October 2012 Edition
STINA’S MESSAGE
Who/What are we?
Every church and organization has a core narrative. Shaping, refining, and remembering that narrative is a core task of leadership and a key to congregational life. When things happen, what interpretation is placed on the event and how is meaning made? What pops up when you think about our church, both SKK and the Episcopal Church? What would you say if someone asked you: “What has been going on in your church?” Just this week I was telling someone how great I think our Presiding Bishop is, and how amazing her election was. I interpret that event both as positive and as pivotal in the Episcopal Church as a whole deciding to move in a more progressive direction, since all of the other candidates were identified as conservatives.
What do you think about SKK? For me, this congregation is a treasure. There are (at least) two ways to treat a treasure. One is to put it in a glass cabinet, where everyone can see that it is valuable – but it is not used. The other way to treat a treasure is to use it frequently, to depend on it. There is a question that is sometimes asked: Would anyone outside notice if your church was suddenly gone? Obviously the usual attenders would notice, but are we making a difference to anyone else? Perhaps our immediate neighbors would not notice, but we would surely be missed in the J/A community. Even though we are small, we are a valued part of the Soko Bukai and of JARF. I meet with the members of the Soko Bukai, the pastors of our Presbyterian and Methodist neighbors every other month. We plan events to do together over the year, and we also act as a support group for each other. Kei Nagai and I are the Japanese and English VP’s of JARF, a group made up of the Japanese Christian, Buddhist and Independent churches. JARF is the spiritual arm of the J/A community, and was explicitly called upon to be a spiritual presence after the tsunami.
It is easy to say, oh, we are small and old and tired, we cannot make a difference. We may be small and old (most of us!) and tired, but I know for a fact that grandparents can make a significant difference in their grandchildren’s lives. We may not play the role of parent or teacher or scout leader, using this metaphor, but we still have the potential to make a significant difference. This is where we come back to the question of core narrative. If we are the “Japanese church grandparents,” what does that mean now? We get to decide the answer to this question, and we form the answer together as a community. Then that answer informs what we decide to do next – what programs we support, what education we engage in, and where we spend our money. This is a big deal, and we will be talking about this over the next several months. What do you think?
Stina
BC HIGHLIGHTS
We did not have an official BC meeting, but here is what’s going on
- Cooking Classes: are postponed until the new year.
- Website: we are in the process of revamping the website, seikokaisf.org, matching our email address: seikokaisf@gmail.com. We are going to get some outside help to continue the process, and will keep everyone posted.
- The next Adult Ed offering will be similar to the Marcus Borg series, this one by Phyllis Tickle.
- The replacement of the exterior basement doors are still in process.
- Pews: Stina brought some foam padding and made everyone sit on the samples. The consensus was to retain the pews and get new padding with new covers. There will be long pads, like we have currently, but thicker, and some additional individual pads people can pick up to put behind their backs.
- The Diocesan Altar Guild is collecting items for “ditty bags” for the Episcopal Sanctuary. Please bring any of these items (travel size): soap, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, deodorant, tissue, toothbrush, toothpaste, warm socks, face cloths, wrapped candies.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Phyllis Tickle Education Series – Oct 21 Phyllis Tickle isan authority on religion in America, author, historian and keen cultural observer who invites us to look at the changing face of Christianity and culture. She surveys 2000 years of Western history, identifying the great upheavals that occur in Western culture every 500 years, looking at the one going on now, and asks what the implications are of this “Great Emergence.”
- Stina on vacation, Connie preaching, Oct 28
- All Saints’ Celebration Luncheon, Nov 4 – Plan to come for the Christian day of remembrance for our ancestors, and for a celebration luncheon afterwards. Make sure that your loved ones who have joined the saints are on our list – if you have a question about that, email the names to seikokaisf@gmail.com at least a week ahead.
- EAM @ 40 – please mark your calendars for the weekend of June 22-23, 2013. We will be hosting the Japanese Convocation, and both Stina and Connie are already very involved in the planning for this event. 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
FLOWERS
Thanks to all those who have signed up to donate flowers each Sunday. The “Flower Chart” for 2012 is posted in the Church hallway on the bulletin board by the Sacristy. Please sign up or email the Vicar to donate flowers on a given Sunday.
MANY THANKS
To Wendy, for a great Tofu cooking lesson; to Myrna, for chairing the discussion of the pew cushions; to Kei, for great work at the Curry Cook-Off; to Yuki, for stepping in at the last minute to help with the Curry Cook-Off.
THE LAST WORD
If, as a people, we want the world to see us as a place of promise and peace, then let us live by the light of our own example. Let us be welcoming to diversity, free of all prejudice, just to every person, rich or poor. Let our leaders be temperate in their speech, not adding to the anger of partisan rant, but calling our common spirit to a higher vision. Let our care for children be our measure, our lack of greed our pride, our integrity our greatest national treasure. Let the world see us practice what we preach and be blessed to do the same in their own way and manner.
Bp Steven Charleston
MESSENGER’S NOTES
The Messenger will strive to provide:
- Information regarding events of significance to the whole congregation.
- Information regarding the customs and practices of the Protestant Episcopal Church, USA and of our Nikkei community. 9
- Information regarding efforts made to advance the program goals established by the Vicar, Bishop’s Committee as the goals themselves are made known.
- 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.