On August 24th, Gene Hanson installed the new sign for the SABF (Seattle Alliance Bible Fellowship) congregation, our brothers and sisters who have been sharing our building and space for close to 20 years. Just a note: Gene didn’t just install it – he created the sign! It looks great, fits right in with our original JCC sign, and will hopefully bring much better exposure and attention to SABF than the old sign. Next up – work on our enclosed sign on the corner of Main and 17th!
In our first week, we’ve already collected a total of 1,036 diapers for St. Mary’s Food Bank! Thank you for your wonderful generosity. We’re planning to keep our diaper drive going through August so there is still time to make a donation. The Food Bank’s Baby & Toddler Bag Program that serves our local community is in dire need of baby diapers (size 4,5, 6). Due to rising demand and limited funds, the Food Bank hasn’t been able to fulfill these needs lately. A collection box is provided in the back. If you’d prefer making a cash donation for the purchase of diapers, please let Sue Hanson know.
What a great turn out for our JCC retreat out at the Tsai home on Hood Canal last Saturday (July 22nd)! As the tide reached its lowest point (9:42 a.m.?) the early birds were already there digging clams out of the sand (Larry, Bisim, and friends). Folks kept joining the gathering until almost 11:00 when it felt like there was a group of almost 50 on hand. The Suzuki grandkids and family – just rolling in from Japan the day before, Ivan’s brother Arturo and Deborah – driving all the way down from Vancouver, and LOTS of JCC connections and friends from near and far. Peter and Joyce did a great job hosting all of us, cooking burgers and hot dogs on the BBQ grill, and others brought all sorts of goodies in order to put on a potluck spread. Good conversations, laughter, delicious food, and excellent weather all added up to a wonderful time of relaxation and play. Our time together drew to a close with “suika-wari”, a Japanese summer tradition for eating watermelon together by first playing a game of “whack the watermelon while blindfolded” – and a short devotional by Pastor Tim. Thanks to all of Peter and Joyce’s hard work and hospitality in hosting this event!
Here are a few pictures…. but you can go to a gallery HERE to see more. Feel free to download any photos you want.
Thanks Peter and Joyce!!
The JCC church board decided a few weeks ago to make some changes in our signage. Some of the original and historic signs on the old building are being moved and “re-purposed” in order to better highlight our newer church structure along the more public sidewalks and approach.
Several weeks ago Gene Hanson took on the job of removing the long horizontal sign from above the entrance to the original building. He took it home, refinished it, and now has mounted it for us on the concrete wall near the front of the sanctuary. It looks great and adds some clear identity to our entrance.
Gene, working on the signage….
How it has looked for the past 65 years….. and how it appears now.
The content of the large sign on the ground was also outdated so Gene took out that portion…. only to find ANOTHER, MORE outdated portion underneath.
Other changes still to come: we’re wondering about moving this sign to the other side of the church… by the parking lot, and putting new content inside. It, too, has great historic value and we would love to keep it in use. Finally, we’re putting new content into the aluminum sign on the front corner of the church. Hopefully, both JCC and SABF will be able to get a bit more accurate exposure through these changes. Stay tuned!
Twenty individuals gathered at JCC this morning to take part in our work-day – 10 from JCC and 10 from SABF (Seattle Alliance Bible Fellowship). The JCC team worked outside on the north side of the sanctuary, pulling weeds, mowing the grass, trimming trees and generally cleaning up. The SABF team worked mostly inside the sanctuary while part of their team pulled weeds and did yard work on the east end of the sanctuary. The weather was perfect, spirits were good, and I think most would agree that it was actually pretty fun to work hard together and see a real improvement on all fronts. Thanks to all who came… and we look forward to more work days together in the weeks ahead!
Some serious weeding, mowing, and cutting back branches produced a neater and cleaner garden and sidewalk!
Our All Church Retreat & Potluck at the Tsai’s Hood Canal home will take place on Saturday, July 22nd. Low tide occurs at 9:41 AM so try to arrive around 10:00 AM for the best clam digging. Carpools will leave JCC at 8:30 AM. Maps & a carpool signup sheet are on the back table at church. Please bring a dish to share and put this day on your calendar for a fun day of clam digging, food & fellowship!! Address is 17041 East State Route 106, Belfair, WA. Please talk to Peter or Joyce (206-723-9406) if you have questions. These photos are from last year’s retreat.
Walk for Rice a Great Success!
Seven of us made up the JCC team this year for the 27th Annual Walk For Rice event put on by the Asian Counseling and Referral Service. Donations and raised funds go toward stocking the food bank operated by ACRS. Here we are at the start line. Weather was glorious and there were fun performances prior to the walk getting under way. Here the Chinese Girls’ Drill Team did their thing and entertained the crowd.
The skies were blue, Mt. Rainier was out, folks were enjoying the lake on their boats, and it was a great morning for walking…
Tim, Carl, and yes…. Bi-lan coming across the finish line!
Wish we had some photos of our lovely lunch following the walk! Peter grilled hamburgers and sausages for us, Larry made a wonderful Cesar Salad, and Nadine baked a marvelous raspberry (blackberry??) pie for dessert. Thanks to Joyce and Peter for hosting the event!
All Church Retreat & Potluck …
…will be held at the Tsai’s Hood Canal home on Saturday, July 22nd. Low tide occurs at 9:41 AM so try to arrive around 10:00 AM for the best clam digging. Carpools will leave JCC at 8:30 AM. Maps & a carpool signup sheet will be at church. Please bring a dish to share and put this day on your calendar for a fun day of clam digging, food & fellowship!! Address is 17041 East State Route 106, Belfair, WA. Please talk to Peter or Joyce (206-723-9406) if you have questions.
Church Cleaning Day
We’re hoping a good number of folks will be able to come out on Saturday, July 15th at 9:00 a.m. and help us clean outside around the church. We will be working that day especially on the east end of the building. Signs are being repaired and re-done as well so come and be a part of the fun!
Worship…
Shun Takano will be speaking again at our worship service this Sunday, July 2. Pastor Tim will be preaching on July 9th and 16th. Craig Niiyama will be preaching on July 23rd, and Richard Nakamura will preach on July 30th. It would be great to see you there!
In it together,
Pastor Tim
SABF 22-YEAR ANNIVERSARY!
Our brothers and sisters of the Seattle Alliance Bible Fellowship celebrated 22 years as a church on the afternoon of June 4th, following JCC’s pentecost worship that morning. Peter & Joyce Tsai, Gene and Sue Hanson, and Pastor Tim were able to attend the celebration. Pastor Sam Badon gave special recognition to JCC for our long (18-year) history of sharing our building and space for their worship and programs.The worship team and choir provided a beautiful tribute in song and praise for the event and a magnificent feast was served next door in the fellowship hall following the worship time. Let’s continue to pray for Pastor Sam and for SABF – and to seek new ways that we can, together, be the hands and feet of Christ in our community. The photo below shows the choir performing. シアトルア アライヤンス バイブル フェロシップの第２２回周年記念が６月４日に行われました。JCCから５名が出席されました。引き続き、SABFとJCCとの協力と伝道のために祈りましょう！
SOME UPCOMING EVENTS…
FINALLY, PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE!
It’s still in the process of being put together but it should soon include most of the data and news that you need to have each week. We will be posting these newsletters on the website too, so if you ever want to see something again…. just visit the JCC website.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Tim
The 27th Annual Walk for Rice is scheduled for Saturday, June 24th. JCC is putting a team together again so we hope you’ll join us for this fun 2.5 mile walk around Seward Park. This is a fundraiser to support the Asian Counseling & Referral Service (ACRS) Food Bank. Go to www.walkforrice.org, to register with our team – Japanese Congregational Church, or register in person at the day of the walk. We’re also planning to meet at the Tsai’s home after the walk for a potluck lunch. Important times to remember: 9:00 AM – meet at Tsai’s, or 9:45 AM, – meet at Seward Park. Walk begins at 10:00 AM and our lunch will begin at approximately 11:50 AM. Any questions, please talk to Peter (206-723-9406). The photo above is from our JCC team last year!
Japanese Congregational Church 