Annual Report for Mark Teagle
Annual Report for Mark Teagle
Director of Spiritual Formation,
Community Engagement, and Music
November 12, 2013
Director of Spiritual Formation,
Community Engagement, and Music
November 12, 2013
I am honored and humbled to be in my fifth year in my role as Director of Spiritual Formation, Community Engagement, and Music and in my ninth year as Choir Director. I am also continuing my path to Deacon Ordination as a Certified Candidate for El Camino District.
Spiritual Formation
In December, 2022 we continued with Advent Groups using Prepare the Way of the Lord, by Adam Hamilton as our study. We followed the ministry of John the Baptist as we prepared for Christmas.
Rev. John Oda and I are part of a group planning for Campus Ministry at SJSU along with leaders from St. Paul’s UMC, Alum Rock UMC, and Santa Clara Valley Korean UMC. This effort has been delayed by the St. Paul’s fire and Pastor Helen Kung’s health challenges.
Our continuing Bible Studies and Small Groups are going well Saturday mornings, Sunday mornings, Monday mornings, with Agape as well on Sunday nights.
Our new ministry is Neighbor Groups. There are currently seven geographically based Neighbor Groups with more than 80 people participating in monthly meetings hosted, for the most part, in members’ homes. They get to know one another, share a short Bible Study, and then participate in fun activities and have a snack or dessert together.
Interested in one of our Small Groups or Bible Studies? Contact markteagle@wesleysj.net.
Spiritual Formation
In December, 2022 we continued with Advent Groups using Prepare the Way of the Lord, by Adam Hamilton as our study. We followed the ministry of John the Baptist as we prepared for Christmas.
Rev. John Oda and I are part of a group planning for Campus Ministry at SJSU along with leaders from St. Paul’s UMC, Alum Rock UMC, and Santa Clara Valley Korean UMC. This effort has been delayed by the St. Paul’s fire and Pastor Helen Kung’s health challenges.
Our continuing Bible Studies and Small Groups are going well Saturday mornings, Sunday mornings, Monday mornings, with Agape as well on Sunday nights.
Our new ministry is Neighbor Groups. There are currently seven geographically based Neighbor Groups with more than 80 people participating in monthly meetings hosted, for the most part, in members’ homes. They get to know one another, share a short Bible Study, and then participate in fun activities and have a snack or dessert together.
Interested in one of our Small Groups or Bible Studies? Contact markteagle@wesleysj.net.
Community Engagement
2023 saw significant growth in our Compassion Ministries. Our Food Distribution ministry became a partner organization with Second Harvest Food Bank which greatly increased our access to food including meat, eggs, milk, and produce. They deliver 2-3 pallets of food to our volunteers on Friday morning which is then stored until it can be sorted and distributed Tuesday mornings. We also passed our site visit for USDA compliance with flying colors thanks to our amazing volunteers.
2023 saw significant growth in our Compassion Ministries. Our Food Distribution ministry became a partner organization with Second Harvest Food Bank which greatly increased our access to food including meat, eggs, milk, and produce. They deliver 2-3 pallets of food to our volunteers on Friday morning which is then stored until it can be sorted and distributed Tuesday mornings. We also passed our site visit for USDA compliance with flying colors thanks to our amazing volunteers.
Because of this growth, we purchased a second commercial refrigerator and started using a third storage bay at the former Soko Plumbing facility (now called Compassion Workshop).
Cooking teams for families housed at Casa de Clara resumed then ended when Casa’s residency program went on hiatus. We hope to resume as soon as they do.
Cooking teams for families housed at Casa de Clara resumed then ended when Casa’s residency program went on hiatus. We hope to resume as soon as they do.
In the area of Social Justice work, I continue to serve as Board Co-Chair for PACT (People Acting in Community Together), a grass-roots, faith-based community organizing non-profit organization. Twelve Wesley members including Rev. John and I attended the PACT Leadership Luncheon at the Santa Clara Convention Center November 4, 2022. I attended a week of
PICO Training at UCLA January 23-27, The School of Faith and Power. I was part of a San Jose City Hall rally on renters’ rights January 10. I attended the PICO State Assembly March 4 in Oakland. I also traveled to Los Angeles for a PICO Leadership Summit September 20-22.
PICO Training at UCLA January 23-27, The School of Faith and Power. I was part of a San Jose City Hall rally on renters’ rights January 10. I attended the PICO State Assembly March 4 in Oakland. I also traveled to Los Angeles for a PICO Leadership Summit September 20-22.
April 20 I was part of a bus load of leaders and supporters who took part in the Home is Sacred rally at the State Capitol in Sacramento. We met with staff of Senators Dave Cortese and John Laird, Assembly representatives Alex Lee and Ash Kalra about tenant protections in SB 567 which was just signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. I was also part of PACT actions on Sunday, July 23, September 8, and Together We Vote event on October 14.
Wesley was represented at Nikkei Matsuri with an Information booth.
Other events I attended: the Recovery Cafe Luncheon May 4, the Bill Wilson Center dinner May 19, and the Prayer Garden Church 80th Anniversary Celebration Sunday, August 20.
Wesley was represented at Nikkei Matsuri with an Information booth.
Other events I attended: the Recovery Cafe Luncheon May 4, the Bill Wilson Center dinner May 19, and the Prayer Garden Church 80th Anniversary Celebration Sunday, August 20.
Music
The Music Ministry continues to be a hallmark of Wesley UMC. Rev. John Oda work together in planning worship services and special events. Here are some of the highlights:
The Music Ministry continues to be a hallmark of Wesley UMC. Rev. John Oda work together in planning worship services and special events. Here are some of the highlights:
During Advent on December 22, we held our annual La Posada event in partnership with Primera Iglesia and Pastor Gerardo Vasquez-Padilla.
On Christmas Eve we held a Hawaiian-style service featuring the Wesley Ukulele Band and some hula. I event broke out my cello for one song.
We held our first Trans Awareness Sunday March 5 with Aiden and Marcia Aizumi. We also featured by song “There Has Been Harm Done” as the church stood with our Trans siblings.
During Holy Week, the Good Friday service was a contemp-lative and interactive service. We continued the tradition of holding an Easter Sunrise Service at Oak Hill Cemetery, celebrating the resurrection as the day dawned. And Easter was a wonderful celebration featuring lots of music and a stirring message from Rev. John Oda.
During Holy Week, the Good Friday service was a contemp-lative and interactive service. We continued the tradition of holding an Easter Sunrise Service at Oak Hill Cemetery, celebrating the resurrection as the day dawned. And Easter was a wonderful celebration featuring lots of music and a stirring message from Rev. John Oda.
Working with Wayne Adachi and the Wesley Jazz Ensemble, we held an immersive theater reading of my play Japantown Returnings as part of Japantown Immersive on May 20. Featured musicians included Roy and PJ Hirabayashi, Trent Ueunten, and Peter and Wendy Horikoshi.
For Kids Camp June 19-23 I led the Story Time along with Rev. John and Tweens Drama Workshop.
In June we installed new Praise Band risers to improve the sight lines for our musicians in worship. Thanks to Byran Longmire, Dave Brown, Todd Soo-Hoo, and Hector Acuña for their help.
In June we installed new Praise Band risers to improve the sight lines for our musicians in worship. Thanks to Byran Longmire, Dave Brown, Todd Soo-Hoo, and Hector Acuña for their help.
Through membership in the Wesley Ukulele Band, we played at Roy’s Station August 26 for a Maui Benefit. We also played for the Hukilau for the Lord Luau on October 7 which raised money for Missions.
We’ve been working to include new faces in Praise Band with people like Ryan Miyahara, Dave Land, Joanne Miyahara, Ashley Cook, Jake Shimada, and Tina Urata. They join our long-time members Marilyn and Ted Hasegawa, Todd Soo-Hoo, and Ichiro Bakoshi. We have added new songs and updated some of our sheet music systems.
Staff
Our SPRC has put together a great staff of leaders. Under Rev. John Oda, we work well together to support the ministries of Wesley.
I helped plan the Wesley Leadership Retreat February 4-5 at Monte Toyon in Aptos. The theme was “Our Time to Rebuild” and provoked many fruitful discussions and plans.
Our SPRC has put together a great staff of leaders. Under Rev. John Oda, we work well together to support the ministries of Wesley.
I helped plan the Wesley Leadership Retreat February 4-5 at Monte Toyon in Aptos. The theme was “Our Time to Rebuild” and provoked many fruitful discussions and plans.
In the area of Communications, I worked with Media Coordinator Hikaru Bakoshi on moving to a new web platform Subsplash, developing a Church App, and starting to implement a new Church Management System.
One highlight of staff team building was a trip to an Escape Room on August 8.
I attended and led music for All Church Camp Labor Day Weekend.
I also represented Wesley at the National Japanese American United Methodist Caucus gathering Sept. 26-28 in Burlingame where I had a wonderful experience meeting and reconnecting with leaders from the historically Japanese American churches in our denomination.
I attended and led music for All Church Camp Labor Day Weekend.
I also represented Wesley at the National Japanese American United Methodist Caucus gathering Sept. 26-28 in Burlingame where I had a wonderful experience meeting and reconnecting with leaders from the historically Japanese American churches in our denomination.
Deacon Ordination
As I continue to work toward ordination as a Deacon, I met with the District Committee on Ordained Ministry on April 25 where they renewed me as a Certified Candidate.
As I continue to work toward ordination as a Deacon, I met with the District Committee on Ordained Ministry on April 25 where they renewed me as a Certified Candidate.
Personal
On the personal side, I joined my family at Ridgefield UMC (near Vancouver, WA) in April for my Aunt Beth’s memorial service.
I had a great trip to St. Paul, MN over the Memorial Day weekend to visit with daughter Rachel, her spouse Em, and granddaughters Maddy (7) and Rayna (5).
My brothers and sisters and their families gathered at Ocean Park, WA in July to celebrate my mom’s 85th birthday.
On the personal side, I joined my family at Ridgefield UMC (near Vancouver, WA) in April for my Aunt Beth’s memorial service.
I had a great trip to St. Paul, MN over the Memorial Day weekend to visit with daughter Rachel, her spouse Em, and granddaughters Maddy (7) and Rayna (5).
My brothers and sisters and their families gathered at Ocean Park, WA in July to celebrate my mom’s 85th birthday.
Posted in Charge Conference 2023