Sunday School

ES Age 4 – Gr 2 – No Sunday School this week. Next class for this group is November 21st. Contact Lynn Loveman (lloveman@asij.ac.jp) or Amy Harbaugh (aharbaugh@asij.ac.jp)

ES Gr 3 – 5 – Meets at 9:30 in the cafeteria. Contact Kristi Hoskins (khoskins@asij.ac.jp) or Julie Rogers (jrogers@asij.ac.jp) , Sunday School  coordinators if you need more details or wish to help.

MS – Meets at 8:40 in the cafeteria.

HS – Lunch with Pastor Claudia at a nearby restaurant.  Contact Pastor Claudia (RevClaudia@aol.com) for more information.

Adult Intro to Bible Study – Led by Dan Witmer; meets at 9:40 in upstairs room in the same building where worship service is held. If you need nursery care, please call Pastor Claudia (042-369-192) by Saturday night and we will make sure someone is there to watch your young children.

Worship – 10:55 am

Epistle Reading: Romans 3:19-28

Gospel Reading: Luke 19:1-10

Sermon: “Our Steeple is Bent”; Rev. Dr. Jim Sack

Special Music: Sunday School children will lead praise songs during the service.

The Rev. Dr. James Sack teaches pastoral theology at the Japan Lutheran College and the Japan Lutheran Theological Seminary. He is the campus Director of the Personal Growth and Counseling Center. Together with his spouse, Carol, he began global mission service in 1982, immediately following his graduation from Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., where he also received his PhD. Jim had previously taught English in Japan in the short-term J-3 program. He also worked as a gymnastics coach with the Bloomington Gym Club. Carol does bedside harp ministry at a hospice for the homeless and training for the terminally ill, a program using music thanatology. Together they have three children: Jonathan, Bethany, and Emily.

WEAR RED FOR REFORMATION SUNDAY

Wear red or orange for Reformation Sunday!  Pastor Claudia and Rev. Sack will wear red stoles. Red is the liturgical color for this day!   Red reminds us of the Holy Spirit who descended on Christ’s followers in tongues of fire on Pentecost.  It was by the power of the Holy Spirit that Martin Luther came to learn the gospel.  The Holy Spirit moved him to post his Ninety-five Theses and inspired him and his colleagues to work toward the Reformation of the Christian church.  The same Holy Spirit continues to come to Christians in the means of grace to forgive sins and strengthen faith.

Read more about Reformation Day at the end of this message.

Looking ahead…

Nov. 7 – Joint Worship Service with Mitaka Lutheran Church, 10:30-11:30. NO SUNDAY SCHOOL OR BIBLE STUDY CLASS.

The service will be held in the chapel located in the same building we have our service,  but go in the main entrance from the parking lot. Park at TUTS if parking is limited. Parts of the service will be in Japanese, parts in English. (Nursery care provided. Children leave after children’s message with sitters.)  Carol Sack will preach on “Walking with God” (A Japanese translation of the sermon will be written out in the bulletin rather than given verbally).   Claudia will do a liturgical dance to  Psalm 91 “On Eagle’s WIngs”  as Carol sings. Psalm hymns on harp played by Carol Sack.  Prelude and Postlude on Okinawan shamshin played by Tatsuya Sofue. After the joint service with Mitaka Lutheran Church, there is the Lutheran College school festival on campus so buy lunch and enjoy!

After the joint service with Mitaka Lutheran Church, there is the Lutheran College school festival on campus so buy lunch and enjoy!

Steering Committee meeting at 9:00 a.m. in the cafeteria.

Nov. 14  All Saints Sunday; bring pictures of your deceased loved ones to place on the altar.

Nov.  21 – Thanksgiving Sunday and Potluck after church. Bring food, your own place settings and invite friends.

Nov. 28 – First Sunday in Advent

Dec. 3 – Friday Caroling for Peace at Tokyo Union Church; 7:30 p.m.; organized by Peace Network and Pastor Claudia

Dec. 5 – Second Sunday in Advent; Rev. Teresa Sherrill preaching

Dec. 12 – Third Sunday in Advent; Christmas Pageant Service

Dec. 19 – Fourth Sunday in Advent; Christmas Caroling at neighborhood orphanages

Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service; 7:30 p.m.

Jan 21-23 – Women’s Conference at Amagi Sanso, Izu; Karen Seevers is this year’s chairperson

Service to our congregation and community

Church Directory – Please check the hard copy church directory located on the bulletin board for your current contact information. The directory includes phone, email and birthday information. Contact Toshi Sasao (tsasao1@gmail.com) for changes or to be included in the directory.

WTUC supports Second Harvest Japan where WTUC member, Ruby Sakuma, works as the Food Pantry Coordinator. Second Harvest Japan welcomes volunteers on Fridays and Saturdays to help with the preparation and distribution of food to the homeless.  Those who are interested may see Ruby  or go to the Second Harvest Japan website (2hj.org) to sign up.

Music at WTUC:  If you have favorite songs that you would like to sing, please send Carrie Bennett your requests. bennettinkuwait@hotmail.com

Carrie is going to help coordinate music at WTUC.  Anyone interested in committing their vocal and musical talents once a month, email or see Carrie.

Interested in being a liturgist? Contact Betsy Terada.

Interested in joining the prayer chain? See Pastor Claudia or Kayo Ozawa, prayer chain coordinator.

Interested in becoming a Lay Eucharistic Minister? Contact Pastor Claudia.

Other

Prayer requests – send to Pastor Claudia or Prayer Chain Coordinator Kayo Ozawa (kayo@ta2.so-net.ne.jp)