INTERN'S PEN
My first visit to CUPC was on May 30, 2004, for
Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki’s ordination and installation. It seems like only
yesterday that I was struggling while doing the important task of translating
for Rev. Sarah Reyes of Bethel Community Presbyterian Church, and other
ordained ministers who preached, gave the charges for Pastor Suzuki (who was
about to be ordained) and the congregation. At that time, I was a student at
Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (GGBTS) and serving as an intern at
19th Avenue Japanese Baptist Church. Little had I imagined that four years
later, I would become the intern at this church.
I would like to share with you a bit about how
God has led me this far. My parents owned a liquor store in Japan, and I was
born as their oldest daughter. I grew up in a house which had both a statue of
Buddha and a Shinto shrine. Growing up not being exposed to Christianity, I
began going to church only when I came to study in the US. One of my friends
introduced me to Pastor Suzuki (Miss Ishihara at that time), who was a student
at the SF Conservatory of Music, and we became roommates. Every Sunday, we
would take her car and attend the San Lorenzo Japanese Christian Church in San
Leandro. And two years later, I was baptized.
Five years later, God led me to attend seminary.
I had taken part in the Bible studies at church regularly, and thought that I
had some knowledge of the faith, but when I became the chair of the Evangelism
Committee, I realized how much I didn’t know about the Bible. I initially began
attending GGBTS wanting to study more about the Bible. But little by little,
while I studied, God revealed to me my calling to dedicate myself and be
involved in professional ministry.
As graduation drew near, I was praying about how God
was leading me upon finishing my studies. And God heard my prayer. Upon
graduating from GGBTS in Dec. 2005, I was given the opportunity to serve at
this church. In addition to facilitating a small group study in Japanese, I was
thankfully given the opportunity to preach occasionally. After I transferred my
church membership to CUPC, I have also been involved in other ministries, such
as the Japanese-speaking (Nichigo) Sodankai and Worship Team. Through these
opportunities, God has continued to affirm my calling to dedicate my life to
the ministry.
As I became an elder, I sensed the need to learn
more about the Reformed faith and Presbyterian government. So I began attending
seminary again last year. I entered the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary,
which is one of the Graduate Theological Union schools which enables me to
learn more about Presbyterianism, Lutheranism, Methodism, Episcopalism and
Catholicism. It has been a good learning experience and training to study with
other Christians of various denominations.
I began my internship here in September, and look
forward to continue working hard as a church member in the areas mentioned
above, as well as the new areas as an intern: preaching once every two months,
developing a discipleship program, events that promote the fellowship of the
young adults both English and Japanese speaking and home meeting for those who
feel uncomfortable with the church setting. Even through my many weaknesses, I
pray that God will help me as I give my best as an intern this year. Please
pray for me!
In God’s love,
Hiroko Suzuki, church intern
DEACONS' REPORT
The beginning of fall marks a lot of happenings
here at the church. Sunday School teachers were commissioned on the first
Sunday in September, and the Nichigo had another successful sushi/manju sale
the following week. The Soko Bukai World Communion Sunday on October 5, 2008,
will be held here at CUPC. Christ Episcopal and Pine United Methodist Church
will join us in worship and communion, followed by a potluck luncheon. And the
Deacons will be leading the worship service on Sunday, October 19, 2008. Please
be sure to join us.
The Deacons introduced the concept of the
Pastoral Partner Program last year which involves setting up a network of care
which ensures support for every member of the congregation. A pastoral partner
is a member of our congregation whose gifts include relationship building and
offering care to others. A pastoral partner does not need to be someone who has
been a member for a long time or who knows everyone or who is a leader of the
church. A pastoral partner can be any one of us. We hope to begin the training
soon, so if anyone is interested, please contact Pastor Grace or Diana
Cheifetz.
We continue to ask for volunteers who are willing
to provide transportation to church for those members who may need assistance
or lack a means of transportation. Even if you can only provide transportation
one way, please contact Rose at the church or Jan Der.
Please be in prayer for those in our community
and world.
COFFEE FELLOWSHIP:
The Deacons would like to thank the individuals
who have contributed to the coffee fellowship during the month of September. We
are aware that there are those who contribute but do not sign up on the list.
We wish to thank you also.
Jan Der, Co-Moderator
ARTICLE OF INTEREST
Evening of Dancing to Benefit Seniors at Kokoro Assisted Living
Everyone will get a chance to dance to a lively
beat and raise funds for the Kokoro Assisted Living, Inc. (KALI) center on
Saturday, October 25, 2008. The “Shall We Dance” event will feature music,
dancing and refreshments from 8pm to 11pm at JCCCNC. Tickets are $60 at the
door.
The “Shall We Dance” event was conceived by a
committee of the Kokoro Board of Directors. With a goal to raise $50,000 a year,
the first annual fundraising event is to help underwrite activities and
cultural events for the residents. It will also help to maintain its
affordability to many residents.
“Kokoro has become a constant in Japantown and
the greater San Francisco community,” says Vickie Ina, spokesperson for the
event. “It cares for our seniors so we feel it’s important that we help to
maintain the programs that enrich their lives. I believe that ‘Shall We Dance’
will be a great start to an annual fundraising effort.”
About Kokoro
Since its conception in 1995, the Kokoro Assisted
Living Center has been dedicated to providing San Francisco area residents with
elder care consistent with Japanese culture and customs. The idea was born from
a recognition that first and second generation Japanese Americans would benefit
most by having the option to live their later years with the food, language and
activities reflective of their cultural heritage. As a result, the Japanese
American Religious Federation (JARF) Senior Housing Task Force, and then later
the Japanese American Religious Federation Assisted Living Inc. (JALFI), guided
the development and building of the center. Today, Kokoro Assisted Living Inc.
(KALI) provides corporate leadership for the facility.
We will need refreshments to serve during the
evening and would really appreciate help from our church family. Anyone
interested in either attending the event or donating refreshments, are welcome.
ARTICLE OF INTEREST
The Sequoias and Christ Church
The beginning of the Mission Statement of Christ
Church is “Go Ye Therefore,” which in today’s term means, “Go and Reach Out,”
to minister and serve beyond the church into our community.
The Sequoias, built in 1969, by the Presbyterian
Church, is part of the church’s community. It is located only one block from
us. Today there are about 40 Japanese American residents living there.
On Sunday, September 21, Christ Church had an
opportunity to minister to the Sequoia residents in their ecumenical service.
The Health Center patients were also visited and served. Our Rev. Grace Suzuki,
representing the church, visited the Sequoias to minister to the residents and
patients. She also gave a meaningful message and lead the afternoon service.
As a 2-year Sequoias resident, I’ve noticed that
there are many residents who don't attend regular church services. The presence
of Pastor Grace helped to introduce not only herself, but our church close by.
I have heard wonderful comments of Pastor Grace’s visit, her message, and her
personal demeanor.
Hopefully, Christ Church can become a community
church for Sequoia residents, as they seek out spiritual direction in their
golden lives.
Kathy Reyes
ARTICLE OF INTEREST
Annual Halloween Party to Benefit UNICEF
Date: October 25, 2008 - Saturday
Time: 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Place: Christ United Presbyterian Church - Social
Hall
RSVP: Please call CUPC office
The Women’s Group cordially invites families and
all of you who are “Young at Heart” to its evening gathering of Halloween
activities to benefit UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund whose program
assist children in developing countries who struggle to survive against
disease, disasters, and other hardships.
Join us for Halloween crafts, games, costume
contest, dancing and more! A supper of Halloween “finger foods” will be served.
Be creative and bring some of your own Halloween “finger foods” to share!
ARTICLE OF INTEREST
Let Us Extend Our Christmas Greetings!
We are once again offering a service of which you
may wish to take advantage. It was felt that many people may wish to send
Christmas Greetings to the members and friends of the church through the
Visiting Pastor in lieu of sending Christmas cards, thereby saving the cost of
postage and cards and allowing you the opportunity to use the money for some
other worthy cause, a cause which may be especially meaningful to you at
Christmas time.
What we are proposing is to make available
several sheets which will be the Christmas Greeting pages of a special edition
of the VP. There will be a large central Christmas Greeting message with little
boxes of space (2 ½ X 1 ½ inches) surrounding it. Within these little boxes of
space, you may place your Christmas Greeting message along with your name or
family names.
If you wish to take advantage of this service, we
ask that you contribute $10.00 for the space. The amount received will go
towards off-setting the cost of publishing the V.P. during the year, so you
will be helping the church also by participating in this Christmas Greetings
project of the V.P.
For a copy of the reservation form, please call
the office. WE MUST HAVE ALL RESERVATIONS IN BY SUNDAY, November 30th.
The Christmas edition of the V.P will be mailed on December 6th in order to
allow time for delivery before Christmas.
VP Committee
