February 2009

PASTOR'S PEN

Working together graciously…

“Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says ‘Let Jesus be cursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good … For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” - Taken from I Corinthians 12

Recently, I had the privilege of having dinner with a couple to talk about a possible joint ministry opportunity toward the Japanese students from Japan in the San Francisco area. The husband had contacted me about this possible venture a while back, and we have been in conversation (along with CUPC’s chair of Japanese-speaking ministries) for almost a year now. Working for JEMS (Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society), his ministry vision is a para-church ministry that works with Japanese international students, introducing them to God and Christianity, and hopefully training them to continue as Christians when they return to Japan.

After attending each other’s ministries a couple of times to ‘feel each other’s ministries out’, we gathered together at his home this past week to talk about how things are going, and how we might discern God’s will for the future in regards to this potential partnership. Their gracious hospitality in providing their home as a place to meet and offering a meal was touching. It felt like a good place to be, and the energy in our conversations was very good.

We talked about our assessments of our ministries with Japanese students, along with our visions and hopes. We talked about working collaboratively with various groups and churches with a similar vision and passion. We talked about how we might cross ‘borders and barriers’ in order to work together for a common ministry.

We all agreed that the kind of ministry that we were envisioning was not the ‘traditional way’ of doing ministry – where each church would more or less create and sustain its own programming. Even if there were ‘partnerships’, it would usually be with churches within the same denomination, or similar backgrounds and theological perspectives. But here, we were talking about a broader way of doing ministry and being partners, across the ‘usual lines’ of distinction between churches and denominations.

We also acknowledged that not all churches or church leaders would be open to this kind of ministry – which is quite understandable. In a way, it forces people to put aside their various preconceived notions, biases, and differences – and put them aside for the common work of ministry in the name of the God that they all profess. It invites people into a sometimes uncomfortable place where you need to be more open to listening (and hold initial judgment) than you normally would. And it calls people to think, act, and reflect in new ways – which is always a bit unsettling!

But as mentioned in the Bible verse above – we are ALL a part of the body of Christ, and perhaps it is the time to seriously think about how we can start acting that way. Within the entire Christian church, I truly think that there is definitely a place for great dialogue and conversation for the ‘differences’ that tend to separate us. And at the same time, if it is those same differences that keep us from doing the actual ministry of God, I believe that we are really missing out on the great and awesome work of ministry that we are all called to.

Working together graciously…I know that sounds easier than done. But I think my friend and ‘ministry partner’, (and his wife as well!) showed me what that could look like. And for that I am grateful – both to them and to God. And I pray that I could show that same grace back to them and to everyone else whom God has placed in my life. After all, yes, we all are indeed the one body of Christ!

Reflectively,

Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki

DEACONS' REPORT

It was one year ago that we celebrated the wedding of one of our church members with a potluck luncheon here at CUPC. Can that be possible? Even though time may seem to be flying by, we the Deacons, are one constant in your lives. Our first Deacons’ meeting took place on January 18th, where we voted in our new officers.

In our first meeting, we reviewed our current ministries and discussed potential new ministries, trying to discern how to better serve our congregation and the wider community. If there are areas in your life that you need support in or have any suggestions, please contact your Deacons. We would love to hear from you.

We welcomed new members into our community of faith this month through baptism and Barbara transfer of membership. Following the service, all enjoyed a cake during the coffee fellowship which read “Let your light shine”. As in Matthew 5:16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Let us lift up in prayer and praise those in our community and world.

COFFEE FELLOWSHIP:

The Deacons would like to thank the individuals who have contributed to the coffee fellowship during the month of January. The Deacons are aware that there are those who contribute but do not sign up on the list. We wish to thank you also.

Jan Der, Co-Moderator

ARTICLE OF INTEREST 

OUTDOOR FELLOWSHIP

The Christian Education/Fellowship Committee has approved a new fellowship group. This new group will be called “Outdoor Ministry”.

The purpose will be to expose all who participate in God’s outdoor parks, forests and lakes. Through fishing activities, hikes, camping and other excursions, individuals will experience God’s outdoor creation. There will be meaningful relationships developed, individual and group Spiritual connection with God and the outdoors. Devotion and Bible studies will be part of every outdoor activity. This ministry is open to all generations.

Needs of the Outdoor Ministry

We are accepting any donation such as fishing rods, poles, hooks, nets, pole holders, fishing line, tackle boxes, storage for fishing equipment at church, camping equipment, etc. The equipment will be kept at church and made available to anyone requesting use.

This new ministry will also accept financial donations to help purchase needed equipment.

If you have any question please contact the church office.

Ralph Tanaka

January 2009

PASTOR'S PEN

Looking Forward to God’s New Blessings “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” - Lamentations 3:22-23

Happy New Year!! I hope this first 2009 issue of the Visiting Pastor (affectionately known as the ‘VP’), our newsletter, finds you well.

For many, this time of year is when they look back at what’s happened last year, and look forward to (and make resolutions toward) the coming year, and all that it brings. Well, I have been doing the same and realized that it is my fifth time celebrating the new year with the CUPC community! Did I mention how quickly time flies?!

It’s amazing how it feels like I’ve been at CUPC long enough to ‘feel at home’, but at the same time feel like things are still ‘new’. I know the people (well, most of them, anyway ?), the routine of things, how things ‘work’. I hopefully have an overall sense of what is important to this community of faith, the legacy that it has left and is continuing to leave.

And yet, there is still a ‘newness’ about all the ‘work’ that I’m called to at CUPC. In every worship service that I help plan, every event that we do from year to year, every meeting that I attend – while there is much familiarity, I cannot help but feel that something is always ‘sprouting’ afresh in the midst of it. And for this I am thankful!

Perhaps that is what the Israelites were feeling too, as expressed in the above passage from Lamentations. The steadfast love (also translated as ‘faithfulness’) and mercy of God never ceases and is always there. But at the same time, they are new every morning. While there is much familiarity regarding God’s dealings of love with us, there are new and fresh things ‘sprouting’ around us all the time.

As we, the CUPC faith community, continue the journey that God has called us to in 2009, I pray that we will continue to thank and rely on God’s steadfast love and mercy to us – which is indeed, everlasting. At the same time, I pray that we will look forward to the ‘sprouts of newness’ that it brings, every morning, everyday. For our God is not a stagnant God – God is alive, and working anew within us and among us all the time! 

New Year’s Blessings,

Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki

DEACONS' REPORT

Blessings for the New Year! I know the new year has arrived when we have warm & wonderful zenzai made for us for coffee hour. This is shaping up to be a year filled with many new and exciting happenings… one of them being the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2009. Not to overshadow the inauguration, but our first Deacons’ meeting and retreat is set for January 18, 2009. We will be welcoming our new members, and discussing the ministries we are currently involved in and how we can improve upon them, and discern if we are being called to do other new ministries. The Deacons are here to serve those within and beyond our faith community after the example of Jesus Christ. So if any one of you has any needs or concerns, we are here for you to call upon. This is our ministry…to serve you. 

The Pastoral Partnership training is completed, so the next steps are to find a coordinator and have each of the pastoral partners determine who will be in their cluster. The purpose of the Pastoral Partnership Program, if you are just reading about this for the first time, is to provide inclusive, caring support to every member of the congregation. The goal is for each person in God’s family to feel loved and cared for and supported in their faith journey. 

We lift up in prayer those in our community and world. 

Coffee Fellowship 

The Deacons would like to thank the individuals who have contributed to the coffee fellowship during the month of December. The Deacons are aware that there are those who contribute but do not sign up on the list. We wish to thank you also.

Jan Der, Co-Moderator

ARTICLE OF INTEREST

HOPE FOR THE NEW YEAR

As I write my HOPE for 2009 in the VP, I return to what I wrote exactly one year ago, in January, 2008 

The theme then was for HOPE and PEACE, a yearning for PEACE and the end of conflict. Today, I find myself with high hopes for the realization of my yearning, led by our incoming President. 

I hope for true Peace to come, not by submission of the weak, but of mutual love and respect. As Christians, our mission is to love all humanity, be they friend or foe, only our loving God can be the judge. My resolution for the New Year is to reach out in love for all of God’s children, wherever they may be. A blessed 2009 to you all! 



Kathy Reyes

December 2008

PASTOR'S PEN

Additional Grace …

“And the Word became flesh and lived among us…”
John 1:13

As some of you may know, my older daughter started to take ice skating lessons recently. (Thankfully, in contrast to what many people think, lessons aren’t much more expensive than taking piano lessons, or lessons in other activities.) Initially, when she was seriously willing to take a group class over the summer – where she didn’t know one single person – I knew she must have really wanted to take skating lessons. If you know her, you know that she would ordinarily NEVER be willing to do such a thing! In any case, long story short – she has continued taking small group lessons since that first group class.

Today, as I sit here at the rink, watching her take lessons in the midst of hundreds (I kid you not!) of other ‘public skating session’ people, I have been given the opportunity to ‘people-watch’ them as they skate. Now granted, these are just generalizations, but…most people are smiling, and some people look dead serious. Some are skating by themselves, even if they’re just beginners, some are holding hands as they wobble along. Some take risks while skating (like skating backwards, or trying to skate on one foot), some are clinging onto the edge for dear life.

And then, there are the ‘spectators’ – who are freezing and watch their children and loved ones skate, but would never dare to go onto the ice to experience the rush of gliding on the ice, and feeling like you are floating. (As you can tell, I love to ice skate myself!) These people sometimes look at their watches thinking, ‘When is this waiting going to end?”

This kind of reminds me of life and our journey of faith. Some are enjoying the experience, some are so serious that they forget that even Jesus laughed and had a great sense of humor. Some are ok and are rather ‘independent’ about living out their faith, some need someone else to coax them and hold their hand. Some feel called to take risks beyond their comfort zone, some are so afraid that they cling onto whatever they think they have a hold of.

And then, there are those who watch from the outside – into the life and journey of faith. Some have preconceived notions (whether right or wrong) of this experience, some find it just too much trouble or downright scary. Some may think that they could ever be that ‘religious’. However, the unfortunate part is that similar to those who have never experienced the excitement of ice skating, they may never experience the exhilaration - of sensing the blatant presence of God. They may never understand why certain people do ‘irrational, illogical things’ based on their faith. They may not be able to ever experience God in a positive, meaningful and powerful way.

But thanks be to God – that, unlike my skating observation, God invites and continues to invite all to the ‘rink’ of faith. Through life events, God nudges us to take those first steps, to put on the ‘shoes’ of faith. Through other people, God takes our hand and leads us to onto the ‘ice’. Through our situations, God teaches us to ‘glide’.

And, in addition to this grace, God sent Jesus, the Christ, to become human and to experience this first-hand. Being both fully divine, and fully human, at some level, Jesus had to learn what it was like to depend on God and be lead by God – just like us! Perhaps Jesus also experienced the fear, pain and frustration of it too.

It is this additional grace that we celebrate this season…the divine-made-flesh-to-live-among-us. As in the Bible verse above, God’s Word, God’s being, became human to live among us. And although Jesus is not physically with us any longer, his presence – God’s presence – continues to be with us and continues to invite us and prompt us into the journey of faith.

Although I don’t expect all of us to become ice skaters (although I invite you to, it’s quite fun!), I do pray that we will all accept God’s invitation to this amazing, wonderful, complex, challenging, frustrating, mysterious and fun journey that we call faith.

Won’t you join me on the ‘rink’ today?

Christmas blessings,

Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki

DEACONS' REPORT

What a bountiful table we had for our annual Thanksgiving Dinner last weekend! Our cup did indeed run over. It was heart-warming seeing the church filled with people as we gathered to partake of the wonderful meal prepared by the Deacons and enjoying the turkeys, cooked to perfection. We thank all the hands that pitched in to prepare the meal and for your donations to the S.F. Food Bank that will help put food on the table for many needy families. It was an evening that gave us a brief opportunity to stop and give thanks for all our many blessings and be nurtured and filled with the Spirit as we begin the holiday season.

Our Pastoral Partnership training is now under way. The next training dates are December 6 and January 3. It is our goal that each person will feel loved and cared for and supported in their faith journey. If you would like to be a part of this important ministry, please let any one of your faithful Deacons know or contact the church office.

The Sunday School children and youth have begun their preparation and rehearsal for the Christmas Pageant to be held on Sunday, December 21. We hope you will be able to join us as our youth share the story of Christmas…of God’s hope, love, joy and peace for all of us.

We give thanks and praise for what God has given us, and would like to lift up those in our community and church.

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 that there are those who contribute but do not sign up on the list. We wish to thank you also.

Jan Der, Co-Moderator

ARTICLE OF INTEREST

New CUPC Directory for 2009…

As the New Year approaches, we are working on a new Church Directory! Since our last directory publication in 2005, we have had new members and others that have joined our church family. We would like to update you all with the latest contact information.

We are also hoping to add a new line for e-mail addresses as well. If you communicate via e-mail and feel comfortable sharing this information, please contact the church by phone: (415)567-3988 or e-mail church1700@earthlink.net Address Protected by OnlyMyEmail.com Encoder to let us know your e-mail address. We would love to hear from you!

Thank you & Happy Holidays!