There's a particular feeling in my bones that shows up sometime in early September. It's not quite fall, we don't really get fall here, at least not the way people back east experience it. But the mornings are a little cooler, the shadows start slanting differently by 4pm, and if you're the kind of person who pays attention to grocery store endcaps, you've probably noticed the Halloween candy has been out for weeks, and the Christmas decorations are lined up backstage, ready for their big entrance. I say this every September, half-joking, half not: "Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?" Because every year Christmas seems to show up earlier, so that joke lands a little differently than it did the year before.
In this passage from Genesis, God makes a promise to Noah; right after the great flood, right after everything that mattered had been wiped out and everyone and everything had to start over. God didn't promise Noah an easy life. God promised rhythm. Seedtime and harvest. Cold and heat. Summer and winter. Day and night. On and on, without ceasing, for as long as the earth remains.
That's a profound promise. It means that even when everything in my life feels like it's falling apart, the rhythm of the seasons will keep coming and going. The world will keep turning toward planting again, toward harvest again, toward light again. Feelings of grief or loss will change along with the seasons, too.
I think about my Issei grandparents and how many seasons they had to move through. There were many seasons that they would never have chosen: a new country, a new language, incarceration, the return to the West Coast, and the slow rebuilding of their lives from nothing. They lived Genesis 8:22 in a way, quite frankly, that I hope I never have to. And they kept planting anyway. My mother's family owned a nursery in Seattle, so after the war they had to literally plant again from scratch. My uncle once told me that they would sneak clippings from the side of the road; small cuttings taken so they could be rooted and grown into new plants. That’s how they restarted the Des Moines Way nursery in Seattle - one sprout at a time.
So as the days get shorter and the sunlight leaves us a little earlier each evening, I'm trying to be less resistant to the season changing and more trusting of the rhythm underneath it. God promised the seasons would not cease. I am asking God to help me believe that all will be okay when the seasons of my own life are changing.
Perhaps the real gift of September is not simply that it pushes us closer to the hecticness of Christmas, but that it reminds us we are gently and lovingly held inside God’s rhythm which is wiser and steadier than our own plans.
See you Sunday, and don't forget to bundle up a little, the mornings are turning colder.

With love and warmth,
Pastor John

日語ミニストリー　
The Prophets of the Old Testament
by Mimune Tsukamoto

旧約聖書にはイザヤ書など5 つの「大預言書」と、ホセア書などの12 の「小預言書」が収められていますが、彼ら「預言者」とは一体どのような人たちだったのでしょう。生い立ちを見ると、イザヤやエゼキエルのように王侯貴族や祭司といった上流階級出身の人も居れば、アモスのような羊飼いやミカのような農村の庶民など、実に様々です。それにそもそも預言者になるための学校や公的資格があったわけではなく、「預言者」という「肩書」は、世の人々によってそのように呼ばれた、という事になります。

では本人には、どのような自覚があったのでしょう。それは一口に言えば「神の召命 (Calling)」でした。神様から「このように告げなさい」と命じられ、それを実行せざるを得なかった。でも、皆さん喜んですぐに仰せに従ったわけではありません。モーセはユダヤの民を引き連れてエジプトを脱出するように命じられ、嫌だ嫌だと抵抗しましたね。「涙の預言者」と呼ばれたエレミヤも、「敵国の町に1 人で乗り込め」と言われたヨナもそうでした。でも彼らに共通していたのは、人々の称賛を受けることではなく、様々な苦難に会いながらも、神に命を捧げる道を選んだこと。それが「召命」の本来の意味なのでしょう。

でも本人が納得しても、人々はどうしてその人を「預言者」と呼んだのでしょう。そこには大きく二つの要素があったようです。まず預言が神の教えと一致しているか、そして権力ではなく神に忠実な人であったか。そうでなければ「偽預言者」と言われました。事実、エレミヤは召命によってエルサレムの滅亡を説き、世の人々からは「偽預言者」と言われましたが、やがてその預言の通りエルサレムはバビロンによって滅ぼされます。
この「召命」ですが、実は今の教会にも大切に受け継がれています。牧師となるには、まず神学校を卒業してMaster of Divinity (MDiv) の学位を得ますが、それは単に出発点に過ぎません。正式に「牧師」と任命されるには按手（Ordination）を受けねばならず、学位取得後のその道程を「Ordination Process」と呼び、通常3 年から5 年かかります。以前ウェスレーの日語牧師であった荒谷出先生は、丁度そのプロセスの最中だったのですが、「いやもう大変、自分の召命をメソジスト教会にも信じてもらわねばならなくて」と仰っていました。

この6月のメソジスト教会の年会で、ウェスレーのマーク・ティーグル兄がProvisional Commissioning のConfirmationを受けられ、いよいよそのOrdination Processを始められます。ご本人はもとより、ウェスレーにとっても、メソジスト教会にとっても、とても大切で嬉しい事ですね。

The Old Testament contains five “Major Prophets,” such as the Book of Isaiah, and twelve “Minor Prophets,” such as the Book of Hosea. But what kind of people were these “prophets” exactly? Looking at their backgrounds, they were a truly diverse group: some, like Isaiah and Ezekiel, came from the upper classes—royalty, nobility, or the priesthood—while others, like Amos, were shepherds, and Micah, a commoner from a rural village. Furthermore, there were no schools or official qualifications required to become a prophet. Therefore, the “title” of “prophet” was simply what people of that time called them.

So, how did they themselves perceive their role? In a nutshell, it was “God’s calling.” They were commanded by God to “proclaim this,” and they had no choice but to carry it out. However, they did not all gladly obey the command immediately. Moses, for instance, was ordered to lead the Jewish people out of Egypt, but he resisted, saying, “No, I won’t do it.” The same was true of Jeremiah, known as the “Prophet of Tears,” and Jonah, who was told to “go alone into the city of the enemy.” What they had in common, however, was not seeking the praise of others, but choosing to devote their lives to God even while facing countless hardships. That is likely the true meaning of “calling.”

But even if the person himself was convinced, why did people call him a “prophet”? It seems there were two main factors involved. First, whether the prophecy aligned with God’s teachings, and second, whether he was faithful to God rather than to those in power. If not, he was called a “false prophet.” In fact, Jeremiah, called by God to prophesy the destruction of Jerusalem, was labeled a “false prophet” by the people of his time; yet, as his prophecy foretold, Jerusalem was eventually destroyed by Babylon.

This concept of “calling” is, in fact, still cherished and passed down in the church today. To become a pastor, one must first graduate from seminary and earn a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree, but that is merely the starting point. To be officially appointed as a “pastor,” one must undergo ordination, and its journey is called the “Ordination Process,” which typically takes three to five years. Pastor Izuru Aratani, who previously served as the Nichigo pastor at Wesley, was right in the middle of that process at the time, and he remarked, “It’s really tough—I have to convince the Methodist Church to believe in my calling as well.”

At the Methodist Church’s annual conference this past June, our Mark Teagle received confirmation of his Provisional Commissioning and will finally begin the Ordination Process. This is a very important and joyful occasion, not only for him personally, but also for Wesley and the Methodist Church.

We want to share an update regarding our Youth Ministry. Last month, after much thought and prayer, Vanessa Perry-Mar decided to resign from her position as Youth Director. Thankfully, she will continue to serve on our Kids Camp directing team and, hopefully, other volunteer roles at Wesley. We are very grateful for the time and energy that Vanessa contributed to our youth ministry and look forward to all of the ways that she will continue to serve our church and community.
Since Vanessa’s resignation last month we have been reimagining and rethinking the position, and are excited to announce that we have created two new positions, Youth Ministry Lead and Youth Ministry Assistant. Both are part-time positions and will work directly with our youth, middle-high school. We have started a search to fill these positions. If you or anyone you know may be interested in helping to grow our youth in their journey of faith, please contact Kelli Martines at kelli@wesleysj.net to learn more.

Maybe you are new to the church. Maybe you want to get more involved and get to know more people. A Wesley Neighbor Group could just be the thing. Based in neighborhoods across Santa Clara Valley, these small groups meet in homes. After an icebreaker and a short, entry-level Bible Study, the group participates in a fun activity, great discussion, and some food! Lots of smiles, community building, and faith formation thanks to the hospitality of a Wesley member. Ask around and find a group near you. Or ask Mark Teagle markteagle@wesleysj.net to recommend a group to you.
And as our Neighbor Group ministry continues to grow, we are recruiting new leaders and hosts. Watch for more information coming soon.

On July 29, 2026, more than 100 people gathered at the Issei Memorial Building, across from Wesley Church, to oppose a possible ICE detention facility in Gilroy.
San Jose Nikkei Resisters and the Neighbors Not Enemies Coalition organized this press conference. The speakers, including our own Rev. John Oda, drew a direct line between the current proposal and the Japanese American community's own history of wartime incarceration, warning that expanding detention infrastructure risks repeating one of the darkest chapters of American history. “When you see our government begin to sort human beings into categories of who deserves rights and who doesn't; who gets due process and who doesn't - you cannot stay quiet,” said Rev. John at the press conference.
Opposition has been building since the project first surfaced in May, with local residents, elected officials, religious leaders and community organizations mobilizing against it. Critics argue the facility would sow fear and disruption in communities that have long welcomed immigrant families.

On a very sunny morning of August 3rd, the 37th annual golf tournament started at the Sunnyvale golf course. This year’s tournament was in special memory of longtime Golf Committee member, Ron Ogi. Ron has made the sponsor signs for the tournament every year for longer than anyone can remember, and never failed to fill the golf course and lunch time with laughter and fellowship. The 45 golfers drove off to their first shot with their goodie bags prepared by Kelli Martines including lots of snacks such as the  Krispie Kringle cookies from Maui Sugar Mamas and the much needed ice cold water.
As the weather was warming up to an almost unbearable degree, a catered buffet lunch from Kazoo was served in the fellowship hall. The delicious meal included steamed veggies, gyoza, tempura, fish katsu and more!
During lunch, Ron’s daughter, Suzanne Tabora told heartfelt memories about her father, as he loved this tournament and was something he looked forward to every summer. She emphasized that for Ron, even if he didn’t do well in golf, he still had fun and enjoyed the fellowship, so she encouraged everyone there to enjoy the fellowship and the time we have together.
Emcee Rev. John Oda “entertained” the guests with his golf dad-jokes as the mic got passed to Denis Imazeki announcing the winners. Tournament results below. This year’s scorekeepers were Denis Imazeki, Ron Tanizawa, and Denny Kinoshita. At the end of lunch, Paul Ueunten announced the winners of the silent auction. We had many wonderful prizes including flower lego sets, Japanese artwork, gift cards and more! Thank you for all the donations.
The golf tournament will enable our church to continue supporting our global mission work, the Yu-Ai Kai Senior Center, Reconciling Ministries, and Compassion Ministry helping the homeless, immigrants, and Grant Elementary School. The Silent Auction will benefit the Wesley Youth summer camps and Kids Camp.
Thank you the Golf Committee comprised of Wayne Kuwada (Chair), Ed Gibo, Barbara Hiura, Jim Higuchi, Gene Kinoshita, Denis Imazeki, Mark Iwagaki, Ron Tanizawa, John Tanaka, Its Yokota, and Paul Ueunten. An extra thank you to the lunch volunteers who came in early to set up the tables with decorations, served the food and stayed to clean up after the lunch. Volunteers were John Tanaka, Ed Gibo, DeeDee Azuma, Cindy Fukuda, Judie Kanemoto, Doris Tabuchi, Judy Yasutake, Joanne Kumano, and Shelley Nakashima. Thank you to Kelli Martines for handling the registration and sponsor signage.

Closest to Pin Winners
“A” flight  
Paul Ueunten 19’½’’
Eric Ozaki 5’ 8’’

“B” flight
Ed Gibo 25’ 7’’
Wayne Kuwada 22’ 11’’

"A" Flight
1. Eric Ozaki
2. Mark Iwagaki
3. Jerry Egusa

"B" Flight
1. Michael Yoshihara
2. Larry Handa
3. Walter Nishimoto

Women's Flight
1. Emi Takahashi
2. Christine Sung
3. Jean Masunaga Hively

Calloway Flight
1. Gordon Iwagaki
2. Daniel Egusa
3. Jen Masuda

Paul Ueunten, Leighton Horio, Dale Sasaki, and Ron Tanizawa.

Marcia Yasukawa and Jim Higuchi ready in the golf cart.

The Ogi family joined us for lunch! Clockwise: Rev. John Oda, Shelley Nakashima, Misako Ogi, Suzanne Tabora, Liz Yokota, Shirley Masunaga and her grandkids, Eric Masunaga, DeeDee Azuma, Mary Sasaki.

Calloway Flight winners Gordon Iwagaki and Jen Masunaga

"B" Flight winners Larry Honda and Walter Nishimoto

Women's Flight from Emi Takahashi, Christine Sung, Jean Masunaga Hively

"A" Flight winners Eric Ozaki and Mark Iwagaki

On July 26, some Wesley Asian Camp campers and counselors reunited at church for our Asian Camp Reflection Service. They came together and led us in a wonderful service. Campers led us in prayer, counselors shared their camp reflections, campers shared their camp experiences and they all shared camp songs that inspire them. All those smiling faces showing us how meaningful Asian Camp is to them was truly inspiring. Again, thank you to our Wesley family for your generous support and prayers for our Wesley campers and counselors.

It was a banner and God praiseworthy day when Wesley celebrated the reappointment of Rev. John Oda as our pastor for another year by the Bishop of our conference and we celebrated on July 26. However, the God sent  highlight moment this day was directed at Mark Teagle.  While he’s been on staff for the past 13 years as first our music ministry director and then a full-time staff member as the Director of Spiritual Formation, Community Engagement and Music (wow…super long title), he has now been appointed to our church by our Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank.  We congratulate Mark for taking that giant step for now being in the ordination process toward becoming a Deacon.  This is a move  for Mark and we celebrate him as this is the final stage of a process that began several years ago. Because of his appointment, he is no longer “hired" by Wesley.

Mark and Rev. John with the cake and the mini gluten free  cake provided by the SPRC.

Serving the tea & coffee were Kellie Nunokawa and her kids.

Emma To helped serve cake to every table.

A Reflection on My Reappointment to Wesley
Rev. John Oda

At the start of every year, the Cal-Nevada Annual Conference Bishop and her Cabinet meet to decide where each pastor in the conference will be appointed. This year, their decision means I get to continue serving at Wesley. July 1, 2026 marked the official start of my fifth year with you; though, as I'll explain, my actual anniversary here goes back a bit further, to April 1.
My appointment was officially set to begin July 1, 2022. But thanks to a generous severance package from my previous appointment at the General Board of Global Ministries, I was able to start, unofficially, on April 1, 2022 instead. That overlap gave me precious time with Rev. Keith and Viki, who generously shared their knowledge, their experience, and their dreams for Wesley. I remain forever grateful for those conversations.
I remember arriving at Wesley and not knowing where the light switches were in the fellowship hall, let alone who was related to whom, who had been quietly carrying a family through a difficult season, or who made the best desserts at the potlucks. Four years later, I still don't always know where everything is, but I've come to know so many of you well. That's the real gift of being appointed to Wesley Church, not the role I was appointed to, but the people at Wesley who I have come to love.
There's a passage in the book of Hebrews that keeps returning to me as I think about this milestone. The writer has just spent several verses warning the community about the danger of growing spiritually stagnant, of drifting, of settling. It's a tough passage, almost scolding. And then, right in the middle of that warning, his tone shifts: "Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case, things that have to do with salvation" (Hebrews 6:9). The writer doesn't take back the warning. Growth can still be hard; drifting can still be a real danger. But there's a deliberate turn toward hope.  He speaks with a confidence that isn't naive but gained by having watched this same community before. In other words, the author of Hebrews is saying: I know the past struggles, and I firmly believe better things are coming.
That's how I feel about Wesley heading into year five. Not because we've arrived at some sort of finish line, but because I've watched the church and the people here continue to choose to grow, to change, to work hard and to deepen our welcome to all new people.
I think often about the Issei and Nisei who built this church, who worked so hard to make a living for the sake of their families, and who were later stripped of their homes, their businesses, and their dignity. They were incarcerated by their own country, and still, they came back to Japantown and reopened this church. They didn't do that because the future was certain, far from it. They did it because they trusted, the way the writer of Hebrews describes, that better things were possible, even after everything. That kind of trust, I believe, is stitched into these walls.
So, as I begin my fifth year here, my prayer isn't that I get everything right. It's that we keep being a people who expect better things, not despite our history, but because of it; carrying forward what was entrusted to us, trusting that change itself is a good thing and trusting that great things are yet to come.
That kind of trust is what I want to carry with me into this fifth year.  I'm grateful to keep walking with you toward the great things that will unfold this year!

With overwhelming gratitude,
Rev. John

Congratulations to Jeffrey who placed second in Informative Speaking at the 2026 National Speech and Debate Association National Tournament.  This tournament took place in June in Richmond, Virginia and is one of the largest academic competitions in the world. 1,500 schools and 7,000 students from every state gathered to debate ideas, tell stories, and practice the essential skills of democracy—critical thinking, respectful disagreement, and confident communication.
Jeffrey's winning speech, "The Great American Bento Box," wove together food, culture, and community identity, with much of the piece centered on San Jose's own Japantown.  Please join us in celebrating Jeffrey's hard work, talent, and this incredible honor.
Congratulations, Jeffrey!  We're so proud of you!

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone at Wesley and the UWIF Rummage Sale volunteers who offered recommendations before and during the rummage sale on school workbooks, supplies, and other items for Golden Hills School in Windhoek, Namibia.
I was able to ship a 20-pound box of supplies right after the rummage sale which arrived on July 14th and was delivered to the school by my contact, Valeria, in Windhoek.
The head schoolmaster was delighted beyond words with everything included! Especially the large-format alphabet sets, flash cards, school workbooks, pencils and more.
For this marginalized school, this box is more than just “school supplies”, it represents hope, opportunity and encouragement for all the students.  

On June 23 a group of 29 of us set off on the 2026 Wesley Japan Trip. For 13 days, we mostly crisscrossed Hokkaido.  It was an amazing trip.
We began in Sapporo, where a day trip to Otaru had us blowing our own glass and wandering the famous canal.  Later we did a walking tour of the Historical Village of Hokkaido. Lastly we were able to spend time at the sleek new ES CON Field where the Nipponham Fighters baseball team plays. The next day we saw the impossibly blue waters of Shirogane Blue Pond, the lavender rows of Farm Tomita, the roaring Ginga and Ryusei waterfalls, and a hike through the Shiretoko Five Lakes that left more than a few of us pleasantly out of breath. We ate delicious and tender wagyu in a farmhouse/restaurant,and had seafood bowls at the Washo Market in Kushiro. We learned about the Ainu culture at Akan Kotan.  At Okhotsk museum, we learned about the drift ice history in the Sea of Okhotsk and experienced minus 30 degrees in a room made cold enough to simulate the winter in that area. At virtually every place we went, many of us sampled the amazingly delicious soft serve ice cream. Hokkaido is famous for their rich ice cream because of the abundant cows in that region.
For me, one of the highlights of Japan was the last Sunday of our trip when our group traveled to Yokohama Union Church.  I had the honor of preaching there. It is one thing to lead worship at home in San Jose; it is another thing entirely to stand in a pulpit built by generations of missionaries and immigrants who carried the gospel across the Pacific in both directions. It was so wonderful to have 27 Wesley members fill half of the pews of that church
Afterward, we made our way to Yokohama's Chinatown for lunch with Rev. Claudia, the pastor of Yokohama Union Church (who has lived in Japan for 33 years). She brought us to a local restaurant where we had full Chinese banquet.
We wrapped up our trip with a delightful farewell dinner in Tokyo (steak and lobster) and one last morning in the temple town of Asakusa before flying home. The Wesley Japan Trip was about far more than sightseeing. It was about walking together, sharing meals together, and being able to spend time with one another, creating deeper and lifelong connections with each other.

Around 20 members of the Wesley Ukulele Band attended their annual fun-filled and relaxing summer potluck and practice at the scenic Frank Bramhall Park in Willow Glen on 12 July.  The weather was perfect, a bit overcast but the group was shaded between two very large old oak trees. All were plied with good food provided by talented band members who can also cook.  They jammed and sang some favorite tunes and ate till they were well sated.  We thank Smiley and Janet Kai for always arriving very early in the morning to reserve our spot. It was a much looked forward to event and well attended.  Back Row (from left); Carol Ferro, Junko and Richard Urata, Tina Urata (band leader),  Cynthia Lorence, Toki Pagoulatos, Jonathan, Mariana Winoto,  Mark Teagle, Smiley Kai; middle row (from left); Earl Takenaka, Jane Wong, Becky Soffioto, Barbara Hiura, Greg Tanaka and front row (from left); Yuzuru and Natalie.

The afternoon highlight was hula dancing. Providing  grace to our serene time together, was Tina (above), and her granddaughter, Natalie (below), performing to a grateful group of strummers and singers.

1か月前、マーク牧師、エィトン・エィブリル、そして私は、サクラメントで開催された合同メソジスト教会カリフォルニア・ネバダ年次総会（年会）に出席しました。私が初めてウェスレー教会の2名の代表者の1人になってから数年が経ちますが、今年になるまで、年会の意味や重要性について真剣に考えたことは一度もありませんでした。その経験を振り返り、私と同じように年会についてあまり詳しくない方々のために、私が抱いていた疑問に対する答えを書き留めることにしました。

年会とは何か？
年会は、合同メソジスト教会（UMC）の基本的な統治機関です。ある意味では、企業の取締役会に似ています。メソジスト教会の創始者であるジョン・ウェスレーは、クリスチャンは互いに責任を問い、励まし合い、意思決定を共有するために定期的に集まるべきだと信じていました。UMCはこの年会を通して、その伝統を受け継いでいます。

年会の構成員は？
年会は、各地の教会から選出された聖職者（牧師）と信徒代表で構成されています。各地域ごとに独自の年会があります。私たちが属するのは、カリフォルニア・ネバダ年会です。

年会がなかったらどうなるか？
年会がなければ、教団としての合同メソジスト教会のいくつかの重要な役割が果たされなくなります。
私を含め、一部の人々は、数日間にわたる会議や報告、法案審議などが頻繁に行われる現在の形式が、これらの目的を達成するための最も効果的な方法であるのか疑問を抱いています。実際、私たちの年会では、コスト削減と参加促進を図るため、会期の短縮、オンライン会議の拡大、および異なる運営体制の導入が検討されています。

これほど多くの教会をひとつの組織として結束させ続けることは容易ではありません。しかし、年会という形態は、教団の「つながり」という本質を体現し、共に決断を下す場を提供するものであるため、やはり不可欠であると私は理解するようになりました。

合同メソジスト教会にとって、年会は単なる業務会議以上のものです。それは、礼拝、学び、交わり、相互の責任、そして教会に対する神の導きを共に分かち合うための集まりであることを目指しているのです。
（コリンズ道子）

What Is the Annual Conference—and Why Does It Matter?
By Michiko Collins

A month ago, Pastor Mark, Aton Abril, and I attended the Annual Conference in Sacramento. It has been several years since I first became one of the two delegates from our church, but until this year, I had never really thought about the meaning or significance of the Annual Conference. As I reflected on my experience, I decided to write down the answers to some of the questions I had—for those who, like me, may not be familiar with it.

What Is the Annual Conference?  
The Annual Conference is the basic governing body of the United Methodist Church (UMC). In some ways, it is similar to the board of directors of a corporation. The founder of Methodism, John Wesley, believed that Christians should meet regularly for accountability, encouragement, and shared decision-making. The UMC continues that tradition through the Annual Conference.

Who Is Part of the Annual Conference?
The Annual Conference is made up of clergy (pastors) and elected lay members from each local church. Every geographic region has its own Annual Conference. Our conference is the California-Nevada Annual Conference.

What Would Happen If There Were No Annual Conference?
Without an Annual Conference, several important functions of the United Methodist Church would not take place:
Some people—including me—question whether the current format, which often involves several days of meetings, reports, and legislation, is the most effective way to accomplish these purposes. In fact, our conference has been considering shorter sessions, more online meetings, and different structures to reduce costs and encourage greater participation.

Keeping so many churches united as one body is not easy. However, I came to understand that some form of Annual Conference is essential because it expresses the denomination's connectional nature and provides a place for shared discernment.
For the United Methodist Church, the Annual Conference is much more than a business meeting. It is intended to be a gathering for worship, learning, fellowship, mutual accountability, and discerning God's direction for the church together.

Asian Camp 2026—Connected by Love
by Hatty Lin

Bright and early on Sunday June 28th, Wesley youth and families met at San Jose airport to began the trip down to Camp Wrightwood in Southern California for Asian Camp. This year Wesley had fifteen campers, four counselors and one adult chaperone going to Asian Camp. We arrived at camp around 2 pm, by bus with Blaine UMC. All were tired and some were nervous but all were excited to see old friends and make new ones. We had a couple of new campers this year, but the returning campers were quick to guide them and make them feel comfortable.  
This year’s theme was “Connected by Love”. The centering scripture for the week was 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Each day a new scripture around love was presented and a pastor from participating churches shared a message around the theme and scripture. The week focused on the true meaning of love and it’s importance to connection, and how we are connected by God’s love.
It was a week filled with amazing connections. Old friends reunited like no time had passed, new friendships grew everyday—and throughout the week, everyone’s connection with God’s love and their faith grew stronger everyday. It was a week filled with love, joy, laughter and tears.
The last day, we all said our goodbyes and loaded the bus to the airport. As we flew back home, some of us feel asleep, tired from the late, last night at camp but all of us full of warm fuzzies. Connections made to last a lifetime. Until next summer…..

A warm thank you to our Wesley church family for supporting our youth in going to Asian Camp! Your generous support of our Nikkei Dogs and Teppan Tacos at Nikkei Matsuri helped fund our youth camp transportation needs. We couldn’t have done this without all of your support! Thank you!

Photo at airport, ready to leave

Photo at camp check-in

The Wesley Senior Fellowship Lunch
by Kiyomi Yanai

The Wesley Fellowship Hall was the scene for some Hawaiian Aloha spirit on June 24 as approximately 110 “seniors” were welcomed with leis and gathered for a Hawaiian-inspired lunch dedicated to them by our Umbrella Ministry team. The meal of kalua pork sliders, mac salad, sushi, gyoza, and edamame was served in a Japanese bento box, followed with a refreshing dessert of almond jelly mixed with mandarin oranges. And we can’t forget the 60’s-inspired beverage of 7-up with orange sherbet creating a nostalgic, creamsicle-flavored foam! A Hawaiian backdrop photo area, complete with props, helped create lasting memories as photos were printed and given to all. The Umbrella Ministry co-chairs, Shelley Nakashima and Kiyomi Yanai, are so grateful for all the hard-working committee members (Shizuko Adachi, Mari Fujii, Mary Sasaki, Lynn Tabuchi, and Mika Visitacion) and additional volunteers (Wayne Adachi, Jim Fukuyama, Jim Mar, Keith Nakashima, and Dale Sasaki) who helped make the senior lunch possible!
We are still smiling after seeing such a fantastic turnout at our recent luncheon. Some of our wonderful guests shared the following about their experience:

Betty Fujishin - ”Enjoyed the delicious lunch and it was so nice to visit with everyone.”
Amy Shiozaki -”It was so nice to be waited on, and to be able to relax and visit with many seniors we haven't seen in a long while. The food was delicious and we have the colorful photos of the enjoyable event!”
Alice Hikido - “It was great!”  (First time attending)
Pam & Keith Urauchi- “We enjoyed catching up with so many of our Wesley friends. Such a fun and thriving community!” (First time attending)
Tom and Karen Maeda-”As first time attendees, we're so glad we attended the very wonderful Senior Fellowship Lunch. Gosh, the entry to the Fellowship Hall was so nicely decorated with a check-in to get our name tag and lei! Then we looked at the beautifully decorated Fellowship Hall and tables with a Hawaiian theme! We saw a lot of our good friends in attendance. We were directed to have our picture taken with the beautiful Hawaiian Tropical background. It was great to have the picture developed in a few minutes and placed inside a nice celebrating Ohana card with the date. We have that card on our mantle at home as a good memory for us!
We had such a fantastic time seeing and visiting with many Wesley Church members. Then we sat down to enjoy a very delicious lunch along with fellow Wesley Church members. It was truly an outstanding and impressive Senior Fellowship Lunch event celebrating the Wesley Seniors. We're very grateful to Shelley, Kiyomi, and their team for planning, organizing and managing such a wonderful event for the Seniors! Thanks also to the Umbrella Ministry!”

Umbrella Ministry Co-Chairs, Shelley Nakashima and Kiyomi Yanai, along with the Umbrella Ministry Committee: Mari Fujii, Mika Visitacion, Lynn Tabuchi, Shizuko Adachi and Mary Sasaki

Kenji and Leanne Maru, and Betty Fujishin

Jim Mar

Mas Kameya

Wesley Staff: Alan Ngai, Hikaru Bakoshi, Terri Thornton, Mark Teagle

Mimune, Reiko, and Mieko Tsukamoto

God’s People in Hokkaido: A Personal Reflection
By Barbara Hiura

Space…the final frontier, these are the voyages….oh uh…wrong story line!!!  But indeed space…trees, rivers, lakes, marshlands, mountains, deer, bears and foxes!!!…I mean real space where animals and humans can roam in quiet and aaahhh, peace.   Where are we?  Pinecrest Lake? The fjords of Norway?  Nooo…I’m describing Japan…not the Tokyo area or the major cities teaming with people, skyscrapers, high tech, and shopping, but Hokkaido, the island in the north.
Hokkaido
A  group of 29 ventured to Hokkaido, this past June with Rev. John and Carmen Cook leading.   Hokkaido…where the air is fresh, the water, very blue, and the weather a mixture of sun and rain, is open and quite spacious with a very country feel. We were called the Wesley Hokkaido Japan Tour of 2026. This is the third Japan trip in around six years. The first was to Kyushu and Okinawa in 2022, the second to Honshu, Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, and finally this one to Northern Japan. And unlike the island of Honshu, we visited NOT one temple or shrine, formally, and basked in the glory of onsen, or hot public baths (sorry, my guilty pleasure.)  
What an adventure where we tramped through mud and rocky trails to visit wonderful sights….like the Blue Lake in Shirogane, the milky blue color of the water is due to the aluminum particles spewed from the volcano mixing with sunlight in creating this gorgeous hue. Or the yellow rocks made up of sulphur vents we witnessed at the base of the volcano, Mt. Io or the wildlife, vicious brown bears and tame deer prancing among the trees in this mountainous area where there are lakes, refreshing water falls at the Shiretoko Five Lakes National Park also created by volcanic action of Mt. Io. Along with these refreshing vistas were diary and produce farms, rice and wheat fields, flowers of lavender, and Japanese gardens.
This is somewhat of an illusion, this beauty we witnessed, because in winter, it all freezes over with very severe weather.  We had a visit to the Drift Ice Museum atop Mt. Tento in Abashiri to get a small sampling of the severity of this weather and the very little time needed to actually freeze to death in this unforgiving climate.  So, indeed less than idyllic and no, I don’t wish to move to Hokkaido.  
While there, we ate and we ate well. Amidst the array of wonderful food, along with Japan’s mouth-watering rice of course, I had sashimi at the fish market (best I’ve ever had), a kaiseki dinner, miso ramen, the famous Hokkaido curry soup and oh my, their ice cream, so rich and creamy…a must have as part of one’s daily diet. Their cantaloupe melons are to die for…they are by far the sweetest, tasty, and the best in the world.  It’s amazing as ice cream too.
We didn’t get a lot of history of the Ainu people and their culture and that’s too bad just knowing that they, like all original people all over the world, have been eradicated from their lands, forced to assimilate, or killed as invaders from outside took their lands. And it is to their credit that they resisted and were able to recover and preserve some of their ancient ways in-spite of colonization and have embraced capitalism so they can make a living selling their rituals, their crafts, and a variety of icons of who they are…as change for preservation are necessary for balance in changing times.
Creating a Family
What was most significant about our trip was the coming together of our group, as we were both diverse and complementary with a wide and varied character types. We differed widely in age, marital status, physical ability, faith, and travel acumen … but under God’s watchful eye, we meshed, we blended, and by the time we were ready to come home, we were family. That is what we really accomplished and what God would want of any gathering of the people.  
The major highlight of this trip was our visit to the Yokohama Union Church where our missionary, Rev. Claudia Genyung-Yamamoto, is the pastor. She preaches the good news to a church full of ex-pats from the international community. The spoken word is English and it is non-denominational…in fact open to anyone of any faith or non-faith tradition who can and wishes to attend.  On this day, Rev. John brought the message, “A Journey Toward Servanthood,” on his “calling” to serve Jesus’ people and being a servant of God.  We were welcomed and embraced. We broke bread together in Communion, we “passed the peace,” and we felt community.  This is an historic church having come into existence in1863 and survived an earthquake and a thorough bombing by the US during World War II. It was never a Japanese-speaking church but there to serve the European community living and working in Japan.   Rev Claudia showed us around Yokohama, talked some history, and led a beautiful service.  God’s presence was felt and cascaded over us.
Another highlight and quite memorable for us, was  Ellen Takeuchi, Roy’s daughter-in-law’s story.  We came to learn that Ellen spent several childhood years in Yokohama when her father took a job there.  It was, in fact, quite emotional for her as we walked past Saint Mair International School and she recalled what it was like back then. Three of us walked around the neighborhood that had changed very little since her time spent here.  What a blessed moment she shared.
After fellowship time, we walked to the largest Chinatown in Asia which is somewhat of a surprise and the area was wall-to-wall people purchasing Chinese food and wares.  We dined at Rev. Claudia’s favorite Chinese restaurant.  What a treat.  The banquet meal was quite different from what we’d find here with its, a stir-fried shrimp dish, a stylized sizzling rice soup, Peking duck (complements of Rev. John) which is now a rare find around our environs, garlic stir fried greens a fried crab ball on a stick, and a few others that I don’t recall.  This was all made special with the presence of Rev. Claudia who talked story with all of us.  This shared meal was yet another special moment.
Our vacation was full.  We over-ate, we saw and experienced quite an adventure that also included not just vistas, but we did glass blowing and experienced Japanese style tie-dying as well.    We were so blessed to be able to do all that we did, take a mountain of photos to share with one another, and just be thankful for how fortunate we are to be able to travel like this. It’s truly a blessing.  
My thanks and hats off to Carmen, who spent over a year planning this trip with Kintetsu, gathering the adventurers, working on all the arrangements, the itinerary and during our time in Hokkaido and Tokyo, ensuring that everyone was well attended to and that all their travel needs were met.  And, she even had a good time too. We thank Rev. John too for sharing this time with all of us, and intentionally helping us become a caring tight-knit group which was well accomplished.

A group photo of Wesley Hokkaido Tour 2026 was taken at the sulphur geysers and geothermal spot at Akan Mashu National Park. With front row, from left: DeeDee Azuma, Joyce Yoshiro, Bev Acuna, Kathy Iyama, April Kawahara, Jan Yamaguchi, Ellen Takeuchi, Roy Takeuchi; middle row, from left: Carmen Cook Ann Cowels, Hiroko Itaya, Barbara Mulford, Marilyn Murata, Ernie Murata, Barbara Hiura, Paul Higuchi, Jim Yamaguchi; back row, from left; Doug Takeuchi, Gaylene Kaneko, Gloria Won, Joyce Yamasaki, John Won, George Yamaoka, Rev. John, Carl Miya, Greg Overton, Jim Higuchi, and Hector Acuna.

The Blue Lake of Shirogane

Good thing this Brown bear is running from us.  It was safely taken from the bus.

Sulphur vents at Mt. Io.

Carl Miya’s Tie-dying masterpiece.

DeeDee Azuma’s glass blowing experience.

Jim and Jan Yamaguchi freezing with their frozen towels. It took about a minute or two in a minus 15.4 C room.

Ha! Ha!  Me eating lavender ice cream.

Ryusei Falls in Sounkyo Gorge

One of the Shietoko Five Lakes beneath the volcano, Mount Io.

An 80-year-old Ainu women playing the traditional bamboo mouth harp musical instrument.

Rev. Claudia (far left) takes members of the group on a walking tour of the environs around her church shown here with our local tour guide, Paul Higuchi, Ann Cowels, Jeanne Katsuro, April Kawahara, Joyce Yamasaki, DeeDee Azuma, Greg Overton, Kathy Iyama, Hector and Bev Acuna, and Joyce Oshiro.

Rev. John giving the message above and Rev. Claudia doing Communion, below.

Ernie Murata and the congregation, passing the Peace of God.

Rev. John presenting Rev. Claudia and her church with a donation from our group.

Bev Acuna trying to make her way through Yokohama’s Chinatown.

6月7日のオダ先生の礼拝メッセージは、マタイが主イエスの弟子になる前は取税人であった事から始まりました。主イエスの弟子たちは、決して学問を収めた人たちばかりではありません。ペトロ、アンデレ、ヤコブ、そしてヨハネはガリラヤ湖の漁師でしたし、シモンは熱心党とよばれる政治結社の一員、また主イエスご自身、宣教を始めるまでは、父ヨセフの大工の仕事を受け継いでいたと言われています。

そう思って改めて見てみると、新約聖書によく登場する職業は、学者、祭司、医師、取税人、商人、職人、漁師、船頭、地主、貸金、占い師、羊飼い、そして農業労働者などです。また召使や奴隷と呼ばれた人々、その多くは借金を返せなくなったり戦争に負けた国から連れてこられたりした人々でした。また当時、政治や軍事はローマの支配下にありましたが、神殿を中心とする宗教的な催事は、全て祭司や学者たちで仕切られていました。
また市民サービスも、治安活動は主にローマ軍とユダヤの神殿警備隊、消火活動はローマ軍と一般市民や奴隷たちが自発的に担っていたそうです。また子供の教育は、ユダヤ教の会堂で開かれ、祭司や学者による律法の学習が中心でした。またそれ以外にも、楽器奏者や歌手、踊り子、技師、猟師、また工事労働者や船員が居ました。それに人類の歴史で一番古い職業と言われる娼婦、また娼夫も存在したと思われます。

こうしてみると、職業の種類としては今とそんなに変わりないように見えます。でも一つ、当時にはあっても今はない職業があります。それが預言者。未来を占う予言者ではなく、神の言葉を預かる預言者です。

旧約の時代には歴代の王に仕えて政治・軍事の重要な決定事項について神の意向を取り次ぐのが「お抱え預言者」の仕事でした。でも旧約聖書に名を残しているイザヤやエレミヤなどの預言者は、神からの召命と託宣を受けて、逆境と戦いながら神の言葉を語り続けた人々です。一方、一般市民にとっては、今でいう「くじ」が神の意志を知る手段でした。これは今でもタロット占いなどに引き継がれていますね。

現代も預言者を自称する人は存在しますが、やはり私には、旧約聖書に名を残したような預言者は居ないように思えます。何方か、ご存知の方が居られれば、是非教えてください。一度お話しを伺って、その方が取り次ぐ神のみ言葉を、是非聞いてみたいものです。

by Mimune Tsukamoto

Pastor Oda’s sermon on June 7 began with a story of Matthew who was a tax collector before becoming a disciple of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus’ disciples were by no means all highly educated people. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee; Simon was a member of a political group known as the Zealots; and it is said that the Lord Jesus Himself took over His father Joseph’s carpentry business until He began His ministry.

Taking another look with this in mind, the occupations that frequently appear in the New Testament include scholars, priests, doctors, tax collectors, merchants, artisans, fishermen, boatmen, landowners, moneylenders, fortune-tellers, shepherds, and farm laborers. There were also those referred to as servants or slaves, many of whom were people who could no longer repay their debts or had been brought from countries that had lost wars. Furthermore, while politics and military affairs were under Roman control at the time, religious rituals and ceremonies centered on the Temple were entirely managed by priests and scholars.

As for public services, law enforcement was primarily handled by the Roman army and the Jewish Temple Guard, while firefighting was reportedly carried out by the Roman army, ordinary citizen volunteers and slaves. Children’s education took place in Jewish synagogues and centered on the study of the Law under the guidance of priests and scholars. Although not specifically mentioned, there were musicians, singers, dancers, artisans, hunters, construction workers, and sailors. It is also believed that prostitutes existed, male and female, a profession often considered the oldest in human history.

Looking at it this way, the variety of occupations doesn’t seem all that different from today. However, there is one occupation that no longer seems to exist today; prophet. Not a fortune-teller but the ones who convey the word of God.

In Old Testament times, the job of a “court prophet” was to serve successive kings and convey God’s will regarding political and military decisions. However, the prophets whose names are recorded in the Old Testament—such as Isaiah and Jeremiah—were people who, having received a calling and oracles from God, continued to speak God’s word while battling adversity. On the other hand, for ordinary citizens, what we would now call “divination by lot” was the means of discerning God’s will. This practice has been carried on even today in forms such as tarot readings.

While there are people who claim to be prophets even in modern times, it still seems that there are no prophets like those whose names are recorded in the Old Testament. If anyone knows of such a person, please do let me know. I would very much like to hear the word of God that they convey.

The annual Wesley Golf Tournament is Monday, Aug. 3, and everything is falling into place.  We are currently soliciting Wesley committees and individuals to help us out by making a donation to our “shhhhhh” Silent Auction.  Your donation - something simple, a basket of goodies, gift certificates, free play at golf courses, wine, your own personal artwork, or time at your vacation home - goes to support our Wesley ministries, including Kids Camp and our Youth Camp Fund, which helps to send our youth to Asian Camp every summer.  Please give this some thought and while you’re out and about, think of perhaps getting a gift card from one of your favorite places to shop or eat. Donations may be dropped off at the church office July 26-30. Please contact Paul Ueunten at (pueunten@earthlink.net). THANK YOU!

Ron Ogi, an avid golfer, beloved and an integral and dedicated member of Wesley’s Golf Committee, recently passed away. We are dedicating this year’s golf tournament to his memory and the golf committee will be sponsoring a hole acknowledging the specialized work Ron did for this tournament by making all the hole sponsor signs for this event for all the years that we can remember.
That being said, with the temperature rising and the weather is heating up. it signals your time to register for Wesley’s Fundraising Golf Tournament which will be held Monday, Aug. 3, at Sunnyvale Golf Course with a shot-gun start at 7:30 a.m.  Yes, it’s a bit early in the morning (yawn), but the good news?  You finish in time for lunch and be home before it gets dark where you can relax and relive this wonderful day.
This is a not to be missed fun and most exciting event of your golfing season. You will have a fine time playing with your family or dear friends as we are accepting foursome requests, and of course sharing a fabulous Japanese buffet for lunch. What’s not to like? Golf, food, and yes…prizes.
For the competitive golfers, there are cash prizes for first, second, and third place winners in Men’s A and B Flights, Women’s Flight, and Calloway (non-handicap) Flight.  Closest to the Hole winners will receive a prize.  
Registration fee is $160, which includes green fees, shared cart, three mulligans, a snack/goodie bag, lunch, and prize fund. Please make out your check to Wesley UMC with golf tournament on the memo line. An authentic Japanese cuisine buffet lunch awaits from a Japanese restaurant in SJ’s Japantown and held at Wesley. The lunch, will begin around 2:00 p.m., and is included for registered golfers and the cost for lunch only will be $40.
If possible, please avail yourselves to doing online registration (go to WesleySJ.net website or app. Go to events and find golf tournament) or send hard copy of registration forms and checks made out to Wesley UMC to Kelli Martines at 566 N. 5th St., San Jose, 95112 or drop them off at the church office by July 22.  You can also use the QR code for the link to the registration form or simply fill out the one enclosed in this newsletter.
Contact Kelli Martines: (Kelli@Wesleysj.net) if you have questions.

Spoiler alert – if you haven’t seen the movie Project Hail Mary - do not read this.

I am pretty obsessed with a recent sci-fi film called Project Hail Mary. So much so that I have some of the key songs from the movie on my Spotify playlist. My iPhone screen saver right now is a scene from the movie. And, of course, I’ve seen the movie numerous times.
In the movie, the sun is dimming because a microscopic organism called Astrophage has started to consume its energy. The Earth has perhaps a generation before the cold sets in and life on earth collapses. In a last-ditch desperate act humanity sends three people across the galaxy to find a solution. Over the course of the trip only one person survives, a scientist named Ryland Grace. He wakes up from an induced coma with no memory, heading for a distant star called Tau Ceti. His two crewmates have died. He becomes the last hope for earth. He is utterly alone, until, he wasn’t.
There, in the vast darkness of space, Ryland Grace encounters another spacecraft. Inside is an alien, a creature from a spider-like species that evolved around a different sun, sent on the very same mission by his own civilization. His star is dying too. His “people” face extinction too. He has traveled just as far and his crew also died on the way to Tau Ceti. He alone and carrying the same weight on his shoulders. Ryland names this alien Rocky because he looks like a rock.
What follows is a beautiful display of friendship and collaboration. Rocky and Ryland share no common language. They share no common biology. Rocky breathes ammonia. Ryland breathes oxygen. They cannot even exist in the same room without protective barriers between them. And yet they build a shared language from scratch. They share their hopes, their fears, their challenges, their grief. They discover that they are more alike than different; two curious minds sent on a common mission.
To me this sounds like the best version of Wesley Church. We gather each week, people of different languages, different backgrounds, different fears, different challenges, different pasts. At Wesley we are called to build a shared language. We are called to work across every difference toward a mission larger than any one of us. Rocky and Ryland did not choose each other and yet they formed a relationship. And through their bond, they were both transformed.
Ryland Grace was sent on Project Hail Mary to save Earth. He actually did not volunteer for the job, nor did he sign up to save Rocky’s world too. He didn’t even know Rocky’s world existed. But by the end, Ryland and Rocky worked not just for their own species but for each other. The mission expanded out of an act of genuine friendship.
This is what happens when we show up for one another. Some of us arrive at Wesley thinking we are here for our own healing, our own questions, our own grief. And then someone sits down next to us, and we find out that they are walking through a challenge that we had previously gone through; and our mission suddenly expands.
This is what the writer of Ecclesiastes means when he writes that we are members of one another not just metaphorically, but practically. When one part suffers, all suffer. When one part flourishes, we all flourish. Ryland and Rocky were each sent on what seemed like solo missions. The moment they found each other, the mission became something neither of them could have accomplished alone.
As we continue our summer season, I want to invite you into two practices drawn from this movie. #1. Look for your Rocky. Who has God placed in your orbit who is unlikely, unfamiliar, perhaps even hard to communicate with? Don’t ignore them. Build the common language. You might be transformed in the process.
#2. Let your mission be expanded. Perhaps you came to Wesley Church with your own needs, your own prayers, your own questions. That is good, even great! But let’s also stay open to the moment when our story intersects with someone else’s, and the mission becomes something larger than you ever intended.
Ryland Grace went on a mission to save Earth and in the process he also saved himself. He made an unlikely friend in Rocky who spoke another language. He expanded his mission. Grace, (I love his name), found what he was looking for. And I believe, will you too.

With love and hope for the journey,
Pastor John

You are invited! The Wesley Summer Singers will provide the anthem in worship on June 28 and July 5, 12, 19, and 26. And you can be a part of it.
Simply come to the Sanctuary each Sunday at 9:00 am to learn the music. Then sing with the group during the service. No experience necessary. But if you've sung a part like alto, tenor, soprano, or bass before, it really helps. Questions? Reach out to Mark Teagle (markteagle@wesleysj.net) or talk to any Choir member. We are also looking for Special Music offerings, especially during August but throughout the year as well.

Virginia Bailey is a long-time member at Wesley Church. She has led the Disciple Bible Study course, ‘Remember Who You Are’ many times. This Disciple Bible Study course covers the prophets and Paul’s letters. The prophets have much to remind us about ‘who we are.’

After listening to Rev. John mention the prophet Hosea several Sundays ago, I reminisced about how I view the prophet Jonah. I have not worried about how he survived being in the belly of a big fish. What grabbed my attention then and now, were the words Jonah spoke to God after God did not destroy Nineveh and its people. Jonah says “O Lord! Is not this why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. (Chapter 4, verse 2) This description of God differs from the stern, aloof God that we encounter in much of the Old Testament.  
I don’t know what kind of God you want in your life, but I want a merciful God who abounds in steadfast love and forgiveness because I know I need that kind of God in my life. I believe we, as God’s people, all need this kind of God, as well. I want to have mercy from God first and justice second.
In the current, seemingly lawless (and godless?) time in our nation, I wonder who and where our prophets are that should be calling us back to God, back to caring for the widows, the orphans and the alien among us? I do believe they are out there but they are harder to hear and find. Are you one who is called by God to call others back to caring for one another, to call us back to the example that Jesus gave us for how to live together as God’s people? Are you called to be a Jonah in this world?