The ‘Purple’ Season…
Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we
wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns
for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you.- Isaiah 26:8-9
WAIT – this is a difficult word for our world
today. High speed internet, immediate access to people via various
technologies, fast food…you get the idea. We want things quick, we want things
quicker, we want things NOW. It’s become so common, that it’s almost become the
norm. Almost...but not completely.
I have found that if you look deep enough, stop
long enough – there is, at some level in our human existence, the basic
understanding that not all things can be rushed (whether we like it or
not). From savoring a great book to making great wine, some things just take
time. Watching children grow – yes, they do grow quickly – but it actually
takes years before they fully mature as people.
But it’s the part of the waiting (or taking
the time) to get there that is difficult.
The good thing about waiting, though, is that it
stops us long enough to make us think about why we might want something – and
whether we actually need it or not. Waiting puts various compulsions into
perspective. It also stops us long enough to realize what we really yearn in
our hearts that might be otherwise ‘smothered’ with our instant desires and
fixes.
And that is what this ‘Purple Season’ – Lent – is
all about. During this time until Easter, in our churches, we use purple
colored stoles and par aments – the color which Christian traditions have taken
to signify reflection, repentance and penitence. We slow down, become
intentionally reflective of our lives, and open up our hearts to what God has
in store for us. We wait in anticipation of what is to come. And when we do
this, we hopefully can sense and discern our need for God – and as the above
passage suggests – yearn for God.
When was the last time you yearned for God and
God’s presence? Do we know the yearns and needs of our heart? Or do we tend to
gloss over our deep-rooted needs and fill them up with our instant needs?
Perhaps this Lent is a time when God is calling
all of us to slow down, wait, and find our true yearning. Yearn for the One who
made us and can truly fill us – our needs and our desires. Yearn for the new
life that Easter promises. Yearn for the deep relationship that God calls us to
be a part of with Godself….
So, how will you spend this ‘Purple’ season?
Lenten peaces,
Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki
CLERK'S REPORT
The annual officers’ retreat was held on February
20, 2010. Both session members and deacons discussed and planned for the church
focus/priority for 2010: Spiritual Nurture.
DEACONS’ REPORT
Greetings and blessings to all. The Deacons hope
this 2010 year has been good to you so far. For this 2010 year, the Deacons
want to remind you that we are here to serve and meet your needs. Equipped with
the gifts from God we are 100% committed to be the nurtures and caregivers to
our faith community and others. The focus of our ministries for this year will
be:
- Coffee fellowship
- Spiritual Nurturers
-
Thanksgiving Dinner
- New Member Welcome
- Nursing Home Ministry
- Homebound
Visitations
- Serving Communion
- Pastoral Partners
- Scholarship Funds
-
Becoming more green
- Card Ministry
If you have or see a need that we can help with
or implement, please inform one of the Deacons.
We would appreciate your prayers throughout the
year to support us in our ministries.
COFFEE FELLOWSHIP:
The Deacons would like to thank the individuals
who have contributed to the coffee fellowship during the months of January
and February 2010.
The Deacon’s are aware there are others who do
not sign up on the list, but contribute. We would like to thank you all. Also,
if you haven’t signed up recently, we encourage you to sign up on the bulletin
board next to the social hall. Thank you in advance!
Wayne Hiroshima, Vice-Moderator
ARTICLE OF INTEREST
CUPC 125TH Anniversary Event
Plans for CUPC's 125th Anniversary Celebration
held on Sunday, May 23, 2010, were being finalized by the Planning Committee at
its last meeting on February 21, 2010.
A special worship service, will be held followed
by a festive anniversary luncheon at Hotel Kabuki . Current and former members,
as well as new and longtime friends are being invited to join in the
celebration. One of the important features of the anniversary celebration is
the recognition of current longtime active members.
A 'Save the Date' card was sent to all
prospective attendees, scattered here and afar. The 125th Anniversary
celebration will be a grand reunion for all those who have fond memories of
their involvement and participation in the 125 year history of CUPC. CUPC is
the oldest Japanese Protestant church in North America.
Kathy Reyes
