October 2008

INTERN'S PEN

My first visit to CUPC was on May 30, 2004, for Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki’s ordination and installation. It seems like only yesterday that I was struggling while doing the important task of translating for Rev. Sarah Reyes of Bethel Community Presbyterian Church, and other ordained ministers who preached, gave the charges for Pastor Suzuki (who was about to be ordained) and the congregation. At that time, I was a student at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (GGBTS) and serving as an intern at 19th Avenue Japanese Baptist Church. Little had I imagined that four years later, I would become the intern at this church.

I would like to share with you a bit about how God has led me this far. My parents owned a liquor store in Japan, and I was born as their oldest daughter. I grew up in a house which had both a statue of Buddha and a Shinto shrine. Growing up not being exposed to Christianity, I began going to church only when I came to study in the US. One of my friends introduced me to Pastor Suzuki (Miss Ishihara at that time), who was a student at the SF Conservatory of Music, and we became roommates. Every Sunday, we would take her car and attend the San Lorenzo Japanese Christian Church in San Leandro. And two years later, I was baptized.

Five years later, God led me to attend seminary. I had taken part in the Bible studies at church regularly, and thought that I had some knowledge of the faith, but when I became the chair of the Evangelism Committee, I realized how much I didn’t know about the Bible. I initially began attending GGBTS wanting to study more about the Bible. But little by little, while I studied, God revealed to me my calling to dedicate myself and be involved in professional ministry.

As graduation drew near, I was praying about how God was leading me upon finishing my studies. And God heard my prayer. Upon graduating from GGBTS in Dec. 2005, I was given the opportunity to serve at this church. In addition to facilitating a small group study in Japanese, I was thankfully given the opportunity to preach occasionally. After I transferred my church membership to CUPC, I have also been involved in other ministries, such as the Japanese-speaking (Nichigo) Sodankai and Worship Team. Through these opportunities, God has continued to affirm my calling to dedicate my life to the ministry.

As I became an elder, I sensed the need to learn more about the Reformed faith and Presbyterian government. So I began attending seminary again last year. I entered the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, which is one of the Graduate Theological Union schools which enables me to learn more about Presbyterianism, Lutheranism, Methodism, Episcopalism and Catholicism. It has been a good learning experience and training to study with other Christians of various denominations.

I began my internship here in September, and look forward to continue working hard as a church member in the areas mentioned above, as well as the new areas as an intern: preaching once every two months, developing a discipleship program, events that promote the fellowship of the young adults both English and Japanese speaking and home meeting for those who feel uncomfortable with the church setting. Even through my many weaknesses, I pray that God will help me as I give my best as an intern this year. Please pray for me!

In God’s love,

Hiroko Suzuki, church intern

DEACONS' REPORT

The beginning of fall marks a lot of happenings here at the church. Sunday School teachers were commissioned on the first Sunday in September, and the Nichigo had another successful sushi/manju sale the following week. The Soko Bukai World Communion Sunday on October 5, 2008, will be held here at CUPC. Christ Episcopal and Pine United Methodist Church will join us in worship and communion, followed by a potluck luncheon. And the Deacons will be leading the worship service on Sunday, October 19, 2008. Please be sure to join us.

The Deacons introduced the concept of the Pastoral Partner Program last year which involves setting up a network of care which ensures support for every member of the congregation. A pastoral partner is a member of our congregation whose gifts include relationship building and offering care to others. A pastoral partner does not need to be someone who has been a member for a long time or who knows everyone or who is a leader of the church. A pastoral partner can be any one of us. We hope to begin the training soon, so if anyone is interested, please contact Pastor Grace or Diana Cheifetz.

We continue to ask for volunteers who are willing to provide transportation to church for those members who may need assistance or lack a means of transportation. Even if you can only provide transportation one way, please contact Rose at the church or Jan Der.

Please be in prayer for 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 September. We 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

Evening of Dancing to Benefit Seniors at Kokoro Assisted Living

Everyone will get a chance to dance to a lively beat and raise funds for the Kokoro Assisted Living, Inc. (KALI) center on Saturday, October 25, 2008. The “Shall We Dance” event will feature music, dancing and refreshments from 8pm to 11pm at JCCCNC. Tickets are $60 at the door.

The “Shall We Dance” event was conceived by a committee of the Kokoro Board of Directors. With a goal to raise $50,000 a year, the first annual fundraising event is to help underwrite activities and cultural events for the residents. It will also help to maintain its affordability to many residents.

“Kokoro has become a constant in Japantown and the greater San Francisco community,” says Vickie Ina, spokesperson for the event. “It cares for our seniors so we feel it’s important that we help to maintain the programs that enrich their lives. I believe that ‘Shall We Dance’ will be a great start to an annual fundraising effort.”

About Kokoro

Since its conception in 1995, the Kokoro Assisted Living Center has been dedicated to providing San Francisco area residents with elder care consistent with Japanese culture and customs. The idea was born from a recognition that first and second generation Japanese Americans would benefit most by having the option to live their later years with the food, language and activities reflective of their cultural heritage. As a result, the Japanese American Religious Federation (JARF) Senior Housing Task Force, and then later the Japanese American Religious Federation Assisted Living Inc. (JALFI), guided the development and building of the center. Today, Kokoro Assisted Living Inc. (KALI) provides corporate leadership for the facility.

We will need refreshments to serve during the evening and would really appreciate help from our church family. Anyone interested in either attending the event or donating refreshments, are welcome.

ARTICLE OF INTEREST

The Sequoias and Christ Church

The beginning of the Mission Statement of Christ Church is “Go Ye Therefore,” which in today’s term means, “Go and Reach Out,” to minister and serve beyond the church into our community.

The Sequoias, built in 1969, by the Presbyterian Church, is part of the church’s community. It is located only one block from us. Today there are about 40 Japanese American residents living there.

On Sunday, September 21, Christ Church had an opportunity to minister to the Sequoia residents in their ecumenical service. The Health Center patients were also visited and served. Our Rev. Grace Suzuki, representing the church, visited the Sequoias to minister to the residents and patients. She also gave a meaningful message and lead the afternoon service.

As a 2-year Sequoias resident, I’ve noticed that there are many residents who don't attend regular church services. The presence of Pastor Grace helped to introduce not only herself, but our church close by. I have heard wonderful comments of Pastor Grace’s visit, her message, and her personal demeanor.

Hopefully, Christ Church can become a community church for Sequoia residents, as they seek out spiritual direction in their golden lives.

Kathy Reyes

ARTICLE OF INTEREST

Annual Halloween Party to Benefit UNICEF

Date: October 25, 2008 - Saturday

Time: 5:30pm - 8:30pm

Place: Christ United Presbyterian Church - Social Hall

RSVP: Please call CUPC office

The Women’s Group cordially invites families and all of you who are “Young at Heart” to its evening gathering of Halloween activities to benefit UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund whose program assist children in developing countries who struggle to survive against disease, disasters, and other hardships.

Join us for Halloween crafts, games, costume contest, dancing and more! A supper of Halloween “finger foods” will be served. Be creative and bring some of your own Halloween “finger foods” to share!

ARTICLE OF INTEREST

Let Us Extend Our Christmas Greetings!

We are once again offering a service of which you may wish to take advantage. It was felt that many people may wish to send Christmas Greetings to the members and friends of the church through the Visiting Pastor in lieu of sending Christmas cards, thereby saving the cost of postage and cards and allowing you the opportunity to use the money for some other worthy cause, a cause which may be especially meaningful to you at Christmas time.

What we are proposing is to make available several sheets which will be the Christmas Greeting pages of a special edition of the VP. There will be a large central Christmas Greeting message with little boxes of space (2 ½ X 1 ½ inches) surrounding it. Within these little boxes of space, you may place your Christmas Greeting message along with your name or family names.

If you wish to take advantage of this service, we ask that you contribute $10.00 for the space. The amount received will go towards off-setting the cost of publishing the V.P. during the year, so you will be helping the church also by participating in this Christmas Greetings project of the V.P.

For a copy of the reservation form, please call the office. WE MUST HAVE ALL RESERVATIONS IN BY SUNDAY, November 30th. The Christmas edition of the V.P will be mailed on December 6th in order to allow time for delivery before Christmas.

VP Committee

September 2008

PASTOR'S PEN

Welcoming the Newest Members of CUPC’s Leadership 

I love September. More than anything, September has been a time of promise - of new beginnings, new openings, new opportunities. And the special one for me this September is starting as CUPC’s Parish Associate for Preaching and Christian Spirituality. It’s been a delight working with Pastor Grace and the leadership of CUPC as we’ve moved toward this point. And there is much joy in my heart now as we begin this journey together.

I’ll add just a few words here about the two specific areas in which I’ll be working. In terms of the preaching, as one former seminary president once said to me, “There is nothing like preaching to your own congregation.” I have preached in lots of different contexts, and enjoy doing so. But to have your faces before me as I am writing a sermon, praying my way through a passage, and wrestling with its practical implications, is a specific kind of loving – to which I am looking forward!

In terms of the work in the area of Christian Spirituality, people usually wonder what that IS. In his book, Holy Longing: the Search for a Christian Spirituality, author Ronald Rolheiser describes Christian Spirituality as what we do with the deep desire we each have for God - whether we follow it, ignore it, or struggle with it. As a spiritual director, I help people - clergy and lay folk - follow that longing, and grow in their awareness and responsive action to the presence and movement of the Spirit of God in their lives. Together, we will shape what my ministry in this area looks like.

Many of you know me as the wife of your former interim pastor, Rev. Jeff Cheifetz, so I’ll add just a bit more here. I grew up in a Christian family, the oldest of five daughters, and attended 1st Presbyterian Church in Berkeley. Most of my extended family lives in the Bay Area and in the Santa Clara valley. Both my parents grew up on farms south of here, and they and their families were interned during the WWII in Poston, Arizona, and Topaz, Utah. While my own conversion experience happened while I was a college student at Berkeley with Inter-Varsity, God has shaped me mightily through the churches that have been the life of ministry I have had, both with my husband and on my own. Rural, suburban, urban - of all different sizes - they have been profoundly formative, as I have thought about the kingdom of God, and my own place in its work. So, even as I hope you will learn from me, I, too, will be learning from all of you, as together we share this good and rich journey to which God has called us. I am excited and grateful at the prospect of serving alongside Pastor Grace and Hiroko, sharing in the good work of God’s kingdom with all of you.

May God bless us in this and all of our new beginnings, all the lovely Septembers of our lives.

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Diana Cheifetz

DEACONS' REPORT

Summer is over and the kids are back in school. Have you noticed the new playground structure outside? That must’ve been a nice change for the young folks at Nihonmachi Little Friends when they returned. Change is good. And so we continue to grow and change here at CUPC.

The Deacons are looking for volunteers who would be willing to provide transportation to/from church for those members who are unable to join us on a regular basis due to lack of transportation, or who may be uncomfortable in using public transit. Please call the church if you would like to give someone a ride to church.

We have much to be thankful for in our lives and we come with hearts filled with joy and gratitude as we lift up 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 August. We 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

SUMMER CAMP MOMENTS

Hello, my name is Samuel Zhou. You can call me Sam for short. Well I can say that some of you, no wait most of you don't know me. This is my first year at CUPC as well as a leader and I have found that these few weeks working here have been fulfilling and gratifying.

This week at summer camp was pretty fun. On Monday, the campers stayed here at church. They had the choice of watching movies or playing games in the social hall. The two movies were Mulan and Hercules. Personally I think that watching Mulan fight the Huns and Hercules doing his thing is more fun than board games. On Tuesday, the entire camp took the bus down to Aquatic Park for a day of adventuring. After about half a day of adventuring, where most of the kids just went to the arcade, the second half of the day, after lunch, was spent at the beach where the campers enjoyed the cold weather and playing at the beach. The leaders planned to do themes this week, and given on a certain day, we had to dress a certain theme. On Monday we didn’t dress as anything as it was the day we used to plan out what we were to wear this week. Tuesday, the leaders dressed up as movie characters. Leaders and directors dressed up from characters like Juno and the Joker, to things like the Zorro and Hancock. Wednesday, thee entire camp ventured to Yerba Buena for a fun day of bowling and playing at Yerba Buena Park. Alpha went to bowl first, and I was a little worried whether or not the kids were strong enough to carry the bowling balls, but they managed. After bowling, the campers spent the rest of the day playing at the park, enjoying the sunshine and playing with their friends. For Wednesday, the Leaders dressed their formal wear to bowling. It was a little harder to bowl, but still was an all around great day. On Thursday, we spent the early morning watching the Lion King before taking school busses all the way to Concord for a fun day of swimming. The kids looked like they really had fun. I guess you can say it was a good day to leave the city and enjoy some sunshine over at Concord. For Thursday, the Leaders dressed up as hippies, showing off our awesome tie-dye shirts. Friday, the last day of the extended weeks, we all took the school busses and spent the entire day at Marine World or Discovery Kingdom. The kids were all tired by the end of the day and had a lot of fun riding on rollercoaster’s and playing games. Some of the kids even saw Shouka, the killer Whale and other animals. For Friday, in celebration of the start of the Olympics, the Leaders dressed as if they were in the Olympics themselves. We had track stars to bicyclists to tennis players.

I would say, after working these past, oh, 3 weeks with CUPC, I have changed as a person. In my relationship with God, I feel as if I have gone closer to him, just by working with the kids. I personally believe that working with kids reflects the goodness of god and his love for children. I have grown as an individual, as it was hard to come here to meet all these new campers and leaders that I hardly know. I have made new friendships that will last a lifetime. Although my three weeks here have been short, all the memories and the friendships I’ve made this summer will continue to grow and stay with me always.

Throughout my time here at CUPC, I have been given the opportunity to make memories with all the friends I've made here and to serve the community at the same time. It has been truly a gift, coming to camp each day and seeing the smiles on the kids faces as they play their favorite game or sing their favorite song, knowing that I was given the opportunity to share in their experience at CUPC. I hope that the Leaders and Directors of the Extended Week two will have just as good as a week as I did. Thank you.

Good morning, Unfortunately, and sadly, this last week was the very last for CUPC Summer Camp 2008. Since this is the last camp moment for this year I hope this piece is halfway decent.

Well my name is Alex Kawano. This summer has been one of many steppingstones for me. This was my first year as an Omega department leader. I have had the privilege to work with older kids for the first time. With the younger campers my patience level had to be rather high, but with oldest boys my patience level just fell off the table. But after all the stressful moments with the oldest boys, I managed to have a blast, just as I do year after year of coming to camp. I also had fun being on the God Squad. This was the first time I did anything like this, leading and discussing devotions with campers and fellow headers, and becoming vulnerable by sharing life struggles and believes in God with my fellow leaders. Being on this devotional team, I was able to get one step closer on my faith journey.

As for this week, it had its ups and downs. The only sad thing about this week was saying goodbye to everybody. As far the rest of the week, it was uber fun. Monday, well actually that was also a down moment. We had to clean! However, I'm sure the campers enjoyed watching movies, playing board games, and playing outside. Throughout the week the leaders dressed up for an apparel theme, Monday’s being Giants day, Tuesday, we graduated to Sausalito. We all dressed up in our caps and gowns, resulting in a lot of questions and weird looks from strangers. The campers, as well as leaders were able to buy an array of things while window shopping. The merchandise ranged from loads of candy, to unibrow kits, to very phony wallets and of course, Starbucks. Also, it was Sir Mix A Lot's birthday. Wednesday we went to Yerba Buena Gardens for ice skating. Once again, the leaders got a lot of peculiar looks. It was mismatch day and we were sporting some pretty unusual and bright outfits. Over the next two days we got super wet, sliding at Raging Waters and swimming at Heather Farms.

This week I had added to my book of countless memories at camp. I will remember some hilarious remarks by the campers, some scary accounts with the leaders, the building of the new play structure, and the friendship that I have built upon. As far my 10th summer at camp, it’s gone by so fast and it’s just been a blast. I'm so thankful for this camp because it has presented so many great opportunities for me. I have been able to share the same joy that I have as a camper with the campers. I have also been able to sharpen my leadership skill and build friendships and great memories that will stay with me forever.

Lastly, I think we should all be thankful that God has blessed us with this amazing camp. We should also thank everyone who made this summer another successful one. Thank you.

August 2008

PASTOR'S PEN

Welcoming the Newest Members of CUPC’s Leadership

“And we know that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good…” - Romans 8:28

In my last Pastor’s Pen (July, 2008), I alluded to new ministry leadership opportunities for our congregation. This month, I would like to share with you more in detail regarding the wonderful leadership additions to our ministry beginning September, 2008.

This past June, at its regular meeting, the CUPC session approved that Rev. Diana Nishita Cheifetz would be joining CUPC as the Parish Associate for Preaching and Christian Spirituality beginning September, 2008. For those unfamiliar with the term, a Parish Associate (which is different from an Associate Pastor), as the Book of Order (G-14.0570) states, is an ordained minister who is serving in non-parish/church ministry, a member-at-large of presbytery, or is retired, but also seeks to maintain a relationship with a particular congregation, offering their various gifts for use in the ministry of that congregation. This parish associate position is actually not new to CUPC - some of you may remember when Rev. Gordon Lam was a parish associate, working with the youth, during Rev. David Nakagawa’s time.

Many of you may remember that Pastor Diana is the past interim pastor, Jeff Cheifetz’s, wife, but I have known her since my own seminary days – and we have been friends since. Pastor Diana is currently an adjunct faculty at the San Francisco Theological Seminary in the area of Christian Spirituality, and also is a Spiritual Director at the Lloyd Pastoral Counseling Center (affiliated with the Seminary). As our parish associate, she will take an active part in our worshipping community, and as her title suggests, she will be sharing her gift of preaching with us on a regular basis (roughly once a month). She will also be working with the appropriate individuals/committees to help continue the development of intentional spiritual nurture and growth within the congregation. Welcome, Pastor Diana!!

The other person I would like to welcome is someone many of you may already know: Hiroko Suzuki. She will become our church intern (with an emphasis on Japanese-speaking ministries) from September, 2008 for one year. Her internship is in conjunction with her current seminary studies at the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley.

Hiroko has been a member of our congregation since 2006, and has been very active in the life of the church – especially with our Japanese-speaking ministries. Her becoming an intern enables her to devote more of her time and energy doing ministry at CUPC (both Japanese and English speaking), and gain more experience - as she feels called to ultimately be involved in ministry toward Japanese-speaking persons as her vocation. The unique gifts that she brings has already been a great blessing to CUPC, and I look forward to working with her in this new role for this coming year.

God has indeed been good to us! We welcome both Pastor Diana and Hiroko to CUPC and look forward to doing God’s work alongside with them. As they share their gifts with the various developing ministries at CUPC, I ask you to support them and continue to pray for them – and as you are able, work together with them.

And as they work with us, and we with them – as the above verse from the Bible reminds us – let us always remember that it is our God who is ultimately working together with us all to bring about God’s work…here in our world, here at CUPC. So as we welcome the new gifts of Pastor Diana and Hiroko, let us also bring forth our own gifts – and as God works together with all of us, we can bring good to the ministry of CUPC, good to our community, and good to God’s reign here on earth!

Peace and blessings,

Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki

DEACONS' REPORT

As summer begins to wind down for the summer campers and leaders… the Summer Olympics are about to begin in Beijing. We welcome back our young missionaries into our midst: one, back from the Philippines and another from Tokyo and look forward to hearing about their ministries. We are thankful for their courage to step out in faith and leave their comfort zone behind to share God’s love with those who greatly need it. Noticed a few other familiar young faces in service also…. Welcome home everyone!

The upstairs restroom is now complete and has already been inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. We thank our Property Maintenance Committee and each person in the congregation for their support in making this possible. The next project is the Children’s Playground. God is good!\

Let us be in prayer for those in our lives and our communities. If you have any special prayer requests or needs, please contact the church office.

COFFEE FELLOWSHIP: 

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

SUMMER CAMP MOMENTS

Hello! I have been coming to CUPC ever since I was entering the 4th grade, so that means this is my 8th summer at CUPC. I heard about CUPC by a friend I used to dance hula with. She told me that it was fun and a summer that I will never forget. I decided to go and she was right. It was a summer that I could never forget. This is my third year being a leader at CUPC, as a paid leader.

My very first year being a leader, I was in the Alpha department. I had Group C, and the kids were wild and crazy and didn’t listen much. My second year as a leader was probably the best. I had great campers that listen to the rules and listened to us leaders. I had 5G, and I kind of split the head leader part. This year I have 5G again. I am the head leader this year and I feel like I am doing a decent job.

My campers are ... different than the campers I have had before. I know that these campers have grown up together and are best friends. I have noticed that the campers are cliquey with everything. For example, if we are playing Red Rover. They want to be with a person that is their best friend. So, if I put them in two separate teams, and one team starts off first, they will call for their best friends first. After a while, when the opposing team calls for a person they want and the other team likes that person (as in best friend), then they will call that person back just to be with their friends. So, on Thursday (July 3, 2008), we played Rod Rover and the cliquey-ness started again. I decided to change it up a bit and said, “You can’t call the person that was already called. But you can call them after two rounds.” I said that because some of the campers were never called in the entire game in the first round we played. So, we tried it in the second round, but it didn’t work as much. but the kids that didn't get a chance to go got to go in that round.

This year I was ‘Leader of the Week’ in Week One. I was so happy and shocked that I got the chance to be L.O.W. for the first week in the Omega department. Plus, I have gotten to know most of the leaders. We grew up together when we were in our groups. For example, there is another leaders I grew up . We were in 4th grade girls together and I have gotten to know her so well. I didn’t see her for about 2 years, but when I saw her again, it felt like I haven’t seen her in ages. We are good friends and I am glad that I came here and met new people.

Thank you and have a wonderful day!

Rebecca Wong

Hi my name is Alex and my name is Jeff.

(Switch Places)

Jeff: We’ve been going to camp for 12 years now (look at Alex for validity)…

Alex: Part of the reason is because we have nothing better to do with our summers…

Jeff: But the main reason is, that we love it here.

Alex: As campers, we used to come to CUPC excited to see each other because we were separated for the entire school year.

Jeff: But since we go to high school together.

Alex: Lowell!!

Jeff: Whoo!!

We see each other 6 days a week.

Alex: But remarkably, we haven’t killed each other... yet.

Jeff: Every year we come back and do our same stupid stuff.

Alex: But somehow they let us take care of your children.

Jeff: Please bear with our goofy opening, we were working all night over this.

Alex: Wait, if you say the last three words backwards that you said, “This over night.” Hey “this over night.” Didn’t you go on and weren’t we supposed to talk about “this over night.”

Jeff: By golly Alex, you’re right!! And nice segway.

Alex: This week campers 3rd grade and up got to go on the overnight.

Jeff: Since I take care of the oldest campers I got to go…

Alex: and since I take care of the youngest campers, I didn’t.

Jeff: For those of you who don’t know, the Overnight is a trip for the older campers to the Valley of the Moon campsite. We stayed there for 2 nights and it was a lot of fun. We had archery, devotions, water games, microwaved s’mores, hot cocoa, and much more. The campers and leaders all had a good time. The part I will always remember is putting shaving cream all over one of my fellow leaders, Christian Feng. We returned on Friday filthy, but it was worth it. All the kids fell asleep within the first 5 minutes of the bus ride home. It was a peaceful end to a wild week.

Alex: Whoa Jeff, we had fun too. For example, on Wednesday, we went to the park.

Jeff: Don’t we always go to the part, Alex.

Alex: Well, uh…On Thursday we went to the beach. One of our most important rules when we go to the beach is that the campers can only go up to their ankles in the water, but every year there’s always at least one camper who is not only wet up to their ankles, but is drenched from head to toe. And this year was no different because one of my own campers comes up to me completely soaked, so I took out the towel I always bring. Then on Friday we went to see a play called “The Magic Library:" and campers and leaders alike just loved it. When we got back to church, we had lunch followed by a movie in which the overnight kids joined us in watching.

Jeff: The best thing about this week was right before the movie started when we found out we both received the highly coveted Leader of the Week Award.

(Pause and hold up cards)

Alex: Every year at CUPC is a new experience, and that’s why we keep coming back. We’re looking forward to the rest of the summer with all of you, and many more summers ahead.

Jeff: No matter where we are in life, CUPC will always remind us of happy times. We’ve built many friendships and have learned many new things.

Alex: Thank

Jeff: You.

Alex Kent & Jeffrey Lew

Good morning. This is my third summer at CUPC, but my first being a paid leader. This past week at camp has been pretty tiring; but what week at camp isn't ? Monday was the dinosaur egg hunt, and though I was there with the directors and leaders to bury them, it took me the longest time to find one. It seemed like the ones I buried were all already found. Finally we were at an area where one of the watermelons was buried, but it wasn’t the campers who found it, it was a leader. As we were watching the kids dig into the dirt piles, one of our leaders noticed she was standing on something in the dirt that was green… the watermelon. I guess that ruined the whole purpose of the campers finding the eggs, but they didn’t seem to mind. They dug the watermelon out with smiles on their faces, and all wanted to hold it as we walked by the other groups so they could brag about how big our watermelon was.

For our cookout on Wednesday, we had taco salads. This day was the most tiring of all. I started the day off with getting burned from the grill as I was making the fire, and then later having one of my campers slip and fall in the woods… in dog poop. About 5 minutes later, she slips and falls again, but not in poop this time. She falls onto a couple branches, where she got a few cuts on her forehead and I helped bandaged them up. I thought she would be pretty mad the rest of the day, after all she went through, but she wasn’t. She acted as if she never had poop on her, and she never got hurt. She didn’t cry or complain, which was such a big relief for me. That day was making ice cream for the Omega department, and for Oldest Boys, it wasn’t such a good one. As they were adding the ingredients for the ice cream, they had mistaken the salt for sugar… and well, you know the rest. My groups’ ice cream, I’m happy to say, turned out better. We made mocha chocolate cookie dough, and everyone was asking for thirds.

One Friday, we stayed at church playing games until the leader talent show. For craft, my group made cookies, and everyone loved them. Groups A, B, and C were even asking for some. They were assigned the social hall, and could smell our cookies as they were baking. When it was time for the leader talent show, I was pretty exited to see what the other group have come up with. All the leaders worked hard to put on a good show, and it was. There was dancing, dancing, and more dancing… and the skits put on by a few of the boys, which included putting whipped cream down Christian Feng’s pants, shirt, nose, and mouth. And can’t forget about the pudding squeezed all over his clothes and face. Way to take one for the team.

Later that day was the family picnic. I was in charge of cooking he hot dogs, and with the help of one of the adults, I must have cooked like 2 whole packages. I smelled like charcoal for the rest of the night. At the picnic, the parents were able to see how cookout, ice cream, and the games are for their kids. Some of them helped make the ice cream, and even played Kick the Can with other parents and campers. I’m looking forward to the last 2 weeks of camp, and appreciating the time I have left here at camp with all the campers, leaders, and directors.

Jillian Yson

Good morning everyone! Somewhere along my name it should have C.U.P.C. in it because though this is only my 2nd year at camp I feel like they are already my 2nd family. Okay, okay, enough of this mushy gushy stuff. Week 5 is coming to an end and next week is our last week of regular camp. I know it’s cliché but time does fly when we’re having so much fun.

Monday was our bubble gum contest. Who would’ve thought being able to chew and blow bubble gum took such skills? Some of my campers in Group C or also known as “Crayons and some Cookies” can chew twice as fast as I can and blow a bubble bigger than I’m even capable of.

Wednesday our group made some mean lean teriyaki burgers. I find it funny how the kids are always wanting more. .. They got a plate in front of them with a burger that has only a bite taken out and they are already asking if they can have seconds. But then again I can’t blame them from wanting more of our mouth watering burgers (=

On Thursday I learned the meaning of not judging the book by its' cover. Our group made Mocha ice cream but to make things interesting we decided to add some food coloring in it. Everyone was anxious to eat the ice cream but when we took off the top their noses scrunched up and their smiles turned into open jaws. The ice cream looked like mustard among many other things. The campers looked curious yet disgusted. I heard a few of them mutter out " Ew I hate mustard... I can't eat that!" The brave ones took their bites and all they said was “Yummmmm." Before we knew it everyone wanted seconds and some leaders loved it as well. Though if it didn't look so bad I’m sure we would’ve all enjoyed the taste of the ice cream much more. So I guess not everything is what they seem to be.

Friday was a fun filled day at California’s Great America. Because most of the 1st and 2nd graders were too short to ride the roller coasters we all ended up going to the water part of the park. Within the 10 minutes I was there, I was pushed under a huge bucket of water that just happened to tip over when I was underneath it. I never really understood why the kids loved playing in the water so much but that didn't matter, because all the smiles I saw and the laughter I heard made it the best day for me.

In the end the campers are like the sour patch kids candy, they can be a handful at times but they always know how to put a smile back on your face. This week was exciting and memorable but I hope we can end week 6 with a bang and make it a summer we can all cherish, because we all know the best memories are made here at C.U.P.C. camp.

Khulan Erdenebaatar

Hi. This is my 10th summer at CUPC Summer Camp, 2nd as a leader. I have come back every year so that I could see the many friends that I have made at this camp. We have just finished the sixth and last week of regular camp. It has been a very tiring six weeks, but is always worth putting in all of the work to put a smile on all of the camper’s faces. There have been many challenges that all of the leaders have gone through, but we have all managed to survive.

This week we had our annual Parent’s Night on Wednesday. All the groups spent countless hours practicing their skits so they could do the best job possible. It turns out that all of those countless hours turned into a great performance by all of the campers that attended. Some of the more memorable skits were Hairspray by the eighth graders and Music of the Century by the Oldest Boys. My group’s skit was 007. We were expecting to have more campers in our skit but some of them were unable to go at the last minute. We had to cut down on the number of characters and make some of the campers play two parts. On Thursday, everyone watched the movie Oliver and Company in the morning. Then everyone went to Milpitas where we all enjoyed the rest of the day roller skating. Many of the campers had trouble getting around on roller skates. But by the time we had to leave, you could tell that they had a great time. On the last day of camp, every group had their own potluck. Our group had a little bit of shortage because two of the campers that were supposed to bring main dishes didn’t come that day. That resulted in our group asking other groups if they had extra food to spare. Then in the afternoon, everyone enjoyed the rest of the day swimming at Heather Farms. It was a great day to go swimming because of the hot weather. By the end of the day, everyone was saying their good-byes to all of their friends.

This has been one of my most memorable summers so far. I consider this summer a big success as CUPC Summer Camp always is. Being a leader, I have learned new things about myself as I continue to grow up. On one hand you didn’t want camp to end and have to go back to school, but on the other hand you knew there would always be next summer to see all of the campers and your friends again.

Scott Wong

ARTICLE OF INTEREST

Sexuality In the Presbyterian Church

The congregations of Presbyterian Church (USA) through their presbyteries, will have a say on the ordination of gays and lesbians by action taken at the General Assembly in San Jose in June of this year.

This matter has been tossed about for some time, but the 2008 General Assembly voted to amend the constitution to delete the “Fidelity and Chastity” standard found in G-6.010b of the Book of Order. Instead, to add language that says those who are called to ordained service pledge themselves to Jesus Christ through witness and understanding of the scriptures, and through instruction of the Confessions. In so doing, they declare their fidelity to the standards of the Church.

This proposed amendment will be sent to the denomination’s 173 presbyteries in 2009 asking them to vote to delete the current paragraph G-6.016b in the Book of Order which requires the church officers to live in “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.”

Three commissioners from CUPC, with our pastor, will get a chance to vote on the proposed amendment.

My feeling on this crucial matter is very clear. The church of Jesus Christ is open for all believers, and to continue the age-old doctrine of exclusion to certain persons because of lifestyles, race, gender is wrong.

In our church we should be open to all. Those who are sincerely willing to serve as officers of the church should be given our blessing with gratitude.

I hope the commissioners from CUPC will reflect this view by voting for the constitutional amendment. Service to the Church of Jesus Christ should be gratefully welcomed.

Kathy Reyes