January 2013 Edition
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STINA’S MESSAGE
What are they doing now? This is usually a good question in my book. It means that something is going on that the person who is asking the question does not quite understand. If we are doing God’s work, it will not always make sense, especially to those people looking in from the outside. But it is also a good question for us to ask ourselves. What are we doing now? How are we participating in the coming of God’s Kingdom?
So what are we doing now? At the Bishop’s Committee meeting, we decided that we will continue collecting hotel toiletries that will be given to the Rev. Nina Pickerell, the deacon at Grace Cathedral who works down in Bayview Mission, or to the Episcopal Sanctuary. This is something we felt we could do, it will make a difference (imagine not having any soap, or shampoo!), and it is something we can ask others to help with. We wanted to have some ongoing project to help the poor, and this is within our capabilities.
We are celebrating the lives of a couple of our ancestors in a beautiful way. George Yasukochi will be remembered in the new altar and Bill Kika will be remembered in the plant stands matching the altar. The front of the church will be even more beautiful because of gifts from their families. We also have bought some new cushions for our pews which are quite lovely.
We have redesigned our website, seikokai.org, so that it is easier to negotiate, and now I can directly load my sermons and the Messenger on it. The other important new feature is that it is now possible to donate directly online. This makes it very easy for people to “send in” their special donations, and it will also make a big difference when we get to the Music Festival. People will be able to purchase tickets online.
In the meeting, the idea of doing the Bible Challenge was presented. This is a year-long process for reading the Bible. Those who are interested will start with reading the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs over the course of a year. The readings are not too long, and are set out for 6 days a week. The seventh day, they encourage you to listen to the scriptures in church! There are many churches in many dioceses who have started this program. Those who are interested will start February 4. Materials will be available next week for anyone to look at or you can go to http://thecenterforbiblicalstudies.org/new-resources-for-the-bible-challenge/ and look at the “Read the New Testament, Proverbs and Psalms in a Year” selection.
As is our custom, the community was asked what they wanted for Lent, and they decided that we will have an evening Ash Wednesday service at 7. We will make a concerted effort to make sure that those who do not drive at night get rides. Ash Wednesday is early this year – it’s February 13. For a Lenten program, we will work with the passages that have been read the previous week for the Bible Challenge. We have been invited to participate with the Presbyterians again in their Seder service on Maundy Thursday, and they will join us for our Good Friday service.
So we are having a good time. What are you doing now? I hope you will look at your life and think about what you are doing to participate in the Kingdom of God. It may be as simple as saying something nice when someone is in a grumpy mood. It may be more. Think about it!
Stina
UPCOMING EVENTS – Please mark your calendars!
Annual Meeting, January 20
Altar Dedication, February 3
Bishop’s Committee meeting, February 10
Ash Wednesday, February 13
Day of Remembrance, February 17
Vicar’s Retreat 2/19-2/21
SF Deanery, March 9
Bishop’s Committee, March 10
JARF, March 19
Palm Sunday, March 24
Maundy Thursday at CUPC, March 28
Good Friday, March 29
Easter, March 31
EAM @ 40 – please mark your calendars for the weekend of June 22-23, 2013. The main part of the conference will be held in Burlingame. The Sunday afternoon service will be at Grace Cathedral, with the Presiding Bishop.
Asian Music Festival at Grace Cathedral, August 25, 2013
SPECIAL THANKS
THANKSGIVING OFFERING 2012
Tao & Satomi Ishida
George Ishiguro/Yen N. Carlson
Kuni Koga
Connie Lam
Frank & Veronica Morino
Jerry & Yasuko Morino
Mary Ota
Glen & Ryoko Tadakuma
CHRISTMAS OFFERING 2012
Itoko Akuhara
Minoru & Tamae Akuhara
Jeff & Satoko Boris
Carl & Keiko Gishifu
Toshiye Hirose (in memory of Magotaro & Shigeno Hirose)
Mas & Gloria Ishida
Tao & Satomi Ishida
George Ishiguro/Yen N. Carlson
Michi & June Kawaguchi
Yuki Kawaguchi
Bill & Sally Kimura
Kuni Koga
Connie Lam & Santos Hoo Keung Lam
Frank & Veronica Morino
Jerry & Yasuko Morino
Dale & Joanne Morioka
Frances Morioka
Kei Nagai
Alice Nakahata
Beatrice Nakahata
John Oh
Mary Ota
Gordon & Carol Park-Li
John Rosin
Larry & Florence Small
Glen & Ryoko Tadakuma
Will & Myrna Tsukamoto
Kim Uyehara
May Yoshida
We are so grateful for your continued support! Thank you
REMINDER! If you have not gotten your pledge in to Kuni, you can simply call her to let her know you are supporting SKK this year!
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THE LAST WORD
Some of our deepest prayers are prayers for healing. Healing is not a shallow pool that we pray over like skipping stones, as if simple repetition alone could charm us an answer. Healing is a deep well where only the most ancient waters of life lay hidden, waiting for the one who will brave the dark to drink.
Bp Steven Charleston
MESSENGER’S NOTESI
The Messenger will strive to provide:
1. Information regarding events of significance to the whole congregation.
2. Information regarding the customs and practices of the Protestant Episcopal Church, USA and of our Nikkei community.
3. Information regarding efforts made to advance the program goals established by the Vicar, Bishop’s Committee as the goals themselves are made known.
4. Information regarding events relevant to the mission of the church.
The Messenger will not list individual monetary gifts or donations as it has no direct access to such information. However, donors will be acknowledged as their names are provided. Institutional grants for project goals of the Mission will be acknowledged as a part of information regarding the programs themselves.