Letter from the Pastor
Dear Beloved TUC Family,
New Year greetings in the name of the Risen Christ. These first eleven days of 2024 have been filled with emotion as we live in the aftermath of the earthquake on Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa-ken plus the airplane collision in Tokyo. Many lives have been lost and frightening memories are rekindled. Yet we “do not grieve as those who have no hope, for we believe that Jesus died and rose again” (1 Thessalonians 4:13) and we as Tokyo Union Church have responded with the love of Jesus in caring and compassion. We offer our deepest sympathies and prayers for all those who have suffered such loss in this first week of the year.
We have also responded in these ways. We are immediately donating ¥300,000 in emergency funds, ¥100,000 each to three different types of responders. The Ishikawa Earthquake Relief fund is established so that you can also make your own personal contributions through TUC which are forwarded 100% to these three responders:
1) Uchinada Bible Church – Christian relief center. This large church in Ishikawa is the gathering and distribution center for local churches to share resources and relief efforts. They are “hands on” and “feet on the ground” in the immediate area, also coordinating the efforts of local volunteers.
2) 2nd Harvest Japan – providing food for evacuated survivors in the affected area. 2nd Harvest is our local expert at distributing large amounts of food to large groups of people in need. We are pleased that our own TUC member, Hitomi Yokote, is the new CEO of 2nd Harvest Japan.
3) World Vision Japan – providing psychosocial support for the children, including play time and space. This is the same support we provided for children in Ukraine last year. This also provides good childcare while parents need to take care of other responsibilities.
You may contribute more to this response by using the offering envelopes in the pews or by giving online at tokyounion.org/give. Please specify: “Ishikawa Earthquake Relief” in the note box.
In typical TUC fashion, so many have offered to help in any practical way possible. From our TUC family Greg Austin is going to spend the next week at Uchinada at their invitation. Greg is a professional chef (as well as an opera singer) and will be leading their team of 3 cooks and running the kitchen to cook 3 meals a day for 25-40 volunteers, plus possibly setting up a tent to distribute food in the disaster area. He will be sleeping at the church. Pray for Greg’s volunteer work and for his family remaining here at home this week. Go with Greg in prayer as together we all continue to care for those who suffer.
We are still praying and seeking long-term ways to support the survivors of this tragedy.
Thank you for your prayers and generous giving in response to the urgent needs of God’s children. God is pouring out mercy upon us and through us. Thanks be to God.
Gratefully in Christ,
Pastor Steve
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