Sunday March 30th worship

Sunday, March 30 -  Rev. Tim McKenzie will bring the message “The Gift of New Sight” from Ephesians 5:8-14 and John 9:13-25 .  After the worship we will enjoy an engaging time of fellowship.  

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for reflection during LENT……..

Here is a four minute Desktop Meditation from YouTube of music, scenery and words of Lent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3X1cj3Ez30&feature=youtu.be

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Chenusa Yomoah (Esther`s daughter) is doing her graduation (from Temple University Japan) Art Exhibition April 7th-13th (with a reception on April 11th at 6pm) at Gallery Conceal in Shibuya.  Esther has postcards with all the information and map.

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MINI BAZAAR to be held on Easter Sunday (when more friends join us). Donations are therefore requested of small, clean and almost new Items, in particular accessories. There will be three price-ranges, Y300, Y500 and Y1000 and Donors are invited to place their items in the appropriate tray/box.  Unsold items may be retrieved or not after the Bazaar.  Questions:  Jill Ito or wtucrev@gmail.com

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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 = )                                                                                                                                

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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) 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

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Upcoming Preaching Ministry

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, *Bazaar

April 27th Rev. Claudia

May 4th Pastor Teresa, Communion

May 11th Rev. Hikari Kokai Chang

May 18th Rev. Tim, Communion

May 25th Rev. Jim

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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.

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

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GOSPEL READING John 9:1-41

A Man Born Blind Receives Sight

9 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4 We[a] must work the works of him who sent me[b] while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, 7 saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. 8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

 

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind.14 Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.15 Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.”16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. 17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”

18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus[c] to be the Messiah[d] would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28 Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

 

Spiritual Blindness

35 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”[e] 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir?[f] Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” 38 He said, “Lord,[g] I believe.” And he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

 

EPISTLE READING  Ephesians 5:8-14

8 For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— 9 for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. 10 Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; 13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Sleeper, awake!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”