May 2012

PASTOR'S PEN

Moments for Church Focus

"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself." - Luke 10:27 (Common English Bible)

Early this year, our session (governing body at CUPC) went through an intentional process of trying to discern where God was calling us to focus our ministries for 2012. After some initial back-and-forths, it became clear to us that although we had done some major 'work' on the church focus of the previous year, there was still much that could be done...the focus being: Love God, Love Neighbor. Of course, if you think about it, Jesus' commandment of "Love your God...love your neighbor" is not something that would be achieved over a year's worth of ministry (or a number of years, for that matter!) - it is actually a lifelong goal for every follower and church who seek to live in Christ.

As a way to continue being intentional about our church focus in 2012 and getting the word out, we decided that every committee/board would use the designated time called, "Moment for Church Focus" during Sunday worship to share with the congregation how their committee/board were planning to live out that focus in their own ministry context, and how others could participate.

Over the next two newsletters, you will find what the committees/board shared with the congregation. My prayer is that you will keep the entire church and our committees/board in your prayers so that we can fully live out how God calls us to be as we do ministry in 2012. And as you are led, please come and join us in living this out together!

Blessings,

Pastor Grace

Moment for Church Focus (April 29, 2012)

Worship Committee: Rachael Yamashiro

The Worship Committee is responsible for oversight and planning of all worship services at CUPC. The Book of Order (our denominational constitution) does not mandate a prescribed form of order. However, it states that "freedom in Christ should be balanced with biblical command to do all things in an orderly way." The church Focus for 2012, Love God, Love Neighbor, was also the focus for 2011. The session felt that extending it for another year would better define the goals and achievement of the various committees.

The senior pastor and lay pastors have reached out to our immediate neighbors, namely Kokoro Assisted Living, and The Sequoias. They have led worship services in these institutions. The senior pastor, alongside with the lay pastors also participated in the Day of Remembrance event held at the Peace Plaza here in Japantown. One of our lay pastors continues to be involved with the Japanese-speaking ministries in the bay area. All of the pastors continue to extend their roles beyond the boundaries of Japantown.

Here at church, the committee is well aware of the needs of the various groups. We are also aware that we are creatures of habit. We take comfort in singing familiar, traditional hymns; specific order of worship, and singing the same melodies and lyrics to the Gloria Patri and Doxology.

However, in order to meet the needs of all, the committee knows it needs to be creative, innovative and flexible. To meet the needs of the "traditionalists" we have "Hymn Fests"; for families with children, we have "Entire Family Worship"; for the Japanese-speaking worshipers, we have bilingual services; and for the youth, we have the Worship Team leading us in praise songs.

But there is another reason why we are here on Sundays, apart from gathering to participate in worship services to our own liking. We are here because we love God. In loving God, we love neighbor. In loving our neighbor, we love God. One does not necessarily take precedence over the other, nor is one of greater importance than the other. Hence, two equal parts become as one.

Go forth from the church - love God, love neighbor. Love neighbor, love God. For God's words endureth forever. Amen.

Moment for Church Focus (May 6, 2012)

Japanese-Speaking Ministries chair: Yukiko Tanaka

Firstly, we the Japanese Speaking Ministries, are very grateful to our Commissioned Lay Pastor, Hiroko Suzuki for leading our Japanese-Speaking Ministrie s so passionately.

Last Sunday, her message was taken from "John 10:11-18. She explained how to know God and how to love God by first, reading the Bible, second, to pray and third to worship.

As the Japanese Speaking Ministries, we have our monthly Bible Studies, prayer meetings and weekly Tuesday night studies. We attend the JPC (Japanese Presbyterian Churches) Retreat to listen to other Japanese pastors. Through our studies, prayer meetings and Retreats, we seek to know God and learn to love God even more.

This year, we invited Rev. Akira Satoh, who lost many churches to the tsunami and the radiation in Fukushima, to speak about God's everlasting love. Now we are planning to have two "Omanju Classes and after we master Omanju making, we will have an Omanju sale fundraising to help to build churches in Fukushima. We will have a very busy schedule before summer begins. We are going to visit the Japanese speaking members who are not able to attend church. On May 19th, we will go cherry picking with the Koinonia (Intergenerational/Inter-lingual) Fellowship. We will also co-host an evangelical opera concert at this church with the 19th Ave. Japanese Baptist Church on June 16.

Sometimes Pastor Hiroko holds one-on-one spiritual classes with non-Christians. Another wonderful fellowship that Hiroko-san holds is an English group conversation class for Japanese and Asian students called, "PIE Night" which stands for "Partners in English". (You are very welcome to join us if you enjoy conversing and/or teaching English.) Through these classes, events, and fellowship, we are learning how to love neighbors.

Hiroko-san's strong passion is to sow and plant each small seed at CUPC. We believe that these seeds will grow and bear very ripe fruits. I am sure everybody remembers the Artist Yuki Ikariya who was baptized at this church. She always remembers to send post cards with her artwork to us from Japan. Each card has a verse from the Bible. One was from Romans 8:28 - "We know that in all things, God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose." His purpose is Love God, Love Neighbor!

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

April was a month filled with God's blessings. We gathered together for a potluck luncheon and baby shower and baptism on Easter Sunday. We also enjoyed having someone back in the choir for a couple of Sundays, before her return to Japan. It was good to see others worshiping with us again this Sunday.

As summer is rapidly approaching, we are starting sign-ups for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. We had a successful event last year at Crissy Field and hope to get even more of you involved this year. Relay for Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled and are battling cancer, remember lost loved ones, and fight back against the disease. At Relay for Life, teams of people camp out and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Because cancer never sleeps, relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length. Relayers do not have to walk all night, but each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. As stated by a current member of our congregation battling the disease, "we are going to crush cancer and this is a way to give our support." Expect to get recruited.

COFFEE FELLOWSHIP: 

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

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

PASTORAL PARTNER PROGRAM 

The Pastoral Partner Program began as a pilot program of the Board of Deacons more than 3 years ago. As of January 2012, it has replaced the 'flock system' of the Deacons and has become the main program for pastoral care at CUPC. Still under the umbrella of the Deacons' ministry, the Pastoral Partner Program is a planned, effective, flexible way to provide coordinated caring support to members of the congregation.

Each trained 'pastoral partner' is responsible for a 'cluster', which consists of approximately five family units. (A 'family unit' could be a single person, or multiple persons.) The pastoral partner keeps a friendly "eye out" for the members of his or her cluster; maintains regular contact with them; prays for them; and alerts the ministry team as needs emerge.

In addition to some of the Deacons being pastoral partners, several young adults have expressed interest in being trained as pastoral partners. Anyone who has an interest in learning more about the Pastoral Partner program, please see Jackie Kwan.

"Love one another" as Christ has loved you.

April 2012

PASTOR'S PEN 

Lent, Spring Cleaning and Easter...

"So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!" 2 Corinthians 5:17 (Common English Bible)

I'm not sure when the association between 'spring' and 'cleaning' came into being, but an initial simple online search seems to suggest that it comes from a concept of clearing out the soot/dust in the house before a special event (such as the lunar New Year, or Passover). Recently, our household went through such an 'event' where I began by telling my two daughters that I would begin 'giving away' anything that was on the floor (or other places) that didn't belong there. They began to fervently go through their 'stuff' and got rid of (or decided to give away) what they deemed no longer necessary to make room for the things they wanted to keep.

I don't need to mention how pleased I was with the results (yay - less clutter in the house!), but I was intrigued with some of the conversation we had surrounding this whole ordeal. We talked about not only 'getting rid of stuff', but how that makes room for not only the things that we want to keep, but also for potential 'new things' that might be coming our way. (I think it's sufficed to note that this was 2 weeks before Easter!)

As we have walked the last 6+ weeks of Lent, that's exactly what we, as the church, has been striving to do. The season of Lent is one of inner reflection, examination, and making changes. It is the 'spring cleaning' of our spirits. By de-cluttering and cleaning out the dust in our spiritual lives, we are not only able to assess what we truly need, but we are able to make room for the 'new' that Easter brings.

Through Easter, God showed us that God is more powerful than any human power (human oppression, execution, etc.), or anything else for that matter - even death itself. And as we profess our faith in this God, we are invited to experience this power - both for our inner spirits and in the world around us. God is constantly re-creating us and everything around us. But we need to clean and make room in our otherwise dusty and cluttered hearts.

As we have moved from the season of Lent to Eastertide (the season of Easter), have you finished the 'spring cleaning' for your soul yet? Don't worry - it's never too late! Let us make space for God's resurrection power to transform us, to make us anew so that we can indeed be a 'new creation', being daily changed into the people we are called to be. And in turn, God's resurrection power empowers us to go out and take part in the God's re-creating.

Now, that's a lot of amazing new 'stuff' for us to receive! I guess it's time to go back to more 'spring cleaning'...

Easter blessings,

Pastor Grace

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 

Hello Everyone,

If you notice that I haven't been at church lately it's because I have been working on Saturday and Sunday lunches since the middle of March. I know that you miss me at church and I miss being at church too. Things happen in our life that we have to do what we have to do. I can't get what I want every time but I am happy that I was able to go to church over the years. I have learned here and there over the years. When I became a Co-Moderator, I have learned a few things and still learning as the months go on. The Deacons whom I work with are very supportive, caring and other things too.

As Co -Moderator, it is a challenge to lead the Deacons because I am the youngest of the bunch. But if age doesn't matter, I will do my best to lead. So far, God is Good. All the time. All the time. God is Good.

If you would like to get a hold of me please email me at tanaka.ralph@gmail.com.

COFFEE FELLOWSHIP: 

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

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

Announcement- Commemoration of Dr. Ernest Adolphus Sturge

(April 29-1856 - October 11, 1934)

Each year we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Ernest Sturge and remember him on this day, Sturge Sunday.

Dr. Sturge was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 28, 1856, and history tells us of his many years of dedicated service to the Japanese Presbyterian Mission, and in particular to our Christ Church. Dr. Sturge never became an ordained minister, but received two doctorates, an M.D. and a Ph.D. His career began as a medical missionary in Thailand, but because of health problems living in the tropics, he and his wife returned to the States. On his return, the Presbyterian Church appointed him to the superintendant of the Pacific Coast Japanese Presbyterian Mission and he devoted his work to the Japanese community.

During the worldwide Spanish flu epidemic of 1918, Dr. Sturge's wife Eugenia, contracted a fatal case of the flu. She was a very active person and had served the Presbyterian Church for 37 years as a devoted wife and assistant to her husband. So in memory of his wife, Dr. Sturge presented (donated) their house at 1516 Post St., which was next to our original Church and we were asked to keep the house and property community use.

Dr. Sturge retired from his position as superintendent of Japanese Mission in 1921, although he continued his work with several Japanese Presbyterian Churches including Christ Church until his death on October 11, 1934.

In 1975 as part of San Francisco Redevelopment of Japantown and Western Addition, our present facility at 1700 Sutter St was built and the Sturge building was erected at 1716 Sutter Street, adjacent to our Church. Although they are connected, it is a separate structure with a dividing wall and separate utilities to reflect the desire of Dr. Sturge that the building be available for use by the Japanese American community as well as our congregation. And this separate building is officially known as Sturge Memorial Building. 

Many meetings are held here as well as fellowship gatherings, the choir and the Church Sunday School.

We are forever grateful to Dr. Sturge for his foresight to have a facility with the Church so the legacy of his work with the Japanese and other in the community will live on.

As we receive the yearly Sturge birthday memorial, these offerings are distributed to the following funds: The Enomoto Fund for the Nichigo, and the Marcia Hironaka and Michael Yee Scholarship funds, both administered by the Deacons. All three funds provide financial assistance for educational purposes to members of our congregation.

After worship, please join us during coffee hour for a piece of birthday cake for Dr. Sturge. THANK YOU.

Arisa Takahashi

Sturge Board of Trustees

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