Where In Japan are Bob & Chris November 25th

After preaching on November 23rd Bob and Chris found themselves late on the following Tuesday helping to feed those Jesus was talking about when he said , “As you did it unto the least of these my brethren you did it unto me.” Matt. 25:40 They were invited by a member of Musashino Lutheran Church who heard Bob’s sermon on the 23rd. Yasuko Nakayama volunteers regularly to help in the ministry of the House of Star. This ministry distributes food to the homeless in the area of Tokyo around Minowa subway station know as Sanya. It is an older section of the city. At Yasuko san’s invitation Bob and Chris went with her and met the sister who runs the ministry along with other volunteers to help on Tuesday night. They met when a van with the other volunteers pulled up on a street corner outside Minowa Station. Together they drove into a small park on this cold, dark and rain saturated night. Like street vendors they quickly set up the feeding stations. The hungry were already lined up and waiting in the darkness. Chris ladeled soup with vegetables cut small enough to be consumed from a cup without need of chop sticks. Bob helped hand out rice balls with a pickled plumb in the center and a wrapping of sea weed. The food was made by nuns at a local Roman Catholic Convent. The line of “the least of these my brethren” quietly shuffled past each station first receiving the rice; then the soup; sometimes followed by a thank you or a quiet smile. Quickly the food was handed out and the van repacked. The homeless wandered away into the night; some of them back to the cardboard residences they had staked out for this night in the bushes and corners of the park. Bob and Chris back in the van were off with the others to a mall where many homeless seek shelter each night. A mall in this part of Tokyo is an area of shops with a common roof and otherwise open to the elements. Here the volunteers did not set up stations and wait for the least of these to shuffle by with hands extended. Here as far as you could look down the street of the mall were boxes and mattresses and all manner of open enclosures with humanity sitting or laying covered up to try and survive. Each one had his or her space in the cold wet darkness. The volunteers pushed a cart with soup; offering it as they passed each “residence” The volunteers this night were an interesting group. In addition to Bob & Chris there was a young woman from North Carolina employed here as a linguist, a pastor from the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church, a Roman Catholic priest in training from Uganda, and a government worker from the Republic of Yemen and some local Japanese folks. It was an eclectic mix of people whom God called together to be with Jesus Tuesday night in the dark, cold rain of Tokyo. Quickly the distribution ended and the van was packed for the final time. Bob, Chris and Yasuko returned with the others for a debriefing session at Star House; the tiny ministry headquarters in the neighborhood. Soon they were on their way back to Mitaka; walking through the same streets to the Minowa Station where they had experienced the one who said “As you did it to the least of these my brethren you did it to me.”

Keep Praying

Zen Ben

Thanksgiving: Where in Japan are Bob & Chris

On November 27th Bob and Chris will celebrate their 2nd Thanksgiving Holiday of 2008. They will be with Rev. Dr. Jim and Carol Sacks in their home on the campus of Japan Lutheran Theological Seminary. Jim and Carol are both long term ELCA missionaries in Japan. They are part of a wonderful missionary community that has been so welcoming and supportive of Pastor Bob and Chris while they have been living in Tokyo and on the seminary campus. This year Bob & Chris really are celebrating two Thanksgivings. By the time they celebrate the one on the 27th the first one will be past. In Japan there is an official holiday of thanksgiving celebrated on November 23rd. This holiday has been a long standing part of Japanese culture. Thanks to an invitation from a member of Hoya Lutheran Church Bob and Chris participated recently in a Japanese culture class in Mikata and wore clothes similar to what might have been worn by Japanese in the Meiji era. Thanksgiving is officially listed in National Ritual Calendar established during the Meiji era. The actual name of this thanksgiving holiday is Niinamesai. On the calendar established during the Meiji era it says "the emporer both offers and partakes of firstfruits of the harvest". Like the United States Thanksgiving holiday the understanding in Japan has modified over time; but the principle remains the same. In Japan there is a harvest festival to give thanks for the rice harvest that sustained and continues to sustain the people. In the United States there is a harvest festival to give thanks for the crops that sustained the Pilgrims and the Indians and continues to sustain the people . Bob and Chris this year in a new way have and will celebrate thanks giving.

Keep praying,

Zen Ben

Where in Japan are Bob & Chris November 18

Tuesday on the schedule was an invitation for Bob and Chris to meet Pastor Nakajima of Ichikawa Lutheran Church in Chiba Prefecture and attend the Motituki celebration at Kohnodai Hoikuen, a kindergarten and a ministry of the JELC to the community of Ichikawa. Immediately adjacent to this ministry is a shelter for women. This shelter is another ministry of the JELC to the community. Bob and Chris spent the morning with Pastor Nakajima , the staff of the facility and the 100 children from ages infants to 5 years for Motituki. With the children they learned and tried their hand at the process of making the traditional rice cakes that are shared in the New year. The rice is cooked outside over and open flame, kneaded and pounded into a smooth paste and finally rolled and dipped into delicious toppings before the best part; the eating! After the delighful tour of the school and meeting children and teachers, and finally participating in the Motituki Bob and Chris had built up an appetite for the best part. They gladly participated in eating some of the rice cakes as part of lunch with these beautiful children. The children are not members of Ichikawa Lutheran Church and not Christian. They are simply beautiful children that God reaches out to through this ministry. Our prayer is that one day the Holy Spirit will move them to recieve the love given in this ministry everyday in the love of Jesus Christ; God's grace extended to all his children in baptism. As part of the teaching each week the children hear the stories of Jesus in the lessons from Pastor Nakajima. Chris marveled at the discipline of the children in all their activities. Especially of note were the three year olds who sat in their chairs around a table and listened intently as a teacher read an extended story while two American strangers were in the room watching. A final wonderful part of a wonderful morning was to sing table grace with the children. Pastor Bob noticed at his table at lunch that the children needed no prompting to sing their prayer before eating. One of the little girls in sweat Japanese simply smiled and said "inori ma sho" Let us pray. They sang and Bob prayed thanks to God for the food and for a precious morning with more precious children.


Keep praying,

Zen Ben

Where in Japan are Bob & Chris November 16

It was Sunday and Bob and Chris are were in worship. This past Sunday Bob was invited to preach in English with a translator to the congregation of Hoya Lutheran Church in Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan. The pastor of Hoya Lutheran Church, Hiraoka sensei also invited Pastor Bob to help distribute Holy Communion. Hiraoka sensei is also a teacher at Japan Lutheran Theological Seminary. She teaches liturgics. She studied in the United States under Dr. Gordon Lathrope. After worship there was a lunch and time for fellowship with many of the members of the church. A fine lunch of special rice, pickles and soup was topped off with lemon pie!! During a time for introductions and Q&A several members shared their found memories of Rev. Jerry Livingston and his work in Japan including his leadership when he took a group to South Carolina on the first "Roots" tour 25 years ago. It was a blessing for Bob and Chris to visit, worship and have fellowship at Hoya Lutheran Church.

Keep praying,

Zen Ben

Where in Japan are Bob & Chris? Bible Studies!

Something old and something new, something familiar but not quite the same, Bible study and English classes or English classes that include Bible study, you may say it any number of ways and this is what occupied much of the week for Bob and Chris. They participated or led studies atHongo Student Center, Tokyo Lutheran Church, Tsudanuma Lutheran Church and Musashino Lutheran church during the week of November 9th. Bible study is something old or familiar to Bob and Chris. Bible study in Japan was in many ways something new for them at the very same time. The old or familiar part was a group of people getting together to read and study God's word in order to increase the understanding of meaning in the text and meaning for their lives. The new was finding meaning by working with a text in English to be translated to Japanese or in Japanese to be translated to English. Either way the process for those who participated and for those who led brought mutual insights and deeper meaning. Students worked word by word and illustration by illustration to understand just what was being said, implied, described or reported in the text. God's Word spoke at a new level to all the participants. The other part that was new for Bob & Chris was the variety of people in the studies. Bible study they were familiar with was a group within a single church or a community study that included Christians from various churches. The Bible studies they experienced this week had participants from a third category. These were people who are not Christians. Christians and non Christians in Japan gather to study and learn English and use the Bible as the story that helps them with language. Christians and non Christians in Japan also gather to study and learn the Bible and use English as the media that helps them with the story. Either approach provides a similar result. The story of Jesus the Christ and the meaning of his story for the lives of those who study it becomes clearer than before. For Christians a means is provided to deepen their walk of faith. For non Christians a means is provided where they may begin a walk of faith. For both the one active within the means is the Holy Spirit. The expectation of leaders for participants is simply preparation and participation. The result for both leaders and participants including Bob and Chris this past week was God's gift of a living word understood in deeper and richer ways than before.

Keep praying,

Zen Ben

November 9 Where in Japan are Bob and Chris?

November 9th Pastor Bob and Chris were at Tokyo Lutheran Church on Okubo Dori in an area of Tokyo known as Korea Town according to one of the pastors of the church. Bob and Chris experienced three different and wonderful worship services. The litugy of each was very traditional. The difference was in the congregation who worshipped. The earliest service was a complete Liturgy of the Word for children. It was attended by young families. At this service Pastor Eric Hansen; a young American who has been serving in Japan for about 14 months preached the children's sermon in Japanese! This service was followed by a service of Word and Sacrament for English speakers. Pastor Bob preached and Pastor Eric presided at Holy Communion. The last service of the day is the service in Japanese; the main service for this congregation. Pastor Bob preached and his sermon was translated by Pastor Kazuhiro Sekino. Pastor "Kaz" is a young Japanese pastor with a wonderful command of English. He visited the South Carolina Synod and spent a summer serving the residents of the Lowman Home in Ballentine, SC. After worship Bob and Chris were invited to a reception and lunch with the staff and council of Tokyo Church. During the traditional introductions and sharing Pastor "Kaz" shared his work in South Carolina. Chris made the connection that he is the same "special young pastor from Japan" that her mother Irene McCutcheon enjoyed so much some years ago. Mrs McCutcheon, now deceased was particularly pleased with the lantern she was given by Pastor "Kaz". It was a special connection that put a loving bow on a wonderful day of worship and fellowship at Tokyo Lutheran Church. Bob and Chris are looking forward to Bible Study next week at this same church. Pastor Bob will lead a study on Matthew 8:4-14.

Keep praying,

Zen Ben

November 7 Where are Bob and Chris in Japan?

While Chris was back at Guesthouse # 23 at Japan Lutheran Theological Seminary continuing to study Japanese between dancing with a sweeper and washer Bob was on his way to Hiyoshi Church outside Tokyo in Hiyoshi Japan. Tonight was the first of many Bible Studies where Bob or Bob & Chris will be invited to lead and or lead and participate during the exchange ministry in Japan. Tonight Pastor Bob joined Pastor Asano and four members of Hiyoshi Church for Bible study in English. It felt very much like the contemplative study of Lectio Divina. The study was like Lectio Divina in its careful word for word contemplation for meaning. Led by the pastors each student participated by reading the text of our study, Acts 9:19-29. We read verses to teach other and together in English and then shared a careful explanation of the meaning both historical and contemporary. Phrases and individual words both the denotation and the connotation were examined. The four members of Hiyoshi church all had both a background and interest in speaking English. Pastor Bob continues to work on and have an interest in speaking Japanese. Together we listened for the Word speaking to us through our study. It was a good night in the Word of God in any language.

Keep praying,

Zen Ben

All Saints Sunay at Hiyoshi Lutheran Church

All Saints Sunday was the first Sunday of Pastor Bob's work in the East District of the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church. He and Chris began the day leaving their apartment at Japan Lutheran Theological Seminary at 8:00 am in order to make the 90 minute trip to Hiyoshi and arrive by 9:30 am at Hiyoshi Lutheran Church. Hiyoshi is a beautiful church in a college town setting. It has a nave with dark and beautiful furniture that was once the interior of the chapel for Japan Lutheran Seminary in it's earlier Musashino location. During worhip this very traditional furniture mixes nicely with the use of projected images for the liturgy and songs. Pastor Asano's congregation appreciates the alternative this provides to the small print in the hynmals.

Pastor Bob preached a sermon for All Saints Sunday based on the Beatitudes. It was well received as it was well translated by his colleague Pastor Naoki Asano; the same pastor who came to the South Carolina Synod and was at St. Paul, Aiken for Holy Week as the "Exchange Pastor" from Japan a few years ago. Pastor Asano also invited Pastor Bob to help with Holy Communion distribution. Worship was meaningful and the church was filled beyond capacity.

During this wonderful day at Hiyosih Church Pastor Bob and Chris met many wonderful and interesting people. One of them Mr. Yagisawa was someone who will stand out in the memory of this trip. This gentleman now 84 years of age is the pen pal to Mr Si Lambert, an active and faithful member of St. Paul, Aiken SC. Pastor Bob presented a gift to Mr Yagisawa from Si Lambert as well as his greetings and prayers. Mr Yagisawa was most appreciative and asked Pastor Bob to express his great appreciation to Si Lambert . He shared about his life as an engineer, his joy at being able to correspond with Si despite some difficulty with failing eyesight and had one more request. This was to be remembered to a young missionary whose picture he showed me. The picture was of a gathering of young Christian converts with their missionary pastor. The missionary in the picture, taken over forty years ago, was a young Rev. Charles Dawkins. Pastor Dawkins is now retired and living in South Carolina His faithful work planted the seeds that today are seen in a vibrant Hiyoshi Lutheran Church, Hiyoshi, Japan.

Keep praying,

Zen Ben

: 2nd Harvest Tokyo Japan

Saturday November 1st was a special day to work among those Christ calls Christians to serve; the "least of these". Bob & Chris were invited by Pastor Phil Hausknecht, St. Paul International Lutheran Church to volunteer with 2nd Harvest Tokyo Japan. 2nd Harvest prepares and distributes meals each Saturday in Ueno Park. St. Paul International Lutheran Ch . participates on the 1st Saturday of the each month. When Bob & Chris were invited they were reminded of the participation of their own church, St. Paul in Aiken, South Carolina in the food distributed to the elderly and needed of Aiken on the 1st Saturday of each month. They were excited to be asked to volunteer. 2nd Harvest is located about one hour total travel from the Japan Lutheran Theological Seminary in Mitaka. Up and ready at 9:15 they left with directions from Pastor Phil to 2nd Harvest in Akihabara where food would be prepared for distribution. Bob was assigned with another volunteer to first drain Japanese pickles from their brine and then to inspect and wash produce. Chris was assigned to cook potatoes to be made into a salad. They enjoyed the fellowship shared with other volunteers in the preparation of food. Bob was particularly impressed by the large group of employees from Ciscio Systems Inc. One of them explained that their working at 2nd Harvest on Saturday was strictly optional as employess; but they also knew that Cisco as a company had a commitment to social consciousness.

After all the food was prepared it was loaded into a 2nd Harvest van for the trip to Ueno Park. The volunteers who had worked the preparation session and were also working in distribution, Bob & Chris included, made their way to Ueno Park on the train. Once at Ueno Park the van and volunteers and leaders gathered at the distribution area. The equipment and tables were set up, assignments were given out and the distribution process began. Bob was assigned to placing a piece of chicken in the rice on each plate. Chris was assigned to hand the completed meals to the recipients. It was good to do work as they remembered the words of Jesus, "As you have done unto the least of these by brothers, you have done it unto me."

The distribution fed 485 persons on this Saturday. About 585 meals in total were handed out. Produce and other food items were also distributed. Nothing was left over or left to waste. It was good to feed so many people and it was sad to see so many people who needed to be fed. It was a blessed time of stewardship for all who participated. Bob and Chris were thankful for the opportunity. Google "2nd Harvest Tokyo, Japan to find out more about this ministry.

Keep praying,

Zen Ben

Reflections on a Special Reformation Service

On Friday October 31, 2008 the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Japan Lutheran Church Missouri Synod held a joint Reformation Service at Ichigaya Church. The service celebrated the work of the Holy Spirit through Martin Luther, a German Augustinian monk that began the Reformation. The service was attended by members of both churches as well as new and veteran missionary workers from Lutheran Churches throughout the world. The service was the occasion to install in the JELC the 1st “Exchange Pastor” from the South Carolina Synod of the ELCA.

Our God is an awesome God!

I was honored when asked to preach on the Reformation texts at this service. The installation rite that followed was a humbling experience. I responded to the installation questions directed by to me by Rev. Sumiuki Watanabe, President of the JELC. My response was a solemn promise to God and the JELC given in Japanese even though I do not speak the language. Most of those in the congregation understood my promise. God understood my promise.

Our God is an awesome God!

Rev. Naoki Asano , Rev. George Oshiba and Rev. Sumiuki Wantanabe laid hands upon my head and prayed during the installation rite. I sensed the presence of our God in a way I have not since my Ordination in 1995. The God who establishes this and all ministries is God of all people. When I ponder the next five months of service in the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church I pray for my abilities to be sufficient. By faith I know whatever talents and abilities God has given me will be sufficient; because they are given by the same God who calls. By faith I know this because God has blessed me to be working with ordained brothers and sisters in the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church. By faith we know this because so many people in the United States and in Japan are in prayer for the ministry of our two churches. By faith we know this because;

Our God is an awesome God!

Peace,

Pastor Bob Byrne