2026-02-19 Good News

PASTOR'S REFLECTIONRev. John Oda “Lent at Wesley: A Season of Freedom”“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore…” (Galatians 5:1) We often think of Lent as a season of “giving something up.” This year at Wesley, we’re paying attention to what happens when we give up old habits, old ideas, and old patterns, let go of control and slow down.Back in 1983 my brother had just finished h...

We are so grateful for the generous giving that Wesley receives. Because of your generosity, we have 13 dedicated professionals on staff, are able to support robust budgets for ministries that serve our congregation and community, and are able to plan for continued growth. If you donated to Wesley in 2025, you should have received your Giving Statement in the mail and you may have noticed that our...

For a short devotional each day in Lent, please join in using The Sanctuary for Lent 2026 by Amy Sigmon. This booklet, available in digital or printed format, contains brief readings for each day in Lent, from the first Sunday of Lent through Easter Sunday, including a suggested Scripture, a short devotion, and a short prayer or practice—all based on the Revised Common Lectionary. To order, please...

Fellowship Hour after Sunday Worship is a great time to meet up with friends, old and new, while enjoying tasty snacks with coffee or tea.Wesley’s Hospitality Committee is looking for help for this event.  They are in need of volunteers to help with food setup, serving, and cleanup.  If you are interested in this opportunity, you may sign up at: (https://www.timetosignup.com/wesleysignups/)  Selec...

There’s a new list of the books for the UWF 2026 Reading Program 2026!!<https://ecrduwf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2026ReadingProgramBooks.pdf>Let Mary Chafey know if you’d like me to purchase a certain book for our cart! Here are five of the fourteen purchased from the 2026 list! These 5 are on the cart now! Check the list at the link above to see all the books on the Reading Program.1. The B...

今週の水曜日から受難週を迎えました。そして4月2日が最後の晩餐のMaundy Thursday、5日がイースターです。つまり、この最後の晩餐は主イエスが十字架に懸けられた日の前夜でした。同時にそれは過ぎ越しの祭りのお祝いの席でもありました。この食事がどんなものであったのかは来月のニュースレターに譲るとして、今回は当時のユダヤの食生活について少し考えてみたいと思います。普段、私たちはKosherという言葉をよく耳にしますが、これはヘブル語で「fit」つまり健康的な食事であることを意味し、旧約聖書のレビ記11章と申命記14章に規定されています。突き詰めて言うと、食物を清いものと汚れたものに分け、ひたすら前者だけを食べなさい、という掟です。でも実際に人々はどんなものを食べていたのでしょう。主食はパン。一般の人々は大麦の粉から、お金持ちは小麦粉から作ったそうです。多くは平たい種無しパンで、現代のW...

Nihonmachi Outreach Committee held their 46th Annual Program (Neighbors Not Enemies) on Feb. 15, at the Buddhist Church Betsuin.  Rev. Oda was one of the speakers.Day of Remeambrance Committee asked Wesley United Methodist Church if the church could donate 38 rolls of makizushi to offset the cost of holding the program.  They sell the makizushi along with the age sushi that the Buddhist Church don...

Scout Sunday was celebrated on February 8th kicked off by a successful clothing drive. Scouts and Cubs from 6-17yrs old helped in the service with candle lighting, ushering, readings and riveting slideshows. Our illustrious Scoutmaster Tom Oda and dedicated Cub parent Jonatan Schumacher shared about all the ways Wesley's scouting program grows great leaders with a good moral compass, while having ...

Thanks to a grant from Second Harvest, we have added a third commercial refrigerator to our Food Distribution facility. This increases our capacity for storing produce and other perishables. Now more of our Friday delivery can stay refrigerated. This is in addition to our two freezers. Come see our Food Distribution in action each Tuesday morning from 8:30 to 11:00 am.......

Rev. John Oda, formally dressed in a rainbow colored stoll as a visual for the rights of LGBTQIA+, gave the Aspiration at the 46th Annual Day of Remembrance commemoration event held on Feb. 15. Rather than a prayer, he recalled solemnly the impact Executive Order 9066 had on his then 9-year-old mother who saw her whole life upended and changed forever as a result of this racist act. The theme "Nei...

Helping to serve the delicious soup were Miyuki Nakazato (left), and Akiko Gordon. From left Bic and Brian Hamilton and Anneka and Sue Ou, and Shizuko Adachi enjoying the delicious Ozoni. Thank you to the cooking crew from left: Shizuko Adachi, Bobbie Ueunten, Kazuko Hughes, Maki & Miyuki Nakazato, Mayumi Miyakawa, Ann Cowels, Bev Acuna, Mimune Tsukamoto, Akiko Gordon, Mary Horio, Hikaru Bakoshi, ...