may 2013 calvary press
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Calvary Presbyterian Church's May 2013 Calvary PressTRANSCRIPT
Calvary Press May 2013
Pastor: The Rev. Hiromi Yoneda
Pastor Emeritus: The Rev. Saburo Masada 2343 Country Club Blvd., Stockton, CA 95204 Office: (209) 466-‐0221 Fax: (209) 466-‐1839
Website: www.cpcstockton.com
After graduating from college in the 1980s, I decided to go on to seminary. I looked into a number of possibilities and then applied to Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN on the recommendation of a friend. I was excited and eager. I had no idea what was in store for me or how I was going to finance my education. At the time, I was highly motivated and very idealistic. In the end, it all worked out due to the support of my home church, financial assistance from
home, and part-‐time jobs. But what really carried me through all my experiences were the prayers that were sent my way, especially those from my mother.
E. V. (Ed) Hill, who pastored Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, tells the story of how "Mama's" love and prayers changed his life. During the height of the Depression, Hill's real mother, who had five children of her own, didn't have enough food to go around, so she sent four-‐year-‐old Ed to live with a friend in a small country town called Sweet Home. Ed just called her Mama. As he was growing up in Sweet Home, Mama displayed remarkable faith which led her to have big plans for young Ed. Against nearly insurmountable obstacles, Mama helped Ed graduate from high school (the only student to graduate that year from the country school) and even insisted that he go to college.
She took Ed to the bus station, handed him the ticket and five dollars and said, "Now, go off to Prairie View College, and Mama is going to be praying for you." Hill claims that he didn't know much about prayer, but he knew Mama did. When he arrived at the college with a dollar and ninety cents in his pocket, they told him he needed eighty dollars in cash in order to register. Here's how Hill describes what happened next:
I got in line …, and the devil said to get out of line …, but I heard my Mama saying in my ear, "I'll be praying for you." I stood in line on Mama's prayer. Soon there was [another new student ahead of me], and I began to get nervous, but I stayed in line …. Just about the time [the other student] got all of her stuff and turned away, Dr. Drew touched me on the shoulder, and he said, "Are you Ed Hill?" I said, "Yes." "Are you Ed Hill from Sweet Home?" "Yes." "Have you paid yet?" "Not quite."
"We've been looking for you all this morning," [he said].
I said, "Well, what do [you] want with me?"
"We have a four-‐year scholarship that will pay your room and board, your tuition, and give you thirty dollars a month to spend."
And I heard Mama say, "I will be praying for you!"
Though, it’s been over 30 years now, I still believe Mom is praying for me from Heaven. A mother’s work is never done. I hope she’s smiling! Have a blessed Mother’s Day!!!
1. The net proceeds from the Spaghetti Feed were approximately $8,500. One half will go to the General Fund and one half to the Building Fund.
2. “Mortgage Sunday” will be held in September. 3. Thank you to Dean Komure and his crew for completing the installation of the exterior lights outside the gym.
4. The Deacon youth will be in charge of the Change for Change ministry. 5. The Willow Creek Leadership Summit will be August 8th – 9th @ Bear Creek Church. The Organic Outreach Conference in Monterey will be November 7th – 9th. If you are
interested in attending either of the conferences, please let Pastor Hiromi know. 6. We have some wonderful Christian books located in our church library (next to the church calendar) in the Fellowship
Hall. You are welcome to sign them out to read and grow in your faith! Myra Fong, Clerk of Session
March 2013 YTD
Income $51,312.43 Expenses $43,155.34 Total + $8,157.09
FROM THE
Deacon’s Corner On March 26, just in time for Easter distribution, Jerry & Karen Nakamura delivered the food donated by the CPC congregation for the Spring Hunger Never Takes a Holiday to the Emergency Food Bank, weighing in at 433 lbs. Thanks to all for your generous giving to this worthwhile cause.
The Deacons hosted Maundy Thursday Supper and Holy Communion on March 28 at 6:00pm. Forty-‐seven church members broke bread, witnessed a brief skit of the betrayal of Jesus, partook of a meal, moved to the sanctuary to place nails on the cross, praised God in song, and received the blood of Christ that was shed for our sins. Pastor Hiromi led the evening from beginning to end.
The Spring Rummage Sale was held on Saturday, April 6. Through the congregation’s donation of rummage sale items, baked goods, time and effort, we are pleased to share that the net profit was $2,041.46. Ilene Kuwahara delivered 20 large bags of unsold clothing items to Helping Hands. Domo arigato to the Nichigo
Ladies for the feast they presented and provided for the volunteers. They graciously prepared, served, and cleaned up. Many thanks to all others who contributed to the potluck luncheon. Disbursement of the funds will be discussed at our May meeting. Thank you again for your contributions and donations and for your continued participation and support of the Deacon’s Rummage Sale Ministry.
The 2nd Quarter Community Outreach to be held in June is headed by Brian Dwyer, Dave Furukawa, and Ilene Kuwahara. They will be meeting soon, so if you have any specific ideas, please contact one of them. We are fortunate to have had such a wonderful response to all of our past projects. With much gratitude, we are thankful for your desire to serve God in such meaningful ways.
Remember, Jesus loves you! The Bible tells us so.
I would like to thank everyone who was involved in helping put up the lights in the parking lot. The project took place over a 10 day span. It started with Stan Kaneko calling USA Underground Service to make sure there were no buried electrical or gas lines that we could hit when we dug the footing. Steve Takemoto was involved in finding the electrical conduit that was buried for the electrical lines. He did get a little wet when I blew air through some existing conduit to find where they led because the rainwater had collected inside the conduit. Ron Kuwahara and three of his basketball players (Brett Nakashima, Bobby Grem, and Trellon McCoy) helped dig the first hole, and Steve Fujinaka helped dig the second hole. Allen Fong, Gary Low, Ron Kuwahara, Richard Menor, and Keith Yamada helped pull the wire through the conduit. Ron Kuwahara, Steve Fujinaka, and I laid the cement. A week later, the poles were painted and put up with Richard Menor’s help. Richard, Ron, and I hooked up the wires. It truly was a group effort.
Special thanks to Gary Nakashima for the cement, Kelly Nakashima for providing lunch for the workers, and George Young of San Joaquin Marine for the light poles.
Respectfully submitted, Dean Komure
SPECIAL OFFERINGS Birthday Fund Miki Kagoshima Duane & Jean Sakoda Judy Takemoto
Deacons Fund Allen & Myra Fong Mary Hirose Gary & Janice Ishimaru Jeanne Sabankaya Tim & Hisako Smith Pastor Hiromi & Marsha Yoneda
Christmas Shirley Ng
Easter Henry & Grace Arata Michael & Janice Chan Daisy Chew Steve & Barbie Fujinaka Mary Hirose Alfred & Irene Ishida Shizuko Ishihara Miki Kagoshima Dean & Liane Komure Gary & Susan Low Reginald & Donna Low Chris MacDannald Ralph & Kyoko Matsune Sam & Sumi Motoike Jerry & Karen Nakamura R. Mitsuo Nakamura Rose Nakamura Gary & Sandy Nakashima John & Kelly Nakashima Joyce Nakashima Ken & Karen Natsuhara Hiroko Nitta Duane & Jean Sakoda Bill Shima Don & Cynthia Shiromizu Peter & Tatsumi Stearns
Dan & Tamako Takahashi Jim & Sally Tsunekawa Keith & Judy Yamada Hideko Yamamoto Pastor Hiromi & Marsha Yoneda Ted & Sue Yoneda Ruth Yoneshige Edward Yoshikawa
In Celebration of the Birth of Grandson William Turner Don & Cynthia Shiromizu
In Honor of Maryam Davis’ Recovery Ted & Sue Yoneda
In Memory of Ben Hatanaka Lilly Hatanaka
In Memory of Bernice Endow Mary Hirose Mary Imai Gary & Janice Ishimaru Miki Kagoshima Katy Komure Elaine Low Endow Family Joan Matsune Jerry & Karen Nakamura John & Ruth Oda Don & Cynthia Shiromizu Steve & Barbara Takemoto Roy & Emily Takeuchi Kenny & Antoinette Tokunaga Ray & Caroline Tom Hanae Watanabe Keith & Judy Yamada Ruth Yoneshige George & Lily Yoshimi
In Memory of Rev. Dallas Landrum Allen & Myra Fong Mary Hirose Gary & Janice Ishimaru Miki Kagoshima
Ron & Ilene Kuwahara Elaine Low Joan Matsune Jerry & Karen Nakamura Judy Takemoto Gene & Marcy Wong Keith & Judy Yamada
In Memory of Mieko Shimakawa Jerry & Karen Nakamura
Initial Offering Tim & Hisako Smith
Nichigo Endow Family
Spaghetti Feed Russell Aoyama Henry & Grace Arata Shirley Bertoni Naomi Blue Marcia Boyd Barbara Ducker Allen & Myra Fong Fumuye Higashiyama Marsha Hoff Dean & Liane Komure Ron & Ilene Kuwahara Chris MacDannald Richard & Janet Menor Kazumi Nishioka Lee Paston Don & Cynthia Shiromizu Steve & Barbara Takemoto Jim & Sally Tsunekawa Jimmy Watanabe Donna Yee Pastor Hiromi & Marsha Yoneda Ruth Yoneshige
Women’s Guild Endow Family
Dear High School and College Graduates We hope to celebrate your success in May or the 1st part of June, so I am seeking photos!
I would like to include you in CPC’s Graduates Celebration slideshow. I need photos ASAP within the next 2-‐3 weeks. Please email or bring the following to church for me.
Please include at least 1 baby, 1 grammar school, 2-‐3 high school or college and 1 "graduation" photo—formal or with cap/gown would be nice, and also any with you participating in Calvary events. Total up to 12 photos.
email to: [email protected] Thanks! Sally Tsunekawa