PASTOR’S PEN
Christmas Greetings from your Pastoral Leadership Team!!
For this month’s Pastor’s Pen, each member of CUPC’s pastoral leadership team is sending their personal Christmas greetings to you and your families…
Blessed
Christmas and Happy New Year!!
As with many of you, Christmas time for me comes
with many memories. For me, they are things like: playing flute for the
Christmas pageant one year, the excitement of opening the exact gift that I
wanted, (then, the disappointment of opening a gift that wasn’t anything like
what I had hoped!), caroling around town, buying a ‘real’ Christmas tree for
the first time…and the list goes on.
As I celebrate my 7th Christmas with you, the
CUPC community, I continue to be thankful for all of you - the wonderful people
that make it up. I am thankful for the additional Christmas memories that you
have given me: the Advent candlelightings, the seasonal chorus, the children
and youth in the pageants, the generous giving to the church, the gentle
ministries to those in need.
Just as in the Advent theme of this year – you
truly have been the ‘Stars that Tell the Story’…the stars that shine the way
for others, the stars that point to who God is. My prayer is that you will
continue to be such stars as you journey on being and becoming the church
community that God has called you to be.
Many Christmas blessings, and a New Year filled
with joy to you all!
Gratefully,
Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki
Instead
of a standard greeting, Jackie’s greeting comes in the form of a poem, written
by her. She first shared this with the congregation on 12/5/10:
Christians - "The Promised Stars"
By Jackie Kwan, lay pastor
So
long ago darkness loomed
Our fore bearers toiled
Amidst fear, hunger and
gloom.
But God was never far
To those who responded...
"Yes, Lord, I
am here."
From Abraham, David, Moses,
Mary, Joseph and more.
And to
this day, You who hear the Word of God...
Have also said,
"Yes Lord, I
am here".
So do not fear,
For Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of all
promises to God's people,
Shines on in "you" - Abraham's promised
children-
as numerous as heaven's stars.
Blessings as we celebrate the birth of Christ!
I am thankful that I am able to ponder and
celebrate with you this season how our Almighty God became human and was born
among us.
Looking back at this past year, I was able to
witness how God’s love truly flows through our brothers and sisters in Christ –
not only to the church and the community, but to me, personally, as well. I was
truly touched by this experience. I found it to be tremendous grace that
greatly encouraged me to continue serving God and God’s people.
Thank you so very much! In this coming year, I
pray that with God’s help, we can proclaim God’s love through our words and
actions as we follow Jesus, the Light of the World.
Praying for the Lord’s grace and guidance,
Hiroko Suzuki, lay pastor
DEACONS' REPORT
Thanksgiving Dinner acknowledgments
Greetings and blessings for the Advent Season!
For those of you who weren’t able to join us for the annual Thanksgiving
Dinner, we missed you dearly. Our tables were filled with the Lord’s bountiful
blessings, but the best part of the evening was being in community with our
church family and friends. We have much to be thankful for and in turn, the
proceeds collected for the dinner will go to the San Francisco Food Bank. For
every $1 donated, the Food Bank can distribute $6 worth of food and 97% of all
donations will go directly towards getting food to hungry people. Your
contributions will put much-needed food on the table for many grateful families
this advent season.
Thank you to everyone who lent a helping hand in
preparing our wonderful meal!!!
COFFEE FELLOWSHIP:
The Deacons would like to thank the individuals
who have contributed to the coffee fellowship during the month of November.
The Deacons are aware there are others who do not
sign up on the list, but contribute. We at this time would like to thank you
all.
The Deacons will be visiting some of our
homebound members in December. If there is anyone you would like us to visit,
please let us know. You are also welcome to join us in our home visits. Thank
you for your faithfulness in our mighty God and Redeemer!
Wayne Hiroshima, Vice-moderator
