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SAKURA DAYORI 桜便り

Volume 48 January 2014 No. 1

SJUMC, the Garden Church Senior Pastor: Rev. Motoe Yamada Foor

Pastor Emeritus: Rev. George Nishikawa

Choir Director: Eileen Boyd, Pianist : Christopher Congdon

Director of Young People’s Ministries: Emily Pickens-Jones

Office Manager: Robyn Jovalis

Phone: (916) 421-1017 Fax: (916) 391-3620

Website: www.sacjumc.com Worship: Sunday at 10:30am

Young Adult Bible Study January 8th

6:30 pm Old Soul Co.

3434 Broadway in Sacramento. Please bring a Bible or Bible app! We are using the Disciple Bible Study, all young adults ages 18-30 are welcome!

FX Youth Event: Scholarships are available for this fast-paced, high-energy, action-packed Faith Experience week-end, January 10-12, 2014 at Mount Her-mon in Santa Cruz.

February 8, 2014 Multi-Cultural Hall

Adults - $45.00 Children - $15.00

(10 & under)

Proceeds to Legacy Fund

6

Doors Open - 5:00 pm Dinner - 6:00 pm

Entertainment - 7:00 pm

The Church office will be closed from December

25th through January 1. Any office business

needs to be finished by Dec. 23.

Phone messages will be checked.

Officer Installation January 5, Sunday All committee members will be installed during the worship service. Each committee chair will call your name. Please come and join us! (note: all com-mittee chair, please come to the front to line up and introduce your committee)

Sakura Dayori Page 2 January 2014

Ushers

January 5—Dale Fong,

Richard Yang

January 12—Keiko Nakata,

Tsukiko Robinson

January 19—James &

Momo Newsome

January 26—Bill Taketa,

Philip Yuki

Greeters

January 5—Fran Sumida

January 12—Alvon Fong

January 19—Meggie Tanaka

January 26—Yvonne Kato

Welcome Table

January 5—Arlene Hagiya,

Ben Gayton

January 12—Yoshiko Nishikawa,

Kathy Marquardt

January 19—Kiku Ito, Ray Kozuma

January 26—UMW, Ben Gayton

Fellowship Tobans

January 5, 2014 Epiphany Sunday Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:1-12

Matthew 2:13-15; 19-23

January 12, 2014

Baptism of the Lord

1st Sunday after the Epiphany

Guest Preacher - Rev. Peter Willms

Isaiah 42:1–9

Acts 10:34-43

Matthew 3:13-17

January 19, 2014

Second Sunday after the Epiphany

Human Relations Day

Testimony by Emily Pickens-Jones

Isaiah 49:1–7

1 Corinthians 1:1–9

John 1:29–42

January 26, 2014 Third Sunday after the Epiphany Isaiah 9:1-4 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 Matthew 4:12-23

Invitation to Worship

Rev. Schuyler Rhodes has asked SJUMC to host a

Resurrection Conversation for

Sacramento Clergy and Lay Leaders on

February 15!

Sakura Dayori Page 11 January 2014

Sakura Dayori Page 10 January 2014

SJUMC is on Facebook!

Please join us!

BOUTIQUE GROUP

NEEDS YOU!

If you enjoy making hand

crafted items, engaging in pleasant conver-

sation, and exchanging crafting ideas, come

join the SJUMC Boutique Group 9:30 Mon-

day mornings in the Fellowship/Social Hall.

Boutique members knit, crochet, embroider,

sew, bead, and create handmade seasonal

ornaments. What would you like to learn?

What new craft skills can you bring to the

Boutique Group

Come and see what the Boutique Group is

doing and join the creative work that sup-

ports the church. Proceeds from the craft

items sold at the October SJUMC Bazaar

and other events benefit SJUMC programs.

The Boutique Group welcomes new mem-bers and would love to talk with you about crafting and membership in the group. Check in with Boutique if you would like to do crafts on Monday mornings and support SJUMC at the same time. Boutique ladies have taken a break for the month of December, but we will be meeting again starting the January 6th! Please come or contact Emi Alicaya - 685-5183 ealicaya@frontiernet.net

an initiative of Global Ministries for young adults to engage in mission throughout the connection.

This includes supporting mission service within the UMC and Global Ministries’ flag-ship programs for young adult:

Global Mission Fellows (long-term mission)

Global Justice Volunteers (short-term mis-sion)

Individual Volunteers (flexible mission ser-vice from two month to 2 years)

Please spread the information to our Asian American networks and young adults who are interested in mission opportunities for young adults. The final deadline for Global Mission Fellows and Global Justice Volun-teers is Jan 15th.

Future Fellowship Tobans February 2—Youth Group—Souper Bowl

Sunday February 9—Basketball Sunday—Basketball

Parents February 16—UMW February 23—COR Fundraising March 2—UMW March 9—Scout Sunday March 16—Worship & Membership Care March 23—Youth Fundraiser March 30—UMW April 6—Fasting Sunday April 13—UMW April 20—Easter Sunday April 27—Fundraising May 4—Christian Education May 11—January Birthdays May 18—UMW May 25—COR Fundraiser For 2014 during the school year we will have

our regular fellowship and during summer we will have coffee/tea only.

Sakura Dayori Page 3 January 2014

From the Church Council

As we enter the new year, 2014, there are many things for which we can be grateful and hope-ful. We have a long history of worship and service in our community, a beautifully remodeled sanctuary, a memorable vision ("Loving God, Serving Others, Transforming Lives"), and vivid guiding words from Bishop Warner and District Superintendent Rhodes. Their words speak of renewal, new beginnings, and opportunities to build relationships in our communities. In our Church Planning Day last month, church members offered ideas and thoughts for planning the future of SJUMC. The aim of our planning is to energize our church, increase our membership, grow spiritually, maintain a connection to our history, and involve the entire church. The SJUMC planning statements will be available as they are hatched and each church member will have opportunities get involved .The work to create a beautiful future for church will require involve-ment and energy from all of us. - Wayne Shimizu , Chair - Church Council

January 5 for the February issue. Please submit articles to Joanne

Mikami at hankojo@starstream.net

February is

“Open My Eyes That I May See My Gift of Leadership”

Bridges District United Methodist Women 2014 Leadership Training

Saturday January 25, 2014 9:15am - 2:30 pm

First UMC Sacramento 2100 J Street

Registration deadline: January 18 Registration form available

in the office.

日本語聖書の学び 毎第2日曜日（礼拝後）ポットラック

ファイアーサイドルームにて

Japanese Language Bible Study - Every 2nd Sunday of the month with a potluck in the fireside room 聖書は自分一人で読んでいて意味の

わからない箇所に遭遇することがあ

ります。毎回、聖書の学びの会の

後、皆さんと感想や意見を交わしあ

い聖書を学びあうのも楽しいもので

す。

AV Team Needed You have probably noticed that our Slide Show is much easier to read with our new screens and projectors. The equipment is also easier to use! We need a few peo-ple willing to assist during worship to operate the computer and sound system. Talk to Victor or the church office.

Sakura Dayori Page 4 January 2014

In November we served a total of 9,234 people; 5,455adults and 3,779 children from 2,240 separate households. We were especially busy on the three days before Thanksgiving when we served 250 families per day. Our

volunteers worked past noon time when we are usually finished for the day. Each family was given a turkey with a holiday bag filled with stuffing, yams, vegetables, fruits, salad fixings, cranberry sauce, gravy, dinner rolls and a des-sert. Thanks to the SJUMC volunteers Eddie Koshino, Travis Marquardt, Jonathan Sa-kakibara and Wayne Shimizu who went to pick up the turkeys at Foodlink and help wherever they were needed.

The Kids Can boxes stored at SJUMC will be sorted on Sunday December 22. Emily Pick-ens Jones will be helping with the sorting. Please stay after the service and help sort the cans if you are available. Diane Rooker, our long time SSIP treasurer lost her battle to lung cancer on November 7. Her memorial service was held at the Faith Presbyterian Church. Victor Shibata and Bob Kimoto have agreed to help Frances Lee with the treasurer’s work. Thank you to Victor and Bob. SSIP is always appreciative of the monetary donations, food, paper bags and volunteer hours from the SJUMC congregation. Thank you for your continued support.

January Security Tobans: Winston Ashizawa, Kent

Nakashima, Victor Shibata

SSIP NEWS

The 12th Annual SJUMC Crab Feed will be held on February 8th, 2014 in the Multicul-tural Hall. This function benefits the Legacy Fund to help pay off our glorious hall. This all you can eat menu will include salad, spaghetti, nigiri, crab, ice cream and drinks. Bring a big appetite as the fresh crab is wonderful. We will also have our world famous raffle sponsored by the Basketball Program and the ever popular paper air-plane contest with Stuart Satow as MC. Adult tickets are $45.00 and children under 10 are $15.00. Tickets can be purchased after church on Sundays or at the office. If you have questions, call Janet Takehara at 916.365.3767.

SJUMC ADULT LITERACY Program

Begins January 2014 at Bowling Green &

Chacon Schools

One hour a week can help a parent learn

to read

Sign up for 3 training sessions and change

a life.

Call Amy Kawahara, 916 – 428 – 3743; Pat-ty Honbo, 530 – 756 – 0616; Barbara Kado,

530 – 758 – 7339 for more information.

Sakura Dayori Page 9 January 2014

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Nakata, M/M Roy Nakashima, Roger Niiya, M/M Herbert Oguro, M/M Keith Okamoto, M/M Roy Osuga, M/M David Otani, Susan Ouchida, M/M Lester Robinson, M/M Norman Ronay, M/M Kelvin Sakakihara, M/M Tom Sakauye, M/M Jiro Sakauye-Tom, M/M Leland Sato, M/M Roy Shibata, M/M Victor Sumida, Frances Takeda, Atsuko Taketa, M/M Bill Taketa, Catherine Tanaka, M/M Russell Tanihana, June Tateishi, Seiko Williams, M/M Frederick Yuki, M/M Philip

LEGACY FUND

as of November 30, 2013 In Celebration of 57th Birthday Inouye, Tim In Celebration of Bill & Doris Taketa’s 60th Anniversary Okino, Marie In Celebration of Ed Kubo’s Birthday Okino, Marie In Celebration of Anniversary Okino, Marie In Memory of Don Matsuda Takehara, Janet In Memory of Brian Matsumoto Takehara, Janet In Memory of Barbara Takai Takehara, Janet In Memory of Mary Shimazu Yuki, M/M Philip In Memory of Marian Drown Yuki, M/M Philip

Thanksgiving Offering Takehara, Janet

Ika wa ma mua, ka wa ma hope

Embracing the past to navigate the future. Thank

you all who supported Thursday at the

Movies. After 10 years of service—the out reach

program of the Garden Angels bids you all a fond “Aloha”. December 19,

2013 was the last day of service. Special thanks to Fran Sumida, Mary Ann

Isaiah Bible Study Rev. Peter Willms will

be leading a Bible study on the book of Isaiah meeting each Sunday at 12:15 in the Garden Room. It is open to any who

might like to attend.

Spiritual Renewal of SJUMC

A group of people who want to grow spiritually have been meeting. Do you feel that God is calling you to grow and help the church grow spiritually? Or simply wondering what this is about? If so, please contact Rev. Motoe.

Sakura Dayori Page 8 January 2014

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

GENERAL FUND as of November 30, 2013

In Celebration of Timothy Inouye’s Birthday Inouye, Margaret Thank You for Prayers for Roy Nakata Nakata, M/M Roy In Celebration of Wedding Anniversary Sakauye, M/M Jiro In Celebration of of Austin’s 21st Birthday Takechi, M/M Curtis In Celebration of of Work Place Blessing Takechi, M/M Curtis In Celebration of the Church’s Good Work Chan, Camille In Memory of Our Beloved Dog Ellie Koshino, M/M Eddie In Memory of Al Wing Fong Nakashima, M/M Kent Nakashima, Roger In Memory of Alberta Hiratsuka Nakashima, M/M Kent Nakashima, Roger In Memory of Masao & Setsuko Nakashima Nakashima, M/M Kent In Memory of Mary Shimazu Shimazu, Glen UM Student Day Annoymous Imagire, M/M Art Nakamura, Mary Nakashima, M/M Kent Shibata, M/M Victor

UMCOR (Philippines)

Fernandez, M/M Richard Fong, Karen Imagire, M/M Art Ito, M/M James Kubokawa, JoAnne Kushi, Frances Matsuoka, Kazuko Mizoguchi, M/M Max Nakamura, Mary

Nishikawa, Rev/M George Rasmussen, M/M Scott Sasaki, M/M Robert Takeda, Atsuko Taketa, M/M Bill Yang, M/M Richard

Thanksgiving Offering Alicaya, M/M Chuck Blaisdell, M/M Farrington Chung, Scott Dingley, Bernice Fong, Karen Fong, M/M Larry Fossum, M/M Andrew Fukushima, M/M Roy Goi, Megumi Hagiya, M/M Mark Hamakawa, Mayumi Harada, M/M Jeff Honbo, Dr/M Wesley Inouye, Margaret Ishisaka, Mitzi Ito, M/M James Ito, Yasushi Kamei, M/M Nob Kanemasu, M/M Russell Kashiwagi, M/M George Kawaguchi, Mrs. Kawahara, M/M Yosh Kimoto, M/M Bob Koshino, M/M Eddie Koyama, Patty Kubo, M/M Edwin Lee, Frances Lee Fong, Alvon Maeda, Elaine Matsumoto, Robert Matsuo, M/M Mikami, Joanne Miller, Kiyo Mizoguchi, M/M Max Muraki, Linda Nakamura, Mary Nakashima, M/M Kent

Sakura Dayori Page 5 January 2014

Security Tobans Needed Wanted - volunteers to serve as Open/Close Tobans to open & close church campus on Sundays. Tobans serve one month every 7 months.. Currently tobans rotation is every 7 months, but could be longer the more new volunteers there are. Call Art Imagire- 955-4901.

In keeping with our vision of Loving God, Serv-ing others and Transforming lives, SJUMC has an opportunity to participate in the Stop Hun-ger Now meal packaging program. The meal packaging program combines rice, soy, dehy-drated vegetables and a flavoring mix including 21 essential vitamins and minerals into small meal packets. Each meal costs only 25 cents. The food stores easily, has a shelf-life of two years and transports quickly. Stop Hunger Now works with international partners that ship and distribute the meals in-country. To learn more about Stop Hunger Now, please visit their website at http://www.stophungernow.org/ We began fundraising to secure the minimum $2500 needed in order to participate in a meal packaging session at SJUMC. Thanks to your generosity, we have reached our goal!!! We will plan on scheduling the meal packaging event during Lent in 2014. Until that date, we will continue to accept any monetary donations as that would enable us to package more meals for children overseas. At the Noah’s Bazaar, you may have stopped by our booth to make a donation on behalf of someone and written their name on an ornament for the cloth Christmas tree for Stop Hunger Now. We wish to say thank you to the following for their generous support:

Numerous individual donors, and helpers

Sacramento Japanese Film Festival ($600),

United Methodist Women ($300),

Spirit Within ($245),

SJUMC mem-bers, friends and families who dined out on behalf of the project at the restaurants that partnered with our project.

Please thank the following restaurants for their support. They donated a portion of the sales for a specific day during that month towards the Stop Hunger Now project:

July 2013: Chili’s @ 7410 Laguna Blvd Elk Grove, CA 95758

August 2013: Strings Pizzeria @ 9500 Micron Ave Sacramento, CA 95827

September 2013: Osaka Sushi @ 8785 Center Pkwy B140 Sacramento, CA 95823

October 2013: Kobe Steak and Sushi, Hibachi Grill and Bar @ 9134 E. Stockton Blvd

Elk Grove, CA 95624

November 2013: Hunan Garden @ 8527 Elk Grove Blvd, Elk Grove CA

January 2014: to be determined Thanks to your generous support, we will be able to package several thousand nutritious meals that will be given to children overseas. Praise God for each one of you! Merry Christ-mas!

STOP HUNGER NOW

UMCOR Relief to the Philippines United Methodists are among those

providing emergency supplies while as-sessing damages from the powerful

storm, known as Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. To support UMCOR’s work note UMCOR - Philippines with your do-

nation.

Sakura Dayori Page 6 January 2014

From Emily, the Director of Youth and Young People

It’s the beginning of a new year! A new year means more fun activities for youth and young adults! We have a few big events coming up that will be tremen-dously rewarding for all those who at-tend. After our tremendously successful Advent party, youth leaders across the

Sacramento area are anxious to keep the connections between our youth and young adults group going. We will be adding more events in the coming weeks, so please make sure you are in the loop! For more information or questions, you can always e-mail or call me at Emily@sacjumc.com or (510) 207-0255.

Young Adult Bible Study: January 8th at Old Soul Co. at 3434 Broadway in Sacramento. Please bring a Bible or Bible app! We are using the Dis-ciple Bible Study, but all young adults ages 18-30 are welcome at 6:30.

FX Youth Event: Scholarships are available for this fast-paced, high-energy, action-packed weekend, hosted by the California-Nevada Conference. It will consist of multimedia worship and music, inspiring speak-ers, sports, and games. The cost is $100. Jan-uary 10-12, 2014 Mt. Hermon Retreat Center,

Santa Cruz. Any concerns or questions, please contact me! Youth Souper Bowl Sunday (Yes, it’s spelled correctly):

February 2nd, More info to come! Sierra Service Project Youth Sacramento: February

21-23rd “Challenge Yourself, Challenge the World.” SSP has scheduled an exciting project weekend at the Oak Park United Methodist Church, right in our own back-yard! More info to come. Scholarships are available. The cost will be $105 per youth. As always, we will be having youth group on the 2nd and

4th Thursdays. This will be January 9th and 23rd. Please join us from 6:30-8:30 for dinner, food, and fun! All 7th-12th graders are welcome!

Youth and Young Adult Movie Outing: All youth and young adults are invited to see the movie “The Secret Life of Walter Mit-ty”, rated PG. Cost is $8.50. We will be going on January 19th following church.

Meets 2nd and 4th Thursday of the Month!

6:30 pm - 8 pm

Get to know other youth (7th-12th grade) at SJUMC! In a safe and fun environment!.

For more information or questions contact

the Director of Young People’s Ministry,

Emily Pickens-Jones at emily@sacjumc.com.

Sakura Dayori Page 7 January 2014

Kid’s Activities

Every Sunday - Sunday School 9:30

Kids can go to the Garden Room after Children’s message for games and fun! Meets every Sunday except 2nd Sunday Family Worship.

Kids Movie Day - After worship on January 26 we will have a movie party in the Fireside Room. More details to follow - Bring a friend!

Tone Chime Choir will be starting up! Talk to Robyn Jovalis if you are interest-ed. Fun, easy way to start to learn music and rhythm!

Prayer Group ~ Would you like to pray with someone? The group meets at 9:30 am every Sunday in the Merwin Chapel and every 3rd Thursday in the Garden

Room at 11:15am.

Bags of Grace at SJUMC Are available in the Social hall to give out to people in need.

Please take a couple and keep them in your car.

SJUMC Prayers Comfort and Prayer for the families and

friends of: Michael Sakata Oscar Satow Michaela Vines Nelson Mandela Rev. Harry Murakami

Special Prayers Raymond Kozuma Al and Judy Raska in Japan Roy Fukushima Etsu Yui Mas Kashiwagi Betty Seto Edie Nakamura (sister of Karen Kashiwagi) Alice Kunibe Amy Shimada Catherine Taketa Bert Shikasho Hiroko Arimoto Rev. Ed Iwamoto People who are facing surgery People who are going through tough times

Thanksgiving Edward Otani Caroling Group Winter Shelter

The Winter Sanctuary, is operated by Sacra-mento Steps Forward to provide seasonal, emergency shelter to homeless, single adults. St Mark's UMC has volunteered for the third year to house the homeless for a week in January. SJUMC & our

Mission Committee will host Monday, January 20, 2014 at St Mark's UMC. There are many options and times to volunteer. Want to volunteer or have questions? Please contact Mary Nakamura at marynakamu-