Rally Sunday and a Brand New School Year

Hey! It's Rally Sunday! Welcome! We welcomed back all our children and teachers on Aug. 18 for another year of learning about Jesus and growing as fruit on a budding tree. Helping the church celebrate were members of the Wesley Jazz Band ushered in the beginning of our church's Sunday School Year with "Do Lord!"

Teachers Mary Asano and Lisa Bantilan served as our liturgists.

And yes, the children were in worship service!

Our church is grateful to the dedication of all our God's Garden teachers (from left): Kiyomi Yanai, Mary Asano, Christine Ozawa, Mika Visitacion, Mari Fujii, Lisa Bantillan, Rob Hikido, Clarissa Johnston-Abril and Jim Mar. They represent the Sacred Seedlings (nursery), Best Buds and Super Sprouts (Preschool-1st Grade) and Giving Tree (2nd to 5th grades. Hatty Lin (standing in the back), Director of Children's Ministries introduced all the teachers. Not pictured was Jayne Williams.

A significant event and beautiful experience on this very day was the presentation of a child's first Bible to third grader, Mizuki.

A reverent Mizuki receives her first Bible.

This was also bless the back-pack Sunday and Rev. John had all the children young and old come forward with their backpacks to be blessed for the upcoming school year. (Aren't these awfully large backpacks for kids?) Oh... And yes, a blessing for Jeffrey Oldham too who is never far from his backpack.

We had a special visitor from Florida, Rev. Margrey deVega who blessed us with a Benediction.