STINA’S MESSAGE

As we come to Holy Week and Easter, and my retirement shortly thereafter, I want to share the Presiding Bishop’s Easter Message for you to ponder. I found it very helpful, thinking about the future. The only place we do not find Jesus is in the tomb.

Below that, you will find upcoming dates. One of the things I have done on behalf of SKK is to attend both JARF and Asian Commission (ACDC) meetings. Kei Nagai has been and will still be our lay rep at JARF, but it would be good to have at least one rep to send to the ACDC meetings. This is a great group, does not meet too often, and has been very supportive of us. If you want to know more, please contact me.

Finally, I hope you will consider your financial support of SKK in this transition time. We ask you both to consider an Easter Offering, and also your regular offering. Remember you can always go online to give if that makes it easier.

Stina

Easter Message 2015 from Our Presiding Bishop

It’s still dark when Mary ventures out to find the tomb.  The graveyards around Jerusalem don’t have much greenery today.  The earth is mostly rock and stone, and it is far from easy to make a place to secure a body.  Jesus’ body was put in a cave-like space, with a stone rolled across the opening to close it up.  Mary has made the journey from wherever she’s sheltered over the last day, through darkened streets, perhaps hearing cocks begin to crow and townspeople start to stir.

She nears the place, but somehow it seems different than they left it – this can’t be it, can it?  Who moved the stone?  A trip begun in tears and grief now has added burden– confusion, anger, shock, chaos, abandonment.  His very body has been stolen.

She runs to tell the others.  The three tear back to the tomb – no, the body is not there, though some of the burial cloths remain.  Who has torn away the shroud and stolen him away?  Why must the cruel torture continue, sacrilege and insult even after death?  Who has done this awful thing?  The men run away again, leaving her to weep at even greater loss.

She peers in once more – who are these, so bold appearing?  “Fear not, woman… why do you weep?”  She turns away and meets another, who says the same – why do you weep, who are you looking for?  This gardener has himself been planted and now springs up green and vibrant, still rising into greater life.  He challenges her to go and share that rising, great news of green and life, with those who have fled. 

Still rising, still seeking union with Creator, making tender offering to beloved friends – briefly I am with you, I am on my way.  Go and you will find me if you look.

The risen one still offers life to those who will look for evidence of his gardening – hope, friendship, healing, reunion, restoration – to all who have been uprooted, cut off, to those who are parched and withered, to those who lie wasting in the desert.  Why do we weep or run away when that promise abides? 

We can find that green one, still rising, if we will go stand with the grieving Marys of this world, if we will draw out the terrified who have retreated to their holes, if we will walk the Emmaus road with the lost and confused, if we will search out the hungry in the neighborhood called Galilee.  We will find him already there before us, bringing new and verdant life.  The only place we will not find him is in the tomb.

IMPORTANT DATES

SKK:

April 12 BC

April 18 Stina’s going away party, contact Gordon Park-Li for details

April 26 Stina’s last Sunday

May 10 Mother’s Day

May 17 BC

EAM: Korea, Sept 29-Oct 4, the Japanese Convocation will meet in Japan from Oct 5-9

ACDC meets every other month – June 4, 5:30 dinner, 6:30 meeting at True Sunshine

JARF – meetings are 3^rd Tues at 6pm, every other month

April 19 (Sun) Cherry Blossom Festival Parade

May 16 (Sat) Colma Cemetery Cleanup – check in with JCCCNC if you can attend

May 20 (Wed) Sokoji Temple (special date change)

May 25 (Mon) Memorial Day Jikeikai Japanese Cemetery Observance

July 21 JARF meeting (no place yet)

Sept 15 JARF meeting at SF Japanese 7^th Day Adventist Church

Oct 17 (Sat) 12^th Annual Curry Cook-Off

Nov 17 JARF meeting Buddhist Church of America