Beginning in October, the church council would like to begin designating the first Sunday of every month as "Benevolence First Sunday." Each month, the outreach and benevolence committee will select a charitable group that we as a congregation can learn about, pray for and support with our gifts. On the first Sunday of the month, any loose offerings collected in the offering plates that day will be designated in support of the selected group. Throughout the month, we will pray for and learn more about this group. At the end of the month, we will send them our collected gifts.

    The "Benevolence First Sunday" in October, will highlight the Koge

Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea. These friends are in the process of building up their church and have asked for prayers and financial help. Recently the church council voted unanimously to send a gift of 50,000yen immediately to help them purchase a new water tank. During the month of October, we will be learning of more ways we can help with this project and others, for our partners in the faith at Koge Lutheran Church.

For more info, please speak to Nancy RI or Yoshi.

Dear Friends in Christ,

    Greetings to you after a long summer that was more often wet than hot! Because of difficulties both technical and spiritual, a "natsu" newsletter never made it beyond the keyboard. But with the start of the Fall season has come both renewed spirits and new computer parts.

    Technical problems are pretty easy to grasp. If one or two of the various parts and wires of the computer aren't functioning, the screen remains dark. I found that the same could be said for the spiritual health of our congregation. If one or two of us is feeling weak of spirit, how quickly the rest of us begin to feel discouraged or frustrated.

    We can replace broken or worn out parts and get the machines running again. But what can we do when the spirit is battered and bruised by missed opportunities, plans that don't go our way, or harsh words exchanged in the heat of the moment. Peace of mind and compassionate understanding are not so easily replaced. Or are they?

    At a time when I most needed to hear it, a friend sent me these thoughts ......
...."We have been praying that all of you there at St.Pauls, with the help of the Holy Spirit, will persevere. In July, I studied 2 Cor. 12:9: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." When Paul recognized his weakness or inability to cope on his own, he leaned on the Lord's power and in that way stayed strong. That's why he could also write in verse 10, "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Paul had plenty of difficulties. Read chapter 11 verses 23-28. Imagine what he went through. I'd have given up and shaken my fist toward heaven and shouted 'Why? Why? Why? If You are real where are You?!!'
    Difficulties are valuable. They get us on our knees. They lead us to tears of repentance, and finally to cast all on the Lord, including self. Then comes the power to carry on. And another great big value is that it happens "for Christ's sake." People notice when in the face of insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties we exhibit love, patience, strength, peace that can only come from God. Through our difficulties we can point others to Jesus, and that, ultimately, is why we are on this earth....."

    Now it is Fall and things are looking up. The computers are up and running and the spirits are rested and renewed! As we look to the months ahead and our continued efforts of seeking solutions for our various problems, let us keep this one thought foremost in our hearts and minds: We are in His hands and He will lift us up!

    "....In and through the ups and downs you face, God's grace will be sufficient! It always has and always will be. So, persevere in the power and strength of the Lord...."

    With joy,                                Marcia K.

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 : Marcia K.
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