Reconciling Sunday Celebration
Reconciling Sunday…CELEBRATE!!!
By Barbara Hiura
By Barbara Hiura
Lollapalooza!!! Whata blast was our reconciling Sunday service and bake sale. It was quite the celebration recognizing our decade plus of being a reconciling church and so grateful for our witnesses Dindo Bustrillos and Scott Riddle who shared their stories of Christianity and marriage in their faith journey. It was for us an uplifting time to share God’s love for all and to be Jesus people welcoming them into our fold.
Our celebration continued with wonderful music that harkened back to other Reconciling Sundays when we sang “Come Through Open Doors” and “How Could Anyone?, a number presented by the 88 Keys Choir a several years ago. And the choir shared “The Handiwork of God” as a video of LGBTQ Plus patchwork quilts were displayed. This service was a thrilling moment in the life of Wesley where we reinforce our push for Christian acceptance of all God’s children.
We capped-off our celebration Sunday with the best bake sale ever as our church people showed off their artistry, skill, and talent in creating delightful and delectable treats for all to purchase in donation. Our Reconciling Ministry cannot thank enough all our bakers, our gifted cooks. Our church people didn’t just bring just one item, they brought in the store. We had five tables of delightful sweet and savory goodies. I think Jan Yamaguchi filled one table by herself with all she made and Ann Sifflet was almost equal to that task. There were many who showed off their artistry and wrapped them as if they came from a Japanese store, with colorful ribbon and nice cellophane envelopes. It was a beautiful sight. And we even had doggy treats very clearly marked, I might add. We were flush with goodies to sell.
One highlight I wish to share is the effort generated from Ted and Sue Wong. Ted was our jerky-treat maker last year. This year he made the church complement lunch, pretty much with is thick bread style pizza. What a wonderful sauce and tons of cheese which made it mouth-watering a delight to our tastebuds. Yum! He said he made 28 lbs of dough which created nine pans of 12 pieces of pizza per pan for our fundraising bake sale. Our church people waited for his pizzas to come out of the oven…and when they came out, there was Joy Bayler, our resident barker, calling out to the rafters when they were done. God knew our church people would be sated with lunch and dessert this day.
I am thankful to all who brought in baked sweet and savory items to sell. I am thankful to all who purchased these delightful creations. It certainly is a win-win for Reconciling Ministry Network who will receive our profit of over $2,100 or there abouts for their continued work.
I want to thank the following who helped in the running of this event: cashiers Hector Acuna, Cynthia Fukuda (accountants) and Terri Koike; set up/take down: Doris Tabuchi (supplies), Joanne Miyahara, April Kawahara, Joy Bayler, Joanne Kumano and the multitude of others unnamed, because I didn’t see them all, but who helped receive the baked goods and label them. It takes the whole church village to make this event the success that it was. Pats on the back all around. And yes, it is one of those fundraising celebrations where everyone leaves sated and satisfied. Nothing can be better than that.
Our celebration continued with wonderful music that harkened back to other Reconciling Sundays when we sang “Come Through Open Doors” and “How Could Anyone?, a number presented by the 88 Keys Choir a several years ago. And the choir shared “The Handiwork of God” as a video of LGBTQ Plus patchwork quilts were displayed. This service was a thrilling moment in the life of Wesley where we reinforce our push for Christian acceptance of all God’s children.
We capped-off our celebration Sunday with the best bake sale ever as our church people showed off their artistry, skill, and talent in creating delightful and delectable treats for all to purchase in donation. Our Reconciling Ministry cannot thank enough all our bakers, our gifted cooks. Our church people didn’t just bring just one item, they brought in the store. We had five tables of delightful sweet and savory goodies. I think Jan Yamaguchi filled one table by herself with all she made and Ann Sifflet was almost equal to that task. There were many who showed off their artistry and wrapped them as if they came from a Japanese store, with colorful ribbon and nice cellophane envelopes. It was a beautiful sight. And we even had doggy treats very clearly marked, I might add. We were flush with goodies to sell.
One highlight I wish to share is the effort generated from Ted and Sue Wong. Ted was our jerky-treat maker last year. This year he made the church complement lunch, pretty much with is thick bread style pizza. What a wonderful sauce and tons of cheese which made it mouth-watering a delight to our tastebuds. Yum! He said he made 28 lbs of dough which created nine pans of 12 pieces of pizza per pan for our fundraising bake sale. Our church people waited for his pizzas to come out of the oven…and when they came out, there was Joy Bayler, our resident barker, calling out to the rafters when they were done. God knew our church people would be sated with lunch and dessert this day.
I am thankful to all who brought in baked sweet and savory items to sell. I am thankful to all who purchased these delightful creations. It certainly is a win-win for Reconciling Ministry Network who will receive our profit of over $2,100 or there abouts for their continued work.
I want to thank the following who helped in the running of this event: cashiers Hector Acuna, Cynthia Fukuda (accountants) and Terri Koike; set up/take down: Doris Tabuchi (supplies), Joanne Miyahara, April Kawahara, Joy Bayler, Joanne Kumano and the multitude of others unnamed, because I didn’t see them all, but who helped receive the baked goods and label them. It takes the whole church village to make this event the success that it was. Pats on the back all around. And yes, it is one of those fundraising celebrations where everyone leaves sated and satisfied. Nothing can be better than that.
Dindo Bustrillos (left) and Scott Riddle presented their faith journeys, their knowledge of being gay at a young age, how they met and became a couple, and dealing with their Christian faith and our God in their hearts.
A different setting for Marilyn Hasegawa (above) and Ted Hasegawa (below) as we’re accustomed to seeing them leading and being in the Praise Band, but her in front ours our superb Liturgists who clearly articulated the Scripture passage, Wonderful!
Dave Land voiced the video on the history and our representation in becoming and being actively involved as a Reconciling Church.
What a beautiful sight this outpouring of love as seen here in our church’s annual fundraising Bake Sale . Check out all the goodies yummy above and below.
Rev. John got his pie!
Bake sale highlight were Ted’s Pizzas as Chef Ted Wong is shown here with his wife, Sue and their tasty pan pizzas.
Posted in Newsletter 2024-03-21