November 29, 2015

West Tokyo Union Church Weekly  Sunday, November 29, 2015 worship    

Pastor:  Rev. Teresa Thompson Sherrill     wtucrev@gmail.com

a fun 2 minute video from Busted Halo introducing ADVENT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S02KOlw7dlA

11:00 AM – WORSHIP

FELLOWSHIP TIME: PIZZA after the service

12:45 PM SENZOKU MUSIC CONSERVATORY CONCERT under the direction of Hiroko Ide

Sunday, November 22nd – During the 11AM worship service Rev. Dr. Jim Sack, will bring the sermon “Wood of Redemption” from Jeremiah 33:14-16 and Luke 21:25-36. Following our worship will be a PIZZA Fellowship time. All are invited!

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ALL WTUC regulars, please bring a litre of drink and some finger snacks to supplement our PIZZA fellowship. A free will offering for the pizza will also be taken. This is a chance to share our fun fellowship time with invited friends and family, and our visiting friends from the Senzoku Music Conservatory.

SENZOKU MUSIC CONSERVATORY PROGRAM

“Prelude” from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg   R. Wagner (Trumpet Trio)

“The first movement” from Trois Pieces    D. Scarlatti (Sax Quartet)

Overture from Candide    L. Bernstein (Piano Duo)

Quartet for Saxophones no.4    J.B. Singelée  (Sax Quartet)

“None shall sleep” from Turandot   G. Puccini (Brass Quintet

♬ INTERMISSION ♬

Title Theme from Sunflower (1970)    Henry Mancini   (Violin, Tuba, Piano)

Medley of Cinema Paradiso (1988)   Ennio and Andrea Morricone

“Let It Go” from Frozen (2013)  Robert Lopez (Brass Quintet)

The Christmas Song   Bob Wells & Mel Tormé (Violin, Sax, Piano)

White Christmas    Irving Berlin (Violin, Sax, Piano)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer  Johnny Marks (Brass Quintet)

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During the 11AM worship service, Rev. Jim Sack will preach from Jeremiah 33:14-16 and Luke 21:25-36, with a title of “Wood of Redemption.”  Kazuko Sacon will provide the organ worship music.

Also, under the direction of Professor Hiroko Ide, choir members and musicians from her class at the Senzoku Music Conservatory http://www.senzoku.ac.jp/music/index.php will perform musical selections.  After the service they will perform in an afternoon concert from 12:45PM (see selections below) and all are invited.

If you would like to participate in our annual “Socks and gifts for the children of `Nozomi No Ie`” giving opportunity, please pick up your children`s information from Jim Sack or Betsy Terada.

After the worship service will be a robust PIZZA fellowship time before the concert. After the concert in the Mitaka Lutheran Chapel will be the Memorial Service of Rev. Yoshiro Ishida.

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About the Preacher – Jim and Carol Sack have been long term missionaries in Japan with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Japan since 1982. Jim teaches clinical psychology classes in the undergraduate and graduate school as well as pastoral counseling classes in the seminary. Carol is director of “Lyra Precaria,” a ministry that provides harp music and voice at the bedside of the dying. 

about the special music – Hiroko Ide, Soprano, has given acclaimed performances throughout the world, singing numerous roles in Operas and Oratorios, including Bizet’s Carmen, Puccini’s La Boheme and Handel’s Messiah. She has been an invited guest artist at prestigous International Music Festivals, notably the Montignac Music Festival, France; the Graz Music Festival, Austria; the Phoenix Music Festival, USA and the Gyeonggi-do Music Festival, South Korea. Ms. Ide was a finalist in the 24th Long Beach Mozart Competition. Ms. Ide holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Music Performance from the Kunitachi College of Music and the University of Southern California, specializing in Opera and Baroque Music. Currently, she is on the faculty at the Senzoku Music College where she teaches the Ide Movie Music Research Seminar. She is a member of Nikikai and the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). As a composer, Hiroko Ide has contributed Music Scores to the reknowned films of film director Naoko Ogigami, being invited to the Berlin International Film Festival. Recently, Ms. Ide has been heard in the “Concert for Peace” with pianist Miki Orii at the Maruki Gallery for the Hiroshima Panels.

        The Senzoku Music Conservatory aims of to foster a love of music and nurture warm, rich hearts in its students. Students have the opportunity to delve deeply into their chosen fields of study while learning broadly about music in general.  Their motto is, “To raise refined, talented men and women of action who are aware of their life’s calling and alert to their true purposes in life and who have hearts full of humility and love for their fellow man.” An interesting story about their school – Its founder was a devout Christian and the word “Senzoku”, which means “wash feet”, was taken from her faith. “Jesus … rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel … If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. … For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” (John 13: 4-5, 14-15, NKJV) The founder, Wakao Maeda, who loved to sing hymns, deeply believed in her educational ideals and piously worshiped Christ decided to name her school “Senzoku” to reflect her beliefs. “Wash each others’ feet and adhere to the teachings you receive here” is a line from Senzoku’s school anthem, which she wrote herself. Thus Senzoku Gakuen was started with an educational philosophy built upon the Christian virtues of thanksgiving, devotion, sacrifice and service.

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“Composition of a Lifetime“ The 2016 Women’s Conference https://woconjapan.wordpress.com/ will be held January 29~31 at Amagi Sanso. Registration is open. Click here to register – https://woconjapan.wordpress.com/about-3/registration-2009/

Enjoy a short shareable promotional video http://youtu.be/egrWIelgD9E

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Socks and gifts for the children of “Nozomi No Ie,” an orphanage in Mitaka.

The tradition of collecting socks and gifts for the children residing at Nozomi No Ie goes back well over 20 years. Members of WTUC are asked to select a child (or children) and buy them both some socks and a present for Christmas. This year please feel free to accept more than one child. We ask each giver to sign up for a child by writing their name on a master list. The names of the children are also placed on a slip of paper that is given to the gift giver. It lists the name of the child, their sex, their age and sock size. The slips of paper have been color coded in case you forget their sex, with boys being blue and girls being red. If you happen to lose the piece of paper, ( which I am sure will never happen) you can call me or email wtucrev@gmail.com to be reminded of who it is you are buying for.

Presents should not cost more than 2,000. We want to get them something that is meaningful but we don’t want this to become a contest between children. Nozomi No Ie has asked that coupons, money and gift cards NOT be given. The orphanage would like each child to be able to open the gift and immediately be able to make use of it. If the socks and the gift are wrapped separately that gives each child the opportunity to open up two things. Please make sure the name of the child is SECURELY attached to each gift. If the name comes apart from the gift it is difficult to know who should receive the gift. The name of the giver may or may not be written on the gifts. That is up to each individual to decide.

They can be placed under the Christmas tree at the church. I take the gifts home each Sunday and put them in a secure place until they can be delivered to the orphanage by Christmas Eve.

This project continues to be a very concrete example of sharing the love of Christ during the Christmas season. Thank you to all who support this ministry.

Jim Sack

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Little Kidz: All are welcome to stay in the service to hear the special music, read books and color.

Little Kidz, ES, MS, HS: Everyone is needed for this year`s Pageant being created by our own Cathy Berghahn. Practices will be December 6th and 13th, with the Pageant being in the service on the 13th.

Confirmation Class: Monday November 30th, 6:30-8:00pm at the Bennett`s home, Pastor Teresa is teaching. Pizza provided this month by the Montgomery/Shimokawa family.

HS Youth: Gathering cloth to continue with quilting projects – quilts are being created to give to refugees – please give your usable material to one of the Youth.

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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

November 29th  Advent I – Rev. Dr. Jim Sack preaching, Organ: Kazuko Sacon, Senzoku Music Conservatory will offer pieces in the worship and will have an Advent Concert from 12:45pm. PIZZA luncheon fellowship. Invite your friends to this delightful afternoon.

December 6th   Advent 2 – Christmas Pageant Practice from 9:30am, Rev. Christian Zebley preaching, Communion will be served, organ: Kazuko Sacon.

December 13th Advent 3 – Christmas Pageant Practice, Pageant during Worship. Christmas Caroling at local orphanages and Christmas treats at the Sacks` home.

December 20th  Advent 4 – Rev. Dr. Jim Sack preaching, Communion will be served, organ: Gene Witt.

December 24th  Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols, 6:30pm followed by Christmas treats fellowship, organ: Kazuko Sacon.

December 27th (Adult and Multigenerational Sunday School will resume in January), Pastor Teresa preaching, organ: Kazuko Sacon.

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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, hosted by Dr. Toshi Sasao, on the 2nd floor above the Sanctuary.) All are welcome. Need more information, contact wtucrev@gmail.com any time= ) 2015 Sunday School schedule: 12/6 (pageant practice for kids); 12/13 (pageant practice and pageant during worship)

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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 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 or membership, please contact Pastor Teresa.

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Sermon texts –

Luke 21:25-36New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 29 Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 34 “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before

the Son of Man.”

Jeremiah 33:14-16 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)The Righteous Branch and the Covenant with David – 14 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”