Pastor's Reflection 2024-07-25 02
Dear Wesley United Methodist Church Family,
July 1st, 2024 marked my third year here at Wesley United Methodist Church, and what an incredible journey it has been thus far. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve this vibrant and loving community.
Reflecting on the past two years, it’s remarkable to see how much we have accomplished together. Our journey has been filled with joy, growth, and a renewed spirit of fellowship. Here are some of the few highlights of the changes and improvements we’ve implemented during this time.
We launched a new Wesley App last year! This app has transformed how we connect, share information, how we worship, how we sign up for events, and how we stay updated on all of the church activities. It’s a wonderful tool that keeps us all in the loop and strengthens our sense of community. Special thanks go out to Hikaru Bakoshi who was instrumental in creating the app and keeps it updated. She also was crucial in the new and improved Wesley website, which relaunched in 2023
Over the past two years, we have worked to enhance our worship experience at Wesley. We have made some subtle and not so subtle changes. Last year we installed a stage to our worship space which allows everyone to now more easily see and hear all of the praise band members. This past year our praise band was blessed with the addition of a new singer, Ivan Vielma, who brings a fresh new energy and a vibrant voice to our worship services. We also started to incorporate more videos into our worship experience by creating special videos and videos of the weekly scripture reading in both Japanese and English. All of these enhancements have elevated our worship experience. Thank you to Mark Teagle for being such an integral part of these improvements.
We continue to work to strengthen our ministries and our staff. Over the past two years, we have many new staff members. Their unique talents and perspectives have greatly enhanced our ministry team. We have also reconfigured our staff structure, and I am proud to say we now have three full-time staff members dedicated to serving our congregation. All of the staff’s dedication and hard work have been instrumental in driving our mission forward. And although she is not a paid staff member, in 2023 we also welcomed Rev. Bobbie Corson, as Wesley’s Associate Minister for Visitations. Rev. Bobbie Corson came on board to assist with congregational care. Her compassion and heart-centered presence have been invaluable in ensuring that all our members feel connected and cared for, especially during challenging times.
Lastly, since 2021, Wesley United Methodist Church has introduced three exciting new ministry events. First, the San Jose Japantown Curry Cook Off has quickly become a community favorite, showcasing delicious recipes and fostering fellowship. It is a collaborative event between the San Jose Buddhist Church and Wesley UMC with all of the proceeds going to YuAi-Kai and the Nikkei Matsuri Foundation. We also launched our Bless the Pets ministry which has brought joy to pet owners and their furry friends, emphasizing the importance of all God's creatures. This year’s Bless the Pet’s event will take place on September 21. Lastly, this past year we initiated our Wesley Trip to Japan. This trip offered a customized journey to experience the rich culture of Japan. It was open to all church members and their friends. We hope and pray that the Wesley Trip to Japan will become a cherished biennial tradition. All of these ministries reflect our commitment to community engagement, spiritual growth, and cultural enrichment.
Looking ahead, I am filled with excitement and anticipation for what the future holds for Wesley UMC. We will continue to build on our successes, seek new ways to serve our community, and deepen our faith together. I am committed to leading with a heart full of love, an open mind, and a steadfast dedication to our shared mission.
Thank you for your unwavering support, prayers, and active participation in our church life. Together, we will continue to grow, thrive, and spread the message of God’s love.
With gratitude and joy,
Rev. John
July 1st, 2024 marked my third year here at Wesley United Methodist Church, and what an incredible journey it has been thus far. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve this vibrant and loving community.
Reflecting on the past two years, it’s remarkable to see how much we have accomplished together. Our journey has been filled with joy, growth, and a renewed spirit of fellowship. Here are some of the few highlights of the changes and improvements we’ve implemented during this time.
We launched a new Wesley App last year! This app has transformed how we connect, share information, how we worship, how we sign up for events, and how we stay updated on all of the church activities. It’s a wonderful tool that keeps us all in the loop and strengthens our sense of community. Special thanks go out to Hikaru Bakoshi who was instrumental in creating the app and keeps it updated. She also was crucial in the new and improved Wesley website, which relaunched in 2023
Over the past two years, we have worked to enhance our worship experience at Wesley. We have made some subtle and not so subtle changes. Last year we installed a stage to our worship space which allows everyone to now more easily see and hear all of the praise band members. This past year our praise band was blessed with the addition of a new singer, Ivan Vielma, who brings a fresh new energy and a vibrant voice to our worship services. We also started to incorporate more videos into our worship experience by creating special videos and videos of the weekly scripture reading in both Japanese and English. All of these enhancements have elevated our worship experience. Thank you to Mark Teagle for being such an integral part of these improvements.
We continue to work to strengthen our ministries and our staff. Over the past two years, we have many new staff members. Their unique talents and perspectives have greatly enhanced our ministry team. We have also reconfigured our staff structure, and I am proud to say we now have three full-time staff members dedicated to serving our congregation. All of the staff’s dedication and hard work have been instrumental in driving our mission forward. And although she is not a paid staff member, in 2023 we also welcomed Rev. Bobbie Corson, as Wesley’s Associate Minister for Visitations. Rev. Bobbie Corson came on board to assist with congregational care. Her compassion and heart-centered presence have been invaluable in ensuring that all our members feel connected and cared for, especially during challenging times.
Lastly, since 2021, Wesley United Methodist Church has introduced three exciting new ministry events. First, the San Jose Japantown Curry Cook Off has quickly become a community favorite, showcasing delicious recipes and fostering fellowship. It is a collaborative event between the San Jose Buddhist Church and Wesley UMC with all of the proceeds going to YuAi-Kai and the Nikkei Matsuri Foundation. We also launched our Bless the Pets ministry which has brought joy to pet owners and their furry friends, emphasizing the importance of all God's creatures. This year’s Bless the Pet’s event will take place on September 21. Lastly, this past year we initiated our Wesley Trip to Japan. This trip offered a customized journey to experience the rich culture of Japan. It was open to all church members and their friends. We hope and pray that the Wesley Trip to Japan will become a cherished biennial tradition. All of these ministries reflect our commitment to community engagement, spiritual growth, and cultural enrichment.
Looking ahead, I am filled with excitement and anticipation for what the future holds for Wesley UMC. We will continue to build on our successes, seek new ways to serve our community, and deepen our faith together. I am committed to leading with a heart full of love, an open mind, and a steadfast dedication to our shared mission.
Thank you for your unwavering support, prayers, and active participation in our church life. Together, we will continue to grow, thrive, and spread the message of God’s love.
With gratitude and joy,
Rev. John
Posted in Newsletter 2024-07-25