Calvary  Press  

December  2012      

     

   

 

 

 

 

Pastor:  The  Rev.  Hiromi  Yoneda  Parish  Associate:  The  Rev.  Dallas  Landrum  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  

 The  Christmas  Gift  

For  many  people,   Christmas   is   about   gifts.   The  day   after   Thanksgiving   is   considered   the  first   day   of   the   Christmas/holiday   shopping   season.   It   is   often   called   "Black   Friday"  because  it’s  when  retailers,  who  have  been  operating  in  the  red,  first  turn  a  profit  for  the  

year.  Certain  retailers  open  before  sunrise  to  admit  those  who  have  camped  out  in  line  so  they  can  receive  the  “special  deals”  on  selected  “hot”  items.  In  recent  years,  we  have  heard  stories  about  how  ugly  these  crowds  can  become.  To  pick  an  extreme  example,   in   a  Wal-­‐Mart   in   Secaucus,  New   Jersey,   a  woman   repeatedly   stabbed  a  man  with   a   kitchen   knife,   taken   from   the  housewares   section,   to   prevent   him   from  buying   the   last   Xbox   360.  Apparently,  letting  someone  else  have  the  last  of  something  we  decide  we  need  is  not  in  our  nature!  

Something  has  to  change.  The  physician  who  treated  the  victim  was  asked  what  she  thought  could  be  done  to  make  Black  Friday  shopping  less  dangerous.  She  replied,  “a  heavy  police  presence.”  

A   presence   is   most   certainly   needed,   but   One   of   another   kind.  Many   centuries   ago,   there   was   a   4th   century  Christian   bishop   from   Turkey   called   Nikolaos   of   Myra.   We   know   him   as   St.   Nicholas.   He   was   known   for   his  generosity   in  giving  to  those   less   fortunate  than  himself,  especially   to  children,  because  he  felt   they  needed  to  savor  their  childhood.  In  those  days,  it  was  common  for  boys  as  young  as  eight  to  be  sent  to  work  to  help  earn  income   for   their   families.   The   most   common   gifts   given   by   St.   Nicholas   were   homemade   foods   and   sweets,  oranges,   handcrafted   gifts,   such   as   socks,   sweaters,   dresses,   nightgowns,   blankets,   tables,   chairs,   and   other  handmade  useful  items.  

St.  Nicholas  was  following  the  example  of  the  parable  that  Jesus  told  in  Matthew  25,  where  the  king  replied,  “I  tell  you  the  truth,  whatever  you  did  for  one  of  the  least  of  these  brothers  of  mine,  you  did  for  me”  (Matt.  25:40).  

This  follows  the  intent  of  the  first  gifts  given  to  the  Christ  child  by  the  wise  men  from  the  East.  Their  gifts  of  gold,  incense  and  myrrh  were  an  act  of  worship,  of  honoring  God  for  the  gift  of  His  Son  to  humanity.    The  Scriptures  make   it  very  clear   that   Jesus’  earthly  parents  were  of  very  humble  means.    From  the  Scriptures,  we   learn   that  Jesus  has  a  very  special  place  in  His  heart  for  the  disadvantaged:  the  poor,  the  widow,  and  the  orphan.  When  St.  Nicholas  gave  generously  to  the  children  of  little  means,  he  was  honoring  and  worshipping  Christ  Jesus.    

Yes,  Christmas  is  about  gifts,  and  of  all  the  gifts  you  give  this  year,  your  most  valued  and  precious  gift  will  not  be  a  Christmas  gift,  but  a  Christ-­‐gift.  When  you  give   this  gift   you  will   receive   the  most  precious  gift  all,  Christ   Jesus  Himself.  

 “He  who  is  kind  to  the  poor  lends  to  the  LORD,  and  He  will  reward  him  for  what  he  has  done.”  (Prov.  19:17)  

     

 1. Thanks   to   Pastor   Hiromi   and   many,   many   helpers,   the   pew   remodel   has   been  completed.    2. Thirteen   people   from   Calvary   attended   the   Organic   Outreach   Conference   in  Monterey.  We   learned  many   things   about   naturally   reaching   out   to   share   our   faith  with  others.  We  look  forward  to  sharing  these  ideas  with  you.  3. The  Session  approved  putting  a  United  States  flag  in  the  sanctuary.  4. At  the  December  23rd  worship  service,  new  members  will  be  received.  

5. Annual  Reports  are  due  January  4,  2013.  6. The  Annual  Congregational  Meeting  will  be  held  on  January  27,  2013.  

Myra  Fong,  Clerk  of  Session  October  2012  YTD  

Income   $170,460.29  Expenses   $169,434.46  Total   +    $1,025.83  

FROM THE

Deacon’s  Corner  The   Deacons   Meeting   on   November   11   determined   the   following   distribution   of  Deacon  Funds  to  our  local  community:                    

         HUNGER  NEVER  TAKES  A  HOLIDAY  Thank   you   to   the  Calvary   congregation   for   your   contributions   to   the  Hunger  Never  Takes  A  Holiday  food  drive.  Karen  and  Jerry  Nakamura  delivered  452  pounds  to  the  Stockton  Emergency  Food  Bank   (including  3   frozen   turkeys).   These   food  donations,  along  with   food   purchased  with   the   above   $1,000,  were   distributed   to   over   2,500  families  who  received  food  from  the  Emergency  Food  Bank  on  November  19.    

   

CALVARY  CARES  COAT  DRIVE  The  4th  Quarter  Outreach   is  our  Calvary  Cares  Coat  Drive   for  St.  Mary’s  Interfaith  Community  Services  and  runs  through  December  9.  Donations  of   gently   used   or   new   coats   are   greatly   appreciated.  Dave   Furukawa   is  spearheading  the  project.        

Our  heartfelt   thanks   to  all  who  have   supported  our  Deacons  activities   throughout  2012   to  make   them  so  successful.  Our  community  is  blessed  to  have  such  a  kind  and  giving  congregation  at  Calvary.      Blessings  to  all  during  the  upcoming  holidays.  Let’s  remember  Jesus  is  the  Reason  for  the  Season!                              

Emergency  Food  Bank   $1,000  One.TLC     $600  Gospel  Center  Rescue  Mission   $800  St.  Mary’s  Interfaith  Dining  Hall   $800  Mary  Graham  Children’s  Home   $400  Stockton  Homeless  Shelter   $400    

(Ilene  Kuwahara  purchased  $400.00  worth  of  men’s  socks  and  underwear  in  lieu  of  a  monetary  donation.)  

 

 

Advent  Worship  Schedule  1st  Sunday  of  Advent:   December  2  2nd  Sunday  of  Advent:   December  9  3rd  Sunday  of  Advent:   December  16  4th  Sunday  of  Advent:   December  23  Christmas  Eve  Service:   December  24,  5:30  PM  

 

$CRIP  FOR  ALL  YOUR  CHRISTMAS  NEEDS      

NEW  to  the  $crip  Program:        

Christmas  Travel/Vacation:  Arco  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Chevron  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Avis  or  Budget  Rental  Cars  Hyatt  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Best  Western  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Comfort  Inn  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Marriott    

Christmas  shopping  or  gift  card  giving:  Amazon  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Barnes  &  Noble  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Best  Buy  Macy’s  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Dillards  Family  Christian  Stores  -­‐-­‐-­‐  iTunes  Starbucks  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Jamba  Juice  See’s  Candy  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Baskin  Robbins  

Grocery  needs  for  your  Christmas  dinner:  Safeway  -­‐-­‐-­‐  S-­‐Mart  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Centro  Mart  Food  4  Less  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Smart  &  Final  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Raley’s    

Going  out  to  eat  after  a  long  day  of  shopping:  Chili’s  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Red  Lobster  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Macaroni  Grill  Carrow’s  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Outback  Steakhouse    Marie  Callendars  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Hometown  Buffet  Mimi’s  Cafe  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Texas  Roadhouse    

Need  a  quick  food  break  from  the  shopping?  Carl’s  Jr  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Wendy’s  -­‐-­‐-­‐  KFC  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Chipotle  Jack  in  the  Box  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Subway  -­‐-­‐-­‐  Panera  Bread

 These   are   just   a   few   of   the   different   $crips   we   have   to   help   with   your  Christmas  shopping.    Why  battle  the  parking  and  the  crowds  when  we  have  right  what  you  need  here  at  Calvary?    You  can  make  your  shopping  easier  and  help  us  raise  money  at  the  same  time!    Merry  Christmas!  

   

December 16

Christmas  potluck  lunch  to  follow.  Bring  your  favorite  dish  to  share!  

 

SPECIAL  OFFERINGS      

In  Memory  of  Hito  Nishi  Kimball  &  Barbara  Deftereos  Tak  &  Anne  Watanabe  

In  Memory  of  Mother  Anna  Lay’s  Salon  

In  Memory  of  Kazuo  Ishimaru  Toshiyuki  Taminura  

In  Memory  of  Frank  Morita  Ted  &  Sue  Yoneda  

In  Memory  of  Chizuko  Kaneishi,  Kathleen  Arata  and  Jacklyn  Arata  Michael  &  Janice  Chan  Allen  &  Myra  Fong  Mary  Hirose  Gary  &  Janice  Ishimaru  Joan  Matsune  John  &  Kelly  Nakashima  Joyce  Nakashima  Duane  &  Jean  Sakoda  Jim  &  Sally  Tsunekawa  Ruth  Yoneshige  

In  Appreciation  for  Sympathy  Henry  &  Grace  Arata  

Building  Use     Ray  Tom  Pew  &  Carpet  Project     Nancy  McFadden  Thanksgiving     Tadashi  Agari  Harold  &  Aiko  Aoyama  Henry  &  Grace  Arata  Setsuko  Billings  Michael  &  Janice  Chan  Daisy  Chew  Bernice  Endow  Fujio  &  Lily  Esaki  Allen  &  Myra  Fong  Steve  &  Barbara  Fujinaka  Ben  &  Susie  Hamamoto  Ben  &  Lilly  Hatanaka  

Mary  Hirose  Mary  Imai  Alfred  &  Irene  Ishida  Nick  Ishihara  Shizuko  Ishihara  Tadashi  &  Carolyn  Ishihara  Gary  &  Janice  Ishimaru  Jean  Isozaki  Betty  Joseph  Miki  Kagoshima  Dean  &  Liane  Komure  Mary  Lam  Elaine  Low  Willie  &  Anna  Low  Charise  Masada  George  &  Amy  Matsumoto  Joan  Matsune  Ralph  &  Kyoko  Matsune  Chris  MacDannald  Richard  &  Janet  Menor  Tom  &  Tsuru  Miyasaki  Sam  &  Sumi  Motoike  Irene  Murata  Sada  Nakagawa  Jerry  &  Karen  Nakamura  Joyce  Nakashima  Gary  &  Sandy  Nakashima  Ivy  Nishi  Anne  Nishioka  Henry  &  Dorothy  Nishioka  Kazumi  Nishioka  Shirley  Ng  Akie  Okazaki  Tak  &  Linda  Saito  Carolyn  Sakai  Bill  Shima  Donald  Smith  Dan  &  Tommie  Takahashi  Judy  Takemoto  Steve  &  Barbara  Takemoto  Roy  &  Emily  Takeuchi  Sam  &  Kinuyo  Tanaka  Jim  &  Sally  Tsunekawa  Gene  &  Marcy  Wong  

Keith  &  Judy  Yamada  Rev.  Hiromi  &  Marsha  Yoneda  Ted  &  Sue  Yoneda  Roy  &  Sumi  Yonemoto  Frank  Yoneshige  Ruth  Yoneshige  Fumio  Yoshikawa  

Christmas  Staff  Appreciation     Tadashi  Agari  Harold  &  Aiko  Aoyama  Russell  Aoyama  Setsuko  Billings  Daisy  Chew  Bernice  Endow  Shizuko  Ishihara  Gary  &  Janice  Ishimaru  Betty  Joseph  Miki  Kagoshima  Kathryn  Komure  Elaine  Low  Charise  Masada  Joan  Matsune  Nancy  McFadden  Tom  &  Tsuru  Miyasaki  Sam  &  Sumi  Motoike  Jerry  &  Karen  Nakamura  Ivy  Nishi  Anne  Nishioka  Henry  &  Dorothy  Nishioka  Kazumi  Nishioka  Tak  &  Linda  Saito  Carolyn  Sakai  Duane  &  Jean  Sakoda  Bill  Shima  Sam  &  Kinuyo  Tanaka  Ted  &  Sue  Yoneda  Roy  &  Sumi  Yonemoto  Fumio  Yoshikawa  

Birthday  Fund  (November)    Carolyn  &  Tadashi  Ishihara  Ben  &  Susie  Hamamoto

 

 

The  Upper  Room  is  available  in  both  small  and  large  sizes.  Please  feel  free  to  take  a  copy  home  with  you.