Thanksgiving Celebration

Thanksgiving smiles!

    Thanks to all who celebrated U.S. Thanksgiving in a big way with us! Rev. Dr. Tim & Mari M. worshipped with us, with Pastor Tim giving another inspiring sermon. Mrs. Mere M. of Papue New Guinea spoke after worship abour her country's needs for our Benevolence. Jilly M. was back after 6 months abroad, and told us that Eric is now attending boarding school in Tanzania, and will be visiting us during the Christmas vacation.
    In the afternoon, Nancy & Hiko T. set up the JELA Hall for our meal. We had lots of great food from around the world. We sang a Thanksgiving hymn, accompanied by H.-san on piano. André R. & family delighted us with 2 Malagasy songs, and we heard some of Chris H.'s new CD on the stereo. Donations were collected for the meal and for take-home boxes, which we will use for future Benevolence. We had visitors from JELA and from guest pastor Chad T.'s congregation. The children played hard, and we all had a wonderful time! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

                                        Nancy T.

    Mere M. of Papua New Guinea, gave a brief speech about her country for our consideration for future outreach. Lutheran World Relief and JELA have already been active there in education and health care.
    Mr. & Mrs. I., Emi R.'s parents, worshipped with us twice in November.
    Tom & Deb L. continue to share the joy of worship with us during their several months in Japan. We will bid them "sayonara" at the end of this month.
    Visitors from the Shin Okubo Lutheran Church and Sharon International Fellowship shared Thanksgiving dinner with us at the JELA Mission Hall.
    We have enjoyed seeing Takashi's friend, M.-san, several times recently.
    Kevin P. of Australia visited again, bearing memories of past members like Tania Z. from his home congregation.
    Kevin E. of the USA continues to worship with us when his busy schedule permits.
    John H. of Arizona made his 150th worship time with us on Nov. 6. He has been visiting us since 1963!!!

Dear Friends in Christ,

    Where has this year gone? And what a year it has been for our congregation. At the start of 2005, I was not attending St. Paul's. After more than 20 years of active, joyful membership, at the end of 2004, I had to make a very painful decision: stay and support a ministry I felt was leading the congregation in a direction I didn't agree with, or leave quietly and wait out the inevitable. I chose to leave, as I suspect many others did, because after church on Sundays I felt nothing but disappointment, hurt and frustration. I chose to leave because it was not my place to openly question our congregation's leadership. I chose to leave, turning all these negative feelings over to the Lord, knowing that St. Paul's was, as always, in His hands and with or without me, it would survive.

    Over the eight months or so that I stayed away, I attended services only twice during that time. Each of those times, while the leadership and I mutually ignored each other, I was warmly welcomed by the members of the congregation itself. After having been absent from church for several months, it was not the leaders who contacted me with a phone call or a note, it was members of the congregation who called to ask me how I was doing or who dropped me a line to just keep in touch.

Thanksgiving bounty. Delicious desserts!

    Last Sunday, our congregation had their annual American Thanksgiving Dinner. What a joyous time of food, fun and friendship -- an afternoon of "thanks giving" for our many blessings. It was while I was listening to the R. family as they shared their beautiful songs, that I was struck with the realization that THIS is what has brought healing to our congregation, and to me. This reaching out, this sharing, this time spent in Christian fellowship, has brought us closer together and closer to God. This Christmas season, it is my prayer that as we move forward, we remember that it is this gift of fellowship in Him that will sustain us and encourage us in the work that lies ahead for our congregation. This week, I am going to write to as many former members still in the city as I can and let them know our worship schedule for the holidays and ask them to once again join us. I will be adding a note in the Christmas cards I send to those St. Paul friends who have returned to their homes abroad and ask them to remember us in their prayers. I will try to invite a new friend to our church so they too can become a part of this fellowship in Christ. And I would like to ask each of you to do the same! (I'm guessing many of you already have!)

    Together, in Him, we will grow as a congregation and become a stronger tool for the work that He has for us to do. Blessings to you all in this season of celebrating His birth.

                                         Marcia K.

"God does not take away trials or carry us over them, but strengthens us through them."

E. B. Pusey

    As the weather gets colder, and the chrysanthemums are out, I expect Easter to be around the corner. However, I know I have to reprogram myself to expect December and Christmas next month.

    Christmas weather for me is always summery. The school year finishes around December 19 and children have a break until late January when they go back to school and into new classes. Many workers take a break from Christmas Day to New Year's Day, and, if they have children, take a few more days off work and go to the beach. Christmas parties are often held outside the house in the garden, if it's not too hot, and many people then go for a stroll in the long, warm (hot?) evenings as the sun doesn't set till around 8:45 p.m.

    Christmas at home on our farm, until very recent years, has occurred right during harvest time. The crops now ripen earlier. On Christmas Eve it's a rush to get off the header, have a shower and something quick to eat, and then get to church. The church can often be very hot inside. The ceiling fans are running and many people fan themselves with their liturgy booklets. For years we had the Christmas story presented by the Sunday School children, but now they are so few, we have readings and carols and the children can dress as any character (except Joseph and Mary or Jesus). On Christmas morning, church is at 9 a.m. Then we come home, open our presents and receive our guests for lunch. Lunch is cold meats, such as ham and turkey, and salads. In the afternoon, if harvest is not pressing, we all have a sleep and then go for a drive and nature walk looking at the many native trees in the area. Many of the trees are shedding their seeds around Christmas day, so we collect seeds for propagation or just admire the wonder of God's nature. The evening meal is there if we can fit it anything in, and then harvest starts again the next day. Those people in the cities enjoy a public holiday the day after Christmas, called Boxing Day, when there are many sales at the department stores.

    This will be my first cold Christmas and I look forward to the fellowship at St Paul's. My one-year work contract at the National Maritime Research Institute in Mitaka ends on December 31. I'll be leaving on Jan 5, 2006 as my visa expires the next day. So I will be saying farewell again, as I did when I left my same work place and St Paul's after two years back in 1989 and 1990.

    The book of Galatians is currently my personal devotion reading and at the end it says: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen."

    Amen to that.

                                         Gillian H.

THE MUSIC BOX

    Every 2nd Sunday, from 5:00-6:00 p.m. at Urawa Lutheran Church, the Music Box worship time brings together live bands & bilingual singing. Tom & Debi G. and friends lend their talents to honor & praise God through song. Most songs will be sung by everyone & led by the band. Lyrics are projected onto a screen, and Romaji lyrics books are available. Japanese & English translations of all the songs' meanings will be provided. The main thing is to enjoy yourself & let God speak to you through the music! Just have fun singing as One Voice!

SWEA's annual Christmas Bazaar

Christmas Charity Event

St. Paul International
Lutheran Church

1-2-32 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo, JAPAN 102-0071

Phone :    03-3261-3740
FAX :    03-3261-2390
E-mail :
Homepage :

InkLink Editor : Nancy R. I.
InkLink-online Editor :

Sunday worship
9:30 am, Iidabashi NRK
Lutheran Center

Church season: Advent, Christmas
Colors: Blue, violet, white

St. Stephen, Dec. 26
St. John, Dec. 27
Holy Innocents, Nov. 28

December Rotation
Dec. 4 ... Christian Education
Dec. 11 ... Council Meeting
Dec. 18 ... Christian Education
Dec. 25 ... Fellowship

We Praise Him With Music

Thanks to the R. family for performing their vocal magic for us at Thanksgiving. Your voices lift our spirits!

Thanks to Chris H. for sharing some of his music on his newly-released CD "Azure", recorded in August with his multicultural band, Tatopani.

Thanks to Sean F. for performing on his trumpet twice during December. We are so blessed by his continued offering of musical gifts!

We are looking forward to using our handbells this month. Former members Gary & Noell W. donated the set as part of the memorial fund for their daughter, Maggie, who we keep in our hearts always.

Happy birthday to Takashi I., our worship assistant, Dec. 6th!

All photos courtesy of Colin & Emi R.