Sunday, May 4th – Jonathan McCurley, Community Life Coordinator at Asian Rural Institute, http://www.ari-edu.org/en/home-eng/ will preach from 1 Peter 1:17-23, with a sermon titled, New Life.  Communion will be served.  After the worship service as we enjoy robust fellowship snacks prepared by Mark and Ann, Magic Ed will bring his gospel magic for us from 12:30-1:30.  Feel free to stay and invite your friends along.

– WORSHIP  11:00 AM

• MAGIC ED PERFORMANCE AND ROBUST FELLOWSHIP TIME (after the service – all are invited)

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a wonderful video on prayer by 24-7 Prayer being recommended by 7Media - 

http://vimeo.com/92591646

Japanese available by clicking on the CC options

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Our guests today:  

Ed Rapoza

MAGIC ED is COMING!!!

Magic Ed is a multilingual story-telling magician living and working out of Kobe, Japan.  He loves making people smile out of awe and wonder – presenting the Gospel in a visually stimulating and fun way!  He will be @Tokyo Union Church 5/2, 6:30-8:30pm and @WTUC 5/4, 12:30-1:30pm.  Invite your friends!

and from Asian Rural Institute (ARI – one of the organizations that WTUC supports through our outreach ministry)

Jonathan and Satomi McCurley came to ARI in 2009 as United Methodist missionaries. Jonathan works as the community life coordinator, building up the community of the participants, volunteers and staff through events, relationship building and programs for spiritual growth & reflection. Satomi helps with various duties within community life and together they serve a small church within the UCCJ denomination.

Mary Elizabeth Gaston is a United Methodist young adult missionary volunteer at ARI. Commissioned in August of last year, MEG as we call her, will serve in total 20 months as a young adult missionary, finishing her term in the late Spring of 2014. She is currently working with the institute’s recruitment, admissions & graduate outreach team as well as helping on ARI’s organic farm.

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MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL IS HERE! MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL IS HERE !! 

Upcoming Schedule for Sundays – May 11th, May 25th, June 8th and June 22nd.   Twice a month we will have multigenerational Sunday School from 9:30 in the cafeteria.  Who is welcome?  All ages.  We will be creating, discussing, playing games, acting out bible stories and more.  If parents want their kids to join in on the fun at the Multigenerational Sunday School while they attend the Adult Sunday School that will be at the Sacks – that`s great too.  This will be in addition to the regular Wednesday evening offerings for ES, MS and HS.  The Sacks will host the Adult Sunday school, also at 9:30 am in their living room on these same dates.  Their home is right across the Lutheran Campus from our sanctuary.  Best coffee in town = ) Come and enjoy!  All are welcome.  Need more information, contact wtucrev@gmail.com any time = )                                                                                                                            

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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.

Little Kids (1-5) no Sunday School during church this Sunday due to the National Holidays – please enjoy lots of books and coloring

NEXT ES Youth Grades 2-5: Wednesday May 7th at the Bennett`s home from 5-6:30 pm  Topic: Parable of the Widow  Teacher: Steve 

NEXT MS Youth:  Magic Ed performances Sunday May 4th, 12:30-1:30pm

NEXT HS Youth: Magic Ed performances Sunday May 4th, 12:30-1:30pm

NEXT MULTI GENERATIONAL Sunday School – Sunday May 11th in Cafeteria from 9:30-10:30 am

NEXT ADULT Sunday School – Sunday May 11th at the Sack`s from 9:30-10:30 am

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Upcoming Preaching Ministry

May 4th ARI Community Life Coordinator Jonathan McCurley, Communion, Magic Ed

May 11th Rev. Hikari Kokai Chang, Mother`s/Caregiver`s Day

May 18th Rev. Tim, Communion, Mission Moment: Yamamoto san from Kibou no Ie/House of Hope

May 25th Rev. Jim

June 1st Pastor Teresa, Youth Service

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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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1 Peter 1:17-23

17If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. 18You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. 20He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. 21Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. 22Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. 23You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.