"...mutually encouraged by each other's faith" (Romans 1:12)
"That prayer was so meaningful to me."
Those words were spoken to me again and again and again by members of Yukinoshita Church. They were referring to the Enacted Prayer that NWC's DME performed at the end of the day. I'll tell you more later. But first, a rundown of a beautiful day.
Sunday's are always the high point of these exchanges because they get the most people together to experience the power of each other's faith. The theme verse I chose in the card from Trinity to Yukinoshita is from Romans 1:12, where Paul longs to see the Roman Christians so that both he and they can be encouraged. And that is what happened on Sunday.
The day began with Children's Church (Sunday School) at 8:30 a.m. After opening songs and prayers and offering, I gave a "small preach." Translated by Ruby, I share a devotion on choosing words wisely to build each other up. I used an old children's talk that I saw Amy Achteroff use one summer with tooth paste. The kids loved it.The NWC drama did a workshop on Saturday for the Yukinoshita youth group on how to perform the "Ancient Plays" idea that Jeff Barker has been working on. The Japanese youth performed it for the children. They were mesmerized!
Then it was off to adult worship at 10:30. Like Trinity, we celebrated communion. Pastor Higashino gave a beautiful message on the feeding of the 5,000 from the perspective of the disciples. So many thoughts ran through my mind as he was preaching that I decided it would be a great text for my first sermon back at Trinity.
Worship concluded with me giving some remarks. I also gave a gift from Trinity to Yukinoshita congregation. Karen Barker and I picked out an etching done by an Orange City artist which depicts a rural farm scene. They were most blessed.
Lunch was with the whole church. After worship on most Sunday's, the congregation gathers for a light meal, prepared by church members. They started this several years ago after their choir visited Trinity and were impressed with our potlucks. The Japanese believers have improved it! Rather than everyone bringing a dish to pass, a group prepares the meal. The people contribute 350 yen (about $3) each. The proceeds go to help seminary students. Since starting this a few years ago, they have raised over $42,000 US to help their students! Who would have thought a potluck in Iowa would plant such a seed. Praise God!The exchange program continued in the afternoon with a 3-hour concert.
First, the church choir sang 3 numbers.Then, Jeff Barker gave a short presentation on how his last visit sparked an idea of how the Japanese Kabuki theatre might have something in common with Old Testament Story telling and how these ideas led to the development of ancient plays. The NW students then performed a play and the church youth group performed another. The congregation was so impressed when they saw their own youth acting out the play. The applause was long and sustained. The comments later generated much discussion.
Two members from Third Reformed in Holland, Michigan, then gave a one-hour organ and trumpet concert.Other moments included church members doing a vocal solo, cello pieces, and blues guitar.
The afternoon ended with Enacted Prayer. I want to write more about this another time, but for now let me say why this moment was important.
In Japanese culture, people do not normally share "their story." That is, they are very private. In Enacted Prayer, Jeff asks for a congregant to share a personal request, and then the drama team makes a visual picture of the prayer. On this occasion, a man requested prayer for children, using the example of a family in the church who takes in foster children. The picture in drama was for stamina for the foster parents, love and joy for the children, and peace for the birth parents. It was incredible. Afterwards, several people expressed how moved they were by that experience. The power of a prayer story was incredible.
At the end, the congregation also gave a gift to Trinity. This gift is exquisite in every way. It is an origami arrangement of David being the good shepherd and saving the sheep from the bear and the lion. Because it is copyrighted, I was not allowed to take a picture, but it is about 3 feet by 2 feet and 9 inches high. Because it won't fit in a suitcase they are sending it to us. Each large figure is made from one piece of paper and it is simply beautiful. We will display it when it arrives.
As an extra bonus to the afternoon, we met the Brownell family, which Trinity supports with a full share of mission support - they have been in Yokohoma for one month. And we unexpectedly ran into in Angie Nearpass, NW grad and teacher in Japan with the RCA volunteer program. Angie is a pesonal friend to our family and it was a nice surprise.
The day concluded with a Japanese meal of yakasobe at our host home with 4 women who had traveled to Orange City.
