PASTOR'S PEN
Some upcoming additions…
God has been very good to us! Although there was an announcement made in worship in early September, for those of you who haven’t heard, I have some wonderful news to share with you. For those who were there when the announcement was made, here it is ‘in writing’ and some additional information is included.
Since the beginning of this year, the CUPC
session (governing body of the church) has been having some very deep and
intentional discussions regarding the pastoral leadership of our church. As you
already know, we’ve had our Parish Associate since last fall, and has been a
wonderful addition to our CUPC community and pastoral staff. The discussion
that began to take place this year, however, was not only regarding this Parish
Associate position, but also the potential of having two commission lay pastors
(see below for more) to do specific ministry at CUPC.
A commissioned lay pastor (or CLP) is an elder
from a congregation who is commissioned by the presbytery in order to do a
specific ministry in the church that he or belongs to. They go through training
to become a lay pastor, and their commissioning allows them to all of the
duties of an ordained pastor, except that they are commissioned to do ministry
for only that particular congregation(s). With the recommendation of the
church’s session, the presbytery commissions them as lay pastors with a
contract for up to 3 years which is renewable.
Earlier this year, two people finished their
training to become commissioned lay pastors – and on July 31, after numerous
hours of serious discussion and discernment, our session voted unanimously
to recommend the presbytery to commission them to be our lay pastors here at
CUPC beginning the fall. (I regret that this motion/approval was not in our
previous newsletter’s Clerk’s Report – it was intended to be included. My deep
apologies!) The presbytery, earlier this month (Sep. 15) took session’s
recommendation and formally approved their being commissioned as CLPs.
So, what this means for us? I think it is an
opportunity that God has given us, and the leadership of CUPC has decided to
take the next step in discerning God’s call for us as a church. As you know,
one of the unique things about this congregation is that we have a history that
is grounded in Japanese-speaking ministries. Our church foremothers and
forefathers were all Japanese from Japan. As the years went on, the children of
those people formed the English-speaking ministries, and it has continued to
this day. Although the number of the Japanese-speaking has declined over the
years, God has been good to us and recently, there has been more bilingual or
Japanese-speaking people added to our church. One person, first as a member of
CUPC, then as our church intern this past year, has really worked diligently
and intentionally has been involved in this ministry – and now, she will take
an even more formal role as Commissioned Lay Pastor for Japanese-speaking
Ministries. We hope that through her continued ministry, the
Japanese-speaking ministry will grow and thrive in the coming months and years.
She will be beginning this formal position on November 1.
While we celebrate the blessings of new growth in
the church, we also understand that there are ongoing needs among the faithful
who have always been a part of this church. Our church-wide forums and townhall
meetings have always brought up the issue of care toward our senior members,
along with ways to implement programs for thoughtful care throughout the entire
congregation. Many of you have known the other for a very long time – and the
gifts she has brought to us. Some of you may also know that she has always had
a passion for ministry. Her new role as Commissioned Lay Pastor for
Congregational Care will put her gifts and passion together and will enable
her to be even more intentional towards her ministry with the seniors here,
along with the other ministries of caring. She will be beginning her very
part-time, but formal position on October 1.
I know that some may be feeling concern in terms
of the financial implications that this brings, especially in these
economically unstable times. Without going into too much detail (although if
you would like more information, I would be more than happy to share with you)
I want to assure you that session has talked quite extensively regarding this
and is confident regarding the financial implications - yes, even in this
challenging economy. When session ultimately came to a conclusion, they voted unanimously
and intentionally about how it would be financed. (And as mentioned above, I
would be more than happy to share more with you if you are interested.) We
believe that the blessings of these positions are definitely worth the
investment and will achieve long lasting impact on the ministry at CUPC.
To acknowledge and celebrate this occasion, our
church will be having a special Commissioning Worship Service on October 25 –
during our usual worship time. Representatives from presbytery will be here as
we worship together, commission them in front of us, and welcome our lay pastors.
And of course, in CUPC fashion, a welcome reception will follow the service
that day.
I hope that you will come and join us in this
celebration and look in anticipation toward the future that God has prepared
for our church community. Please also pray for and support them as they begin a
new chapter of their lives as lay pastors doing ministry alongside with us at
CUPC! Please feel free to ask any questions or make any comments – I would be
more than happy to share further with you this wonderful opportunity. Thank
you!
Sincerely,
Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki,
Moderator of CUPC session
CLERK'S REPORT
The Session, at its special meeting on Friday,
July 31, 2009, discussed and acted on the following item:
Approved
the commission of our Lay Pastor for the Japanese-speaking ministry for three
(3) years with yearly evaluation/assessment. Job description and compensation
to be reviewed/developed annually by Pastor and Personnel Committee and approved
by Session. Position begins November 2009.
Approved
the commission of our Lay Pastor for congregational care for three (3) years
with yearly evaluation/assessment. Job description and compensation to be
reviewed/developed annually by Pastor and Personnel Committee and approved by
Session. Position begins October 2009.
Approved
the contract with of our Parish Associate for up to three (3) years beginning
September 2009 with yearly evaluation/assessment. Job description and
compensation to be reviewed/developed annually by Pastor and Personnel
Committee and approved by Session.
DEACONS' REPORT
Back to yet another start of the school year. I
hope the transition from summer to fall is coming along smoothly for each of
you, especially those with children who were (or still are) anxious about new
classes, new teachers, new friends… I know for me, my class is still in this
huge transition period with the new children still learning to be away from
their parents and in the class environment.
Well, September 20, 2009 marks the day CUPC
brought back the church wide picnic, and what a picnic it was!!! We gathered
together at Lake Chabot. It was wonderful worshiping together in a new setting,
and hearing God’s word and feeling His presences in the center of his creation.
Being able to be separated from all the busyness and chaos that the city
sometimes has was refreshing. It’s always nice to take some time to relax and
enjoy the great outdoors. After the outdoor worship service, we had a delicious
BBQ and pot luck, followed by just some hanging out time. People did things
that ranged from hiking, fishing, talking, blasting water bullets, and playing
football. Again, it was a wonderful time of fellowship.
Also, The Deacons are excitedly preparing for the
Deacon led worship service on October 18, 2009. It is a topic that each oe of
us Deacons enjoy and have part in. We hope that you are able to worship with us
this day.
Please continue to pray for those in our
community and world. If you have any prayer requests, please feel free to
contact the church.
COFFEE FELLOWSHIP:
The Deacons would like to thank the following
individuals who have contributed to the coffee fellowship during the month of
August.
Kara Woo, Vice-Moderator
SUMMER CAMP MOMENTS
Hi, my name is Prescott Wellington Louie Wong but
people call me Scott for short. I am 16 years old and I am going to be a junior
at Lowell High School. I have been coming to CUPC Summer Camp since the first
grade so I have been here for a total of 11 years. The past three years I have
been a leader but this is my first year as “head leader.” Being a head leader
is a little different because not only do you have to look after the campers
but you also have to look after your other leaders. Luckily I was given two
already excellent leaders to make my job easier. This past year I had the 3rd
grade boys during the regular weeks. Our group had our ups and downs but it was
overall a good six weeks.
This past week was the first of two extended
weeks. I had the 3rd grade girls since all of the leaders switched groups
during the extended weeks. I discovered that having a girl group is very
different than having a boy group. They have different interests, attitudes,
and personalities. On Tuesday we went bowling at Yerba Buena while all of the
leaders dressed up in their school attire to show their school spirit. On
Wednesday all the leaders dressed for prom while we went window shopp9ing in
the morning at Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. Then in the afternoon all the
campers were able to enjoy the beach. On Thursday we went swimming in Concord.
The weather was not as hot as it usually is but all of the campers still had
fun playing in the water. All of the leaders also were wearing crazy hats. Some
of the hats include flying pigs, octopi, and even a few homemade hats. You can
only imagine how many people were staring at us. We enjoyed our final day of
Extended One at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom also known as Marine World riding
roller coasters and playing games.
I have made many friends over the years here at
CUPC. It is my second family and there will always be a special place in my
heart for it. This summer has passed by faster than any so far. I
Working at the camp is a lot of work, but it is
worth it in the end. That feeling of knowing your making your camper’s summer
fun is what makes me always want to come back. I have a lot of fun both playing
with the campers and getting to know the other leaders and I am very excited to
see how the other weeks to turn out. Thank you.
Scott Wong
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Hi, my name is Calvin Ma. I currently attend
Lowell High School, and I will be an incoming junior. This is my 8th summer at
CUPC, and this summer was the best summer I have ever had. As a camper, I
remember that being a camper sucked. Even though going on special field trips
was fun; I didn’t really like playing boring games and singing songs. And my
leaders didn’t make solid ice-cream, so I always had to drink milkshakes. So as
a Paid Head-leader, I decided that this year I was going to make camp fun and
enjoyable for my group. And my first attempt at fun and enjoyable ice cream.
My most memorable moment; week one, Wednesday.
But it wasn’t any Wednesday, it was “Forgot the ice cream maker at church and
then forget the sugar in the ice cream” Wednesday. This story has been shared
by a fellow leader. BUT. BUT. BUT. That story was told from HIS point of view.
So here goes mine:
1. Choose an ice cream for week one. Leader chose
Mint surprise. I hate mint.
2. On the way to Safeway to buy the ice cream
ingredients. I asked another leader if he liked mint. He hates mind. I hate
mint. We hate mint.
3. Then I told him we’re definitely not having
mint.
4. But surprising ingredients for our mint
surprise.
5. Wednesday. Pack ice cream stuff
6. Arrive at park. Unpack ice cream stuff.
7. Start ice cream
8. Can’t start ice cream. No ice cream maker.
9. Went back to church to get ice cream maker,
come back to the park, and made the ice cream as fast as possible.
10. After lunch, a leader and I tested the ice
cream for extreme awesome flavor.
11. There was no extreme awesome flavor.
12. We forgot the sugar. Fail.
13. One leader says something along the lines of
“Oh no, we’re doomed.” He was devastated. He was on the verge of crying. But I
was like, “nahh breahh, nahhh.”
14. I felt like this was my time, my time to be a
hero. So I took the initiative and added the sugar on top of our ice cream. I
was then like “problem solved.”
15. Then a director comes over. “Calvin, are you
silly! You can’t do that! Sugar will freeze at the top and then it won’t mix!”
16. So then we stir the sugar in with the ice
cream with a plastic fork.
17. The plastic fork breaks while we’re stirring.
Dang it. The other directors stop by. They try to help. They just end up breaking
more fork pieces into the ice cream.
18. We get out all the pieces except one. But
it’s all good though. My camper finds the piece. Yeeee.
And because of this little “no sugar” incident; I
then decided to make all of my future ice creams good, and so for every ice
cream from then on instead of adding 1-2 cups of sugar, I added about 4-5 cups
to make up for week one’s unfortunate event. Yeeee. So from then on, I gave the
ice cream that we were going to have the name of the ice cream that we had the
week before. So for example, since we actually had strawberry for mint
surprise, next week would be strawberry surprise and it wouldn’t have anything
to do with strawberry. And to spice things up even more, one week I surprised
my campers with ice cream cones. I know, I know I’m cool, I bought my campers
ice cream cones. When I took out the cones, I saw my campers faces light up and
they all smiled with complete joy and excitement. I then knew I loved doing
what I was doing, because I really liked seeing my campers smile and have fun;
and that’s what brings me back to CUPC year after
Calvin Ma
Sunday, August 16, 2009
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 29th.
The Christmas edition of the V.P will be mailed on December 3rd in order to
allow time for delivery before Christmas.
VP Committee
