March 2012

PASTOR'S PEN  Right and Attitude ''and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well'-Matthew 5:40 Recently, as I was stopped at a red signal, the front of my car was forcefully backed into by a big new-looking SUV. For some reason, this car was backing up and would not stop despite my attempts to honk again and again ' and boom! I was hit. I was shocked that I was hit, but I was even more shocked when the car began to speed away. The car forced its way in between two lanes and drove off in a hurry. I couldn't help but yell, 'I can't believe this!!' I immediately tried to chase the car that hit me, but there were so many cars that were in the way. So I had to give up. The thought that ran through my mind was that as the victim, I had every right to expect the offender to apologize and repay for his/her actions. Looking at the above Bible passage, however, it seems that Jesus is saying that we should give up our natural, God-given right. This passage is taken from Jesus' 'Sermon on the Mount'. People in those days usually had more than one shirt, but only one coat. This coat was necessary to protect oneself from the cold at night. So, even if the coat was taken in pawn, it had to be returned by sundown, as in Exodus 22:25-26 states, 'If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, you shall not deal with them as a creditor; you shall not exact interest from them. If you take your neighbor's cloak in pawn, you shall restore it before the sun goes down.' So it was a given right for people to own a coat, but Jesus teaches that we should give up even that right. What does this mean? Does it mean that it's bad to insist on your right? I don't think that's what Jesus means. I think it is okay for the victim to expect the offender to pay what is due. So why did Jesus tell us to give up the right? Perhaps it's in the attitude in which the demand of your right happens. We tend to not only demand our right to things, but in the process end up putting ourselves in the center of things and not God. Along with this oftentimes comes the attitude of being the 'judge' over all things, if not being judgmental at the least. When I look back at when I was trying to chase the car that hit me, of course I was thinking that I needed him/her to fix the damage done to my car. But even more than that, I wanted revenge - to catch the offender and 'make him/her pay' for the inconvenience this incident had caused me. This sense of 'making him/her pay', or wanting revenge, easily creeps up in our hearts when we seek to demand our given right. If we can still keep God (and not us) in the center, and not become the ultimate 'judge', I think it is okay to claim your given right. But as anyone knows, this is extremely difficult ' so could it be why Jesus, who is full of grace and mercy, told us to give up the right all together? So, the problem is not the right itself, but our hearts and our attitudes. Which means that Jesus is telling me that I need work on having a better attitude and a heart that is pleasing to God ' rather than trying to play judge, seek revenge or even demand my right. God, please help me to make it so. Amen. Hiroko Suzuki, Commissioned Lay Pastor CLERK'S REPORT  Everyone is invited to attend our regular session meetings. If you are interested in how the session, our governing body, discusses ministry at CUPC, please come and join us! You are also welcome to read the minutes, which are public documents. The minutes are available in the church office. DEACONS' REPORT Hi Everyone! I'm co-moderator this year. Being a Deacon requires a lot of thinking and organizing. There is much to learn from all the rest. The most work is the Thanksgiving dinner and we will need a lot of help (more on this later!). In the meantime I am finding being a Deacon very rewarding, especially in getting to know the members of CUPC. COFFEE FELLOWSHIP: The Deacons would like to thank the individuals who have contributed to the coffee fellowship during the month of February. The Deacons are aware there are others who do not sign up on the list, but contribute. We would like to thank you all! Ed Murray, Co-moderator

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February 2012

PASTOR'S PEN 

Let Justice Roll Down...

"But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." - Amos 5:24

Making justice to roll down like waters and bringing about ever-flowing righteousness is hard work...

Every February, our Japantown community in San Francisco has an event called the "Day of Remembrance". Those of you involved with Japanese American communities anywhere would most likely know what this event is, but it is on that commemorates the forced internment of the people of Japanese descent due to the signing of Executive Order 9066 by President Franklin Roosevelt on February 19, 1942. The executive order was given after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese military, and mandated the forced evacuation of over 120,000 people of Japanese descent (most of them U.S. citizens) living in the U.S. and some abroad. They were forced into ‘internment camps' and lived behind barbed wire. It was not until 1944 that the executive order was deemed unconstitutional and was completely rescinded in 1945.

Making justice to roll down like waters and bringing about ever-flowing righteousness is hard work...

This year's theme for the Bay Area Day of Remembrance is: Carrying the Light of Justice. The program will honor Gordon Hirabayashi, who was one of the three who openly defied going to the internment camps, claiming that it was unconstitutional. His case went all the way to the Superior Court, but it was ruled against him in 1943 (It wasn't overturned until 1987).

Making justice to roll down like waters and bringing about ever-flowing righteousness is hard work...

The emcee for the event is Karen Korematsu, whose father was another of the three who defied internment. In a recent interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, she talks about how her father, after losing his case with the courts (like Hirabayashi), had to hitchhike to Utah, where the rest of his family was. He was not received well by those at the internment camp in Topaz (Utah), who claimed that he brought shame to his family and other Japanese Americans by fighting the government instead of trying to prove their loyalty by quietly adhering to the government. Because of this kind of shaming and pressure, Karen did not know about her father's efforts until she came across a friend's presentation on the internment camps in high school. Even then, her father didn't want to talk about it and said, "It's in the past now."

Making justice to roll down like waters and bringing about ever-flowing righteousness is hard work...

Today, both Hirabayashi and Korematsu (along with Minoru Yasui, the third of those who defied internment) are hailed for their courage to have stood up for what they thought was right – but as you can imagine, the road they trod was anything but easy. They were vilified, shamed, outcast – all in the name of what we now know as ‘justice' and ‘righteousness'. But because they stood by their convictions, justice did indeed come, and many now enjoy the fruits for their labors.

Making justice to roll down like waters and bringing about ever-flowing righteousness is hard work...

God calls all of us to be peace and justice-makers. God calls us to be co-creators of God's reign of righteousness. But oftentimes, the road is paved with disappointment, sometimes even persecution. Making justice to roll down like waters and bringing about ever-flowing righteousness is TRULY hard work...and yet, God still calls us forth to join in what God has begun – and seeks to complete, with us, working hand in hand.

What a noble and powerful (and somewhat daunting) calling we are given! I pray that we all will be given the courage, perseverance and strength to be the makers of justice and bringers of righteousness – however small – to the circles and communities that God has placed us in. So...how will you heed and live your call?

Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream!

Reflecting on becoming a justice-maker,

Pastor Grace

CLERK'S REPORT

The session, acted on the following items on February 12, 2012:

1. Approved to place a B&W business-size ad ($175) in the Cherry Blossom Festival Guide published by the Nichi Bei Weekly

1. Approved to dismiss 1 deceased member from membership roll

Note: Everyone is invited to attend our regular session meetings. If you are interested in how the session, our governing body, discusses ministry at CUPC, please come and join us! You are also welcome to read the minutes, which are public documents. The minutes are available in the church office.

DEACONS' REPORT

How's everyone doing? I hope that everyone is doing fine. I am the co-moderator with Ed Murray this year.

Things are different this year. The reason is that we are one person short and already things to do. I am adjusting to the lead role of being the Co-Moderator. I am doing my best to lead the Deacons to a good year if not a better year. I am learning something new along the way with a lot of help from other deacons young and old (not too old).

When I went to the Officer's Retreat last month a lot things went through my mind since then. Thinking what is best for the Deacons and the congregation. If I am missing something please forgive me. I will do my best trying not to forget and also keep an open mind.

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 there are others who do not sign up on the list, but contribute. We would like to thank you all!

-Ralph Tanaka, co-moderator

Article of Interest 

The 2011 annual report booklets are available. The book includes information on the committees, fellowship groups, boards and finances of the church. It is an excellent summary of the year's activities. If you wish a copy, please call the church office at 415-567-3988.