Tokyo Union Church

June 8, 2008 at 8:30 am & 11:00 am

  

Prelude                     “God, We Praise You”                                                 L. Smith

(* Please Stand;  ◊◊ Late Seating)

(11:00) Introit                                                                                                         Sanctuary Choir

*Call to Worship (Responsively)                                                                                                 

Leader:   We come to hear the story of God’s faithfulness to past generations.

People:  But we are looking to the future, not the past.

Leader:   Our God is also God of the future; the God who was with our ancestors will be with us as well.         

People:  Then we can go forward in hope.  Whatever else fails, God remains faithful.

All:         Nothing can separate us from the love of God!  Praise be to God!

*HYMN OF CELEBRATION – No. 430   “Come Sing, O Church, in Joy!”

*CALL TO CONFESSION

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION  (Praying together)

Great God, you have sent your only begotten Son to reveal to us your vision of how life is intended to be lived.  Yet we confess that often we have placed other stories and other gods at the center of our lives.  Too often we have been content with our comfortable lifestyle and unwilling to accept your challenging truth and to follow your inconvenient ways.  Forgive us, Merciful God, for refusing to look beyond predictable, human outcomes when we consider the possibilities of your amazing will.  Give us the courage, the faith, and the power of imagination to expect that you will do awesome things as you draw us into the future you are creating through Jesus Christ.  In his holy name, we pray.  (silent prayers of confession)  Amen.

*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

*Sharing the peace of Christ (Please remain standing to sing the Response to Forgiveness.)

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*RESPONSE TO FORGIVENESS –  “My Tribute”

                   To God be the glory, to God be the glory

                   To God be the glory, for the things He has done.

                   With his blood He has saved me; with his power he has raised me;

                   To God be the glory for the things He has done.

Good News for Kids                                                (8:30) Shannon Jamison (11:00) Janet Hayes

◊◊                         Preschool-kindergarten ages 3-7 may go to the 4^th floor classroom at this time.

      Nursery care for children ages 0-2 is provided in the first floor nursery throughout the entire service.

SHARING NEWS OF OUR CONGREGATIONAL LIFE

EXPRESSIONS OF FELLOWSHIP

In the name of the Lord, we warmly welcome all visitors and newcomers to Tokyo Union Church. 

Visitors, please fill out a visitors card and place it in the offering bag.

Sayonara Blessings – (8:30) Postema Family (11:00) Erik & Laurie Mortensen, Sohn Family

MOMENTS FOR MISSION      * Worship and Music                                                                                 Teddy Jennings

                                             * Compassion International                                              Dave Keuning

 

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING                                             Ephesians 3:14-21 (Pew Bible, NT, p. 182)

Lector: (8:30) Leah Gesling  (11:00) Nikki Yamaguchi

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING                                                   Acts 3:1-10 (Pew Bible, NT, p. 112)

SERMON                                        “More Than We Can Imagine”                       Pastor Barry Dawson

Prayers of Intercession and the lord’s prayer

(Praying today for Asian Rural Institute, Japan/Asia)

The Lord’s Prayer – Ecumenical

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.  For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever.  Amen.

GIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

(8:30) Meditative Music                                                                                    Miwako Horii, organ

(11:00) Special Music                “If With All Your Hearts” from Elijah (F. Mendelssohn)

                                                                                        Frederick Green, Tenor; Yuka Omi, piano

* Presentation of Tithes and Offerings – Hymn No. 591

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all people here below;

Praise Holy Spirit evermore; Praise Triune God, whom we adore.  Amen.

* Prayer of Dedication

(8:30) THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

Invitation to the Table (Responsively)

Pastor:   Let us give thanks!

People:  Our God has bent down and fed us!

Pastor:  Like a mother, God has held us;

People: Our God has calmed and quieted our fear!

Pastor:  Like a father, God has forgiven us.

People:    And removed our sins from us!

Pastor:  Bless God’s holy name!

People:    And forget not all God’s benefits!

All:        We thank you, Loving God, for the promise of this meal: presence to break the bonds

of isolation and power to overcome our powerlessness.  We thank you for the promise of this day: new life for tired spirits and victory for the faithful.  By the power of your Spirit, help us to reach out to others as agents of renewal and instruments of community.  May the presence of the Living Christ at this table fill us with your vision for the world and the hope of resurrection.  In the strong name of our Savior, we pray.  Amen.   

Words of Institution

Prayer of Consecration

Sharing the Bread and the Cup

Prayer of Thanksgiving (Praying together)

O God, you have so greatly loved us and mercifully redeemed us.  Give us grace that in everything we may yield ourselves, our wills and our works, as a continual thank-offering to you.  We pray in the holy name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.             

 

*HYMN OF DEDICATION – No. 339    “Be Thou My Vision”                                                                

*Benediction

 

 

*Congregational RESPONSE (Hymn 586:  Amen, Amen, Amen.) 

Following the 11 am service, the Prayer and Healing Ministry Team will be available in front of the sanctuary for persons desiring prayer.

POSTLUDE                                       “Finale on ‘Hyfrydol’ “                                                 H. Coleman

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Next Evening Praise Service:  Sunday, July 6 at 4 pm.    

Speaker:  John Visher

Asian Rural Institute (ARI), Japan/Asia:  ARI provides training for rural leaders, primarily from Asian and African countries, in sustainable development, organic farming, and community organization.  Program graduates return to their home countries with increased skills where they work with rural groups to improve their daily lives. 

 

 

 

A warm Welcome to our newcomers and visitors!  THE next new member’s orientation class will be held June 22 from 11:30 am - 1:15 pm, in the 2F classroom.  A light lunch is included.  We invite anyone who is interested in joining TUC.

 

Today’s Congregational Care Elder: (8:30) Russell Gesling (11:00) Janet Hayes     Communion: (8:30) Teddy Jennings    Altar Guild: (8:30) Jody Fuller  (11:00) Nobuko Gaine     Ushers: (8:30) Postema family (11:00) Sam Mchombo, Nori & Janelle Odate   Greeters:  (8:30) Yuko Isa  (11:00) Rika & Takeshi Nakajima      Nursery: (11:00) Elmie Baron      Flowers:  Aya Uda, donated by Russell & Anita Gesling, in celebration of Leah’s 8’s birthday.

VBS '08, "Power Lab: Discovering Jesus' miraculous power" (August 18-22, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon) registration is available in the lobby TODAY.  Please stop by at the VBS Table.  Volunteers are encouraged to sign up, giving your name, Email address and contact number.  If you miss this opportunity, please contact Manami Keuning tuc-children@gol.com

A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TUC CONGREGATION has been called by the Church Council for the purpose of electing one member and one alternate to the Associate Pastor Search Committee.  The meeting will be held in the Fellowship Hall TODAY, in conjunction with the Congregational Luncheon that will follow the 11:00 am worship service.

Stop by the Compassion Table in the lobby after service and find out how you can share you love, prayers and support with a child in poverty.  Learn how you can: - Exchange letters, photos, prayers.  -Become a friend.  -Provide opportunities for education, health and personal development.  Most important, your child will learn about Jesus in a church-based program in his or her neighborhood.

New pager system for parents of little ones:  We have begun using a new pager system for parents who have children in the nursery during worship services.  More information is available in the Nursery.

BURMA CYCLONE relief - TUC is channeling donations to Barnabas Fund for the provision of essential supplies to the severely disadvantaged Christian minority in the disaster zone.  Please use the emergency relief envelopes in the pews.

Sayonara blessing:  If you are moving from Tokyo, please send the church office (tuc@gol.com) your last Sunday at TUC, with your contact details (email address, etc).  We would like to keep you on our mailing address.

ITEMS REQUESTED FOR PASTORS' HOUSING:  From time to time the living spaces for TUC's pastors need some updated or upgraded items.  The following items are needed currently: fax machine; vacuum cleaner; coffee maker (10-12 cups); blender.  If you have any of those items that you would be willing to donate, please contact the church office at 3400-0047 or tuc@gol.com  Thank you.

 

 

Summer is almost here!  But before you depart for vacation, please remember TUC's need for your support.  TUC has expenses throughout the summer, and our pledge collections are often much lower in those months due to many of our members' absence.  While you are away, TUC's great programs -- such as our outreach to the homeless and many of our children's programs -- continue through the summer.  Your faithful stewardship ensures that TUC can meet its obligations!  If you are not traveling and plan to be in town, please consider volunteering your TIME!  (Col 3:23)  Thank you, the TUC Stewardship Team

TOKYO UNION CHURCH IS in the process of SEARCHING for an ASSOCIATE PASTOR.  Requirements for the position are:  Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree or equivalent; Ordained or ordainable; Able to provide leadership for a broad range of ministries in our international, English-speaking church.  Direct inquires to tucapsc@gmail.com.  If you would like to suggest the name of a candidate or if you have questions about the search process, please speak to a member of the Associate Pastor Search Committee (APSC).  Members of the APSC are:  Deb Hibbard, Sam Mchombo, April Morito, Nori Orate, Chris Osaka, Jean Tenors, Fiona Scott, Debbie Hayman and Pastor Barry Dawson. 

Mark your Calendars!  The Amazing Race for Middle School and Senior High Youth will be September 20th.  If anyone has a "Tokyo City Guide" that they can donate for the event, please contact Ann Chow, Youth Ministry Director (tuc-youth@gol.com).

The Prayer Chain is a group of people who are contacted by email, fax or phone to pray for the leaders & ministries of TUC and for any other prayer requests we receive during the week.  Contact Mary Foster at tucprayer@yahoo.com.au with your prayer requests. 

serving next sunday:  Congregational Care Elder: (10:00) Teddy Jennings    No Communion    Altar Guild: (10:00) Junko Takahashi     Ushers: (10:00) Jamison family     Greeters: (10:00) Donna Faber     Lector: (10:00) Junko Suzuki      Nursery: (10:00) Kaoru Hirano      Flowers:  Kaoru Shikata

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TOKYO UNION CHURCH was founded in 1872 and is an ecumenical and international congregation of English-speaking Christians.  The word “union” is used to indicate that the membership is composed of Christians from many churches and nationalities who are united through a common faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  The members of Tokyo Union Church bring the richness of their own Christian heritage and experience into our worship, study, fellowship, and service.  Tokyo Union Church is independent and financially self-supporting; it is a member of the National Christian Council of Japan.  Our Vision:  A diverse community of growing, committed Christians in the heart of Tokyo, sharing the light of Christ with all nations.

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