Text Box: ... from the Chairman of the Board (HENRY ICHIYEN) Text Box: -photo by Yosh Uyeda Henry Ichiyen is seen chatting with Rev. Dr. John Burton, guest speaker from General Council, in the Friendship Centre on Jan. 5, 2003. Text Box: Spring has finally arrived after a long harsh winter bringing us longer and warmer days, and new life sprouting around us making our outlook a lot more positive. Just like our Church now. It is also Lent for us Christians and is a season of soul-searching, repentance, reflection and taking stock. This is the time to review our commitment to Jesus Christ. The highlight of the year is of course Easter, the day when our Lord rose from the dead after giving his life for us. Taking a look back since Christmas, our last Newsletter in 2002, there has been some progress in our Interim Ministry under the able and good leadership of Steve Willey. Our Transition Committee has been meeting monthly and at times more often as the necessity dictates and working hard cohesively. Thanks to Janice Cermak for inviting us to meet in the comfort of her home and great hospitality. There have been two Green Tea Conversations gatherings after Church, with excellent attendance and participation. Again Janice arranged the green tea and refreshments. There was also a Green Tea Conversation held at Momiji. The Annual Meeting was well Text Box: attended even though we had to move it back a week due to a bad snowstorm. Besides the passing of the Reports by Committee Heads, the emphasis was more on the explanation, status and future steps of Interim Ministry and an opportunity to ask questions. Many thanks to all the Board Members for agreeing to serve another year in order to maintain continuity during this period of Interim Ministry. A new Directory is now available for the small sum of $2.00 thanks to the hard work of Linda Fujita and Sunrise Printing Co. Thanks Text Box: also to Jeremy and Trevor Kai for designing the cover. Soon you will be seeing in the back of the pews a folder with Visitor Welcome sheets and envelopes.Thanks again to the good work and creation of Linda Fujita and printing done by Sunrise Printing at a very reduced cost to us. Please ask visitors to read and fill in the sheets. Our Congregation is also invited to use the sheets to make requests of hymns, prayers, visitation, etc. and any suggestions. There will be a pen inside to use. We welcomed and hosted the Kyogikai group which met to discuss and share their experiences, concerns, etc. as well as have fellowship. Each of the Japanese Churches in Canada were represented by their Minister and a Lay person. Thank you Vic Kitagawa for taking the leadership to organize and make arrangements for billeting, commuting to and from our Church, refreshments and meals. We look forward to everyone's help, support, patience and input during the important months ahead of our Interim Ministry. God Bless.