Sunday, February 21, 2016

West Tokyo Union Church Weekly - Sunday, February 21, 2016 worship 

Pastor:  Rev. Teresa Thompson Sherrill     wtucrev@gmail.com

11:00 AM –  Pastor Teresa will bring the sermon, Light over fear from Psalm 27. Kazuko Sacon will lead us on the organ.  Ruth Ingulsrud will bring the Children`s Message. Communion will be served. Our delightful FELLOWSHIP time will be after the service.

Psalm-27_1_Sunflower

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beautiful words from St. Anselm (1033-1109) for us today – reminiscent of our lectionary passages for Lent 2

Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you:

You are gentle with us as a mother with her children;

Often you weep over our sins and our pride:

tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgement.

You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds:

in sickness you nurse us,

and with pure milk you feed us.

Jesus, by your dying we are born to new life:

By your anguish and labour we come forth in joy.

Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness:

through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.

Your warmth gives life to the dead:

your touch makes sinners righteous.

Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal us:

in your love and tenderness remake us.

In your compassion bring grace and forgiveness:

for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us.

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Upcoming Preaching Ministry and Community Events

February 28th – Adult Sunday School, Multigenerational Sunday School, Lent 3 Worship, Dr. Wilbert Shenk preaching, organ: Kazuko Sacon.

March 6th – Lent 4 Worship, Pastor Teresa preaching, Communion will be served. Organ: Kazuko Sacon.

March 13th – Adult Sunday School, Multigenerational Sunday School, Lent 5 Worship, Charles McJilton of Second Harvest Japan preaching, Youth and friends leading Worship.

March 20th – Lent 6 Palm Sunday Worship, Rev. Dr. Jim Sack preaching, March of the Palms, Communion will be served. Organ: Kazuko Sacon.

March 25th – Good Friday Service at 6:30pm, in the sanctuary.

March 27th – EASTER, Pastor Teresa preaching, Easter Egg Hunt, Robust Easter Fellowship.

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Little Kidz: Please remain in the servece and enjoy books and coloring.

Confirmation Class: February 22nd at the Bennett`s home – Supper from 6:30 provided by the Ocheros, Class from 7pm. The theme will be the Prayer/Body of Christ/the Church.

ES/MS Youth: March 18th ES/MS Swim night – 5:30-7:30 at ASIJ; Hosted by the Loveman family.

HS Youth: Gathering cloth to continue with quilting projects, please give your usable material to one of the Youth. Youth and friends leading Worship March 13th.

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MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL!! ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL!! 

We have Multigenerational Sunday School from 9:30AM in the cafeteria  the second and fourth Sundays of the month. Who is welcome? All ages. We will be creating, discussing, playing games, acting out bible stories and more. At the same time, the Sacks host the Adult Sunday School, also at 9:30AM in their living room. The method used is the, “Swedish Bible study method,” interacting with the texts for the service through our own life experiences. Their home is right across the Lutheran Campus from our sanctuary. Best coffee in town = ) Come and enjoy! (At times Adult Sunday School is held in the Upper Room, hosted by Dr. Toshi Sasao, on the 2nd floor above the Sanctuary.) All are welcome. Need more information, contact wtucrev@gmail.com any time = )  Next Sunday Schools – February 28th and March 13th! Easter Egg hunt on March 27th! All friends invited!

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WTUC  Announcements:  *Questions or concerns?  Feel free to email wtucrev@gmail.com anytime *Please enjoy and refer our website https://wtuc.net/ and FB page (West Tokyo Union Church) to others. Please make any suggestions for additions to the Pastor Teresa and/or Steering Committee. If you’d like to be added to the WTUC church email list, are interested in baptism or membership, please contact Pastor Teresa *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. *Sign up for snacks for fellowship time with Ann or Jill. We appreciate your contributions to our community life!

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Text for the sermon – Psalm 27 

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes— they shall stumble and fall. 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. 4 One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock. 6 Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. 7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! 8 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek. 9 Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation! 10 If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up. 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence. 13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

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