses!
My prayer is that during these 50 days of
Eastertide, God will speak to all of our hearts as we are invited to take part
in such a continuing process – to put to death our hindrances, and be raised to
abundant life in Christ. Jesus showed us the way in the Easter event – let us
follow!
Eastertide blessings,
Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki
DEACONS' REPORT
Hallelujah! We’re back on daylight savings time.
It’s wonderful having the extra daylight hours to spend time enjoying the
beauty of the Lord all around us…the delicate pink cherry blossoms, bright
yellow daffodils bobbing in the breeze, calla lilies miraculously resurrecting
out of the ground. Ahhhh, new life….new beginnings.
God is good. Thank you to
the youth for participating in the 30-Hour Famine to raise money for World
Vision to help feed hungry children around the world and thanks to the congregation
for their generous support and donations.
Neither word nor deed can describe
the appreciation we have in our hearts for the years of service both our
treasurers have given this faith community. Their behind the scenes work and
their knowledge of the finances/history of this church have been a huge
blessing to us. It was with grateful hearts, with the help of the Finance
Committee, that the congregation recognized them for their years of service and
the sharing of their gifts with us.
Congratulations to one of our youth on
being elected lieutenant governor for Division 34N of the Key Club for Nevada,
California and Hawaii. The Key Club is the largest high school service
organization in the world, which promotes community service, leadership
development, and fellowship.
Join us on the second Sunday of each month as a
group of us visit the California Convalescent Home on California Street to
share a message and fellowship with the residents.
Please be in prayer for
those in our community and in need. If you have any special prayer requests or
needs, please contact the church office.
COFFEE FELLOWSHIP:
The
Deacons would like to thank the individuals who have contributed to the coffee
fellowship during the months of February and March. The Deacons are
aware that there are others who contribute but do not sign up on the list. We
wish to thank you also.
Jan Der, Co-Moderator
ARTICLE OF INTEREST
Every year in May, CUPC celebrates two important
dates. One is for Dr. Earnest A. Sturge whom we honor as the “Founder of the
Japanese American Presbyterian Churches in California.” His birthday is on
April 28. The other important date is the birthday of our church. Christ United
Presbyterian Church, the oldest Japanese American church in North America,
which was founded in 1885.
The Sturge Board of Trustees decided to celebrate
Sturge Sunday and the church’s birthday this year on Sunday, May 18, 2008
during the worship service and the social hour following.
During the worship
service there will be a brief talk on Dr. Sturge’s life and service to the San
Francisco’s Japanese American community. After worship, we will go down to the
Social Hall to enjoy cake and ice cream. The hall will be decorated with a
large banner which will read, “Happy 153rd Birthday, Dr. Sturge”. For the cake,
the message will read: “Happy Birthday, Dr. Sturge and CUPC.” We will again
serve the traditional ice cream cups to all of the celebrants.
Let us
remember the birthdays of Dr. Sturge and CUPC by attending Sturge Sunday on
Sunday May 18, 2008.
Let us CELEBRATE!
Kathy Reyes, President
Sturge
Board of Trustees
