My Church

This is about Urawa Lutheran Church, where I go every Sunday. The service is at 11:00. There's a childrens service at 9:00, and a Bible study at 10:00. The entire service is in Japanese. So, it's pretty difficult to follow for me. The structure is basically the same as any Lutheran church, so I'm not completely lost. Carl (my co-worker) and myself take turns leading the English Bible study. There's usually around 3-8 people in it. One of our Japanese friends and fellow church congregants translates when needed. Our Bibles are both in English and in Japanese.

One humourous part of church was during holy communion. Here, everyone received the bread and eats it straight away. When we receive the wind though (individual cups, filled at the alter), we should wait until everyone standing at the alter has been served. Then, the pastor instructs us to drink together. The first time I did this, I did not know I had to wait. So, as soon as I got the wine, I drank right away. After I realized that I should've waited, I was pretty embarrassed.


















Here's the front of the church, with Pastor Kaye (my co-worker, who is not a practicing pastor right now) in front.

















Here's is Pastor Suzuki and Debi's (one of the teachers we replaced) father erecting a new cross that he built himself. It has holes where the nails that held Jesus may have been. Lutheran churches generally do not have crucifixes. Instead, there is an empty cross. This is to emphesize that Jesus is alive; that He rose from the dead.

















This is during a children's service, at Easter.

















A few weeks ago, we had a couple of professors from Concordia College in Irvine California stay with us for about a week. Dr. Abate is the black guy (originally from Ethiopia), and Dr. Rooney is the white guy in the blue shirt and tie. Every year for the past 18 years(?), my school/church has invited a couple of professors from Concordia Irvine to come here and act as missionaries. During this time, they tour around the Tokyo area, give a couple speeches to students in our daily morning chapel services in the school, and also tour the school (sitting in on some classes, etc.). It's a nice opportunity for them to see Japan, and share their faith with a secular country.

Japan is officially around 1% Christian. Most profess to be Buddhist, Shinto or agnostic (unsure about religion). For those who are Buddhist or Shinto, this is in name only. They generally go to the special events a couple of times a year, and don't think about it for the rest of the year. This is similar to people who to go church only on Christmas and Easter, but don't really think about their faith the rest of the year.

















This was from Easter. On this day, we had an Easter egg hunt for the kids. It was really fun watching them try to find the eggs!

















Here's a couple of girls, who are also my students (grade 6).

















Here are a few female high school students and college students, and myself. The girl (German/Japanese, but fluent in English also) on the right is doing a year of school here (grade 11 here, but is actually a bit older). The girl on the right (American) is doing an exchange with a university here in Tokyo for a semester. The two girls in the middle are grade 11 students.


















Hi everyone! Peace!

















This week, we had a group of five high school students and two chaperones visiting from Phoenix Arizona. They stayed for about a week. Each of them stayed with a different host family, and has opportunities to see much of Tokyo. They also were able to tour around the school, and observe some classes. This is the 8th year my school has done this. This picture was taken during a good-bye praise service in the school. After the worship, we had a nice buffet lunch. Then, everyone gave their good-bye speeches.

For 4 weeks this summer, my co-worker, another teacher and myself will be chaperoning 21 Japanese high school students in America. We'll be in Irvine, California for two weeks, and in Phoenix, Arizona for two week. We'll have chances to see things like Disneyland, some California beaches, Hollywood, the Grand Canyon, etc.

















Here are a couple of grade 11 students. Their families hosted some of the Americans this week.

















Here's a group of use posing in the church. The Americans from Phoenix are in the back (with Carl, my co-worker, on the right). In the front is one of the English teachers, the principal of the school, Pastor Suzuki, the chairman (and former principal) of the school, and myself.