Sunday, March 23rd -  Pastor Teresa will bring the message “Suffering Endurance Character Hope” from Romans 5.  After the worship we will enjoy an engaging time of fellowship.

***
for reflection during LENT
You call us to service; to be your eyes and ears,
hands and voice in this your world.
To open our eyes not only to the beauty and love which you create,
but the injustice, hate and suffering that mankind generates.
To open our ears not only to the chattering of this coming week,
but the searching, fears and questioning of all whom we shall meet.
To open our hands not only to those we choose our lives to share,
but in welcome, love and fellowship to all who you draw near.
To open our mouths not only to speak platitudes and simple words,
but the truths you lay upon our hearts.
Your Word for this your world.
You call us to service, to be your eyes and ears,
hands and voice in this your world.
http://www.faithandworship.com/liturgy_Lent_3.htm#ixzz2wPhecuLx

***
MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL IS HERE! MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL IS HERE !!
Upcoming Schedule for Sundays – April 6th, April 20th (Easter Egg Hunt), 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 = )

******************
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) Sunday School during church: no lessons March 23rd and 30th – lessons will resume April 6th – children are always welcome in our worship – please feel free to read books from our cabinet in the back of the sanctuary

NEXT ES Youth Grades 2-5: Wed. April 9th at the Bennett`s home from 5-6:30 pm
Topic: Parable of the Sower      Teacher: Carrie   Dinner Responsibility: Loveman

NEXT MS Youth: Wed. April 16th – 5-6:30 pm at the Rogers, Bible study, helping prepare for Easter & pizza

NEXT HS Youth: Quick Meet after church (at church) on April 6th.  Movie Night April 11th…more info to follow. Meeting with the Sacks on Sunday, April 13th (early evening…more details soon).

NEXT MULTI GENERATIONAL Sunday School – April 6th from 9:30-10:30 am

NEXT ADULT Sunday School: Sunday April 6th at the Sacks from 9:30-10:30 am

***
Upcoming Preaching Ministry 
March 30th     Rev. Tim
April 6th          Pastor Teresa, Communion
April 13th        Pastor Teresa, Palm Sunday Play
April 18th        Good Friday service, 6:30pm
April 20th        EASTER, Easter Egg Hunt, Communion, Fellowship
April 27th        Rev. Claudia
May 4th           Pastor Teresa, Communion
May 11th          Rev. Hikari Kokai Chang
May 18th         Rev. Tim, Communion
May 25th         Rev. Jim

***
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!

***
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.
*We are doing a Lay Eucharistic Minister training during Lent.  If interested in joining talk to Pastor Teresa.

***
Readers’ Theatre: Romans 5: 1-11

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

And endurance develops strength of character,

and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person,

…though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good…

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.