West Tokyo Union Church Weekly  Sunday, September 20, 2015  Â
Pastor: Rev. Teresa Thompson Sherrill   wtucrev@gmail.com
11:00 AM – WORSHIP
FELLOWSHIP TIME: after the service
Sunday, September 20th During the 11 AM worship, Rev. Dr. Maki Fushii-McIntosh will bring the sermon “God is in the Details†from Psalm 1 and James 3-4. Youth and Friends will lead us in our worship songs. Communion will be served. Healing Ministers will be available for prayer. Rebecca Flannery will grace us with her harp music during our worship. Following our worship will be a Fellowship time.
                                                               Art by Sara Hoskins
Rev. Dr. Maki Fushii-McIntosh has been a friend of WTUC for many years and it is a delight to welcome her back. She was a Program Minister in the Communities in Ministry Unit, with the UCC General Council Office (2008- 2013); the Senior Minister of the Vancouver Japanese United Church, with Japanese & English-Speaking Congregations (2004-2008); a University Minister, International Christian University, ICU Church Associate Pastor and ICU Church Kindergarten Principal (1997 – 2002). From October 1st, 2015 she will be a Special Advisor of the Asian Christian Education Fund. She is also known as “Flora’s Mom.”
Rebecca Flannery has developed a deep love of the musical sound of the harp, and has devoted her life to playing and sharing the sounds of this instrument. Among other concerts, she has a full recital scheduled in the JLC chapel on December 5, 2015.
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Psalm 1: A Paraphrase
Happy the oneÂ
stepping lightly over the hearts of men
and out of the way of mind-locked reality
the masks of sincerity
he steps from his place at the glib café
to find himself in the word of the infinite
embracing it in his mind
with his heart parting his lips for it lightly
day into night
transported like a tree to a riverbank
sweet with fruit in time
his heart unselfish
whatever he does ripens
while bitter men turn dry
blowing in the wind like yesterday’s paper
unable to stand in the gathering light they fall
faded masks in love’s spotlight
burning hearts of paper unhappily locked in their own glare
but my Lord opens his loving one to breathe embracing air
— written by David Rosenberg, A Poet’s Bible, blog. http://theprayinglife.com/
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CORNER (we value your prayers & involvement in this vital ministry)  Any questions, please contact Pastor Teresa at wtucrev@gmail.com
Little Kids: Little Kids: Allie will be teaching on Creation. Please go with her after the children`s message.
MULTIGENERATIONAL and ADULT Sunday School – 9:30 am Sunday, September 27th – MG (cafeteria) Adult (at the Sacks` home)
We are in discussion about a confirmation class for this year that will meet once a month on a school night. If your family is interested, please talk with Pastor Teresa.
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We are looking for someone desiring to serve WTUC next year (2015-6) posting to the website and sending out the emailing – if you are interested, please talk with  Pastor Teresa, or wtucrev@gmail.com
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Upcoming Preaching Ministry and Community Events
September 27th Adult and Multigenerational Sunday School,  Â
Weng Kong Loh (Japan Baptist Fellowship Mission Worker) preaching  Â
October 4th  World Communion Sunday, Pastor Teresa preaching
October 11th   Adult and Multigenerational Sunday School, Pastor Teresa preaching
October 18th  Rev. Dr. Jim Sack preaching, Communion and Healing prayers
October 25th  Adult and Multigenerational Sunday School, Jon Winter (SEND Mission Worker) preaching
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MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL!! ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL!!Â
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, typically 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 = ) 2015 Sunday School schedule: 9/27, 10 /11, 10/25, 11/8, 11/22, 12/13
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WTUCÂ 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 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 Ozawa.
 *Sign up for snacks for fellowship time with Ann or Jill. We appreciate your contributions to our community life!
*Interested in baptism, membership or confirmation classes, please contact Pastor Teresa.
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Sermon texts –
Psalm 1:1-6Â
1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;Â 2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. 3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;6 for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
James 3:13-4:3 and 7-8a
James 3Â 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
James 4  1 Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? 2 You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. … 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.