Hooray 13 Years Being a Reconciling Church

WooHoo! Wesley Church recently celebrated its 13th year of becoming a Reconciling Church and what a festive and uplifting day it was. If you were in church that day, you were witness to what it meant to be an open and accepting place of worship especially for our LGBTQ+ members…to be an ally. Following the service, the congregation came together to purchase baked goodies made by our members in the church’s annual fundraising bake sale. Talk about being filled so completely in mind, body and spirit with a meaningful service dedicated to what it means to be an ally to our LGBTQ plus brothers and sisters. After, there’s nothing like a yummy tasty treat to add satisfaction to one’s palate.
For our Liturgists, Brian and Bich Hamilton, being an ally means “accepting and loving people for who they are,” stated Brian.  This was followed by, Bich’s comment: “To me, being an ally means to listen, to learn the perspective and the challenges, joys of my siblings and to act with justice on their behalf,”.
Being an ally is an integral part of Wesley being an open church as pointed out by Carol Mar and her wife Vanessa Perry Mar as they both spoke of what it meant to them to have Wesley as their ally. Both having come from different faith traditions found a home at Wesley where our church has put into practice being “a church rooted in love, formed in faith and committed to justice” from which all persons, programs, ministries, and outreach flowed. This spiritual practice to them is what is meant by being their ally in faith and a home where they can freely embrace Jesus, God and continue their spiritual growth.
Denise Rawlinson witnessed being an ally to her grandchild and accepting and loving them for their authentic selves. It’s not easy, she noted, and there is a learning curve, but being open and loving is the first of many steps in their relationship.
Mark Teagle followed with a message meant to inform the congregation of the meaning of being an ally to LGBTAQ+ community beyond words. He talked of his conservative upbringing, church, high school and seminary, and moving outward with the questions he asked soon becoming aware of the interconnection of social injustice and faith-based church. In recent years, he ultimately countered the legitimacy of those conservative beliefs and became an advocate and activist for opening up God’s love inside the walls of church to be that place that welcomes all, meaning LGBTQ plus brothers and sisters. This was seen in the coming to fruition of his musical/play “Doors Open”. He noted the good work of PFLAG as the nations’ largest organization and ally dedicated to supporting, educating and advocating for LGPTQ plus people and those who love them.
Filled with information and exuding with heartfelt thanksgiving for how God has transformed our church into spiritual home for everyone, the generosity of the church complement was seen as they bought out our entire stock of cakes, pastries, breads, cookies, pies, charcuterie plates, spam musubi and Japanese confection made by church members in this fundraising effort. The good feeling just continued forward. This year’s church fundraiser broke all records making $2,854 all going to the non-profit Reconciling Church Ministries in our outreach campaign. I am thankful for this outpouring of kindness and generosity by our church members. This fundraiser is unique because members contribute all the home-made goodies for sale and then they turnaround and purchase them.
I wish to acknowledge the many hands that made the day a success. Thank you to the Scouts who set up the tables and staged the Fellowship Hall prior to the event, and on the day of the sale: Kelvin Kamachi, Kathy Iyama, Jeanne Katsuro and Cynthia Fukuda, April Kawahara, Misao Kusuda, Judie Kanemoto, Irene Nakamitsu, Bev Acuna and Terri Koike (cashiers) and Hector Acuna and Barbra Hiura (money counters).
Huge kudos go out to all the bakers and goody makers: Vanessa Perry-Mar and the CAF and MYF, DeeDee Azuma, Linda Cato, Marcella Rensi, Beverly Lovass, Bev and Hector Acuna, Irene Nakamitsu, Jim Higuchi, the Miyaharas (Derek, Joanne, and Ryan), Luz Gonzales, Mayumi Miyakawa, Yumi Haraguchi, Barbara Hiura, April Kawahara, Kathy Iyama, Toni Soo-Hoo, Terri Koike, Cindy Fukuda, Emma To, Grace Sada, Christine Ozawa, Kacie Ng, Kenzie Ng, Jane Hayashi, Robin Kinoshita, Kim and Andrea Smith-Landucci, Tomoko Tanaka, Mary Horio, Donna Toyohara, Carol Mar, Carolyn Kameya, Steve and Doris Tabuchi, Jill Aragaki, Jeanne Katsuro, Amanda Halbakken, Patsy Utsumi, Steve and Doris Tabuchi, Judie Kanemoto, Misako Ogi, Bobbie Ueunten, and Bic and Brian Hamilton . Hats off to all the church members who purchased. And, Hey everyone…thank you for making this one of the best fundraisers of the year. Thank you God for filling us with your love so that we may love all.

Brian and Bich Hamilton as well as all the speakers, Carol Mar and Vanessa Perry-Mar and Denise Rawlinson talked about what it means to be an ally.

 Mark Teagle’s message was uplifting and informative.

Barbara Mulford eyes all the delicious goodies she hopes to buy. ”They’ll probably be all gone by the time I get here,” she commented.  Not true, and she purchased everything she was desiring.

Here we see our bake-sale cashiers (from left), Teri Koike and Bev Acuna, with another satisfied customer, Shizuko Adachi.

Patsy Utsumi was delighted to receive a cup of lemonade from freshly squeezed lemons from Brian Hamilton.

Our newest Praise Band member, Abbii Camacho was quite pleased with her selection.

Sales were brisk and donations were quite generous.