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:  sltsune@aol.com          Thanks!      Sally  Tsunekawa