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.

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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/

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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’.

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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.

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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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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.

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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.

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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 – 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.”