The HERALD Newsletter Japanese Church of Christ 268 West 100 South (Japantown Street) Salt Lake City, UT (801)

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1 The HERALD Newsletter Japanese Church of Christ 268 West 100 South (Japantown Street) Salt Lake City, UT (801) Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID SLC, Utah Permit No.1645 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Pastor Brad Kramer Fall/Winter Schedule: 10:30 a.m. Worship Service Adult and Nichigo Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Pastor s Message May 2015 I found it kinda scary That is a loose paraphrase from a young woman who was part of a group of believers whom I asked for their impressions of the book of Revelation. On the one hand, I agree with her: some of the images of judgment revealed in this prophetic book are terrifying. On the other hand, this incredible vision of the Apostle John should be a source of great encouragement for all followers of Jesus Christ; in particular those who are enduring gut wrenching struggles, or suffering religious persecution, as were the first century recipients of this letter. In all honesty, I have never seriously considered teaching through the book of Revelation, primarily because of the many interpretive challenges: It is filled with bizarre images and deep symbolism. But of course, it is an important letter with great relevancy to all believers. And so in May, I will begin a preaching series on this last book of the New Testament. I gotta admit; over the last few weeks of personal study, I m becoming more excited to teach through this tremendous book, and to keep in the front of our minds that, in the words of my friend Dan God wins. Pastor Brad 1

2 May 2015 The JCC Mission Statement To proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and seek spiritual growth for the entire congregation through: Worship, prayer, and Bible study Outreach and evangelism Loving service to the Church and community Fellowship Cultural activities unique to our ethnic congregation A monthly publication of the Japanese Church of Christ, Salt Lake City, UT. Pastor Brad Kramer Clerk of Session: Greg Paige Session Julee Mori, Finance Lorraine Crouse, Worship Hiro Iwasaki, Stewardship Greg Paige, Personnel, Education Lynne Aramaki, Building and Grounds Karen Okawa, Membership Alan Shino, Evangelism/Missions Deacons Jan Aramaki, Moderator Misako Bowker, Miki Harada, Keiko Ikeda, Wilma Kimura, Lillian Nakamura, Karla Paige, Danni Uyeda Newsletter articles are due on the last Sunday of each month at noon. Send your articles to klokawa@msn.com Website: Keep the Chapel Clean Recently, used tissues, candy wrappers and other trash items have been found in the hymnal racks and in the pews. Please dispose of your trash in a nearby garbage receptacle. Memorial Day Services The annual Memorial Day Candle Lighting Service will be held on Sunday, May 24 at 10:30 a.m. An annual tradition, you may light a candle in memory of a departed loved one during worship service. Japanese American Veterans Memorial Day Memorial Ceremony Please join us to honor the Japanese American World War II veterans at a memorial ceremony on Sunday, May 24, 2015 at 8:00 a.m. The memorial ceremony will be held at the monument for fallen Japanese American World War II veterans in the Japanese section of the Salt Lake City Cemetery, located just west of Gardner Funeral Home and Salt Lake Mausoleum, around 900 East off of 11th Ave. The ceremony will be hosted by the Salt Lake City Chapter of the JACL and conducted by officials from the LDS Dai Ichi Ward, Japanese Church of Christ and Salt Lake Buddhist Temple. Mother s Day Brunch Bring mom to church on Sunday, May 10 and enjoy a continental breakfast before worship service. The event is hosted by the Men s Fellowship and will be served between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Calling All Grads, Class of 2015 If you are or know of someone who will be graduating from high school or college in the class of 2015, please contact Greg Paige (801) or gepaige@msn.com. Seniors will be honored during worship service in June in conjunction with Ice Cream Sunday, marking the end of another Sunday School year and the beginning of summer vacation. Condolences Deepest sympathy to the family of Yuriko Matsuno, who passed away on March 26, 2015 at 98 years of age. She was the aunt of Jean Kobayashi. Remember in Your Prayers Please remember the following friends and family in your prayers: Saeko Nakashima Susan Rosvall Miki Harada Yaeko Tomomatsu Yoshiko Nakagama Jana Hansen Frank Imai Wat Misaka Kiyo Nakamura Susan Fukushima Shawna Johnson Joy Hashimoto Betty Murakami Grace Matsumura Kristen Kobayashi Toshiko Marse Naraoka Family Utako Aramaki Garin Harada Mr. C Chris Miya Bernice Kida Marie Matsukawa Grace Oshita Cristal Aoki Lillian Nakamura Jessie Lamb Wayne Pendergrass Barbara Woody 2

3 May 2015 Softball Schedule The WVCFFC Church Spring League schedule has been announced: Friday, May 1 7:30 p.m. Green field Friday, May 8 8:30 p.m. Yellow field Friday, May 15 8:30 p.m. Yellow field Friday, May 29 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Yellow field (doubleheader) Friday, June 5 6:30 p.m. Red field Friday, June 12 6:30 p.m. Yellow field Friday, June 19 8:30 p.m. Yellow field Friday, June 26 7:30 p.m. Green field Games are played at West Valley softball fields at 5415 West 3100 South. For information, contact Doug Murakami at (801) May Culture Class The May Culture Class will feature how to make Mochi Bits mochi confections made from sweet rice flour. Danni Uyeda and Janice Oike will show us how to make these sweet treats using a microwave. The class will be held on Sunday, May 17, 2015 after worship service. A signup sheet is posted on the Fellowship Hall bulletin board. Easter Photo Orders Proofs of the annual Easter Sunday 2015 photographs are posted on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. If you would like to order an 8 x 12 print, fill in the signup sheet that is also posted. Indicate the proof number and quantity of prints you would like to order. Prints are $5 each. Deadline for orders is May 10. A big thank you to Frank Ujifusa for taking the annual photo. Scholarship Winner Congrats to Nate Iwamoto-Fukumitsu who was named the Salt Lake Chapter JACL high school scholarship recipient. Nate will be graduating from Olympus High School next month. May Birthdays 7 Jeni Nakao-Kawabata 8 Penny Imamura 11 Hiro Iwasaki 12 Greg Sueoka 13 Nobe Iwamoto 21 Abi Shino Katie Fukumitsu 22 Barry Nakamura 23 Robert Kimura 25 Yoko DeRose 31 Mas Horiuchi Church Women United May Friendship Day, Friday, May 1, Journey of the Caregiver will feature speakers from Inspiration Hospice. The event will be held at Calvary Baptist Church, 1090 South State. Registration at 9:30 a.m. ($1.00), lunch is $4.00. RSVP Sally Hoffelmeyer-Katz at (801) or Phyllis Allen at (801) by April 27. 3

4 May 2015 May Worship Service Participants May 3 Mother s Day May 10 May 17 Memorial Services May 24 Music Worship May 31 Liturgist Hiro Iwasaki Ron Nishijima Greg Paige Steve Fukumitsu Alan Shino Scripture Readers E) Nate Fukumitsu J) Yeiko Homma E) Alex Okawa J) Keiko Ikeda E) Zach Paige J) Toshiko Marse E) Tyler Uyeda J) Shigeko Ota E) Abi Shino J) Hiromi Page Greeter Karen Okawa Keiko Mori Betty Murakami Sadie Yoshimura Saeko Nakashima Ushers Misako Bowker Motoko Lochner Lorraine Crouse Joe Ota Lorraine Crouse Al Kubota Al Kubota Doug Murakami Lorraine Crouse Barry Nakamura Kory Shino JCC Worship Band Songs of Praise Brian Itliong Brian Itliong Brian Itliong Brian Itliong Brad Kramer Brad Kramer Brad Kramer Brad Kramer Organist/Pianist Greg Paige Allyn Nakashima Isaac Yamamoto Yas Iwamoto Misako Bowker Offeratory Music Greg Paige Allyn Nakashima Brian Itliong Yas Iwamoto Nichigo Brad Kramer Acolyte Nichole Kramer Alex Okawa TBD Tyler Uyeda TBD Communion Servers Al Kubota Ron Nishijima Laura Olson Ed Bldg Monitor Uyedas Barry Nakamura Uyedas Barry Nakamura 4

5 May 2015 Easter Wrap Up Easter week services began with Maundy Thursday worship and the Seder meal on April 2, On Easter Sunday, the congregation enjoyed a breakfast buffet before attending worship service. Thanks to the Men s Fellowship for rising early to prepare the food! The JCC Choir performed during worship service as the children adorned the cross with flowers. Afterwards, the traditional Easter photo was taken in front of the chapel. Congratulations! Congratulations to newlyweds Lynne Aramaki and Mark Crabb who were married on April 18 at Red Butte Garden. Photo courtesy: Mike Furubayashi Youth News The youth group stuck with a rice theme at Nihon Matsuri, selling onigiri, fried rice, and mochi bits. Thanks to Danni Uyeda for chairing this fundraiser and to all of the youth, parents and supporters who helped make the onigiri and fried rice and sold items in the booth fried rice onigiri were a big seller!! Funds from this event will be used for future youth activities. Kerry Lee and Laura Olson enjoy the Seder meal. Photo courtesy: Lorraine Crouse Youth Booth volunteers: Cass Rosenkrantz, John Page, Julia Rosenkrantz, Julee Mori, Janice Oike, Isaac Yamamoto Upcoming Community Events Sandy Matsushita, Lillian Nakamura and Betty Kubota May 4 to June 30 Japanese Arts and Crafts exhibit at Chapman Library, 577 South 900 West; reception on Saturday, May 9 from 4 to 5 p.m. Children s activities include: crafts fan coloring, fish windsocks, chopstick races, Ninja pops, Origami workshop, Taiko drummers. For more information, contact LuAnne Nakamura at (801) Nikkei Senior Center Luncheon, Saturday, May 9, 2015, sponsored by Dharma School at the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple, noon. Living Traditions Festival, Salt Lake City and County Building, Friday, May 15 through Sunday, May 17, Go to for the schedule. Kenshin Taiko will be performing at this event. Joy, Yuan Yuan and Sarah Hashimoto (forefront) and Keiko Mori, Akemi and Carson Kawabata (rear) enjoy breakfast before worship service. Photos courtesy: Frank Ujifusa 5

6 May 2015 Nihon Matsuri 2015 Thank you to everyone who supported Nihon Matsuri this year! This year marked the 10 year anniversary of the event how time flies! The JCC participated in the festival in many ways - Agape and Nichigo women sold manju and sushi and the youth group sold fried rice and onigiri as fundraisers. Pastor Brad joined local clergy in the opening ceremony. The Kenshin Taiko group performed and tea ceremony and mochi-tsuki demonstrations were held. Weather forecasts earlier in the week predicted rainstorms all day Saturday, but the wet weather held out and there were dry skies for the event. But right after the festival ended, it was a downpour! This festival involves the entire Japanese community in Salt Lake and showcases the culture of Japan and opens our doors to the Salt Lake community as well. We appreciate everyone who served in a volunteer capacity; your time and effort are much appreciated. The festival could not go on without all of your participation. Yeiko Homma, Dani and Doug Murakami enjoy people watching. Yeiko Homma, Akemi Kawabata and Theresa Mori-Sueoka strike a pose. A sea of people line First South. (Photo courtesy: Jan Aramaki) Frank Ujifusa takes a break between Mochi-tsuki demonstrations. 6