PASTOR'S PEN
A word this month from our Commissioned Lay
Pastor, Hiroko Suzuki…
“Toward Spiritual Nurture”
“I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
Many of you may already be aware that our church
focus this year is spiritual nurture. (You may have also seen it in the weekly
Sunday bulletins.) So, how are we all doing in our daily lives toward this
focus? Actually, what does spiritual nurture really mean? And how does one grow
into Christians who nurture their spirit?
Earlier this year, our church session began
reading a book called Spiritual Leadership for Church Officers (by Joan Gray,
2009) in hopes to live out our church focus of spiritual nurture. At every
session meeting, we are taking time to reflect upon this topic and discuss with
one another. Although we are still on chapter 3, there was something that I was
reminded once again in terms of spiritual nurture. It was the above Scripture
passage from John 15:5.
Many of you may have heard a sermon, or have been
a part of a Bible study in which spiritual nurture was brought up in the
context of this passage. Actually, I remember writing an essay for entrance
into seminary about spiritual nurture from this particular passage too. John
15:5 clearly states that apart from Jesus, we cannot do anything spiritual.
However, reading the book made me realize that, without noticing, I had been
living as if everything would be ok if I worked hard, relying on my own
experience. More days than not, I had been depending on myself instead of
depending on God.
This book, Spiritual Leadership of Church
Officers, writes that there is no meaning when we act ‘without God/apart
from God’. The author writes:
“Apart from me, he (Jesus) says, you can give
religious speeches, but you can’t preach the gospel. Apart from me, you can
hold church services, but you can’t worship. Apart from me, you can put
biblical and theological information in people’s minds, but they won’t come to
faith. Apart from me, you can do church work and all kinds of good deeds, but
you can’t do ministry or mission. Apart from me, you can live a virtuous life,
but you can’t be a Christian.” (p. 20)
What do you think about this quote? It may be
easy to understand this with your head, but isn’t it actually easier to ignore
God and push God away, and depend on our own thinking, intelligence and
experience? However, the above quote states that without God, we cannot achieve
anything spiritual.
Rev. Rick Warren, in C.L.A.S.S. 201:
Discovering Spiritual Maturity, writes that spiritual maturity is about good
habits. Could it be that this ‘good habit’ is about relying on God and not
ourselves? Is this not about our daily habit of being silent in God’s presence,
listening to what God is saying to us, and praying for guidance and help before
acting? Perhaps it’s not always easy. But even as we fail and stumble, when we
continue to try living by depending on God, I believe that God will indeed
graft us onto Jesus, the Vine, and nurture us into people that bear much fruit.
Let us have faith that this is so, and be connected to God!
In Christ, Hiroko Suzuki
DEACONS’ REPORT
The Deacons hope that all is going well with each
and every one of you.
At our April Deacons’ meeting, we discussed and
took action to better a few of the Deacons’ ministries. These were the Easter
and Christmas card, Nursing Home and Pastoral Partners ministries.
Our moderator shared the following statement from
study materials that Session is using in their development as “Spiritual
Leaders. “What is God leading us to be and do now in the place where we find
ourselves?” As the church focuses on Spiritually Nurturing ourselves, our
faith community and those we reach out to, the Deacons pray that each of you
will also take time to develop in this area.
In the April Deacons report, you were asked to
identify one or two of the gifts that you would like to develop to help you and
others in your ministries. We want to encourage you to continue to move in that
direction of developing those gifts. If you have not begun, now is the time to
start. As you move forward also keep in mind the statement that the moderator
shared: “What is God leading us to be and do now in the place where we find
ourselves?”
If you have forgotten the list of talents, we
have listed them below
Humility
|
Prophecy
|
Compassion
|
Gentleness
|
Evangelism
|
Patience
|
Teaching
|
Musical
|
Reconciliation
|
Giving
|
Wisdom
|
Leading
|
Knowledge
|
Healing
|
Helps
|
COFFEE FELLOWSHIP
The Deacons would like to thank the individuals
who have contributed to the coffee fellowship during the month of April.
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, I encourage you to sign up on the bulletin
board next to the social hall. Thank you in advance!
Wayne Hiroshima, Vice-Moderator
