Wesley Celebrates 12 Years as a Reconciling Church: Open, Affirming and Welcome to All
Wesley Celebrates 12 Years as a Reconciling Church: Open, Affirming and Welcome to All
by Barbara Hiura
by Barbara Hiura
Did you come to the Reconciling Sunday where we celebrated our 12th anniversary of being a welcoming and affirming church? If you didn’t…you really missed a great day with the church family. We had sharing from our youthful, energetic Praise Band leader, musician and tenor, Ivan Vielma. And those who came enjoyed the to-die-for baked goodies made by the congregation and sold at our annual bake sale. What’s not to love and enjoy given that youthful vibe God sent to us to help our old bones find spiritual uplift and lighten our own step and then, fill our tummies with such tasty treats. Yes, this was a major highlight event of our church year so far.
Ivan Vielma
Who is Ivan Vielma? Mark Teagle wanted to find out and held an in-depth interview with him, front and center for all to hear. Vielma began talking about his early years coming from immigrant parents, growing up in the very conservative town of Bakersfield, and being of Catholic faith. While that was his environment, he said, he always had the support and love from his family throughout his life. Before coming out, he stated he had some angst about being gay. “I struggled with my feelings of being queer” he recalled, and he knew by high school that he was, but was not exposed to others like himself. I didn’t know how to deal with these feelings and “I was so angry” all the time. “This was during COVID, and I wasn’t getting along with my parents, and finally, I just ripped the bandage off and just told them.” Their response was…”is that it? You know we love you no matter what…you’re my son.” During this time, they spent a lot of time in close quarters giving the family time to bridge the gap of knowing and then understanding what it meant to be Ivan being true to himself. Through it all, and the learning process, there was aways respect, love, support, and pride.
With regard to his music, It's always been about music for Ivan. He tackled dancing, tap, hip-hop, and even clogging as a youngster. Then he learned to play every instrument he could get a hold of, saxophone, cello, violin, trumpet, trombone, ukulele and lately the guitar. By high school having learned all those instruments by rote, “it still wasn’t enough. I wanted to learn to read music and sing.” He told of his road to San Jose State and their magnificent music program through the highly acclaimed SJSU Choraliers. He definitely wanted to be a part of that singing group having heard them perform in his hometown. And now having spent the last four years growing and expanding, singing and performing at SJSU, he is now getting ready to graduate with a degree in Music Education, and thankfully for us, he’s not necessarily ready to leave the area. “I want to do whatever I want to when it comes to music whether it’s performing or teaching. “I am compassionate about music and because I received so much support from my teachers, I want to give that same support and passion to students.” he commented. So, after he graduates, he will pursue first getting his teaching credential. “I want to make a difference in the lives of youth and impart that support I received and this passion to others.” The future is an unknown, but perhaps he’ll teach in high school for a time, but down the road he notes, “I hope to earn my DMA, and teach at the college level.”
The City of San Jose has been a positive and welcoming place for him so far, not only being at SJSU, but he also singing and helping lead in a couple of Episcopal church choirs before joining Wesley. I loved singing in choir but after a while, “there is such a thing as too much choir.” He saw Wesley’s job posting for a lead singer and Praise Band leader. That was the change he’d been looking for. When he first came to Wesley church for his interview, he noticed our welcome rainbow banner and noted “I knew I was going to be safe here as an LBPTQ person. I was comforted to know that you supported LGBTQ and you are a Christian church.”
Ivan shared his exquisite tenor voice, accompanying himself on guitar, when he sang, “The Times They are a Changing,” by Bob Dylan because “[this song] has a beautiful message of support and being there for one another in all issues,” he commented.
We thank Mark Teagle with this once-in-a-lifetime interview with Ivan which served as a heartfelt message to all of us as we were drawn into his story. To hear the complete interview with Ivan Vielma, go to the church website and the worship section and to youtube videos. It’ll be well worth your while.
Bake Sale
Then…the bake sale. Oh my, what a beautiful time in the life of our church to see the fabulous array of quality baked goodies that were sold. I know God was smiling on us as so many shared their talents with all of us. I mean…there were pies, breads, mochi cakes, manju, cookies galore, with nuts, without nuts, with chocolates chips, with oats, dog treats (one of our donors never forgets the pets), snickerdoodle bread and bars, lemon bars and lime bars, rainbow popcorn on a stick, brownies, Sicilian spaghetti and Japanese porridge. And you could tell it was a culturally Japanese-based sale. Everything was packaged beautifully. Oh and let me not forget the fresh greens from the Hamilton’s, all grown in their back yard along with the cutest lemonade stand they set-up right in our Fellowship Hall. Another highlight was the charcuterie in containers of salami rolled like a flower, and surrounded by cheese and crackers, and grapes and strawberries, from the Ngs. Simply lovely and really, too beautiful to eat.
We are thankful for all the donations, the gift of everyone’s creative talents and baking/cooking skills, and the generosity of the buyers. We made around $2,700 which will be given to Reconciling Ministry Network, a nonprofit committed to justice across all the UMCs, and working for full participation of all LGBTQ+ people throughout the life and leadership of the church. And now more than ever, this is needed as inclusion for all is being threatened. Thank you!
I want to acknowledge all who helped in setting up and making the sale run smoothly: Shelley Nakashima, Bev Acuna, Cynthia Fukuda, Terri Koike, Judy Kanemoto, and April Kawahara for cashiering and running the sale and the Scouts for setting up the tables. Additional thanks to Marilyn Hasegawa for her logistical vision.
A huge shoutout of course, and thank you especially to all the fine bakers and cooks who contributed to the success of this fundraiser: (from the sign up sheet) Liz Yokota, Cynthia Fukuda, Jeff Leap, Diana Marks, Ryan Miyahara, Shelley Nakashima, Mieko Tsukamoto, Marcia Yasukawa, Kazuko Hughes, Sue Sakai McClure, Beverly Acuna, Judy Kanemoto, Jan Yamaguchi, Judy Yasutake, April Kawahara, Yumi Haraguchi, Linda Cato, Barbara Hiura, Jane Hayashi, Kristin To, Rob Hikido, Steve and Doris Tabuchi, Kathy Doi, Amy Shiozaki, Patsy Utsumi, Bic and Brian Hamilton, Lori Longmire, Tomoko Tanaka, Christine Ozawa, Kacie Ng, Kenzie Ng, Carolyn Kameya, Mary and Dale Sasaki, Mary Horio, Misako Ogi, Alice Hikido, Chiaki Ueyama, and Marcella Rensi.
Ivan Vielma
Who is Ivan Vielma? Mark Teagle wanted to find out and held an in-depth interview with him, front and center for all to hear. Vielma began talking about his early years coming from immigrant parents, growing up in the very conservative town of Bakersfield, and being of Catholic faith. While that was his environment, he said, he always had the support and love from his family throughout his life. Before coming out, he stated he had some angst about being gay. “I struggled with my feelings of being queer” he recalled, and he knew by high school that he was, but was not exposed to others like himself. I didn’t know how to deal with these feelings and “I was so angry” all the time. “This was during COVID, and I wasn’t getting along with my parents, and finally, I just ripped the bandage off and just told them.” Their response was…”is that it? You know we love you no matter what…you’re my son.” During this time, they spent a lot of time in close quarters giving the family time to bridge the gap of knowing and then understanding what it meant to be Ivan being true to himself. Through it all, and the learning process, there was aways respect, love, support, and pride.
With regard to his music, It's always been about music for Ivan. He tackled dancing, tap, hip-hop, and even clogging as a youngster. Then he learned to play every instrument he could get a hold of, saxophone, cello, violin, trumpet, trombone, ukulele and lately the guitar. By high school having learned all those instruments by rote, “it still wasn’t enough. I wanted to learn to read music and sing.” He told of his road to San Jose State and their magnificent music program through the highly acclaimed SJSU Choraliers. He definitely wanted to be a part of that singing group having heard them perform in his hometown. And now having spent the last four years growing and expanding, singing and performing at SJSU, he is now getting ready to graduate with a degree in Music Education, and thankfully for us, he’s not necessarily ready to leave the area. “I want to do whatever I want to when it comes to music whether it’s performing or teaching. “I am compassionate about music and because I received so much support from my teachers, I want to give that same support and passion to students.” he commented. So, after he graduates, he will pursue first getting his teaching credential. “I want to make a difference in the lives of youth and impart that support I received and this passion to others.” The future is an unknown, but perhaps he’ll teach in high school for a time, but down the road he notes, “I hope to earn my DMA, and teach at the college level.”
The City of San Jose has been a positive and welcoming place for him so far, not only being at SJSU, but he also singing and helping lead in a couple of Episcopal church choirs before joining Wesley. I loved singing in choir but after a while, “there is such a thing as too much choir.” He saw Wesley’s job posting for a lead singer and Praise Band leader. That was the change he’d been looking for. When he first came to Wesley church for his interview, he noticed our welcome rainbow banner and noted “I knew I was going to be safe here as an LBPTQ person. I was comforted to know that you supported LGBTQ and you are a Christian church.”
Ivan shared his exquisite tenor voice, accompanying himself on guitar, when he sang, “The Times They are a Changing,” by Bob Dylan because “[this song] has a beautiful message of support and being there for one another in all issues,” he commented.
We thank Mark Teagle with this once-in-a-lifetime interview with Ivan which served as a heartfelt message to all of us as we were drawn into his story. To hear the complete interview with Ivan Vielma, go to the church website and the worship section and to youtube videos. It’ll be well worth your while.
Bake Sale
Then…the bake sale. Oh my, what a beautiful time in the life of our church to see the fabulous array of quality baked goodies that were sold. I know God was smiling on us as so many shared their talents with all of us. I mean…there were pies, breads, mochi cakes, manju, cookies galore, with nuts, without nuts, with chocolates chips, with oats, dog treats (one of our donors never forgets the pets), snickerdoodle bread and bars, lemon bars and lime bars, rainbow popcorn on a stick, brownies, Sicilian spaghetti and Japanese porridge. And you could tell it was a culturally Japanese-based sale. Everything was packaged beautifully. Oh and let me not forget the fresh greens from the Hamilton’s, all grown in their back yard along with the cutest lemonade stand they set-up right in our Fellowship Hall. Another highlight was the charcuterie in containers of salami rolled like a flower, and surrounded by cheese and crackers, and grapes and strawberries, from the Ngs. Simply lovely and really, too beautiful to eat.
We are thankful for all the donations, the gift of everyone’s creative talents and baking/cooking skills, and the generosity of the buyers. We made around $2,700 which will be given to Reconciling Ministry Network, a nonprofit committed to justice across all the UMCs, and working for full participation of all LGBTQ+ people throughout the life and leadership of the church. And now more than ever, this is needed as inclusion for all is being threatened. Thank you!
I want to acknowledge all who helped in setting up and making the sale run smoothly: Shelley Nakashima, Bev Acuna, Cynthia Fukuda, Terri Koike, Judy Kanemoto, and April Kawahara for cashiering and running the sale and the Scouts for setting up the tables. Additional thanks to Marilyn Hasegawa for her logistical vision.
A huge shoutout of course, and thank you especially to all the fine bakers and cooks who contributed to the success of this fundraiser: (from the sign up sheet) Liz Yokota, Cynthia Fukuda, Jeff Leap, Diana Marks, Ryan Miyahara, Shelley Nakashima, Mieko Tsukamoto, Marcia Yasukawa, Kazuko Hughes, Sue Sakai McClure, Beverly Acuna, Judy Kanemoto, Jan Yamaguchi, Judy Yasutake, April Kawahara, Yumi Haraguchi, Linda Cato, Barbara Hiura, Jane Hayashi, Kristin To, Rob Hikido, Steve and Doris Tabuchi, Kathy Doi, Amy Shiozaki, Patsy Utsumi, Bic and Brian Hamilton, Lori Longmire, Tomoko Tanaka, Christine Ozawa, Kacie Ng, Kenzie Ng, Carolyn Kameya, Mary and Dale Sasaki, Mary Horio, Misako Ogi, Alice Hikido, Chiaki Ueyama, and Marcella Rensi.
Ivan Vielma talks about his life and career.
Mark Teagle puts Ivan Vielma on the hotseat!
Ivan sings a song meaningful to him.
What a glorious spread of goodies with Karin and Ham Tran and Joy Bayler deciding on what to pick.
John Ng and Christina Ozawa describe their offerings to Bobbie Ueunten.
Yummy was Kazuko Tengan's choice with Liz and David Yokota still deciding.
From left: April Kawahara is happy about her purchases shown here with our cashiers, Cynthia Fukuda, Bev Acuna, and Terri Koike.
Posted in Newsletter 2025-03-27