Sunday School

ES Age 4 – Gr 2 – Meets at 9:30 in the cafeteria. Contact Lynn Loveman or Amy Harbaugh for more information.

ES Gr 3 – 5 – Meets at 9:30 in the cafeteria. Contact Kristi Hoskins or Julie Rogers, Sunday School  coordinators if you need more details or wish to help.

MS – Meets at 8:40 in the cafeteria.

HS – Lunch with Pastor Claudia at a nearby restaurant.  Contact Pastor Claudia for more information.

Adult Intro to Bible Study – Meets at 9:40 in upstairs room in the same building where worship service is held. If you need nursery care, please call Pastor Claudia (042-369-192) by Saturday night and we will make sure someone is there to watch your young children.

Worship – 10:55 am

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1, 3, 8-9, 12-13; Acts 13:32-39

Sermon: “An Everlasting Sign”; Rev. Jonathan McCurley

Special Music: “Come to the Water” Carol Sack and Ruth Ingulsrud; “You Shall Go Out with Joy” Ruth Ingulsrud

Guest Preacher: Jonathan McCurley, a UMC missionary, from the Asian Rural Institute.   Jonathan comes from Florida and graduated from Garret Evangelical Seminary  in Chicago.  Years ago he lived in the Kansai area, where he taught English and he also spent one year as a student at Kwansei Gakuen in Nishinomiya. He is married to Satomi from Okinawa and they live in the missionary house on the ARI campus. Both enjoy singing, especially praise music.

If you have any of the following, bring to church on Sunday, especially coffee, tea, sugar, and vegetable oil.

自転車(bicycles in good condition)、電気掃除機(vacuum cleaners)、洗濯機 (washing machine)、大型石油ストーブ(kerosene stove, big one if any)、電動工具を含む工具類 (tools)、緑茶(green tea ) 、コーヒー(coffee)、紅茶(tea)、砂糖(sugar)、食用油(vegetable oil) など。

切手(unused stamps)・収入印紙(revenue stamps)・通常はがき(unused postcard)・各種商品券 (coupons for department stores)・図書券 (book store  coupons)・未換金宝くじ券 (unused lottery tickets), umbrellas (both foldable and normal ones), slippers (new ones) are always helpful,  flannel bed sheets for winter.

Find more ARI information at the end of this message.

Looking ahead…

Oct.  31 – Reformation Sunday; Jim Sack preaching; We have an urgent request for these items for the abused women’s shelter.   Please bring on Sunday Laundry detergent, shampoo, conditioner, soap, flashlights, candles, batteries for flashlights.

Nov. 7 – Joint Worship Service with Mitaka Lutheran Church; 10:30 AM in the Seminary Chapel. Pastor Claudia preaching short reflection. . NO SUNDAY SCHOOL OR BIBLE STUDY CLASS. Childcare available. Steering Committee meeting at 9:00 a.m. in cafeteria.

Nov. 14  All Saints Sunday; bring pictures of your deceased loved ones to place on the altar.

Nov.  21 – Thanksgiving Sunday and Potluck

Nov. 28 – First Sunday in Advent

Dec. 3 – Friday Caroling for Peace at Tokyo Union Church; 7:30PM; organized by Peace Network and Pastor Claudia

Dec. 12 – Christmas Pageant

Dec. 19 – Christmas Caroling at neighborhood orphanages

Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service; 7:30PM

Jan 21-23 – Women’s Conference at Amagi Sando, Izu; Karen Seevers is this year’s chairperson

Service to our congregation and community

Church Directory – Please check the hard copy church directory located on the bulletin board for your current contact information. The directory includes phone, email and birthday information. Contact Toshi Sasao for changes or to be included in the directory.

WTUC supports Second Harvest Japan where WTUC member, Ruby Sakuma, works as the Food Pantry Coordinator. Second Harvest Japan welcomes volunteers on Fridays and Saturdays to help with the preparation and distribution of food to the homeless.  Those who are interested may see Ruby  or go to the Second Harvest Japan website to sign up.

More from Second Harvest Japan – Please note that the percentage of persons in Japan lacking food security is MUCH higher for single mothers and the elderly than for the homeless.  The homeless are very visible, but there are thousands of invisible persons needing food support.  We can help to support these invisible needy persons by supporting Second Harvest Japan, or by collecting rice or rice tickets, bath tickets, etc.  Please see Pastor Claudia or Ruby for more suggestions.

Music at WTUC:  If you have favorite songs that you would like to sing, please send Carrie Bennett your requests.

Carrie is going to help coordinate music at WTUC.  Anyone interested in committing their vocal and musical talents once a month, email or see Carrie.

Interested in being a liturgist? Contact Betsy Terada.

Interested in joining the prayer chain? See Pastor Claudia or Kayo Ozawa, prayer chain coordinator.

Interested in becoming a Lay Eucharistic Minister? Contact Pastor Claudia.

Other
Child care is available from 9:30 – 10:30 and 11:00 – noon.  Location is on the 2nd floor in the same building where worship service is held.

Prayer requests – send to Pastor Claudia or Prayer Chain Coordinator Kayo Ozawa.

Sunday School

ES Age 4 – Gr 2 – Meets at 9:30 in the cafeteria. Contact Lynn Loveman or Amy Harbaugh for more information.

ES Gr 3 – 5 – Meets at 9:30 in the cafeteria. Contact Kristi Hoskins or Julie Rogers, Sunday School  coordinators if you need more details or wish to help.

MS – Meets at 8:40 in the cafeteria.

HS – Lunch with Pastor Claudia at a nearby restaurant.  Contact Pastor Claudia for more information.

Adult Intro to Bible Study – Meets at 9:40 in upstairs room in the same building where worship service is held. If you need nursery care, please call Pastor Claudia (042-369-192) by Saturday night and we will make sure someone is there to watch your young children.

Worship – 10:55 am

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:27-34; Psalm 119:97-104; Luke 18:1-8

Sermon: “Persistent Prayer”; Pastor Claudia

Special Music: “Hear I Am, Lord” Michelle Sasao

Looking ahead…

Oct . 24 – ARI Rev. Jon McCurley preaching

Oct.  31 – Reformation Sunday; Jim Sack preaching

Nov. 7 – Joint Worship Service with Mitaka Lutheran Church; 10:30 AM in the Seminary Chapel. Steering Committee meeting at 12:30PM.

Nov. 14  All Saints Sunday; bring pictures of your deceased loved ones to place on the altar.

Nov.  21 – Thanksgiving Sunday and Potluck

Nov. 28 – First Sunday in Advent

Dec. 3 – Friday Caroling for Peace at Tokyo Union Church; 7:30PM; organized by Peace Network and Pastor Claudia

Dec. 12 – Christmas Pageant

Dec. 19 – Christmas Caroling at neighborhood orphanages

Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service; 7:30PM

Jan 21-23 – Women’s Conference at Amagi Sando, Izu; Karen Seevers is this year’s chairperson

Service to our congregation and community

Church Directory – Please check the hard copy church directory located on the bulletin board for your current contact information. The directory includes phone, email and birthday information. Contact Toshi Sasao (tsasao1@gmail.com) for changes or to be included in the directory.

ARI always needs:  bicycles, vacuum cleaners, washing machine, kerosene stove, sugar, vegetable oil, unused stamps, unused postcards, umbrellas, new slippers, flannel bed sheets

WTUC supports Second Harvest Japan where WTUC member, Ruby Sakuma, works as the Food Pantry Coordinator. Second Harvest Japan welcomes volunteers on Fridays and Saturdays to help with the preparation and distribution of food to the homeless.  Those who are interested may see Ruby  or go to the Second Harvest Japan website (2hj.org) to sign up.

More from Second Harvest Japan – Please note that the percentage of persons in Japan lacking food security is MUCH higher for single mothers and the elderly than for the homeless.  The homeless are very visible, but there are thousands of invisible persons needing food support.  We can help to support these invisible needy persons by supporting Second Harvest Japan, or by collecting rice or rice tickets, bath tickets, etc.  Please see Pastor Claudia or Ruby for more suggestions.

Music at WTUC:  If you have favorite songs that you would like to sing, please send Carrie Bennett your requests.

Carrie is going to help coordinate music at WTUC.  Anyone interested in committing their vocal and musical talents once a month, email or see Carrie.

Interested in being a liturgist? Contact Betsy Terada.

Interested in joining the prayer chain? See Pastor Claudia or Kayo Ozawa, prayer chain coordinator.

Interested in becoming a Lay Eucharistic Minister? Contact Pastor Claudia.

Interested in being a liturgist? Contact Betsy Terada.

Other
Child care is available from 9:30 – 10:30 and 11:00 – noon.  Location is on the 2nd floor in the same building where worship service is held.

Prayer requests – send to Pastor Claudia or Prayer Chain Coordinator Kayo Ozawa.

No Sunday School this Sunday.

HS – Lunch with Pastor Claudia at a nearby restaurant on Sunday, October 17.  Contact Pastor Claudia for more information.

Adult Intro to Bible Study – Meets at 9:40 in upstairs room in the same building where worship service is held. If you need nursery care, please call Pastor Claudia (042-369-192) by Saturday night and we will make sure someone is there to watch your young children.

Worship – 10:55 am

Scripture: Luke 17 5-10; 2 Timothy 1:1-17; Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4

Sermon: “Have a Little Faith”; Pastor Claudia

Looking ahead…

Oct . 24 – ARI Rev. Jon McCurley preaching

Oct.  31 – Reformation Sunday; Jim Sack preaching

Nov. 7 – Joint Worship Service with Mitaka Lutheran Church; 10:30 AM in the Seminary Chapel. Steering Committee meeting at 12:30PM.

Nov. 14  All Saints Sunday; bring pictures of your deceased loved ones to place on the altar.

Nov.  21 – Thanksgiving Sunday and Potluck

Nov. 28 – First Sunday in Advent

Dec. 3 – Friday Caroling for Peace at Tokyo Union Church; 7:30PM; organized by Peace Network and Pastor Claudia

Dec. 12 – Christmas Pageant

Dec. 19 – Christmas Caroling at neighborhood orphanages

Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service; 7:30PM

Jan 21-23 – Women’s Conference at Amagi Sando, Izu; Karen Seevers is this year’s chairperson

Service to our congregation and community

Church Directory – Please check the hard copy church directory located on the bulletin board for your current contact information. The directory includes phone, email and birthday information. Contact Toshi Sasao for changes or to be included in the directory.

ARI always needs:  bicycles, vacuum cleaners, washing machine, kerosene stove, sugar, vegetable oil, unused stamps, unused postcards, umbrellas, new slippers, flannel bed sheets

WTUC supports Second Harvest Japan where WTUC member, Ruby Sakuma, works as the Food Pantry Coordinator. Second Harvest Japan welcomes volunteers on Fridays and Saturdays to help with the preparation and distribution of food to the homeless.  Those who are interested may see Ruby  or go to the Second Harvest Japan website to sign up.

More from Second Harvest Japan – Please note that the percentage of persons in Japan lacking food security is MUCH higher for single mothers and the elderly than for the homeless.  The homeless are very visible, but there are thousands of invisible persons needing food support.  We can help to support these invisible needy persons by supporting Second Harvest Japan, or by collecting rice or rice tickets, bath tickets, etc.  Please see Pastor Claudia or Ruby for more suggestions.

Music at WTUC:  If you have favorite songs that you would like to sing, please send Carrie Bennett your requests.

Carrie is going to help coordinate music at WTUC.  Anyone interested in committing their vocal and musical talents once a month, email or see Carrie.

Interested in being a liturgist? Contact Betsy Terada.

Interested in joining the prayer chain? See Pastor Claudia or Kayo Ozawa, prayer chain coordinator.

Interested in becoming a Lay Eucharistic Minister? Contact Pastor Claudia.

Interested in being a liturgist? Contact Betsy Terada.

Other
Child care is available from 9:30 – 10:30 and 11:00 – noon.  Location is on the 2nd floor in the same building where worship service is held.

Prayer requests – send to Pastor Claudia or Prayer Chain Coordinator Kayo Ozawa

In a number of denominations the First Sunday of October is observed as World Communion Sunday. World Communion Sunday originated in 1933 through the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  In 1940, the National Council of Churches (U.S.A.) helped to make this day ecumenical and later the World Council of Churches helped to make it worldwide so now many other denominations all over the world celebrate communion on the first Sunday in October during worship. We are reminded today of others who believe in Christ throughout the whole world as we pray for all God`s people and pray that we can work co-operatively with each other in areas of mission and service. On this day we celebrate our oneness in Christ in the midst of the world we are called to serve. World Communion Sunday is a call for all Christians – of whatever background – and of whatever theological tradition – to recollect that we are in fact one in Christ – and that the table we receive from and communion at is God’s table – not our own.

How did  World Communion Sunday begin? 1933 was the darkest year of the Great Depression. The storm clouds of Nazism and Fascism hovered all over Europe and threatened the entire world. The prevailing mood was anxiety—fear about economics, fear about politics and fear about the future.

As a faith response to the fears of three generations ago, in 1933, the pastor and a group of leaders on the Stewardship Committee at Shadyside Presbyterian Church,  Pittsburgh, U.S.A,.  sought to do something both real and symbolic, to proclaim that God is God indeed, in spite of politics, economics and future shock.

How, they wondered, might one church counteract the pessimism of the larger society? How might they succeed in eliminating the walls of separation between Christians? Their pastor, Dr Kerr had an idea of a a service of Christian unity—in which everyone might receive both inspiration and information, and above all, to know how important the Church of Jesus Christ is, and how each congregation is interconnected one with another.

Dr. Kerr had begun his pastorate at Shadyside in 1913. He served there for thirty-two years, until 1945. Dr. Kerr was nationally recognized as a gifted preacher and pastor and author of over 20 books. He was also a civic leader in Pittsburgh. Every church with a radio or television ministry owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Kerr, whose visionary understanding of the nascent radio industry led him to broadcast his Sunday morning sermons over the world’s first commercial radio station, KDKA Pittsburgh. These broadcasts became the vehicle for dissolving the walls of the sanctuary and sending the welcome good news of Christ into far-flung homes. Under Dr. Kerr’s leadership, the church’s worship services were the first, anywhere, to be broadcast by radio

When Donald Kerr was asked how the idea of World Communion Sunday spread from that first service to the world wide practice of today, this is what he replied,

“The concept spread very slowly at the start. People did not give it a whole lot of thought. It was during the Second World War that the spirit caught hold, because we were trying to hold the world together. World Wide Communion symbolized the effort to hold things together, in a spiritual sense. It emphasized that we are one in the Spirit and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

The Church is one in the Spirit and one in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, although we may not display our unity clearly to the larger world. This is why World Communion Sunday is so vital to our shared witness and why we would be remiss to lose sight of its origins.  It may seem incredible to some that such a far-reaching idea had its beginnings not simply in a committee, but a stewardship committee. However, we believe that Jesus is present where two or three or more will gather in His name. So, how can we be surprised by what the Living Christ can do even with the most prosaic of committee responsibilities?

Now, 77 years later, the dream of all of us gathering on one Sunday, around one table—the Lord’s Table—seems as much of an impossible dream as it did in 1933. We see the connections between individual believers, congregations and denominations stretched to the uttermost limits. Yet, when we all share the Meal where Christ is our Host, we are connected in ways that go beyond our personal preferences, or theological scuffles, as well as transcending boundaries of geography and language. What we find on World Communion Sunday is a dissolving of those things that might hurt or divide us. Around His Table together, we broadcast our faith to the world and say, “Come and dine; there is room for all!”

Sunday School

Remember to wear clothing or accessories from other countries/cultures for world communion Sunday.

ES Age 4 – Gr 2 – Meets at 9:30 in the cafeteria. Contact Lynn Loveman or Amy Harbaugh for more information

ES Gr 3 – 5 – Meets at 9:30 in the cafeteria. Contact Kristi Hoskins or Julie Rogers, Sunday School  coordinators if you need more details or wish to help.

MS – Meet at 9:40 in the back of the cafeteria. Contact Ruth Ingulsrud or Pastor Claudia for more information.

Adult Intro to Bible Study – Meets at 9:40 in upstairs room in the same building where worship service is held. Child care provided.

Worship – 10:55 am

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-12, Matthew 5:14-16

Sermon: “Sharing Eucharist”; Rev. Claudia

This Sunday please bring breads from other cultures (french bread, German bread, pita bread, tortillas, osenbei, etc.) for our communion table. Also wear an ethnic costume or short or scarf.  Try to dress internationally if you can!   Look at your wardrobe- you must have something! Aloha shirts, saris, Chinese dresses, sombreros, Swedish dresses, Thai scarves…. be creative!

Read more about World Communion Sunday at the end of this message.

Steering Committee -  meets after church at 1PM

Looking ahead…

Oct. 10 – High School students meet with Pastor Claudia for lunch after church

Oct . 24 – ARI Rev. Jon McCurley preaching

Oct.  31 – Reformation Sunday; Jim Sack preaching

Nov. 7 – Joint Worship Service with Mitaka Lutheran Church; 10:30AM

Nov.  21 – Thanksgiving Sunday and Potluck

Nov. 28 – First Sunday in Advent

Dec. 3 – Friday Caroling for Peace at Tokyo Union Church; 7:30PM

Dec. 12 – Christmas Pageant

Dec. 19 – Christmas Caroling at neighborhood orphanages

Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service; 7:30PM

Jan 21-23 – Women’s Conference; Karen Seevers is this year’s chairperson

Service to our congregation and community

Church Directory – Please check the hard copy church directory located on the bulletin board for your current contact information. The directory includes phone, email and birthday information. Contact Toshi Sasao for changes or to be included in the directory.

ARI always needs:  bicycles, vacuum cleaners, washing machine, kerosene stove, sugar, vegetable oil, unused stamps, unused postcards, umbrellas, new slippers, flannel bed sheets

Share your gift of music during worship—see worship chair Betsy Terada.

If you have a special request for a praise song or hymn, contact Betsy Terada.

Interested in being a liturgist? Contact Betsy Terada.

Interested in joining the prayer chain? See Pastor Claudia or Kayo Ozawa, prayer chain coordinator.

Interested in becoming a Lay Eucharistic Minister? Contact Pastor Claudia.

Interested in being a liturgist? Contact  Betsy Terada.

Other
Child care is available from 9:30 – 10:30 and 11:00 – noon.  Location is on the 2nd floor in the same building where worship service is held.

Prayer requests – send to Pastor Claudia or Prayer Chain Coordinator Kayo Ozawa.

Sunday School

ES Age 4 – Gr 2 – Meets at 9:30 in the cafeteria. Contact Lynn Loveman or Amy Harbaugh for more information.

ES Gr 3 – 5 – Meets at 9:30 in the cafeteria. Contact Kristi Hoskins or Julie Rogers, Sunday School  coordinators if you need more details or wish to help

MS – Meet at 9:40 in the back of the cafeteria. Contact Ruth Ingulsrud or Pastor Claudia for more information.

Adult Intro to Bible Study – Meets at 9:40 in upstairs room in the same building where worship service is held. Child care provided.

Worship – 10:55 am

Scripture: Psalm 91:1-6,14-16; Jeremiah 32:1-3a,6-15; 1 Timothy 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31

Sermon: “Money: The Stuff of Life”; Rev. Susan Page Townsley

Special Music: “Like a Deer Panteth”; sung by Michelle Sasao. Okinawa shanshin played by Tatusya Sofue .

INFORMATION ON OUR GUEST PREACHER: Rev. Susan Page Townsley moved to Japan in the fall of 2009.  Ordained in the United Church of Christ, she has been in various settings of ministry for 19 years.  Most recently, she served as the Regional Minister for the Connecticut Conference, a position she held since 2003.  The position included resourcing churches, ministerial search and call, conflict assessment and management, strategic planning, leadership development, clergy oversight, and pastoring to pastors. A graduate of Smith College and Harvard Divinity School, Susan has served churches in Connecticut, Maine and New York. For several years, Susan consulted to churches that needed leadership development, conflict management and strategic planning under the shingle “Welcome the Spirit.” Susan has served as staff to General Synods 26 and 27 (biannual meeting of the UCC), teaching facilitators to manage discussions of potentially divisive church matters using a consensus-building model. Susan has been an adjunct Faculty at Yale Divinity School and Hartford Seminary, teaching The History and Polity of the United Church of Christ. Susan has a son, Andrew,  in 8th grade  at the American School in Japan and a daughter, Hannah, in 10th grade at the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, Connecticut. She is assisting with and speaking at the Women’s Conference this year. Susan sings in the Tokyo Union Church choir. She also has taught a course for adults at TUC  called  “Conflict Management with Grace.” Rev.  Susan has a few openings for individual Spiritual Direction.  You may email her directly at sqptownsley@gmail.com.

Looking ahead…

Oct. 3 – World Communion Sunday. Wear clothes or costumes from other nations. Bring breads from other countries

Oct . 24 – ARI Rev. Jon McCurley preaching

Oct.  31 – Reformation Sunday; Jim Sack preaching

Nov.  21 – Thanksgiving Sunday and Potluck

Nov. 28 – First Sunday in Advent

Dec. 3 – Friday Caroling for Peace at Tokyo Union Church; 7:30PM

Dec. 12 – Christmas Pageant

Jan 21-23 – Women’s Conference; Karen Seevers is this year’s chairperson

Service to our congregation and community

ARI always needs:  bicycles, vacuum cleaners, washing machine, kerosene stove, sugar, vegetable oil, unused stamps, unused postcards, umbrellas, new slippers, flannel bed sheets

Share your gift of music during worship—see worship chair Betsy Terada.

Interested in joining the prayer chain? See Pastor Claudia or Kayo Ozawa, prayer chain coordinator.

Interested in becoming a Lay Eucharistic Minister? See Pastor Claudia.

Other
Child care is available from 9:30 – 10:30 and 11:00 – noon.  Location is on the 2nd floor in the same building where worship service is held.

Prayer requests – send to Pastor Claudia or Prayer Chain Coordinator Kayo Ozawa.

This week at WTUC, don’t forget to bring your back pack for a special blessing to begin the new school year. (Adults can bring a back pack too if they like!) Please place by the altar.

WTUC Sunday School begins at 9:30 a.m.  in the Lutheran Seminary and College cafeteria (for ES and MS) and the Adult Intro to Bible at 9:40 a.m. in the church room where we hold worship.

WORSHIP

Please bring friends to enjoy this special service!

Prayers for the Prayer Chain may be sent to Kayo Ozawa at  kayo@ta2.so-net.ne.jp

SEPT  5:   COMMUNION      (Gene- You  are the cantor for the communion. Thanks!)
SCRIPTURES Isaiah 56:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Ephesians 6:18
SERMON   “Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home”   Pastor Claudia

MS at Tokyo Union to present Praise Puppets’ with Ruth show for their Rally Day. MS youth meet at Tama Station at 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School starts on Sept. 12.  Adult Intro to Bible class with Dr. Toshi Sasao begins.

New prayers for Prayer Chain . Send to Kayo Ozawa at kayo@ta2.so-net.ne.jp

Pastor Claudia is providing snacks this Sunday. If anyone wants to also bring snacks to help her out, dozo. Email revclaudia@aol.com

SEPT 12:   Sermon: “Time:  The Great Spiritual Director”                      Preacher: Rev. Claudia

SS begins 9:30

Notes: Blessing of the Backpacks (bring your backpack to church for a special blessing for the beginning of the school year

MS to present puppets for our children’s message

Children to lead some hymns for worship

SEPT 19:  COMMUNION

SERMON: Rev. Teresa Sherrill, Mennonite missionary and chaplain to the Christian Academy PTA

Liturgist: Rev. Claudia

SEPT 26:  SERMON: Rev. Susan Townsley, UCC minister

Liturgist: Rev. Claudia

Upcoming services: Oct. 3 World Communion Sunday (wear costumes or clothes from around the world to church, bring breads from various cultures for communion.)

Oct. 31 Reformation Sunday (Maybe ask Jim Sack, Jonathan Blanke, Tim McKenzie,  (a Lutheran) to preach.)

Nov. 7 All Saints Sunday (remembering the saints who have gone before

Nov. 21 Thanksgiving Sunday and potluck

Nov. 28 First Sunday of Advent

Dec. 12 Christmas Pageant Sunday