9:30 AM – MULTIGENERATIONAL and ADULT Sunday School

11:00 AM – WORSHIP

short CONGREGATIONAL MEETING after the worship

FELLOWSHIP TIME: after the service

Sunday, May 10th – During the 11 AM worship, Rev. Dr. Naoya Kawakami will preach from Matthew 2 and Jeremiah 31 bringing a sermon titled, “Hope in the Midst of Despair.” There will be a time of blessing of mothers and caregivers during the service, and after the worship please take one of the posies that will decorate our altar. After the worship service will be short congregational meeting to vote on the 2015-16 church year budget. A robust fellowship time will follow. All are welcome!

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Upcoming Preaching Ministry and Community Events

May 10th     MULTIGENERATIONAL and ADULT Sunday School, Rev. Dr. Naoya Kawakami, General Secretary of Tohoku HELP preaching.

May 17th     Jon McCurley, Community Life Director of ARI (Asian Rural Institute) preaching, Communion will be served.

May 24th     PENTECOST, MULTIGENERATIONAL and ADULT Sunday School, Rev. Dr. Jim Sack, Professor at the Lutheran College and Seminary preaching.

May 31st       HS Youth Sunday with testimonies and songs, celebrating our seniors, Brandon, Elsa, Max and Niki (6/15), and Keita (3/16).

June 7th        ES Youth Sunday, Communion will be served.

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CONGREGATIONAL MEETING, May 10th after the worship – Karen Seevers, our congregational chair will facilitate this short meeting. Important issue will be approving the 2015-16 budget. See you there = )

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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CORNER (we value your prayers & involvement in this vital ministry)  Any questions, please contact Pastor Teresa at wtucrev@gmail.com, or Julie Rogers for HS; Amy Harbaugh and Steve Bennett for Upper ES and Lower MS, grades 4-7; and Carrie Bennett for Lower ES, grades K-3.

Little Kids: All are welcome to go with Sara and have fun learning about Paul and Silas.

ES – May 13th (PACT) 5:00pm swim & devotions; June 3rd 5:00 pm Nogawa Park play and planning meeting for the ES Youth Sunday June 7th.

MS/HS — Sunday, May 24th at 10:00 am (planning meeting for Youth Sunday); Sunday May 31st HS Youth Sunday with testimonies, puppets and songs.

MULTIGENERATIONAL and ADULT Sunday School – 9:30 am Sunday, May 10th; May 24th; June 14th and June 28th.

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MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL!! ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL!! We have Multigenerational Sunday School from 9:30 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 9:30 am 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, on the 2nd floor above the Sanctuary.) All are welcome. Need more information, contact wtucrev@gmail.com any time = ) Sunday School schedule: 5/10, 5/24, 6/14 and 6/28.

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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, 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.

*Sign up for snacks for fellowship time with Ann or Jill. We appreciate your contributions to our community life!

*Interested in baptism or membership, please contact Pastor Teresa.

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Passages for the sermon –

Matthew 2:17-18 17

Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation,

Rachel weeping for her children;

she refused to be consoled, because they were no more.”

Jeremiah 31:15-17

15 Thus says the Lord: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children;

she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are not.”

16 Thus says the Lord: “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded says the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. 17 There is hope for your future says the Lord, and your children shall come back to their own country.