…we just say “see you later my friend!”
Though sad for us that we’ll be losing the Fredrickson-Borstad family, we are happy to see
them moving on to new and exciting adventures. Come help us celebrate the great times
we’ve enjoyed with Charles, Beth, Mari and Anna at Shooter’s Bar and Grill in Fushimi. We
will have a private room with all-you-can-drink soft drinks, cash bar for alcohol and light food
throughout the evening. Families and children are welcome! We are asking ¥1,000 donation
per adult only to contribute to the party. The party is “open house” style so please join us as
your schedule permits between 7:00 and 9:00pm.
Contact Shooters:
Phone: (052) 202-7077
Email: info@shooters-nagoya.com
Address:
Nagoya-shi, Naka-ku,
Sakae 2-9-26 Pola Building 2F

For example, I do not mind the change in wardrobe that these seasons bring because I get too see a favorite sweater or a t-shirt and have it be part of my life until the season is over. But as the season comes to a close, that item enters a box until another season or has to be disposed of because I have worn it too shreds.

Seasons are inextricably part of life. Now a new season is upon us, after four years as pastoral leader at our English Worship service, my family and I will be leaving Nagoya, Japan. Over the coming few weeks we will be going through a seasonal change at MCIC with the promise of growth that it brings as well as the sadness that time is now gone.

I want to thank you for being part of our fellowship over the years that I have been at MCIC. I have enjoyed your fellowship and remember with fondness all those who have been part of MCIC over the years.

Thank You.

Important Dates:

June 6th: Last Day of Children’s Sunday School.

June 13th: Summer Potluck after worship

June 26th: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM “Goodbye” Open House at “Shooters.” www.shooters-nagoya.com Join us in fellowship as we celebrate our time together and say goodbye to Pastor C and family. MCIC will be sponsoring the space and some finger food.

June 27th: Last Sunday with Pastor C.

July 4th: Lowell Sheppard will begin as pastoral leader.

However, before I detail our schedule, let me share our joy that the Council of MCIC has unanimously chosen Lowell Sheppard to be our group’s new Pastoral Leader. He has accepted the position, and will begin this summer, provided that the congregation votes to affirm this decision.

After worship this Sunday, join us in a meeting to discuss Lowell’s appointment. You are invited because you attend or have attended MCIC and we look forward to your participation. Although some of you may know Lowell from his time in the community of Nagoya and as Asia Director of HOPE, you may be unaware that he is a dedicated and active Christian.

Also on the 28th, we will also review our budget commitments for 2010 and 2011 — as we step forward in faith. In 2006, when I arrived it was with the expressed vision that MCIC could no longer depend on long-term missionaries, particularly Lutheran, for its survival. If you believe that Nagoya and Aichi prefecture needs a place where English speakers can gather in worship – as Lowell expressed in his introduction – for “rest, reflection and renewal”, then join us!

Schedule for Holy Week:

March 28th Palm Sunday Worship – 5:00 pm; Meeting – 6:00 pm; 4:00 pm – Sunday School and Adult Bible Study before worship
April 2nd Good Friday Worship – 7:00 pm
April 4th Easter Worship – 5:00 pm; Easter Potluck – 6:00 pm; NO Sunday School or Adult Bible Study before worship

Upcoming Dates:

Sunday – June 13th – Last day of Sunday School & Summer Potluck
Saturday – June 26th – Goodbye Party for Pastor C., Beth, Mari and Anna at Shooters (details pending)

If the interview is positive for all those involved, the committee will call for a “vote” for the person to become the next Pastoral Leader. The vote will be on March 28th after worship. Anyone who is attending or has attended MCIC is welcome to share their voice. If the vote is positive on the 28th, the person will be begin this summer.

This is an important event in the history Meito Christ International Church. Please pray fervently.

Other important News!

On Sunday, March 21st, we will have special guests, the Covenant Players (www.covenantplayers.com).
The Covenant Players are a worldwide organization that began in 1964 breaking new ground in conveying God’s word using drama. A team from the Covenant players will be giving us a message in drama. Join us for this special event. As always everyone and anyone is welcome to attend. After worship we will be having a pizza fellowship with the team. The team will be receiving a love offering to support their work. Also, a bowl for donations to help us defray the cost of pizza after the event will be available.

Here are a couple of updates for your information and calendar.

Lent began on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 17th)

Because MCIC has Christians from a variety of backgrounds let me take just a moment to review. Lent is a forty-day period before Easter, (although in counting Sunday’s are skipped because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ).

The season of Lent is observed in a variety of ways. Some Christians do not like to observe Lent because it is associated with high church liturgical worship. Whereas other Christians incorporate Lent into daily practice.

Lent has traditionally been marked by more frequent prayer, periods of fasting, and increased giving. Some churches today still observe a rigid schedule of fasting on certain days during Lent, especially the giving up of meat, alcohol, sweets, and other types of food. Other Christians do not place as great an emphasis on fasting, but focus on charity, especially helping those in need with food and clothing, or simply the giving of money. From my experience, in general the Christian churches that observe Lent, all focus on Lent as a time of prayer, with a focus on sin as a reminder on the need for God’s grace.

How ever you follow the season of Lent remember it is really a preparation to celebrate God’s marvelous redemption at Easter, and the resurrected life that we live, and hope for, as Christians.

Calendar Updates for our English worship:

Every Wednesday in Lent from February 24th to March 24th we will have a light Soup and Sandwich meal from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. At 7:00 pm we will have a short worship service. Sign up for soup is on the bulletin board in the entry. Besides our regular worship at 5:00 pm remember these important dates:

March 28th Palm (Passion) Sunday Worship (No Adult Bible Study or Sunday School)

June 27th Worship. Last Worship with Pastor C (Pastor C and family will be returning to the US)

Spring as I mentioned is around the corner and that means good strawberries are ripe for the picking! We are planning a strawberry picking excursion on the last Sunday of February and all that are interested in joining can come along! If you’ve never been strawberry picking in Japan, it is quite an experience. It is a bit different from back home where it is usual to pick the berries and and take them home, here in Japan you pick and eat to your heart’s content! Here are the details:

Date: Sunday, February 28
Location: Near to Lake Hamanako, Shizuoka Prefecture
Meet: 8:45am at Meito Church. We will leave at 9am.
Cost: 2,000 yen/adult 1400 yen/per child 3-12 years old

We will likely stop by a service area to grab a light lunch before gorging ourselves on strawberries! We may also stop at a temple to view plum blossoms if time permits. We aim to be back to the church close to 3pm. Yusaku, Erin and Maya will go in their minivan and have space for more people. For those who can drive, we will form a “caravan.” If you have space in your car for non-drivers, please let Erin Sakakibara know.

Suggested donation — 500 yen per person.

“Shrove Tuesday” is the day before Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent; a 40 day period of reflection and spiritual discipline, at times marked by fasting, to prepare for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ remembered during the week of the Passion and on Easter. Shrove is the past tense of the English verb to shrive, which means to obtain absolution for one’s sins by way of confession and doing penance. The roots of this day are what some countries and cultures celebrate as Carnival or Mardi Gras.

In England and some other countries the day was observed by eating rich foods made with eggs, sugar and butter (such as pancakes) to the extent that some call the day — Pancake Day.

Join us as we raise money for the needs of many in earthquake struck Haiti.

All are welcome!

December 20th (4th Sunday of Advent)

4:00 p.m. – Sunday school and Adult Bible Study
5:00 p.m. – Worship
6:00 p.m. – Fellowship

December 24th

7:00 p.m. – Candlelight Christmas Eve Worship with Holy Communion
(After worship you are invited to go caroling at Fujigaoka Station)

December 27th

5:00 p.m. Worship
6:00 p.m. Christmas/New Year Potluck

January 3rd
5:00 p.m. Worship
6:00 p.m. Fellowship

Please note: There will be no Sunday school and Adult Bible Study on December 27th or January 3rd.

God’s Blessings!

For some newcomers to Japan, the density is a difficult challenge (and the opposite is the case, Japanese going to a relatively empty parts of the world — can find it disconcerting with no people). I remember the first time I experienced the press of people in a train during the late 1980′s in Tokyo. As I am claustrophobic, initially I had to close my eyes and imagine myself out in a field. Another added benefit was that I was a head taller (at that time!) than many of the people around me. Eventually, I became accustomed to, but never satisfied with, the press of people around me.

In Chapter 2 of the gospel of Mark we hear of a house being so crowded with people to hear Jesus that when a group came bearing their friend, in order to reach Jesus, this group dug a hole through the roof and lowered their friend down. I have thought about that image here in Japan where the Christian faith is a small minority in midst of a large population on a heavily populated, small group of islands. The times that I have been at a Japanese Church and someone new has come through the doors to hear the good news of Jesus Christ, reminds me of that episode in the life of Jesus. What possibly did this newcomer have push aside or barriers to overcome to enter through those doors of that Christian house of worship? Of course, that issue is not unique to Japan!

On Sunday, September 6th we begin our Fall schedule. Our worship time remains at 5:00 pm with fellowship at 6:00 pm. We will begin Sunday school for children on September 6th at 4:00 pm. We will have one class for children up to grade 5. If you have a child younger than 4 we encourage an adult to be with the child during SS to help the child with SS projects. We will continue with our adult Bible study at 4:00 pm. in the Fall. For our adult Bible study we have been using one of the Bible lessons assigned for that day.

Please note:

September 27th Michael Ricart from ICAN (International Christian Academy of Nagoya) will be preaching. (I will be in the US for a wedding.) (No adult Bible Study)

November 29th Our Annual Thanksgiving Potluck from 6:03 pm after worship. Turkey as always will be served! (No Sunday School or adult Bible Study) We we be receiving gifts of rice for Fukushimura.

December 24th Christmas Eve Worship at 7:00 pm. This year, we will not have a potluck after Christmas worship but treats will be available.

December 27th No Sunday School or adult Bible study.