May 2010

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

April 2010

PASTOR'S PEN 

Pilgrimaging Along, Seeing Christ…

“While the disciples were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’”- Luke 24:36

During the week of 4/12, I will be in Austin, TX for one week of study leave. This is my second time in Austin (it’s really a beautiful city), and my second time being at Austin Seminary for the College of Pastoral Leaders conference, where I will meet with my cohort of clergy women.

I know I’ve written about my cohort group before…but for those who might not remember…A couple of seminary friends called me in the fall of 2008 asking me if I wanted to be a part of a cohort group of clergy women, who would participate in a 2-year project, with the topic of their choosing. Upon qualifying, we would receive a religious grant from the Lily Foundation administered through the Austin Theological Seminary. For each of the two years, we would attend a conference in April, where all the cohorts receiving this grant would gather together, learn from and worship with each other.


The name of my cohort is the “Way of the Pilgrim”. As we met for the first time as a cohort last April, I must admit (and also admitted to my cohort friends) that the topic of pilgrimages was unfamiliar to me. Our faith being a spiritual journey, yes, is something that I’m familiar and comfortable with. But pilgrimages – well, I didn’t know much, and I didn’t know what to expect.


This past year has been a pilgrimage toward pilgrimages for me. I learned of pilgrimage sites that I had never heard of, and learned more of some that I had. I also learned about pilgrimages themselves, and how/why people do them. (I supposed this could be a separate topic another time) But I also experienced the pilgrimage of life itself. Pilgrimages sometime involve traveling down roads that are rugged, and places of wilderness. This year, the lives of all our cohort members experienced rugged places and wilderness places – like retirement, change in pastoral calls, major surgeries, crises in congregations.

But we also experienced the rich friendship and comfort of our pilgrimage companions – praying for one another, checking up, following up, calling up…and offering a tender word of advice when helpful. God’s healing and guiding presence was surely among us. It was like Jesus was in our midst!


As we have transitioned from the season of Lent (40 days before Easter) to Eastertide (50 days after Easter), we are called to find the resurrected Jesus among us, in our sometimes mundane, daily lives. For me, my cohort this past year became an opportunity to see and experience this risen Christ. Just like the disciples in the verse mentioned above (who were in the first days after Jesus’ resurrection), while we were talking with each other about our everyday joys and troubles, Christ stood in the midst of all that and became a part of our conversation.


As we walk these days of Eastertide, how will you find the risen Christ in your midst? How will you experience God’s renewing power of the resurrection in your daily lives? You are invited to have open hearts as you look for and experience glimpses of Easter, as Jesus stands among us and says, “Peace be with you.”

Eastertide blessings,

Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki

DEACONS’ REPORT

The Deacons hope that each and every one of you had a wonderful Easter.  In one of our past Deacon-Led Worship Services, the message was focused on “Gifts and Talents”. These were God given “Gifts and Talents”. Given the unstable state of the world, look over the following lists of “Gifts and Talents” and determine which ones you are strong in and identify one or two that you would like to become more effective in.

Humility	Prophecy	Compassion	Gentleness
Evangelism	Patience	Teaching	Musical
Reconciliation	Giving	Wisdom	Leading
Knowledge	Healing	Helps


Take the one or two that you would like to develop and look for someone who you have identified as having strengths in these gifts. Talk with them and share that you would like to spend sometime praying and discussing with them how they have developed these gifts. Make a commitment to God that you will work on developing these gifts between now and Christmas.


By doing this you will help lives and maybe even communities become a little more stable. It will also become a process of “Spiritually Nurturing” yourself and others.


Speaking of gifts, especially during these difficult financial times, CUPC has been blessed by one of our members who continues to financially support the ministries of the Deacons.


A few years ago one individual donated a large amount of money to the Deacons and we created a special fund. These funds are being used to support the ministries of the Deacons and the church.


A few weeks ago, this individual made another large donation to the Deacons. We thank God for all of our members who contribute their various gifts. However, at this time we especially wish to thank this individual, whose gifts are helping CUPC do God’s work.

COFFEE FELLOWSHIP: 

The Deacons would like to thank the individuals who have contributed to coffee fellowship during the month of March. The Deacon’s 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 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

ARTICLE OF INTEREST:

Sturge Sunday, May 16, 2010 

A special observation is held each year to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Ernest A. Sturge. He was born April 28, 1856 so this will be his 154th birthday. Dr. Sturge was called the father of Japanese Presbyterian Churches in America and was not originally called to serve the Japanese. After spending sometime in Thailand (5 years to be exact), in the summer of 1885 he arrived in San Francisco to recuperate and regain his health after a grueling medical mission, when he was assigned to help the Chinese in SF but found himself serving the immigrant Japanese instead. Besides helping the Japanese in their religious endeavors, Dr. Sturge assisted them in their social and physical needs as well. We owe much to him for organizing the Japanese Presbyterian churches throughout California, and he is remembered and revered in all Japanese Presbyterian Churches on the West Coast.

Dr. Sturge and his wife owned and lived in their SF home next door to the church on 1500 Post Street, our last address before we moved to the present site. He bequeathed his home to the San Francisco Japanese community. When we built the present church facility on 1700 Sutter Street, the Sturge Building was built at 1716 Sutter Street next to our church, just as it was on Post Street. This building is separate from our Christ United Presbyterian Church, and is owned and administered by the Board of Trustees of the Japanese Church of Christ. Although the Sturge Building is separate, the facility is managed and operated by our church. We are indeed blessed to have use of the building throughout the year.

We invite you all to join us in our celebration on Sunday, May 16 and give thanks to a remarkable servant who gave so much to the founding of the Japanese Presbyterian churches in the USA, and CUPC in particular.

Sturge Board of Trustees

CUPC 125TH Anniversary Event

Invitations have been sent out for our 125th Anniversary Event!

If you are planning to attend, but not have received an invitation yet, please contact the church office (415) 567-3988 as soon as possible! Please RSPV by Monday, May 3.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

March 2010

PASTOR'S PEN

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