Recent News

Recently JCC was mentioned and thanked in the St. Mary’s Food Bank December newsletter. Here’s a quick screenshot of that portion of the letter:

Thanks Sue for heading up this diaper drive at JCC and for all of you that have helped collect diapers!

I’ve always found it interesting that we wish each other a MERRY Christmas…. while always wishing each other a HAPPY New Year. I suppose MERRY and HAPPY are not all that different and we probably don’t need to overthink the clear distinction we always make…. outside of the fact that it’s just our “custom” to do so.

While I don’t mind either of those words my prayer for each of us at JCC is for great JOY and PEACE for the coming year. Both of these words represent a profound emotional and spiritual centeredness and reality that aren’t necessarily connected to our circumstances. In other words, whether the coming year be one of smooth sailing or exceptionally stormy seas…. we can move forward with the confidence that God has always promised to go with us. Wow! Are you feeling it?

Our final worship of 2017 happens on the 31st, this coming Sunday. Come join us as we look at Paul’s words to the believers in Philippi, to “live a life that is worthy of the gospel!” (spoiler alert: we will look at three excellent hints that will help us move into the new year.)  Hope to see you there as we join our hearts together in praise and gratitude for a wonderful 2017 – and look forward together to 2018.

• Advent 1 – Dec. 3, “LIGHT OF THE WORLD – As foretold by the prophets”
• Advent 2 – Dec. 10, “LIGHT OF THE WORLD – He will reign forever”
• Advent 3 – Dec. 17, “LIGHT OF THE WORLD – As seen by the shepherds”
• Advent 4 / Christmas Worship – Dec. 24, “LIGHT OF THE WORLD – Coming to all people!”

Come and join us for the final Advent and Christmas worship this Sunday!

OTHER NEWS… 

• We had a great Church Clean-Up Day on 11/25 and raked a LOT of leaves!
• Our discussion / Q&A session about the future of our congregation (#3)  was held on Saturday, December 2nd.  We had a wonderful time as we went through section 1 of the book, “Claiming Resurrection in the Dying Church” by Anna B. Olson and discussed how many thoughts and ideas from the book resonated with us and our church as well.
• Our final Homeless Feeding / Lord’s Table outreach of the year was held on December 4th. We were able to  distribute gift bags of toothbrushes & socks.
• We were able to send Christmas cards to two congregations in the Fukushima area of Japan – the Kawatani Church and the Sakata Gyosei Church. May these cards be a wonderful encouragement to congregations that are still struggling with the effects of the 2011.3.11 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disasters. Please remember these congregations in your prayers.
• A facilities team has been formed and is being led by Gene Hanson. We have immediate issues for our older building that need remedy… as well as the need for a long-term solution as to how to proceed. We would appreciate your prayers for God’s guidance as we make decisions on what to do with our old building and the timing of those steps.

Pastor Tim

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, it’s a day after Thanksgiving and I trust you’ve had a wonderful day – and continuing weekend – with family and friends. God has truly blessed us as a congregation!

Recent Highlights…

• I (Pastor Tim) was able to make a brief but productive trip back to Japan between Oct. 23rd and Nov. 3rd. I was able to accompany one of our Bible Camp directors – from Michigan – as he visited our camp in Japan (Akagi Bible Camp). It was also a blessing to visit and speak at two of the churches where Andrea and I had served most recently, Isesaki and Shibukawa, both congregations in Gunma. Finally, I was able to participate in a gathering of all of our Asia Church leaders that took place on Nov. 1-3 in Tokyo.
• What a blessing it was for me to be part of a JCC wedding! Bi-lan’s daughter Ai-Li was married to Reid on November 11th at a standing-room-only ceremony at the church, followed by a magnificent dinner party and dance at the Sunset Club. Our prayers and blessings continue for the happy couple.
• JCC has continued to serve monthly (3rd Saturday) as a volunteer team at the St. Mary’s Food Bank. Thanks to all who have participated and please continue to contact Bi-Lan (our coordinator) directly if you would like to be involved. Next opportunity – Saturday, December 16th.
• Over the past few weeks we’ve been gathering donations for those who are suffering and in need in Puerto Rico. Please consider a gift – along with our prayers. Collection will conclude at the end of November.
• It was so fun to be together after worship on Nov. 19th for a wonderful Thanksgiving Potluck! Thank you to ALL who provided such a stunning and delicious array of food. (The Johnson family got to enjoy it twice as Larry put together special “obento” for my gang back in Mount Vernon!)

• While this is pretty late notice, we hope you’ve noticed the announcements in the weekly bulletin about our Church Clean-Up Day – TOMORROW!! – 11/25 from 9:00 a.m. for a couple of hours. Come with your work gloves and tools to join the fun as we clean up the yard and a few other areas.
• Our next discussion / Q&A session about the future of our congregation is scheduled for next Saturday, December 2nd.  We hope you’ll join us!  We agreed to use the book, “Claiming Resurrection in the Dying Church” by Anna B. Olson as one of the tools for our discussion.  We are to read the first section which is entitled “Get Up!” by our meeting.  It’s easy reading and we have a few copies of the book being passed around.
• Here’s the most recent word concerning our Homeless Feeding / Lord’s Table outreach for December: We will be distributing gift bags at our next Homeless Feeding/Lord’s Table on December 4th. Toothbrushes & socks have been purchased, but if you’d like to make other toiletry donations including cash so we can purchase more items, please let Peter or Sue know.  We could also use your help in assembling these bags following next Sunday’s service (Dec. 3rd).
• If you’re with us for worship, be sure to sign the Christmas cards that we are sending to two congregations in the Fukushima area of Japan – the Kawatani Church and the Sakata GyoseiChurch. (Howard is preparing those cards). May these cards be a wonderful encouragement to congregations that are still struggling with the effects of the 2011.3.11 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disasters.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Tim

(scroll down for a few pics from my recent trip to Japan….)

The Japan Alps off in the distance as we crossed Shiga Heights from Gunma into Nagano.

With Dave Nesburg, director of Portage Lake Covenant Bible Camp in Michigan.

Beautiful Lake Nojiri, where our family has vacationed each summer for many years.

Tim & Dave at Shibukawa Church

With the Isesaki Church…

A trip up the Tokyo Sky Tree!

Today was our JCC team’s 2nd opportunity to volunteer as a team over at the Food Bank @ St. Mary’s. This is now happening on the 3rd Saturday of every month, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

In truth, while we call it the JCC team, there were actually volunteers from the Japanese Baptist Church as well as from the Japanese Buddhist Church that joined in with us. In addition, there were student volunteers from Seattle U there as well as more “regular” volunteers. In all, perhaps 20 volunteers worked side by side with regular staff of the food bank to provide food stuffs for people who are served by this Food Bank.

From around 8:30 a.m. people begin to line up and the line continues to move and form all the way until 1:30 p.m. Today was a bit rainy and chilly for those waiting.

Folks unload trucks and vans deliver food stuffs from various vendors, stores, and retail outlets. Trucks deliver items daily as well as Food Bank vehicles going out to collect food items. It is tons of food…

A warehouse across the alley holds items as they get organized and prepared for distribution.

Counters, cargo baskets, and food items are all set up inside in preparation for the distribution.

All the volunteers gather in a circle prior to starting and pray together this lovely prayer which is posted on walls all around the building.

Here are 3 veteran “sorters” who organize the items into baskets and bags in order to distribute them.

Folks coming through the line…volunteers offering assistance…

Our very own Howard and Gene, manning potatoes and pears, among other items.

Thanks to Howard, Pastor Tim, Sharon & Rhys, Sue & Gene, and our coordinator Bi-Lan for a great day of work. Maybe you can come out and join us next month on November 18th as we again “serve in love” and seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community.

It was getting dark with a beautiful moon shining over the church at around 7:30 p.m. as 12 of us gathered in the parking lot in preparation to serve. Hamakubo-san and Larry Lee had spent a few hours in the kitchen preparing the hot meal of rice and stew topping. Salad, fruit, bread, cookies, and a warm beverage accented and  completed the meal. Peter took charge of loading all the items into our cars.

We caravanned in 3 cars down to the regular site under highway 5 near Yesler and began setting up, making sure there were table cloths on the tables and putting out the food so that we would be ready for the 8:00 serving. Folks that are regularly part of this program and were waiting for a good meal began lining up. Kay Abe, who has been the leader of this meal program – called “The Lord’s Table” – since its inception over 20 years ago was there to give us hints, provide various necessary items, and just generally be an encouragement to our JCC team. We are just one of many churches involved in this food for the homeless program. Some churches participate weekly, some monthly, and some like JCC – once every 2 months. Food is served in this location every night at 8:00 p.m., from Monday through Thursday, every week of the year. It was amazing to consider just how many thousands have been nourished physically and spiritually through this program.

Gene (not seen) begins the line with plates, while Howard and Peter serve the rice and topping.

Folks who have gotten their food find a spot at a bench or table to sit and enjoy the meal.

Although you cannot tell from our photos (we tried to be careful when taking pictures) about 75-80 were served a hot meal on this night.

It was my first time as pastor here at JCC to participate in this ongoing ministry and I was struck by how timely our ministry was that evening – in light of the Bible text and sermon which we had just shared in worship the day before. Our theme had been “serving with love” and it had been composed of 3 main ideas: 1 – serving those close to us, 2 – serving them with sensitivity and dignity, and 3 – believing that our service involved not just our efforts, but the very POWER of God.

As I drove home to Mount Vernon I praised God for the opportunity we had experienced as a JCC team to serve many homeless people right in our town of Seattle, to serve them with love and dignity, and to know that God and his power was working through us. We may not always see or recognize the results of that power, but we trust in it. Let’s continue to share and encourage each other through our stories of “serving in love”. Good job church!

Several individuals from JCC have volunteered in the past with this important Seattle food bank. However, we at JCC are in the midst of jumping in more officially to support their ministry. Below are the comments from Sue Hanson that she shared in our bulletin today:

To further our efforts to fulfill our mission statement…. To glorify God through worship, fellowship, discipleship, evangelism and service — focusing on Christ…”, JCC has signed up to volunteer with the Walk-In Program at St. Mary’s Food Bank on a monthly basis. This will require a team of 10 to help distribute food to customers from 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM on the 3^rd Saturday of each month. We are hoping to create a larger group of volunteers by teaming with other local churches as well as inviting our friends, neighbors and family members. Our first outing is Saturday, 9/16. Will you consider being part of this opportunity to serve?

This photo is of the beautiful staff at St. Mary’s Food Bank!

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.