Author: Japanese Congregational Church

According to our text (Exodus 17:1-7) this was the question asked by the people of Israel to Moses when they arrived in Rephidim and found themselves without any water. After demanding water of Moses and accusing him of leading them out into the desert only to die – they then ask this question – “Is God with us or not!?”

The text assumes that their question displayed a complete lack of faith in God, a God who had shown them countless miracles over the past recent weeks… leading the people out of slavery in Egypt, allowing them to miraculously cross over the sea on dry land with the Egyptian army in pursuit, a God who had already provided water for them miraculously at Marah (Exodus 15) as well as initiated the provision of manna – their daily bread (Exodus 16). Yes, it’s true – their question did represent a tendency to easily forget all that God was doing for them.

Later in the New Testament in the book of Hebrews, this same incident is recalled and again, the people of Israel are soundly criticized for their hardened hearts and unbelief.

So yes, perhaps one lesson to be learned here is to stand firm, as much as we are able, in our faith that God will be with us and provide for us – through any and all circumstances. And yes, we should never forget all of the myriad ways in which God has miraculously looked out for us in the past.

But as I read this text it feels like there may be another side to the story. After all, it was tens of thousands of people (old and young) along with their cattle and other possessions. They were in a desert climate – severe heat – wandering for hours without any drinking water. How long would you survive before a sense of panic set in? How many miracles would you have had to experience before you could honestly say that your dry throat and crying children at your side brought you absolutely NO sense of anxiety?? (By the way, how many reports last week did you hear of panic buying before YOU got in line to pick up toilet paper?)

This story in Exodus does not provide a lot of detail. Although Moses is clearly exasperated with the people, it doesn’t appear – at least here – that God is angry with the feelings expressed by the people of Israel. The following details appear:

• God tells Moses to take some of the leaders and go ahead (before) the people to the rock of Horeb
• He is to use his staff, the same staff that God had commanded Moses to use on countless other miracles, to strike the rock
• God would, in fact, be there with them, by the rock
• Water would miraculously come out of the rock and provide enough for all to drink
• Moses would name the place “Massah” and “Meribah”, referring to the quarrelsome nature of the peoples’ attitude toward Moses, and to their hardened hearts of unbelief toward God.

So what are we to make of this account? What lessons should we take away for ourselves? Briefly, I offer the following:

1. Let God know about the anxiety, and yes, even anger that you may be feeling. God can handle our outright questioning of God’s presence among us… and accusations of absence. It’s true that the people of Israel were guilty of forgetting recent miracles of provision on their behalf. And we, too, are often guilty of forgetting God’s powerful work in our own lives. But there are also plenty of examples of doubt, anger, and lament within scripture – times when even people of faith felt free to accuse God of being absent and uncaring. Is it possible that this too could be an expression of faith?
2. God is, in fact, with us – whether we feel it – or are aware of it – or not. Just as God was present at the rock of Horeb for Moses and the people of Israel, God is present for us.
3. This text offers us much to think about in regard to our present situation with COVID-19. What are we most anxious about? How can we be praying about this situation? How can we stay in touch as a church family during a time of social distancing? Are there surprising resources (like a rock!) that God may use to provide for us during this crisis?

The words from Philippians 4:6-7 may be a good balance of speaking honestly with God, as well as accepting the amazing peace and presence of Christ into our lives during these stressful days. May this peace be yours.

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

(The above is a brief summary of our text and message at JCC last Sunday, March 15^th)

Dear JCC family and friends,

I know you’re getting MANY updates and communications from various sources as we continue to weather this coronavirus situation. We just wanted to check in with you and give you a couple of details about JCC.

• About 10 of us ended up gathering at church last Sunday (3/15) for worship. We followed the guidelines for wiping down the entire sanctuary and keeping our social distancing.
• A decision following that meeting was made that until further notice – ALL gatherings at JCC are suspended.
• If you would like to read a brief summary of our text and message from that worship service you can find it HERE.
• I’m still exploring ways that we can continue to stay in touch during this time of social distancing. I’ll continue to send out this occasional update. And please check this website for other announcements as they appear. Hopefully, we can continue to post a summary of our Sunday messages online and maybe even post an occasional video.
• Let’s continue to pray for each other – and especially for those most impacted by this health crisis!

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Tim

Greetings to JCC family and friends,

Recently we received the following message from Abbie Watton of King County United Way –   and we pass it along to all of you!

Free Tax Help

Did you know that 70% of Americans qualify for free tax prep services by IRS-certified volunteers?

This tax season, United Way of King County’s free tax preparation services are a convenient resource available to you, your family members, and your community! Tax time can be stressful and expensive, but it doesn’t need to be. Come take advantage of this free service at one of the 33 convenient locations throughout King County or online and maximize your refund today! Now through April 18^th, households making under $66,000 can have their taxes prepared by a certified tax preparer and get connected to other community resources and public benefits.

There are two easy ways to file:

 Online

With no income limit this year, you can file your taxes online for free with United Way’s ‘My Free Taxes’ tool at www.MyFreeTaxes.com.

In-Person 

File your taxes in-person at one of 33 locations throughout King County. Locations have convenient hours to meet your schedule, and no appointments are needed. To find a location near you, languages available, a list of what to bring, and other details, visit United Way’s website at www.FreeTaxExperts.org or call 2-1-1.

If you would like digital or physical outreach materials, please feel free to reach out to me.

Thank you for your time. I hope to hear from you soon. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at awatton@uwkc.org or call me at (206) 461-3631.

Best,

Abbie Watton (she/her/hers)

Benefits Hub Tax Associate

United Way of King County

awatton@uwkc.org | 206-461-3631

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• JCC Annual Meeting – just a quick reminder to everyone that we will be holding our church annual meeting directly following worship this coming Sunday, February 2nd. We will be hearing some brief reports from 2019 as well as confirming our budget and plans for 2020. Thanks in advance for prioritizing this gathering and participating!
• Special Discussion Time with UCC Staff – Thank you to everyone who came and participated in our discussion time on January 25th with Pastor Courtney Stange-Tregear from our UCC Conference office. It was a good time of hearing each others’ stories. We pray that God will continue to lead us as a congregation as we make important decisions this year.
• Join us in prayer!  The JCC board has been praying together since last Fall. Each in our own place, each evening at 9:00 p.m. we have prayed a specific prayer for God’s blessing and guidance. Would you be willing to join us? Click HERE to see the prayer.

• 02.02  Pastor Tim preaches / Annual Meeting following worship
• 02.03  (Mon) The Lord’s Table / Serving the Homeless (meet at church at 7:30 p.m.)
• 02.08  (Sat) Mens and Womens combined Bible Study – 9:00 a.m.
• 02.09  Shun Takano preaches
• 02.16  Board Meeting at 8:45 a.m. / Richard Nakamura preaches
• 02.23  Pastor Tim preaches
• 02.28  (Friday) JCC Volunteer team at St. Mary’s Food Bank (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

During this past Fall, the JCC board committed to sharing in a time of prayer –  every night at 9:00 p.m.  Each in our own location, we would stop and offer a prayer for our church. The prayer we prayed together is the one found below. As we enter 2020 we invite all of you as members and friends to join us as we pray for God’s blessing and guidance for our congregation. Of course, it’s easy to miss and forget…. don’t worry! If you don’t get to it on a certain evening…. just pray the next day. Or commit to praying it once a week. It’s not homework…. it’s a resource we offer in order that the Holy Spirit may tune our hearts together as we move forward in making decisions that are both filled with great potential…. as well as some anxiety.

Prayer for JCC as we consider our Future

GRATITUDE

• God, we thank you for walking with us and leading us throughout our history.
• Thank you for the many who have gone before us and for their faith and service. Thank you for their example of love and sacrifice.
• Thank you that you are with us now, and that you desire to communicate with us.

CONFESSION

• Forgive us for the times that we have not earnestly sought your will, or when we have failed to accurately hear your voice.

PETITION

• We ask for oneness in spirit… not that we will all have the same opinion, but that we will all sense your spirit leading us.
• When we talk together as a board, help us to truly listen and hear each other.
• We have considered many options to date – but “doing nothing” no longer seems possible or prudent. Show us Lord the direction that we should go. Are we to stay? Are we to sell and continue in a different place? Are we to close our doors and turn our assets over to another group? Are there possibilities that we have not yet imagined? Help us to see this situation as you see it…Give us wisdom.

CLOSING

• Finally, Lord, help each of us to place our own desires and wishes at your feet. We are each willing to give up our own opinions in order that Your will for JCC may be done. Please make clear to us what that is.
• We pray all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

日本人組合教会への祈り

感謝

• 神様、私たちの歴史を通して、私たちと共に歩み、導いてくださったことに感謝します。
• 私たちの先人たちに。先人たちの信仰と奉仕に感謝します。彼らが示した愛と自己犠牲に感謝します。
• 今ここに共にいてくださるあなた、私たちと共に語らおうとしてくださりありがとうございます。

告白

• 私たちが、真にあなたの意見を求めていなかった、もしくは正しくあなたの声に耳を傾けることができなかった、その時の私たちを許してください。

願い

• 私たちが心を一つにして、たとえ私たち一人ひとりが同じ意見を持つことではなく、私たちを導くあなたを感じることができますように。
• 役員会で、話し合うとき、互いの意見に耳を傾け、理解しようと努めます。
• 私たちはこれまで多くの選択肢を検討してきましたが、今は「何もしない」ことは慎重な選択でもありませんし、それはもう可能でもありません。主よ、私たちが向かうべき方向性を示してください。私たちはここに留まるべきでしょうか？ここを売却し、他の場所で継続する方が良いでしょうか？私たちは教会を閉鎖し、資産を別の教会に引き渡すのが良いのでしょうか？または、まだ想像できていない他の選択肢があるのでしょうか？あなたが見えるように、私たちがこの状況を見えるように私たちを助けてください。解決できるように知恵を与えてください。

終わりに、、

• 最後に、主よ。私たち一人ひとりが、私たちの願いと希望をあなたの御許に置かせてください。ＪＣＣに対し、あなたが何かを行われるために、私たちそれぞれの意見を放棄します。ですから主よ、私たちにそれが何であるかを示してください。
• イエスキリストの御名によってお祈りします。アーメン。

Wow! I can you believe it’s 2020 already. Well, whether we’re ready or not, it’s here. The starting of a new year brings opportunities to reevaluate and access priorities etc. Maybe some of you have made resolutions or have a word or phrase that you’re focusing on specifically this year. The first weekend in the new year, I had a chance to listen to a sermon that focused on the above verses from Philippians. The pastor shared about a time when he was on his motor bike and someone was driving way to close behind him. He kept checking his mirrors so worried about what was going on behind him that he ran into someone that had stepped out in front of him with out looking. The person ended up being okay, but he said that if he had been paying attention to what was ahead of him then we would have been able to stop in time without hitting them. He used this story to encourage us to think about what holds us back. What keeps us from moving forward and stepping into that upward call of God in Christ Jesus? If I’m honest with myself, and by God’s grace I was able to see upon reflection in that moment, that a lot of what I allow to hold me back is my past mistakes and not measuring up in situations before. I sell myself short before I even try in the present because of my past. I find myself in the new year encouraged to lay my past at Jesus’ feet, along with the weight of sin that so easily entangles like the writer of Hebrews encourages, and run with perseverance toward the goal set before me to pursue the prize of the upward call of God. What’s holding you back today? What’s causing you to constantly glance in your rear view mirror? Can you begin to give it to God?

READ ANNA’S ENTIRE NEWSLETTER HERE!

Recently JCC  received the following announcement and we pass it along for you:

On Sunday, January 26 from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m., Meaningful Movies at First Church (180 Denny Way, Seattle) will show two documentary films — Never Give Up! Minoru Yasui and the Fight for Justice about internment of Japanese Americans during World War II AND Families Torn Apart: America’s Deadly Immigration Policy about detention camps at the U.S. southern border. Never Give Up! is newly relevant because the children of parents who were interned now are on the front line resisting imprisonment and separation of children from parents at our border. After the films, Jorge Barón, executive director of the Northwest Immigration Rights Project, and Joseph Lachman and Palmira Figueroa with Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network will answer questions and offer opportunities for action. The event location is easy to reach by public transportation, and parking is free for event attendees in the church’s parking garage just west of the church building. For more information, see https://meaningfulmovies.org/events/never-give-up-minoru-yasui-and-the-fight-for-justice-2/

A Special Meeting…

Thanks to our volunteers for the St. Mary’s Food Bank!