West Tokyo Union Church Weekly - Sunday, April 3, 2016 worship

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

April 3rd – 11:00 AM Worship Service – Pastor Teresa will bring the sermon, loved and freed by who is and who was and who is to come, from Revelation 1. Communion will be served. Kazuko Sacon will lead us on the organ. Carolyn Morikawa will be bringing the children`s message. Please enjoy Fujiko Nielson`s Easter Season art installation. Our special Easter offering for Second Harvest Japan will be taken. Our delightful robust fellowship time will be after the service.

***

Every day is Easter season

When Thomas touched the wounds

and set himself free – it was Easter season

When Peter’s three “yes’s” to Jesus

finished his three denials – it was Easter season

When Mary ready to embalm the dead

ran in fear from the empty tomb – it was Easter season

When the disciples looked from afar

at a breakfast of fish on the beach – it was Easter season

When Emmaus became synonymous with welcome

and the breaking of bread with strangers

it was Easter season

When Paul was blinded by the light

and recognised the voice niggling in his head – it was Easter season

When the hungry are fed at the table

the same table as the rich – it is Easter season

When weapons are beaten to ploughshares

and peace is a word to be shouted – it is Easter season

When the stranger is welcomed in community

and the lonely are restored to relationship – it is Easter season

~ Roddy Hamilton, http://www.nkchurch.org.uk/index.php/mucky-paws

***

about the special Easter offering if you have not yet had an opportunity to give – Second Harvest Japan – Charles McJilton as director of Second Harvest Japan  shares about Japan`s first food bank. “We receive donations from manufacturers, retailers, farmers and individuals and then distribute them to those in need. All of the food that we handle is unexpired and safe for consumption. We give this food a second life by distributing it to welfare agencies, orphanages, women shelters, people without homes, and those in need. Second Harvest Japan aims to create a Food Safety Net in Japan. In order to do so, we deliver food to children’s homes, single-mother shelters, centers for the disabled, as well as many other welfare organizations and individuals in need. In order to deliver enough food to those who lack food security, 2HJ cooperates with food manufacturers and other companies, and hopes to use food to create new partnerships between corporations and the community. In our first year of incorporation, we delivered 30 tons of food. Since 2002, we have delivered over 12,000 tons valued at over Â¥5 billion yen. Your support of Second Harvest Japan helps us achieve our motto, ‘Food for all People’.

***

Upcoming Preaching Ministry and Community Events

April 3 – Pastor Teresa preaching, Communion will be served. Organ: Kazuko Sacon.

April 10 – Multigenerational and Adult Sunday Schools, Covenant Players in worship, Youth and Friends leading worship.

April 17 – Pastor Teresa preaching, Communion will be served.

April 24 – Multigenerational and Adult Sunday Schools, Hiro Morikawa preaching, Organ: Kazuko Sacon.

***

Looking for mentors for our wonderful confirmands

This church year Aidan, Anna Z, Emma, Kai, Karen, Ken, Matai, Sophia and Tristan have been meeting monthly to prepare for confirmation on Pentecost, May 15th. They will be preparing their “creed” to read during the service. WTUC matches up a mentor with a confirmand to continue their journey of spiritual formation and growth. If you would like to be one of these grand kids mentors, please let Pastor Teresa know.  Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

***

Little Kidz: Please remain in the Easter worship.

ES/MS Youth: Sun. April 24th  5:30-7pm. @ ASIJ for Pool fun, Devotion activity and Pizza!

Confirmation Class: Working on their “creeds” that they will share at Pentecost.

HS Youth: Still gathering usable cloth to continue with quilting projects.

***

MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL!! ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL!! 

We have Multigenerational Sunday School from 9:30AM 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 9:30AM 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 = ) Next Sunday Schools – April 10th and 24th! All friends invited!

***

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, are interested in baptism or membership, 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. *Sign up for snacks for fellowship time with Ann or Jill. We appreciate your contributions to our community life!

***

Text for the sermon – Revelation 1:1-8

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near. 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Friday, March 25, 2016 GOOD FRIDAY service

Sunday, March 27, 2016 EASTER worship

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

March 25th – Taize style GOOD FRIDAY service at the Sack`s home from 6:30pm. All are welcome to this reflective service. Need directions, please contact wtucrev@gmail.com

March 27th – 11:00 AM – EASTER SERVICE!  Pastor Teresa will give a homily from John 20. The Zebley family and friends will also share an Easter Skit. Gene Witt will lead us on the organ. Carol Sack will play the harp. Susie, Anna and Emma will lead us in song. Please enjoy Fujiko Nielson`s Easter art installation. Our special Easter offering for Second Harvest Japan will be taken. Our delightful robust fellowship time will be after the service. After fellowship time, we will have an EASTER EGG HUNT. Invite your friends and family = )

***

Tony Compolo`s transformative – It`s Friday – but Sunday is coming (audio – 5 minutes – enjoy!)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCQSsUKDYCU

***

about the special Easter offering – Second Harvest Japan – Charles McJilton as director of Second Harvest Japan  shares about Japan`s first food bank. “We receive donations from manufacturers, retailers, farmers and individuals and then distribute them to those in need. All of the food that we handle is unexpired and safe for consumption. We give this food a second life by distributing it to welfare agencies, orphanages, women shelters, people without homes, and those in need. Second Harvest Japan aims to create a Food Safety Net in Japan. In order to do so, we deliver food to children’s homes, single-mother shelters, centers for the disabled, as well as many other welfare organizations and individuals in need. In order to deliver enough food to those who lack food security, 2HJ cooperates with food manufacturers and other companies, and hopes to use food to create new partnerships between corporations and the community. In our first year of incorporation, we delivered 30 tons of food. Since 2002, we have delivered over 12,000 tons valued at over Â¥5 billion yen. Your support of Second Harvest Japan helps us achieve our motto, ‘Food for all People’.

***

Peter, Ann, Emin and Sopheen have invited us to their home for further Easter celebration and an Easter Egg Hunt. Delightful refreshments will be served, and feel free to bring Finger Foods. All are invited to continue celebrating our Risen Christ. Karen Seevers will be available to give rides to their home. If you need a map, please contact wtucrev@gmail.com – there is limited parking nearby.

***

Upcoming Preaching Ministry and Community Events

March 25th – Good Friday Service at 6:30pm, in the Sack`s home.

March 27th – EASTER WORSHIP, Easter Egg Hunt, Robust Easter Fellowship.

All are invited to stay and enjoy!

April 3 – Pastor Teresa preaching, Communion will be served. Organ: Kazuko Sacon.

April 10 – Multigenerational and Adult Sunday Schools, Covenant Players in worship, Youth and Friends leading worship.

April 17 – Pastor Teresa preaching, Communion will be served.

April 24 – Multigenerational and Adult Sunday Schools, Hiro Morikawa preaching, Organ: Kazuko Sacon.

***

GATHERING GIFTS FOR March 27th EASTER SUNDAY

Looking for thespians for a skit, flowers to decorate the altar, folks to prepare the Easter Eggs, and those to hide and manage the Easter Egg Hunt. We are asking all to prepare yummies for our robust EGG-CITING Easter Fellowship Time. Please bring a finger food of something eggy, yummy or Eastery to share = )

Please let Pastor Teresa wtucrev@gmail.com know of your gifts and interest.

***

Looking for mentors for our wonderful confirmands

This church year Aidan, Anna Z, Emma, Kai, Karen, Ken, Matai, Sophia and Tristan have been meeting monthly to prepare for confirmation on Pentecost, May 15th. They will be preparing their “creed” to read during the service. WTUC matches up a mentor with a confirmand to continue their journey of spiritual formation and growth. If you would like to be one of these grand kids mentors, please let Pastor Teresa know. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

***

Little Kidz: Please remain in the Easter worship.

ES/MS Youth: Sun. April 24th  5:30-7pm. @ ASIJ for Pool fun, Devotion activity and Pizza!

Confirmation Class: Working on their “creeds” that they will share at Pentecost.

HS Youth: Still gathering usable cloth to continue with quilting projects.

***

MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL!! ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL!! 

We have Multigenerational Sunday School from 9:30AM 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 9:30AM 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 = ) Next Sunday School – Easter Egg hunt after church on March 27th! All friends invited!

***

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, are interested in baptism or membership, 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. *Sign up for snacks for fellowship time with Ann or Jill. We appreciate your contributions to our community life!

***

Text for the sermon – John 20:1-23 NRSV

1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes. 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look[a] into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her. 19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

West Tokyo Union Church Weekly - Sunday, March 20, 2016 worship 

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

11:00 AM – Rev. Dr. Jim Sack will bring the sermon “The Lord Needs it” from Luke 19. He will also share a Children`s Message. Kazuko Sacon will lead us on the organ. Communion will be served. Our delightful robust fellowship time will be after the service. After fellowship time, Susie will lead us in a Acapella Sing-a-long, all interested gather together and enjoy!

***

This blessing

can be heard coming

from a long way off.

This blessing

is making

its steady way

up the road

toward you.

This blessing

blooms in the throats

of women

springs from the hearts

of men

tumbles from the mouths

of children.

This blessing

is stitched into

the seams

of the cloaks

that line the road,

etched into

the branches

that trace the path,

echoes in the

breathing of the willing colt,

the click of the donkey’s hoof

against the stones.

Something is rising

beneath this blessing.

Something will try

to drown it out.

But this blessing

cannot be turned back,

cannot be made

to still its voice,

cannot cease

to sing its praise

of the one who comes

along the way

it makes.

— Jan Richardson, American author and artist, from her blog, The Painted Prayerbook.

***

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. 

***

Upcoming Preaching Ministry and Community Events

March 20th – Palm Sunday Worship, Rev. Dr. Jim Sack preaching, March of the Palms, Communion will be served. Organ: Kazuko Sacon. Acapella Sing along after fellowship with all who are interested – Susie will be leading us in song.

March 25th – Good Friday Service at 6:30pm, in the Sack`s home.

March 27th – EASTER WORSHIP, Easter Egg Hunt, Robust Easter Fellowship.

***

GATHERING GIFTS FOR March 27th EASTER SUNDAY

Looking for musicians, thespians for a skit, liturgist, flowers to decorate the altar, folks to prepare the Easter Eggs, and those to hide and manage the Easter Egg Hunt. We are asking all to prepare yummies for our robust EGG-CITING Easter Fellowship Time. Please bring a finger food of something eggy, yummy or Eastery to share = )

Please let Pastor Teresa wtucrev@gmail.com know of your gifts and interest.

***

Looking for mentors for our wonderful confirmands

This church year Aidan, Anna Z, Emma, Kai, Karen, Ken, Matai, Sophia and Tristan have been meeting monthly to prepare for confirmation on Pentecost, May 15th. They will be preparing their “creed” to read during the service. WTUC matches up a mentor with a confirmand to continue their journey of spiritual formation and growth. If you would like to be one of these grand kids mentors, please let Pastor Teresa know. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

***

Little Kidz: Please go with Allie to learn about The Two Builders.

Confirmation Class: Good Friday service at the Sack`s from 6:30pm. Pastor Teresa will be sending information about writing “your own creed” for you and your families to look at.

HS Youth: Still gathering cloth to continue with quilting projects, so please give your usable material to one of the Youth.

***

MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL!! ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL!! 

We have Multigenerational Sunday School from 9:30AM 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 9:30AM 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 = ) Next Sunday School – Easter Egg hunt on March 27th! All friends invited!

***

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, are interested in baptism or membership, 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. *Sign up for snacks for fellowship time with Ann or Jill. We appreciate your contributions to our community life!

***

Text for the sermon – Luke 19:28-40

After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say this: “The Lord needs it.” ’ So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!’ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’

West Tokyo Union Church Weekly - Sunday, March 13, 2016 worship 

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

9:30 AM Adult Sunday School (Swedish method looking at the Scriptures for the sermon) and Multigenerational Sunday School (Lenten activities.)

10:40 AM – Choir practice for the choir that will sing Beneath the Cross of Jesus as the Choral Song of Response during the Youth and friends worship on 3/13. All are welcome to join the practice.

11:00 AM – Charles McJilton will bring the sermon from John 8:1-11. He will also share a Children`s Message. Youth and friends will lead us in our worship. Our delightful robust fellowship time will be after the service.

***

Psalm Reflection: Forgiveness (inspired by Psalm 51:13, 15)

Forgiveness is mercy.

Such pardon and kindness I cannot fathom.

Forgiveness is unfailing love.

Such patience and understanding I cannot comprehend.

Forgiveness is overwhelming compassion.

Such sympathy and warmth I cannot reciprocate.

Forgiveness is the blotting out of transgressions.

Such freedom and good will I do not deserve.

Forgiveness is the washing away of my iniquities.

Such purity and newness I cannot maintain.

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

~ posted by Steve Brown http://sjbrown58.wordpress.com/

***

about the preacher – Charles McJilton is the director of Second Harvest Japan – Japan`s first food bank. “We receive donations from manufacturers, retailers, farmers and individuals and then distribute them to those in need. All of the food that we handle is unexpired and safe for consumption. We give this food a second life by distributing it to welfare agencies, orphanages, women shelters, people without homes, and those in need. Second Harvest Japan aims to create a Food Safety Net in Japan. In order to do so, we deliver food to children’s homes, single-mother shelters, centers for the disabled, as well as many other welfare organizations and individuals in need. In order to deliver enough food to those who lack food security, 2HJ cooperates with food manufacturers and other companies, and hopes to use food to create new partnerships between corporations and the community. In our first year of incorporation, we delivered 30 tons of food. Since 2002, we have delivered over 12,000 tons valued at over Â¥5 billion yen. Your support of Second Harvest Japan helps us achieve our motto, ‘Food for all People’.

***

Upcoming Preaching Ministry and Community Events

March 13th – 9:30am Adult Sunday School and Multigenerational Sunday School, 10:40am Choir practice of “Beneath the Cross of Jesus”, Lent 5 Worship, Charles McJilton of Second Harvest Japan preaching, Youth and friends leading Worship.

March 20th – Lent 6 Palm Sunday Worship, Rev. Dr. Jim Sack preaching, March of the Palms, Communion will be served. Organ: Kazuko Sacon. Acapella Sing along after fellowship with all who are interested – Susie will be leading us in song.

March 25th – Good Friday Service at 6:30pm, in the sanctuary.

March 27th – EASTER, Pastor Teresa preaching, Easter Egg Hunt, Robust Easter Fellowship.

***

GATHERING GIFTS FOR March 27th EASTER SUNDAY

Looking for musicians, thespians for a skit, liturgist, flowers to decorate the altar, folks to prepare the Easter Eggs, and those to hide and manage the Easter Egg Hunt. We are asking all to prepare yummies for our robust EGG-CITING Easter Fellowship Time. Please bring a finger food of something eggy, yummy or Eastery to share = ) Please let Pastor Teresa wtucrev@gmail.com know of your gifts and interest.

***

Looking for mentors for our wonderful confirmands

This church year Aidan, Anna Z, Emma, Kai, Karen, Ken, Matai, Sophia and Tristan have been meeting monthly to prepare for confirmation on Pentecost, May 15th. They will be preparing their “creed” to read during the service. WTUC matches up a mentor with a confirmand to continue their journey of spiritual formation and growth. If you would like to be one of these grand kids mentors, please let Pastor Teresa know. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

***

Little Kidz: Please go with Sophia to learn about The Parable of the Talents.

Confirmation Class: March 21st at the Bennett`s home – Supper from 6:30. Class from 7pm.

ES/MS Youth: March 18th ES/MS Swim night – 5:30-7:30 at ASIJ; Hosted by the Loveman family.

HS Youth: March 16th at 5pm for bible study, pizza, and working on the quilt (3rd one!) at the Rogers’ house.  Still gathering cloth to continue with quilting projects, please give your usable material to one of the Youth. Youth and friends leading Worship March 13th.

***

MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL!! ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL!! 

We have Multigenerational Sunday School from 9:30AM 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 9:30AM 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 = ) Next Sunday Schools – March 13th – Easter Egg hunt on March 27th! All friends invited!

***

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, are interested in baptism or membership, 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. *Sign up for snacks for fellowship time with Ann or Jill. We appreciate your contributions to our community life!

***

Text for the sermon – John 8:1-11(NRSV)

8 1 while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”

West Tokyo Union Church Weekly - Sunday, March 6, 2016 worship 

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

10:40 AM – Choir practice for the choir that will sing Beneath the Cross of Jesus during the Youth and friends led worship on 3/13. The choir will practice again next Sunday morning before the worship – everyone is invited to participate = )

11:00 AM –  Pastor Teresa will bring the sermon, Reconciliation from 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. Ruth Ingulsrud will bring the Children`s message. Communion will be served. Kazuko Sacon will lead us on the organ. Our delightful robust fellowship time will be after the service.

a Lenten prayer for reconciliation –

Reconciling Christ, bless our efforts to bring about reconciliation.

Give us the strength to persevere without counting the hurts,

and to find within ourselves the capacity to keep on loving.

Give us the grace to be able to stand in the middle of situations,

and to be a conduit for the deep listening

which can lead to healing and forgiveness.

Help us to conduct ourselves with dignity,

giving and expecting respect, moving from prayer to action,

and from action back again into prayer.

Grant that we may be so grounded in your love,

that our security is not threatened if we change our minds,

or begin to see a better way to act.

Bless those who are called to reconcile on a large-scale –

politicians, world leaders, leaders of business,

and those who stand in the midst of bitter conflict.

Reconciling Christ, bless us and bless all who engage

in the sacred work of envisioning new wholeness,

and bringing people and nations together.  Amen.

~ Ann Siddall, Stillpoint Spirituality Centre.  http://stillpoint.unitingchurchsa.org.au/

***

Upcoming Preaching Ministry and Community Events

March 6th – Choir practice from 10:40am of “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” for the March 13th service. Lent 4 Worship, Pastor Teresa preaching, Communion will be served. Organ: Kazuko Sacon.

March 13th – 9:30am Adult Sunday School and Multigenerational Sunday School, 10:40am Choir practice of “Beneath the Cross of Jesus”, Lent 5 Worship, Charles McJilton of Second Harvest Japan preaching, Youth and friends leading Worship.

March 20th – Lent 6 Palm Sunday Worship, Rev. Dr. Jim Sack preaching, March of the Palms, Communion will be served. Organ: Kazuko Sacon.

March 25th – Good Friday Service at 6:30pm, in the sanctuary.

March 27th – EASTER, Pastor Teresa preaching, Easter Egg Hunt, Robust Easter Fellowship.

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GATHERING GIFTS FOR March 27th EASTER SUNDAY

Looking for musicians, thespians for a skit, liturgist, flowers to decorate the altar, folks to prepare the Easter Eggs, and those to hide and manage the Easter Egg Hunt. We are asking all to prepare yummies for our robust EGG-CITING Easter Fellowship Time. Please bring a finger food of something eggy, yummy or Eastery to share = ) Please let Pastor Teresa wtucrev@gmail.com know of your gifts and interest.

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Little Kidz: Please go with Heather to learn about The Lost Sheep/Coin.

Confirmation Class: March 21st at the Bennett`s home – Supper from 6:30. Class from 7pm.

ES/MS Youth: March 18th ES/MS Swim night – 5:30-7:30 at ASIJ; Hosted by the Loveman family.

HS Youth: Gathering cloth to continue with quilting projects, please give your usable material to one of the Youth. Youth and friends leading Worship March 13th.

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MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL!! ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL!! 

We have Multigenerational Sunday School from 9:30AM 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 9:30AM 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 = ) Next Sunday Schools – March 13th – Easter Egg hunt on March 27th! All friends invited!

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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, are interested in baptism or membership, 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. *Sign up for snacks for fellowship time with Ann or Jill. We appreciate your contributions to our community life!

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Text for the sermon – 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (NRSV)

16From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way.17So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.