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Just a quick note to all JCC members and friends – due to inclement weather (snow!) our worship service for 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning, February 10, has been canceled. Please stay safe and warm!

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Tim

The 2019 “Reaching Japanese For Christ” Conference will be held next week, Feb. 14-16 at the Northshore Community Church in Kirkland. Pastor Tim will be able to attend on Friday, the 15th and all of you are invited to check it out. Here is the registration page and link:

2019 RJC Conference Registration

RJC – or Reaching Japanese for Christ – is a network of Christians, pastors, missionaries, students, and other Jesus-followers who love Japan and love Japanese, and who are working together to share Christ and the gospel with Japanese who are living overseas (outside of Japan). A further goal is to disciple and train these new believers so that they can return to Japan with a vision to be part of Christ’s body there.

Here is the flyer that shows some of the content and special speakers – but I encourage you to use the link above to actually visit the site for all the details.

• JCC Annual Meeting – the annual meeting of our congregation will be held directly following worship on Sunday, Feb. 3rd. Please come and join us at that time.
• Discussion concerning JCC’s older building and JCC’s future – although this notice is very late, we want to invite anyone who is able to join us tomorrow morning, Sunday, January 27th, at 9:00 a.m. for a time of ongoing discussion. This will be primarily about the future of our older fellowship hall.
• RJC 2019 International Conference – last Fall in October, Pastor Tim and Bi-Lan were able to participate in a 1-day conference put on by  RJC (Reaching Japanese For Christ)  We want to make you aware of the 18th Annual RJC International Conference that will be coming up soon, on Feb. 14-16. As with the last one, it will be held at the Northshore Community Church in Kirkland. I’ll include all the details soon in a blogpost on our website.
• Remember to pray for our missionaries – JCC is helping to support Chris & Missy Takano in Germany and Anna Rosengren in Japan. Check out their ministries at these links below:

• 01.27  All Church Discussion at 9:00 a.m.  /  Richard Nakamura preaches at 10:00 a.m. worship
• 02.03  Pastor Tim preaches / JCC Annual Meeting following worship
• 02.04 Homeless Feeding / Lord’s Table (meet at church at 7:30 p.m.)
• 02.10  Board Meeting at 8:45 a.m. / Shun Takano preaches at 10:00 a.m. worship
• 02.17 Pastor Tim preaches
• 02.22 (Friday) JCC Volunteer team at St. Mary’s Food Bank (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
• 02.24 Richard Nakamura preaches

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Tim

Hi JCC friends and family! It’s almost impossible to believe that we are in December and soon approaching Christmas! Our theme in worship over the course of the Advent season is “Preparing Our Hearts” and we’re looking at ways in which scripture – both in the Old and New testaments – encourages us to spend quiet and important time in preparation. What are we preparing for? How should we be preparing? Come and join us for worship this month!

Homeless Feeding / Lord’s Table

Thank you to everyone who helped cook and serve this past Monday at the  Homeless Feeding / Lord’s Table.  We were able to distribute most of the 100 Gift Bags that night and the remaining bags will be given to St. Mary’s Food Bank for distribution to the homeless individuals they serve.  Please remember to continue collecting toiletries during your travels in 2019.

Special Events…

I and my family will be celebrating our son, Sam’s wedding in Australia during Christmas week. Because of this commitment, I am preaching three consecutive Sundays in December (2, 9, & 16).  In order to allow us to celebrate Christmas with all of you, we will be having our Christmas Potluck next Sunday, the 16^th. So please bring a dish to share as we gather together and celebrate this joyous season with love and hope as we remember the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  We are also fortunate and very grateful that Richard Nakamura has agreed to preach on December 23^rd and Shun Takano will be preaching on December 30^th.

Thanks for Supporting and Praying for our Missionaries!

Why not consider a special year-end tax-deductible gift to the missionaries that we are now supporting? They will be blessed…. and you’ll be blessed too!  Chris & Missy Takano serve as educators with “Teach Beyond” in Germany. Anna Rosengren will be serving in Japan with SEND International.

• 12.09  Pastor Tim preaches (Advent 2)
• 12.16  Pastor Tim preaches (Advent 3, with Christmas Potluck following worship)
• 12.23  Richard Nakamura preaches (Advent 4 / Christmas Worship)
• 12.28 (Friday) JCC Volunteer team at St. Mary’s Food Bank (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
• 12.30 Shun Takano preaches

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Tim

Gratitude is really a choice as we see from Job’s words in scripture: “The Lord gives…and the Lord takes away….blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) He chose to be grateful and bless the Lord’s name in good times and bad. Paul wrote the following words to the believers in Philippi:  “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”  (Phil 4:12-13)  We have the same choice each day and we have a special chance to practice that choice during our celebrations of Thanksgiving this month. So let us give thanks to the Lord!

Thanksgiving Potluck at JCC　/　感謝祭の持ち寄りパーティー

As we give our thanks to God for all His blessings, we hope you will join us for our Thanksgiving Celebration on Sunday, November 18^th.  Following our worship service, we will have a potluck lunch where a turkey and ham will be served, so please bring a side dish to share at this meal.  Also during this time, we will be putting together our Gift Bags that will be distributed at our December Homeless Feeding/Lord’s Table on December 3rd.  We have collected socks and will be adding toothbrushes/toothpaste as well as any other small toiletries that have been collected throughout this year.  Therefore, if you have any of these items, especially toothbrushes or toothpastes, please let Sue know by Sunday the 11th as she will be purchasing needed items the following week.
11月18日（日）礼拝の後に感謝祭の持ち寄りパーティーが行われます。是非、皆さんが一品づつをお持ち寄りくだされば嬉しいです。

Please remember to pray for the missionaries that we are supporting:

Several years ago while some friends and I were riding our bicycles along the Tama River in Tokyo we saw this sign at a small temple. The words echo what Job and Paul expressed above. The translation of the words: “We don’t give thanks because we are happy…. we are happy because we give thanks.”

• 11.11  Shun Takano preaches
• 11.18  Pastor Tim Preaches / Thanksgiving Potluck
• 11.23  (Friday) JCC Volunteer team at St. Mary’s Food Bank (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
• 11.25  Richard Nakamura preaches

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Tim

Recently we were contacted by United Way of King County as part of their effort to enroll volunteers who could help folks file their tax return. Every year groups of volunteers help those who are financially unable to seek professional help with their taxes. Would you be willing to help out for a few hours a week? Evidently, training is provided. See the poster below and reach out if you think you might be a good fit!

RJC – or Reaching Japanese for Christ – is a network of Christians, pastors, missionaries, students, and other Jesus-followers who love Japan and love Japanese, and who are working together to share Christ and the gospel with Japanese who are living overseas (outside of Japan). A further goal is to disciple and train these new believers so that they can return to Japan with a vision to be part of Christ’s body there.

Conferences here in Seattle and around the U.S. have been held annually. This year’s event is somewhat different in that it will be simulcast to over 10 cities here in the US as well as to Japan. Here are the details:

• WHEN?  October 20, 2018  8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Program begins at 9:00 a.m.)
• WHERE? Northshore Community Church (10301 NE 145th St, Kirkland, WA 98034)
• REGISTRATION: Go here…    Register for RJC!
• The registration fee, which includes lunch, is $30 and JCC has offered to cover the fee for any JCC folks who wish to attend. It will be a great program of special speakers, worship, and fellowship. I encourage many of you to attend if you can!

Fall Greetings!

It’s cold today as our family enjoys lunch on the back porch. Blue skies earlier this morning have turned to clouds and a chilly breeze. Summer feels like it’s over!

Just a few things to report….

• Norishige & Tsuneko Suzuki, who have been an active part of our church fellowship for well over a decade, moved back to Japan at the end of August. They look forward to being closer to family there…. although we are already missing them here. We had a fun time of sharing and saying goodbye following worship on 8/26 and then Howard hosted many of us for another goodbye dinner at the Fuji Japanese restaurant on Tuesday the 28th. Since then we’ve heard from the Suzukis that they made it back safely and they wanted everyone to know their address:

The photo above was sent to us by the Suzukis and shows a small lake near their home in Iizuna Town, Nagano. Here’s another one taken at the same time.

• At our recent Board Meeting, a decision was made to give support to some individuals involved in mission work. Chris Takano (with wife Missy and their 2 young children Caleb & Elias) are ministering through an organization called Teach Beyond to students from around the world in Kandern, Germany at the Black Forest Academy, a school for missionary children. Chris is the son of Shun Takano. Anna Rosengren, who visited us a few months ago, is continuing to raise support in order to serve as a missionary in Japan under Send International. JCC will be contributing a small monthly donation to the Takanos while a larger one-time gift was made to Anna.  This is a wonderful opportunity for us to partner with these inspirational individuals as they further God’s work around the world.  In addition to JCC’s donations, please feel free to make your individual donation to the Takanos and/or Anna at any time by dropping off cash or checks in our Outreach Collection Boxes.  Prayer is just as important as our financial support so please include them in your daily prayers.  Here are some links if you are interested in learning more about their work. You can also give / donate toward their ministry online by following these links:

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Tim

Our JCC board recently made the decision to support Anna Rosengren as she prepares to head to Japan as a missionary under SEND International. Here is a recent communication from her:

JAPAN FOR JESUS   /  News from Anna Rosengren

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I but the grace of God that is with me.” 1 Cor. 15:10

Pressing on toward the goal   (August, 2018)

Dear Partners in Mission,

I can’t believe that fall is just around the corner! It’s crazy how the summer flies by. This past month, I felt like I’ve had more of a “backseat” position and been a witness to the work that God is doing. I think God does that sometimes.

As I seek partners, because that’s what I’m meant to be doing, I find people caring for loved ones who are coming into the autumn/winter season of their lives. I find people gathering, small groups that are dedicated to growing in the word, praying and supporting one another no matter where life/God is leading them. I find a church discipling and baptizing people from age 7 to 57 with each testimony pointing to the work of the Holy Spirit weaving the significance of the gospel in each heart! “Jesus is my Savior,” they say. Wow! Praise God! It has been a humbling month of witnessing and praising God for what he’s doing in the lives of people around me.

It’s so easy to zero in to my own situation and forget that there’s a bigger picture of the Kingdom of God and what he’s doing. That in the midst of pain and sorrow–he is there, giving peace and comfort! In the midst of the joys of life, watching kids grow, learning about the world around them–he is there, laughing and interested in what new discoveries are being made. In the midst of getting up, making coffee, getting dressed, going to work, etc. etc.–he is there, even in the mundane, everyday stuff, whispering, “Here I am, notice me! See what I’m doing?! Will you be a part of it? My grace is sufficient for you.”

What is God leading you in today? What is he speaking to you? Whatever it is, I will pray that you will open your heart to the grace God will shower on you to be and/or do all that he is weaving in, calling, leading you to be and do for him and the glory of his name.

And again, thank you for your prayers, patience, and presence in this journey to see the fulfillment of the call God has placed on my life! I could not do any of it with out you!

With Love of Christ,

Anna Rosengren

Praises and Prayers:
**I had to move out of the house I’ve been rooming in for the past two years. It was a good base to be at for the time I had there. I’m thankful to be moved into another house, with my own room, for the rest of the time I will be in the States!
**I will be going to Seattle from Sept. 15th to Oct. 5th. Pray for a productive time of reconnecting and connecting with people while I’m out there.

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