January 2008

PASTOR'S PEN

A Day of New Beginnings…

“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything is becoming new!” - II Corinthians 5:17 

There is something about ringing in the “New Year” – something about watching the ‘ball’ fall to the ground in Times Square, or changing our calendars anew, or for some, clicking to the next page in our Blackberry screens and seeing ‘2008’ instead of ‘2007’. The new year is oftentimes an opportunity for us to look back at our lives in the previous year, and look forward to the coming year. We celebrate and hope to continue the things that were positive in the past. We also vow to make amends or change things that were less than positive for the future…for the new year gives us a sense that it is a time of new beginnings. 

As a Christian, I am also reminded that in Jesus Christ, our lives are constantly given opportunities for ‘new beginnings’. As in the Bible verse above, God has created us anew in Christ, and continues to do so – day by day, year by year. I believe that the part we are asked to do by God, is to ‘let this happen’ as we open ourselves up to God and to the working of the Holy Spirit. 

One of the most famous contemporary hymn writers of our day, Brian Wren, has put this beautifully in a hymn titled, “This is a Day of New Beginnings” (1983) – and so I would like to share it with you…

This is a day of new beginnings, Time to remember and move on, Time to believe what love is bringing, Laying to rest the pain that’s gone. For by the life and death of Jesus, Love’s mighty Spirit now as then, Can make for us a world of difference, As faith and hope are born again. Then let us, with the Spirit’s daring, Step from the past and leave behind Our disappointment, guilt, and grieving, Seeking new paths, and sure to find. Christ is alive and goes before us To show and share what love can do. This is a day of new beginnings; Our God is making all things new.

I pray that as we ‘ring in the new year’, it will be a time of new spiritual beginnings for all of us – as we allow God to continue the renewing creation within and among us!

Blessing for 2008 and always,

Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki

DEACONS' REPORT

Happy New Year!! It’s amazing that 2007 has come and gone by so quickly. The Deacons have been blessed by being able to continue to do God’s work this past year. We have been able to reach out to members and friends of CUPC by either home visits, phone calls, or by sending cards. The Deacons along, with the help of others, provide and oversee the Sunday coffee fellowship. I think we have the best “goodies” and I want to thank all who have contributed this past year. Another major event the Deacons were involved in was the annual Thanksgiving dinner. It was a delicious meal and a good time was had by all. We were able to donate the proceeds to both the Network Ministries and the Covenant Presbyterian Church Food Pantry. Our most memorable event this year was the 2nd annual Deacons-led worship service. Our theme this year was peace and harmony. We sang and presented a skit around this theme. Our hope was to provide a fun and meaningful message. Based on our feedback, I think we succeeded. These are a few of our ministries we were able to fulfill this year. 

I want to thank our Moderator for his dedication and leadership. He has graciously accepted to serve another term as a Deacon. I would also like to thank our Deacons for their service over the past years and their term comes to an end. The Deacons would like to welcome 2 new Deacons for accepting God’s call to serve as Deacons. A Deacons retreat is scheduled for January 6th 2008. 

Please be in prayer for the world and those in our community. 

If you have any prayer requests or needs, please 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 December. Also a heartfelt thanks to the people who provided special snacks for our Christmas Sunday coffee fellowship. 

The Deacons are aware that there are others who contribute but do not sign up on the list. We wish to thank you.

Irene Woo, Vice Moderator

ARTICLE OF INTEREST

Hope for 2008

The New Year, 2008, arrived with the usual hope for peace and prosperity expressed by people throughout the world. But, along with this genuine longing, is the feeling of anxiety and fear shared by so many of us in this country. 

People are anxious to end the disastrous war in Iraq where our soldiers and Iraq civilians are killed and maimed by the thousands....not to mention the refugees who had to flee to Syria, Jordan, and other countries to avoid the havoc of war. 

The first presidential caucus has begun today, January 3. This year the primaries are set months earlier than before. The California primaries are scheduled for February. All of these changes show our anxiety for a new direction in the years ahead. 

It is our call as a citizen and as a Christian to make our choice for our next leader who can bring God’ children together to live in peace with justice throughout the world.

Kathy Reyes

December 2007

PASTOR'S PEN

Are You Ready?

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host…”
(Luke 2:13)

I don’t know about you, but December came up too soon for me this year.  I remember that it was the end of summer…then all the sudden, BOOM!  It was the last month of the year!  In fact, December seems to creep up on me more and more quickly every year.

Despite the fact that I had all those autumn months to ‘prepare’ for the holiday season, it took me by surprise nonetheless.  School starting for our daughters, a couple of short trips here and there, the busy daily grind…I became so engrossed in these things that ‘preparing’ for the busiest month of the year was nearly non-existent.  Next thing, I find myself wondering how I’m going to find enough time to get everything done for Christmas and New Year’s. 

Maybe that’s like how the shepherd felt when the angels ‘suddenly’ appeared out of the sky (as we see in the Bible verse above) and told them of the birth of their Savior.  They had probably heard of a promise of a savior, the Messiah, for generations.  But as much as they were taught to ‘prepare the way’ for this Messiah (as in the words of the prophet Isaiah), they were still probably taken by surprise when the angels ‘suddenly’ appeared and told them that the promise had been fulfilled. 

Actually, if you really think about it, the entire Christmas story is about things ‘suddenly’ happening.  Although it doesn’t say explicitly, the angel ‘suddenly’ came to the elderly priest Zechariah and told him of the birth of his son (John the Baptizer, the one who introduced Jesus).  Another angel ‘suddenly’ came to Mary and told her that she was going to bear a child (Jesus, the Messiah).  The star that leads the wisemen ‘suddenly’ appeared in the sky to tell of Jesus’ birth.

Now we, that live over 2000 years after this first Christmas, KNOW that Christmas is coming every year.  And so, in that sense, we are not surprised by the coming of Christmas and the celebration of the Savior’s birth.  In fact, we observe Advent as a time to intentionally wait and prepare for that day. 

But even as we may ‘know’ when Christmas is coming, God’s work is rarely ‘on the clock’, so to speak.  The way God works in and among us continues to ‘just happen suddenly’ and surprises us constantly.  So in a way, the only way to be ‘prepared’ is to be prepared to be surprised! 

I’m not sure how ‘prepared’ the shepherds, Zechariah, Mary and the wisemen were, but we do know that when God’s ‘surprise’ suddenly happened, they were open and flexible enough to accept it and let God’s work happen (with a bit of initial resistance from Zechariah, though).  And so, the shepherds went and saw the baby Jesus, Zechariah became John the Baptizer’s father, Mary became the mother of Christ and the wisemen followed the star to find the newborn King.  They went along with God’s plan, however sudden it seemed – and they were blessed by it.

So this Christmas season, are you prepared?  Are you prepared to be surprised by God’s sudden appearance and work in and among you?  Like the other servants of God in the Christmas story, may we be flexible and open, so that when it does come, we can go along with God’s plan and be blessed and bless others by it.  Let us prepare to be surprised suddenly!

Praying for a blessed and wonderfully surprising Christmas.

Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki

DEACONS' REPORT

I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving.  It is a wonderful time to be with family and friends and to take time to reflect on our many blessings we’ve had throughout the year.  It is also time to think about and reach out to those less fortunate than us.  CUPC held its annual Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday, Nov.18th.  The Deacon’s hosted it and provided a delicious feast for just about 200 people.  It was wonderful to see old friends and as well as many new ones.  Proceeds from the dinner will be donated to The Network Ministries in the Tenderloin and to the Covenant Presbyterian Church Food Pantry in the Sunset District.  The Deacons felt both these organizations continue to do God’s work in providing food and shelter to those in need.  Thanks to all who came out on Saturday and Sunday to help with the dinner preparation.  A special thank you goes to the….

Turkey chef,  who smoked 8 turkeys to perfection
Turkey carvers
Gravy maker
Rice cooker
MCs
Entertainers
Table decorations makers
Cashier 
Table set uppers
Thanksgiving dinner co-chairs
BBQ pit breakdown helpers

And to all those who contributed pies and Jello  Also, thanks to the Saturday food preparation helpers and setting up barbecue pit helpers.

The Deacons have been busy preparing for the 2nd annual Deacon-Led Worship Service on Dec 9th.  Under the direction our Moderator, we are planning a fun and meaningful service.  Please plan on joining us. 

Please be in prayer for the following:

      All the volunteers helping to clean the oils spill in the SF bay.

      Victims of the southern California fires.

If you have any prayer requests or needs, please contact the church office.

COFFEE FELLOWSHIP: 

The Deacons would like to thank the individuals who contributed to the coffee fellowship in November.

Irene Woo, Vice Moderator 

Handy Little Chart

YOU SAY  - GOD SAYS - BIBLE VERSES

“It’s impossible” - All things are possible - Luke 18:27

"I'm too tired" - I will give you rest - Matthew 11:28-30

"Nobody really loves me" -  I love you - John 3:16 & John 3:34

"I can't go on" - My grace is sufficient - 2 Corinthians 12:9 Psalm 91:15

"I can't figure things out" - I will direct your steps - Proverbs 3:5-6

"I can't do it" - You can do all things - Philippians 4:13

"I'm unable" - I am able - 2 Corinthians 9:8

"It's not worth it" - It will be worth it - Romans 8:28

"I can't forgive myself" - I forgive you - I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1

"I can't manage" - I will supply all your needs - 2 Timothy 1:7

"I'm afraid" - I have not given you a spirit of fear - 2 Timothy 1:7

"I'm always worried and frustrated" - Cast all your cares on me - 1 Peter 5:7

"I'm not smart enough" -  I give you wisdom - I Corinthians 1:30

"I feel all alone" - I will never leave you or forsake you - Hebrew 13:5

Taken from “Pioneer Ocean View Newsletter”

November 2007

PASTOR'S PEN

My Journey into Spiritual Direction…
“God is light and in God there is no darkness at all…if we walk in the light as God is in the light, we have fellowship with one another…” - I John 1:5,7

So there I was, in the chair across the room.  From a Catholic nun – my spiritual director.  I’ve been on the opposite side of the situation many, many times, but this was one of the first times that I’ve been on the ‘receiving end’ of this type of arrangement.

In my profession as a pastor, one of my roles is to offer spiritual guidance, empower spiritual growth and give spiritual reflection to others.  Therefore, I am oftentimes on the ‘giving end’ of things labeled ‘spiritual’ – and that is expected of me.  Which is fine – but anyone’s ‘well of spirituality’ is not unlimited – including mine.

So, before my ‘well ran completely empty’, I decided to seek out someone who can help me do the same things that I hope that I do with/for others.  Fortunately, I was blessed to have grown up with parents who enabled me to see almost everything from a spiritual framework – so I had gained many tools during my life to ‘fill my well’ in different ways.  But my tool box needed some ‘refreshing’ in recent years, and so through a spiritual director friend, I sought out this Catholic spiritual director. 

Honestly speaking, it’s still a bit uncomfortable for me to be doing this.  The 45-60 minutes that take place once a month is time focused on ME, and MY spiritual journey – it’s a time where I can bring anything I want to talk about, and where God might be in that picture.  But it feels like I’m in the spotlight – not a place I’m used to (in this respect) nor do I really enjoy being in.  There’s a part of me that would rather be asking my spiritual director questions and responding to them, not the other way around!

But as uncomfortable as it is, the things that my spiritual director points out or the questions that she asks me – is oftentimes eye-opening and makes me think further about my walk, talk and thoughts about God.  It keeps me focused and intentional about my own spiritual matters, not others.  And when I know that something needs to be done or changed, my spiritual director keeps me accountable. 

Like a light that illuminates the darker places of my spirit, spiritual direction casts the light of God into my heart and onto my path so that I may ‘walk in the light’ as the author of the above Bible passage states.  And it is in this light that we are able to have true fellowship with God and with one another.

So, this is what spiritual direction is about, this is what spiritual growth is about – and yes, it can be uncomfortable at times.  And it does require intentionality and work.  But every question that is posed and pondered upon, every light that is cast into the corners of the heart to reveal something - make up the little springs or gushes of water that eventually fill up the ‘spiritual well’ that we all have.  But unless we tend to it, our wells run low or dry up even.

How is your ‘spiritual well’ doing today?  Is it in need of rejuvenating?  Is it in need of light to dispel the darkness?  I invite you to join me in this journey – of growing spiritually, of being filled abundantly, of brimming with the light and water of life.  Whether this happens in a more ‘formal setting’ – like spiritual direction, worship or personal devotion – or not, I invite you to think about how God is calling you to tend to your ‘spiritual well(ness)’, and encourage you to heed that call, whatever that may be…

Prayers and blessings for a lighted, brimming well for all of us,

Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki 

DEACONS' REPORT

The Deacon’s met in October for our quarterly meeting.  As Deacons, we continue to nurture and reach out to our flock members.  We either visit, call, or send a card to members whom we haven’t seen for awhile.  If you have any concerns about any of our CUPC members or friends, please notify one of the Deacons, and we will contact them.

Mark your calendars for Dec. 9th as the Deacon’s will be leading our worship service.  We’re planning a fun and meaningful service.  Hope you all can attend.

The Deacon’s have received two very generous donations for the Deacon’s fund.  We would like to thank these donors for their generous donation is greatly appreciated as are all donations made to the Deacon fund.  These donations help us in fulfilling our ministries as Deacons.  

If you have any prayer request or needs, please contact the church.

COFFEE FELLOWSHIP: 

The Deacons would like to thank the individuals who have contributed to the coffee fellowship during the month of October.  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.

Irene Woo, Vice Moderator

ARTICLE OF INTEREST

Peace in Our Time

Christ Church will again be focusing on Peacemaking as the theme for Sunday sermons and study for the next several weeks.  Peacemaking is an appropriate subject to ponder and consider for the church in this time of conflict.

I further believe that genuine peacemaking must go beyond prayers and hopes for actual deeds, particularly for the church.

I have been disillusioned for the past four years of our country’s conflict in Iraq, and the religious community’s reluctance to take bold steps to bring Peace. Soldiers sent to war have the license to kill; in fact, their mission is to kill.  Ribbons have been awarded to those who have successfully accomplished their mission.  To kill is inimical to our Christian beliefs.  As Christians, we cannot glorify conflict.  Our mission is to work for peace and reconciliation.  Jesus came to us as “Prince of Peace,” not “God of War.”

May a genuine Peace come to Iraq and this world in the coming year.

Kathy Reyes