Minister's Message

Welcome to our church's website. We have seen a lot of technological changes in the past few years and this site is intended to provide the friends and members of the Centennial-Japanese United Church community a chance to obtain information and keep up-to-date on church activities.

I hope that this website will help our congregation and friends to become closer to God and to Jesus Christ.

Winter 2009

Dear Friends,
Just over one year ago I watched Barack Obama’s inspiring victory speech that followed his election as the 44th President of the United States.  I remember feeling very hopeful because of what I thought he could accomplish in his presidency.  As you may recall, “Hope” was one of his campaign themes, and that sense of hope was a large part of what inspired people to go to the polls to cast their ballot for him.
The past year has been a tumultuous one.  This time last year world economies were on the brink of a global economic collapse, and although the worst did not transpire we are still living in a time of great economic upheaval.  Hunger and natural disasters have affected millions across the globe.  Wars continue to be waged.  Terrorist attacks continue.  World leaders are unable to agree on a replacement for the Kyoto accord to address climate change.
These problems persist, and whatever sense of hope that I felt one year ago has dissipated.  Regardless of how one feels about what President Obama has accomplished thus far, it is unrealistic to expect a politician to sustain that feeling of hope in us.
We need to feel hopeful and have our spirit renewed.  That is what is wonderful about the Advent and Christmas season.  It is more than a fleeting sense of hope dependent on the actions of one human being; the season reminds us that we should always be hopeful because God so loved the world, that God’s only begotten son was sent to us so that we would have eternal life.  We are uplifted and re-energized by the feeling of anticipation of great and wonderful things to come, and our sprit is renewed in the joy of celebrating Jesus’ birth! 
As our Moderator put it so well in her Advent message:
Advent is waiting, wondering, preparing, and trying to believe the words of the Angel Gabriel, “Do not be afraid”… Mary had many reasons to be afraid…And yet, Mary was filled with joy, saying “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God.”  Such joy enabled Mary to embrace an unreasonable hope in a time of great anxiety, injustice, and uncertainty.   Even in such a time as hers, Mary turned from fear to joy.  Even in such a time as ours, the angel tells us to turn from fear to joy, to embrace an unreasonable hope.
You are invited to join us for worship during this Advent and Christmas season and experience the feeling of renewal and hope!

Michael Kitagawa
Chairperson of the CJUC Ministry and Personnel Team