PASTOR'S PEN
Things My Parents Taught Me…
“My child, keep your father’s commandment, and do
not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them upon your heart always; tie them
around your neck.” - Proverbs 6: 20-21
As many of you know, I have just come back from a
month of being away from CUPC. After a one-week study leave, I took a
three-week vacation (or mainly, ‘staycation’ as they say). During two weeks of
my vacation, my parents from Japan came and stayed with our family. It was
great for our entire family to see them and spend time with them.
You may also know that both my parents are
ordained pastors. They are still VERY active in ministry – parish, denomination
and seminary. (In the face of my parents, it’s hard for me to even mumble the
words ‘busy’ pertaining my own life.) They are dedicated to the life of
ministry and living out their call from God – and being one of their children,
I had the opportunity to see and experience that first-hand, both growing up
and also today.
During their visit last month, as we visited my
parents’ friends, former parishioners, and churches that they had served at, I
was able to get a glimpse of the ways in which they had left ‘footprints’ of
their ministry. And back at home as we sat around the table talking about how
they did ministry in those places years ago, and their present ministry at
their church for 25 years – I could really see how their posture and dedication
in their ministry enabled God to work effectively in the lives of people and
churches.
Two of the things that stuck with me most through
all these learnings were their call to be faithful, and their passion for the
Word of God. My mother mentioned in one of our conversations that our ultimate
calling life is to be faithful to God and God’s calling for us. I have no doubt
that my parents have experienced many a many ups and downs in their ministry of
over 40 years. But instead of being caught in the successes, drama and outcomes
of their ministry, their focus has always been on whether they have been where
God had called them, said what God had called them to, so according to what God
had called them to. Perhaps they have made mistakes along the way, but I know
that it is in this posture that they have found their hope.
As seen when my father spoke at the special
Japanese service at CUPC, another important focus of my parents’ ministry is
their passion for the Word of God. This comes through not only in their daily
lives, but how they do ministry, and what their ministry is all about. Apart
from God’s Word, the church cannot exist as a church. Apart from God’s Word,
followers of Christ cannot grow faithfully. Apart from God’s Word, one cannot
discern and live out God’s calling. This kind of passion and posture is the
environment that I grew up and adhere to myself, so it wasn’t anything unfamiliar
to me. But it did remind me once again of the importance of God’s Word and
rekindled my own passion and posture as I engage in my own ministry.
Coming back into the church office, I have
appreciated the vacation time to spend quality time with family and rest up a
bit. I am also grateful for the opportunity to reflect upon and be encouraged
by the things that my parents have taught me – over the years, and this past
summer. I pray that these things will translate into my own life of faith and
ministry, and that it will also touch all those around me. For isn’t living a
life faithful to God’s calling and having a passion for God’s Word something
not just for those in ‘professional ministry’, but for all of us? I surely hope
you can answer ‘yes’ along with me!
Fall blessings,
Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki
DEACONS' REPORT
In the July Deacons’ report, we encouraged each
of you to utilize your gifts so those whom you come in contact with will know
that God loves and cares for them. Each of you in your own way is a Deacon for
God. There are times when you will care and nurture others and this is what the
Deacons are called to do by the Presbyterian Church. Part of Jesus’ ministry
while on earth was to set the example (be the role model) on how we should care
and nurture each other.
I would like to share a short story from “Chicken
Soup for the Soul”. The story is titled: “Barney”
A four-year-old girl was at the pediatrician’s
office for a check-up. As the doctor looked into her ears with an otoscope, he
asked, “Do you think I’ll find Big Bird in here?” The little girl stayed
silent. Next, the doctor took a tongue depressor and looked down her throat. He
asked, “Do you think I’ll find the Cookie Monster down there?” Again, the
little girl was silent. Then the doctor put a stethoscope to her chest. As he
listened to her heart beat, he asked, “Do you think I’ll hear Barney in here?”
“Oh, no!” the little girl replied. “Jesus is in my heart. Barney’s on my
underpants.”
Author
Unknown (Submitted by Marilyn Thompsen)
A reminder from the Deacons that Jesus is in each
of our hearts and we are all called to the ministry of caring and nurturing.
Therefore, the Deacons encourage you to utilize your gifts so those in and
outside our congregation will know that God loves and cares for them.
Wayne Hiroshima,
Vice-moderator
COFFEE FELLOWSHIP:
The Deacons would like to thank the individuals
who have contributed to the coffee fellowship during the month of July and
August.
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.
Take care and know that God is with you always!
SUMMER CAMP MOMENTS
Ricky Merchant
Sunday, August 1, 2010
To ask me to pick my favorite moment at CUPC is
simply ridiculous for every breath I take at CUPC is a breath I won’t forget.
This week we did an array of fun activities.
Starting on Monday we played board games and then saw a movie. Then on Tuesday
we had tons of fun bowling and playing at Yerba Buena Center. Wednesday we
enjoyed a fabulous walk around Pier 39 ending our day at Aquatic Park. Thursday
we had a terrific and invigorating time at Six Flags Marine World. Friday we
had loads of fun at Heather Farms swimming and playing in the sun with best
company anyone could ask for.
Another aspect of this week that was special was
getting to know my fellow leader. Although this week was very fun and memorable
my favorite moment was during Parents’ Night, a camper’s mom was dancing just
like her son on stage. It was very funny and heart warming to see how much the
parents enjoyed the skits we had made.
Although this was only my 2nd summer with CUPC, I
can’t even imagine a summer without CUPC and I look forward to many more
summers here. Thank you!
Jana Tom
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Good morning! It has been about 6 years since I
last worked at CUPC. Boy have I forgotten what it’s like.
For 7 weeks, I have had to wake up at 7am everyday
to make it to church by 8 so that my carpool wouldn’t be late. Monday was my
first actual day of sleep. Although I did not have to wake up early and did not
have the desire to fall asleep by 8pm, I found myself still hanging out at camp
or seeing my fellow leaders’ everyday this week.
At the beginning of the summer, I was caught in
between finding a new job and doing nothing to spend one week of the summer
recovering from my surgery, and am glad I chose surgery. I was able to spend
every day at the park with the leaders and campers. This has been the best
summer I have had since the beginning of high school! It has me thinking, why
did I ever stop working at camp? What made this my best summer ever is of
course the lovely cute little rascals we call campers but mostly the leaders.
We have made a kind of friendship and relationship that I know when we leave
for school this fall, we will be able to come back next summer and pick up
where we left off. I have known some of these leaders since they were campers,
but this summer was when I felt we all trusted in each other to seek advice and
to share happy times and troubled times. Many of these leaders were actually my
first campers, it amazes me to see them grow up and mature, it’s like it was
yesterday I was there leader at the park singing songs and playing games. CUPC
has become my second family and sometimes they are the ones I go to first.
Since there is not one moment in the summer that
I can put as number 1, I have decided to share a few with you:
Driving
down California Street trying to make it to campon time with my passengers
half-asleep in the car. But also, when I accidentally forgot to pick up one
from home.
The
bus rides, the various bus drivers, the curious passengers and of course the
many random odd encounters we have with the bus, the driver, and the
passengers.
The
bathroom trips. Once you would bring a group to the bathroom and come back
after asking everyone if they need to go, someone else find the need to pee.
This
may not be such a good one, but I have missed the sun for 2 years, and this
summer I got about 5 shades darker.
When
I found out that I actually do enjoy kite flying. We will be going back to
marina greens.
Old
leaders who came back to work.
When
someone got kicked in the face by another at Baker Beach and got sand on her
face, in her mouth, in her nose everywhere. It still has us laughing.
Doing
sign out everyday and having a chance to see the parents. The only thing I
would take back from that is giving the privileges of the megaphone to 2
leaders.
Teaching
a leader some ballet steps.
Surgery
#3 for my eyelid, the next day I was begging my mom to let me go to camp.
CCU
games. We had a great first season, we ended up losing in playoffs, but we’ll
get the win next year. Being only CO-ED team on our side of the division and
proving to the boys that girls can play!
The
idea that a director has been craving Jamba Juice since the first day of summer
and she still hasn’t gotten it yet!
When
a leader jumped in the ocean at Baker Beach fully clothed for $24.
The
massage challenge, the girls would try and find out who gives the best
massages.
When
a leader “accidentally” threw the ball and hit me in the face because he was
aiming for someone else, and when another leader purposely hit me with the
soccer ball because he thought I threw it at him, but it was really Calvin!
One
leader, he’s just a big geek…you can probably ask him anything and he’ll know
the answer.
Surprising
a leader with the shimmy shimmy hug everyday.
Going
to Disneyland for leadership…we had a vinylmation addiction. And you cannot
forget the CHURROS!
Our
countless games of banana grams, pounce and just dance. And deep conversations
with teaway in hand.
Friendship
bracelets, 3 red dots mean a heart, lanyards and the new fab, silly bracelets.
Coming
to camp knowing someone will make me smile is a great feeling.
The list goes on and on, these are just some of
the things that made my summer THE BEST. I wish we would do this year around. I
am also glad my weirdness has brought laughter to some of you. I joke around
with some of them, saying CUPC 2010 has brought me back to life. And in some
ways it has. Thanks for the memories guys! Let’s do it again.
