Sunday, January 19th – This Sunday from 9:30-10:30, will begin with Bible Study of the texts for today`s sermon at the Sacks – and the coffee is AMAZING too! All are welcome.
Rev Jim Sack will bring the sermon, “Lingering with the Lamb” from Isaiah 49:1-7 and John 1:29-42.  Masami Sasao will share with us news from organizations that we support in a Moment for Mission.  There will be Communion served. We will enjoy robust fellowship after the service.
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Christmas 2013 special offering is being taken through 1/19/14.  We are supporting two projects: the film, 2 Criminals and Second Harvest Japan.  2/3 of the offering is going to the production costs of 2 Criminals, a movie that will be shown in public settings, at churches, at festivals around the world and in prisons, with sponsorship by Prison Fellowship. There is more information about this film at the entrance of our sanctuary. 1/3 of the offering will go to Second Harvest Japan, the only nationwide food bank. In 2012 they delivered 3,152 tons of food to the needy, including single parent homes; institutions, as well as hot meals to the homeless on Fridays and Saturdays.  They are also involved in teaching food advocacy to communities interested in developing food banks, and in the Philippines.
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CORNER (we value your prayers & involvement in this vital ministry)  Contact Carrie Bennett for ES, Julie Rogers for MS, Amy Harbaugh for HS or Pastor Teresa at wtucrev@gmail.com with any questions. For those with children, we LOVE children of all ages in our worship.  Please at any time in the service get books and coloring materials from the cupboard at the back of the room.  Your whole family is welcome at WTUC.

Little Kids (1-5) Sunday School January 19th during church
Topic: Young Jesus, The Baptism of Jesus  Teacher: Allie

NEXT ES Youth Grades 2-5 Wednesday, Jan. 22nd, at the Bennett`s home from 5-6:30 p.m. Topic: The Parable of the Vineyard Laborers   Teacher: Carrie   Dinner Responsibility:  Norris

NEXT MS Youth Wednesday, February date to be announced, at the Rogers` home from 5:30 p.m.  Bible study, service project and pizza.

NEXT HS Youth, Friday, January 24th at the Harbaugh/Norris home from 6 p.m.

ADULT Sunday School Sunday January 19th at the Sacks from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Topic: Passages for Sunday`s sermon; Isaiah 49:1-7 and John 1:29-42. Facilitated by the Jim and Carol Sack.
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West Tokyo Union Church women have been a integral part of the 57 year history of the Women’s Conference.  The 2014 conference will be held January 31st – February 2nd at Amagi Sanso – one week later than usual.  Give yourself the wonderful gift of this special fellowship!  The theme is Through the Valley and the keynote speaker is renowned author and educator Sharon M. Draper.  For more information, please see the website at http://wocon.net
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Interested in becoming a member at WTUC? – please talk to Pastor Teresa about the upcoming membership class.
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Upcoming Preaching Ministry
January 26        Rev. Jim Sack
February 2        Rev. Tim McKenzie, Communion
February 9        Pastor Teresa
February 16      Rev. Hikari Kokai Chang, Communion
February 23      Pastor Teresa
March 2             Pastor Teresa
March 5             Ash Wednesday service at Tang/Lee home
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SNACK SIGNUP Sign up for snacks for fellowship time with Ann or on the list on the white board.  We greatly appreciate your contributions to our community life!
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WTUC  Announcements
*Any questions or concerns?  Feel free to email wtucrev@gmail.com anytime.
*Please enjoy and refer our website and FB page (West Tokyo Union Church) to others.  Please make any suggestions for additions to the Pastor Teresa and/or Steering Committee.  https://wtuc.net/
*If you’d like to be added to the WTUC church email list, please contact Gene Witt ewitt@asij.ac.jp
*If interested in joining the WTUC Prayer Chain, let Pastor Teresa or Prayer Chain Coordinator, Kayo Ozawa, know of your interest. Please submit prayers to wtucrev@gmail.com or Kayo Ozawa.
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The Servant’s Mission
Isaiah 49
1
Listen to me, O coastlands,
    pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The Lord called me before I was born,
    while I was in my mother’s womb he named me.
2
He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
    in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow,
    in his quiver he hid me away.
3
And he said to me, “You are my servant,
    Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”
4
But I said, “I have labored in vain,
    I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the Lord,
    and my reward with my God.”
5
And now the Lord says,
    who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
    and that Israel might be gathered to him,
for I am honored in the sight of the Lord,
    and my God has become my strength—
6
he says,
“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
    to raise up the tribes of Jacob
    and to restore the survivors of Israel;
I will give you as a light to the nations,
    that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
7
Thus says the Lord,
    the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations,
    the slave of rulers,
“Kings shall see and stand up,
    princes, and they shall prostrate themselves,
because of the Lord, who is faithful,
    the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

John 1
The Lamb of God
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
The First Disciples of Jesus
35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). 42 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).