March 2017 • Vol 21• www.AldersgatePA.org • A Reconciling Congregation, open to all

SERVING YOUR CHURCH

Pastor: Rev. Roger Morimotorvm878@gmail.comRev. Gary Barbaree

Your AUMC Staff: Submit newsletter articles by the 15th of the month to:Brad Shirakawa - newsletter editorbradaumc@yahoo.com

Send Sunday bulletin info to Brad by the WEDNESDAY before Sunday

Mimi Funabiki and Lori Wong do everything else:meemfunabiki@gmail.comlori_wong@yahoo.com

Sunday service starts at 10 am. Sunday school available for toddlers through 12th graders.

Aldersgate United Methodist Church4243 Manuela AvenuePalo Alto, CA 94306-3705ph: 650-948-6806 www.aldersgatepa.org

AldersgatePress

Senior App Lunch!Page 3!

OM Group: Speaking the Unspeakable Stories

Special Guest Message by Brynn Saito

see Brynn, next page

On February 5, the Center for Spiritual Life celebrated its second-year anniversary during AUMC’s Sunday Worship Service. As part of the celebration, members of CSL’s young adult OM (“Open Minds”) Group rallied to share stories about their involvement in the CSL community.

On the heels of the Presidential inauguration and historic Women’s March, and in the same month at the 75-year anniversary of Executive Order 9066, the OM Group’s collective sharing was a moving testament to the role of community in inspir-ing new actions and surprising ways of reconnecting with spirit, hope, and faith. “Being able to explore different parts of myself with people and community I trust helped me to gain a deeper re-connection to what I feel is God,” OM co-leader Lauren Morimoto said.

Founded in 2013, the OM Group was the precursor to the development of CSL. Comprised of young adults from a variety of faiths and spiritual backgrounds, the OM Group meets monthly to inquire into timely questions regarding spirituality, culture, healing, and change, under the guidance of Rev. Roger Morimoto. From social events and movies, to lectures and workshops on physics, psychic studies, aliens, the Enneagram, chakras, and yoga, OM Group topics span a wide array of spiritual themes. “The OM Group is so unlike any other community I am part of,” OM Group co-leader Jenna Konno said. “This exploration has naturally al-lowed us to grow closer as we learn not only about whatever our discussion topic is about, but also learn more about each other.”

The OM community has allowed us the freedom to ask questions, dive into wild, “out there” topics, and support one another’s spiritual inquiries and occasional “life-changing revelations. According to Sekayi Edwards, there’s a sense in which the OM Group provides us with a space to “speak the unspeakable,” paralleling the therapeutic work Sekayi does with his young clients in San Francisco.

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OM Group photo by Paul Sakuma

Brynn - continued

god,” began Luke. “Statistics about how all but 10 countries in the world are at war led me to believe that our universe is actually a 3rd grader’s last minute failed science project that is rotting in a dump somewhere.”

“But when I discovered TZM it sparked a passion in me,” Luke con-tinued, “because it does not only ex-plain why we are here today, but it offers solutions and paints a picture of a world that could be so much bet-ter.”

Konno’s research into TZM has in-spired a new “Global Sustainability” module as a part of CSL’s Science and Spirituality program.

More and more, it seems that our sur-vival on this planet hinges upon our ability to imagine different forms of social life.

Perhaps our ability to imagine new forms of social life depends upon our ability to be with one another in open and inviting spaces where we con-nect and laugh and play liar’s dice and learn about aliens and explore new ideas and ways of viewing the world.

As witnessed on February 5, the OM community has not only provided an exploratory platform; it has re-newed our sense of hope—a hard-won, clear-seeing, educated hope, a hope that dares us to reach for those pictures of the future that call us into who we are becoming.

“Perhaps a new spirit is rising among us,” Dr. King said. “If it is, let us trace its move-ments and pray that our own inner being may be sensitive to its guidance, for we are deeply in need of a new way beyond the dark-ness that seems so close around us.”

I am already in the future, telling the story of how we lived through this time in our history. After listening to the OM stories during CSL’s celebra-tion, I’m more certain than ever that communities like the OM Group are a part of that telling.

Nakamura

King

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Saturday, March 11 • 9:30am $10

Join the LIFE group for a one hour Yoga session with Miki Brousso. A certified yoga, & pilates instructor and therapist, specializing in yoga for your posture and back pain. Bring your yoga mat and towel if you have them. Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing. A pay for your own brunch off site will follow. Contact Chris Morimoto for more info.

L*I*F*E

Senior Appreciation Luncheon

Sunday, March 5Join our seniors for another great lunch and an afternoon of entertainment. RSVP to Lori Wong by March 3.

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A study on “The Zeitgeist Movement” (TZM)Thursday, March 2 • 7:30pm

The Zeitgeist Movement is an organization which conducts community based activism through a network, project teams, annual events, media and charity work. The movement recognizes that issues such as poverty, corruption, pollution, homelessness, war, starvation appear to be symp-toms born out of an outdated social structure.

We will look at futuristic ideas on the economy and societal structures. Many of these ideas are built upon the shoulders of intellectual giants such as Buckminister Fuller.

Come join us for this adventure in learning as we seek to find a hopeful future in these dynamic times.

Science and

SpiritualityYOGA

God Talk ReturnsWednesday, March 15 • 9:30am

God Talk will return on a once a month basis. For those who have never been, God Talk explores a variety of topics rang-ing from religions, spirituality, economics, societal dynamic.

We open each session with an opportunity to field questions from participants. Rev. Roger will present video or other ma-terials for an enhanced discussion.

The March topic will be Trump’s America: The Battle for America’s Soul. We will discuss the changing dynamics of the new administration and explore what is going on within different groups in our country. We encourage people to take a risk and join us for these provocative presentations!

Note: Refreshments will be provided so please just bring yourselves.

Monday, March 13 • 7pm

Add something new to your self-care practice by warming up with Qigong and some awesome arm and hand stretches. Play with your hands, arms, and shoulders in new ways, to increase flexibility. Practice massage techniques on your arms, hands, and torso to increase range of motion and relieve muscle stiffness.

Asian Rural Institute Book

Aldersgate still contributes to the success of the ARI. A new book docu-ments many of the stories about this worthy organiza-tion. Find it just as you exit the sanctuary towards Wheeler Hall. Take a look!

I’m OK – You’re OK, We’re All Different Transactional Analysis and the EnneagramTuesday, March 21 • 7:30 to 9pm

This program will focus on the area of transac-tional analysis (TA) concerned with the develop-ment of life scripts. We all make decisions early in life and then adopt behavior patterns that re-inforce them. People use TA to recognize and change limiting decisions. How does this play out in the context of understanding your Enneagram type? After a brief introduction to TA’s develop-mental theory and the four basic life positions, we will explore how this may take place differ-ently according to type. Takeaways may include “aha’s” about events and relationships that shaped who you are today, as well as new strategies for living fully.

Program leader: Lucy Freedman, longtime Certi-fied Transactional Analyst, psychotherapist, and student of many approaches to communication and change.

Lucy is past president of both the USA and In-ternational Transactional Analysis Associations. She currently serves as a corporate consultant and coach through her company, Syntax for Change.

HEALING ARTS

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Left: Natalie Jue and Taylor Yamashi-ta prepare items for CARE packages. to help our first year of college stu-dents from Aldersgate. Each package was filled with snacks, candy, and small gifts. Thanks to everyone who contributed items for this project!

Youth CARE Packages

Top photos: Jeremy Nieda, Niko Shieh, Brandon Louie, and Andrew

Sasamori practice for their perfor-mance of How Great Is Our God.

SundayMusic

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Doors Open is a new play that explores the lives of a small group of people, both LG-BTQ and straight, who struggle with what it means to be involved in their church while loving all the people in their lives.

The show features eight new original songs performed by a cast of more than 20 people from several south bay churches and organizations. Playwright/Composer Mark Teagle has written many musicals for churches and schools over the last 20 years.

Teagle’s works include:Epistle: God sends the Galatians a LetterTorah: a Musical from the ExileBaptizerMary and Joseph 1975Christmas at the Mall and many more.

He teaches music at Carden Day School and directs the choir at Wesley UMC. Admission is free for this production...which is still a work in progress.

For more information, call 408-295-0367 http://www.wesleysj.net./

Saturday, March 11 at 7:30pm at Wesley UMC San JoseThe New Musical Drama by San Jose playwright Mark. A. Teagle.

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Free Admission!

You’re not on our weekly email list? Let Lori Wong know!

Special Gifts

In memory ofHero Tsukushi

Sachiyo YamasakiClaire Haratani

M/M Norman KobayashiFrances Tamura

Reiko YagiJerry Chang & Leslie Itano

Patti IsekeAtsuko Nelson

In memory ofCurtis MorimotoIsamu Morimoto

-Kitchen Fund

David Nakamura

Recovery for Tomoko OzawaTosh Tsubakimoto

Super BowlDavid Nakamura

Valentines DayBrent Yamashita & Carol Uyeno

UMWSam Motooka

Youth FundSatoko King

OM GroupDavid Nakamura

Special Thanks!Thank you to our teams for providing refreshments last month. Our thanks to the newsletter crew and Sunday service offering counters. Ogasawara Landscaping for keeping the grounds groomed each week. Lori Wong for buying church supplies. Satoko King for buying coffee. Patty and Paul Sakuma for Sunday school supplies.

TEAM ASSIGNMENTS (TOBAN) LIST ONLINE

An American Portrait

This could be a portrait of any American family, but it happens to be of the Shibuya’s of Mountain View, shot by one of America’s foremost photojournalists, Dorothea Lange, just before the evacuation. Find it online, as part of critical, multipage essay about the photog-raphers who documented Manzanar (such as Ansel Adams and Toyo Miyatake, at http://www.discovernikkei.org/en/journal/2011/6/27/documenting-manzanar-1/

The essay, by Nancy Masumoto in 2011, is some 18 pages long. The photo of the Shibuyas is on page 12. And if you’re wondering, our own Mare Shibuya is wearing the overalls.