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Volume XLIV, No. 6Venice - Santa Monica Free Methodist Church
Who do you follow? This is not a question we often hear in our society. We like to think of ourselves as self-thinkers, independent-minded citizens of a free nation. We do not have to follow anyone. But the deeper truth is that we all follow someone or something. It can be a de-ity, a religious principle, democratic ideals, societal values or cultural icons. A noted Hollywood personality, sports figure or government official wears, reads, watches or does something, and suddenly, that item is selling a millionfold. We watch a movie or a television program or see a product and find ourselves wanting one. The power of these images is so well known that subliminal advertisements are banned. We hear people vehemently insist that they are their own person and not prone to be followers. Yet, they protest while wearing stylish name brand clothing. We all follow something or someone. Who do you follow?
A disciple is one who follows. And to be called a disciple was an honored characterization if the one who was followed was notable. If we were taught by the best, or went to the top schools, or believed in the highest, most no-ble principles, then we would be proud to be a disciple.
We in the Christian faith follow Jesus Christ. We follow unapologetically and with deep appreciation. We fol-low the Son of God who is holy and sacrificed His life for us. It is both deeply humbling to be a follower of Jesus Christ and something we can be righteously proud to admit. This month we are learning in new ways to follow Jesus Christ. In the discipleship process we are becoming more and more like Him each day.
Who do you follow? We will all follow someone, or something. Why not follow Jesus? When we follow Him, He leads us to a new life.
Pastor Jim MiyabeSincerely,
Seab
reez
eVol XLIV, No. 6
JUNE2014
Discipleship
Ghana Mission Team Men’s Praise Team
Page 2
g NEWS BRIEFS
Congratulations to Erika Stelly & Michael Liv-ingston on the birth of Jacob Michael Living-ston on May 3. Our best to Cory and Kristen Ritzau on the birth of their first child, daughter Hayley Leilani Ritzau, on May 6. Hayley weighed in at 8 lbs., 11 ozs.Timothy Sumida is a member of the Vanguard University Choir that is touring Europe for a month. He and group left on May 11. Pray for them to have a most blessed time as they share the message of Christ.Our prayers and blessings to Dr. Dean & Catherine Matsuda, Nicole and Wyatt who are serving on a short-term medical mission team to Jamaica June 8-14. Joining the team to minister in Thailand with ZOE Children’s Home in November are Wayne Ginoza, Lori Kam and Ralph Yep. AWANA held their Pinewood Derby on May 10. Winning racers: 1. Nathan Otazu, 2. Kristopher Brandt, 3. Wesley Otazu. Design winners: 1. Nathan Otazu, 2. Kristopher Brandt, 3. Wesley Otazu. Congratulations to all who participated! Our youth attended the Post Mid-Winter Retreat/Pre-Family Camp Rally at the Anaheim FMC on May 10.Congratulations to David & Samantha (Sakai) Fahmi who were united in marriage on May 16. May God bless you in your life together!
The Ghana Team praises God for the 50 peo-ple who had their cars washed on May 18. $706 was raised through their efforts. Thanks to all who supported them!
THIS MONTH
COLLEGE FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY: Every Sunday “Teleios” meets at 12 p.m. All collegians/young adults are invited.
YOUTH MINISTRY FELLOWSHIPYouth Ministry fellowship events are held each month. Email [email protected] for more info regarding their June schedule.
MOPS (Mother’s of PreSchoolers): June 2Moms of infants and preschoolers! Join us for conversations with other moms, refreshments & guest speakers. Childcare is included! 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. For info about registration, go to venicechurch.org., click “Community L i f e ” ; s e l e c t “ M O P S ” . E m a i l [email protected] if you have ques-tions.) This will be their last meeting until the fall.
AWANA CLUB MINISTRY CLOS-ING CEREMONY: June 6The AWANA Club ministry will be taking a break for the summer after this Closing Cere-monies event at 7 p.m. AWANA will start up again in the fall.
PCJC LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: June 7Ministers and delegates from all out confer-ence churches will be attending this event at Mission Valley FMC. All welcome to attend! Ordination Service (Lori Tamura) begins at 4:00 p.m.
MENTOR/DISCIPLER ORIENTATION: June 8 All who are interested in mentoring/discipling are invited to come to this informative meeting to learn guidelines and helpful tips. A light meal will be served at the 12 p.m. meeting.
FATHER’S DAY: June 15All fathers are invited to worship services on Sunday. We will be honoring all fathers. Come out and bring your fathers.
CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL MINIS�TRY: June 15Once a month we minister at Santa Monica Convalescent Hospital. Want to participate? Contact Wayne Ginoza at 310-963-4681 or [email protected].
VJCC FESTIVAL: June 21 & 22We are participating in the Venice Japanese Community Center Festival on Saturday and Sunday. Help is needed for out booths. Come on out and get to know our community. Call the church office to sign up for a spot to serve.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: June 23 & 27Are you planning your summer schedule? Make sure you keep this week open for our VBS program. We are looking forward to a great week with the children! Register now at venicechurch.org.
SENIOR ADULT LUNCHEON: June 28All are welcome to this potluck luncheon at 11:00 a.m. which is themed for legal prepara-tion. Attorneys specializing in wills and living trusts will be sharing their expertise and setting up appointments. Call the church office for information and registration.
ADVANCE NOTICE
CONFERENCE FAMILY CAMP: July 27–August 2“FLOOD: Letting God’s River Overflow” is the theme for this year’s Family Camp. Plan to attend at the refreshing Redwood Christian Park near Santa Cruz. Something for every member of the family! Call the church office for registration information or go to pcjcfm.org. Sign up for our Camp Bus in the narthex by 7/06.
News Briefs
THIS MONTH
SHORT-TERM MISSION: Please pray for many who are serving on short-term mis-
sion teams: Sara Fong (UC, Berkeley) and Rob, Denise, Stephanie & Cori Anne
Tang (Thailand with ZOE Ministries); Van-guard Univ. Choir – Timothy Sumida
(Europe, from 5/11); Medical Mission – Dr. Dean & Catherine, Nicole & Wyatt Mat-suda (June 8-14); The Ghana Short Term Mission Team (July 8–24) - Ashley Ariy-asu, Matthew Ariyasu, Sarah Chang,
Jennifer Chew, Serena Jo Hodges, Syd-ney Hongo, Kyle Koshimizu, Kevin Sakamoto and Kurt Weber. Adults –
Linda Akutagawa, Reg & Mayme Ariy-asu, Charissa Endow, Melissa Tong and Randy Yumori; InterVarsity’s Los Angeles Urban Six-Week Summer Immersion Pro-ject – Jeremy Tuggy; ZOE Ministries in Thailand – Wayne Ginoza, Lori Kam &
Ralph Yep (November).MILITARY PERSONNEL: Prayer is re-
quested for Geoffrey West (Marines) and Robert Sugai (Army) who are serving our
country in the military.
CONGRATULATIONS
GRADUATESMIDDLE HIGH: Ashley Mar}gono, Wyatt Matsuda, Nathan
Meadows, Katie Miya, Corey Sayama, Ryo Shiatori, & Michael
Sumida.SENIOR HIGH: Ashley Ariyasu,
Kimberly Chew, Emily Hatanaka, Serena Joe Hodges, Troy Kaneshiro, Kyle Koshimizu,
Emily Miya, Chris Muller, Ashley
Salazar, Taiki Sugita, Andrew
Sumida, Kurt Weber & Jonathan
Wolf.COLLEGE: Steven Chew (UCI), Charissa Endow (UCLA), Emilie Endow (UCI), Steven Hatanaka
(CSULB), Courtney Hongo (USC),
Noah Rubke (CSULB), andRianna Wong (UCI).
ADVANCED NOTICE
Page 3
Subsidized price is $55 each for those who attend our church. For our families: 1st two: $55 each, 3rd: $30, and after that, free. Fees & permission slips (for minors traveling without a parent or guardian) are due by 7/20. (Sign ups for those who do not attend our church will open on 7/07 at the cost will be $90 per per-son.)
MEN’S RETREAT: September 5–7Calling all men to be part of our Men’s Retreat. It will bless you and challenge you in your walk with Christ.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON SUNDAY: First SundayEvery 1st Sunday of the month is Fellowship Luncheon Sunday. Please join us after the 2nd worship service for a wonderful time of fellow-ship and for a delicious meal prepared by members of the Hospitality Ministry.
GOD TIME: Scripture meditation & prayer from 7-8 p.m. every Tuesday at the church.
DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRYWould you like to be mentored by a discipler who will coach, encourage and guide you in your faith walk? Are you being called by God to be a mentor and disciple someone in being a committed follower of Jesus Christ? Please contact Patty Chung ([email protected]) or Lori Kam ([email protected]) to get partnered in the one-on-one discipling ministry. Please deposit questionnaire forms into the container on the narthex table.SUNDAY MORNING SCHEDULE Our two English Worship Services start at 8:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. The Japanese language Worship Service starts at 10:15 a.m. English language Sunday school is held at 8:45 a.m. & 10:15 a.m. Japanese language Sunday school is at 8:45 a.m. Call the church office for more specific information on the youth and children’s schedule. MISS A WORSHIP SERVICE?Did you miss a worship service because you were ill or out of town? You can hear the mes-sages from our website venicechurch.org or order a CD. You can also access this newslet-
ter (the “Seabreeze”) at our website and much, much more! (Please let Michelle Stultz in the church office know if you access the Se-abreeze off the web and don’t need one mailed to your home.)
MEMORIAL OFFERINGS
In Memory of Mrs. Elaine Chiyoko Hashimura – Mr. & Mrs. Craig Oshinomi and Hashimura Family.In Honor of Mrs. Jane Honda – Mrs. Jacque-line HondaFor Mother’s Day, Mrs. Jane Honda – Mrs. Jacqueline HondaIn Memory of Mrs. Emiko Ikeda – Mr. & Mrs. Steve IkedaIn Memory of Mr. Ralph Miyamura – Mrs. Fusako Miyamura
IN SYMPATHY
Our condolences to Sandra Chin on the pass-ing of her father, Mr. Jimmy Chin, on May 23. May God be close to you all.
IN SYMPATHY
Announcements
MEMORIAL OFFERINGS
• June 7, 2014 (Sat), 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM - VBS Training
• June 7, 2014 (Sat), 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM - YOUTH GROUP
• June 8, 2014 (Sun), 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM - End of Year Banquet honoring Graduates (In lieu of High School Family dinner this month) Location: C&O Cucina, parents and siblings are invited. Estimated cost $20/person (Graduates of High School and Middle High come free). An Evite has been sent. Please RSVP via that link. Also, the $20 per person does not include gratuity. Please add a $3/person gratuity. Thank you!
• June 20, 2014 (Fri), 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM - VBS Training and Kick-off
• June 21 - 22, 2014 (Sat & Sun) VJCC Carnival. Youth Group will be serving in the Halo Toss booth from 12 to 4 on Sunday the 22nd. We will be taking sign ups for one-hour shifts.
• June 23 - 27, 2014 (Mon through Fri), 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM - Vacation Bible School
~YOUTH NEWS~
♱
SeabreezeVENICE - SANTA MONICA FREE METHODIST CHURCH 4871 CENTINELA AVENUELOS ANGELES, CA 90066
TEMP - RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
STAFF E-MAIL ADDRESSES & PHONE NUMBERS:Pastor Jim Miyabe [email protected] (310/822-8094)
Pastor Gen Hashimoto (Japanese Language) [email protected] (310/822-8094)
Linda Akutagawa (Youth Co-Director): [email protected] (310/962-3529)
Audrey Hodges (CM Director)[email protected] (310/822-8094)
Ken Koshimizu (CM Assistant Director) [email protected] (310/822-8094)
Emiko Kuwata (Infant/Toddler Director)[email protected] (310/418-7791)
Patrick Mendoza (Youth Worker) [email protected] (310/822-8094)
Aimee Snyder (Youth Co-Director) [email protected] (310/822-8094)
Michelle Stultz (Office Administrator) [email protected] (310/822-8094)
Jodi Yokota (Bookkeeper)[email protected] (310/822-8094)
Venice-Santa Monica Free Methodist Church
Main Office: 310-822-8094 email: [email protected]: 310-821-5474 http://www.venicechurch.org
NONPROFITU.S. POSTAGE
PAIDVENICE, CA
PERMIT NO. 214
CHECK OUT OUR CHURCH WEBSITE:
We’ve got a new online location at:
http://www.venicechurch.org It has our news and events! This newsletter, “Seabreeze,” is also here. Let us know if you receive the Seabreeze off the web and
don’t need one mailed to your home. Also, Pastor Jim’s sermons are available there via Podcast or through its media player. Venice Youth (6th-12th grade ministry) has a new e-mail address! [email protected]
