Church Assignment 2005/6 (Part 1)
Ok. I have procrastinated long enough. Today I will share with you about the church I am assigned to for the year 2005/6- Tokyo Union Church!
How should I start? "Man! I am attending this really cool church!" Okie, that might be over doing it; but… Tokyo Union Church (TUC) is located on Omotesando, right in the heart of downtown Tokyo, 15 minutes walk to the every famous and busy Shibuya Station, and on the other side Harajuku! It is the fashion street of Japan! Ok, how does this sound? "My church, TUC is sandwiched between Emporio Armani on the right and Louis Vuitton on the left. The entire street we are on are branded stores with Hanae Mori and other big brands. Omotesando is actually the main street that leads up to MeiJi Shrine. A law was passed that no businesses of vice: drinking pubs and parlors, pachinko places are allowed on this street. Apart from the shopping temptations, the sights around this area are a blast too! We can see the high fashion of Tokyo being paraded around this area with scouts hanging out to take pictures of fashionable people for the leading magazines of Japan, young people in their weekend "cos-play" outfits, and the occasional festive portable shrines being carried up and down the street leading to the MeiJi Shrine. Isn’t that cool?
Ok, enough of that. Let us talk about matters that should be focused on. Tokyo Union Church is an International-Interdenominational Church. To be a member, there are technically, 2 criterias, you have to be a Christian (of any denomination- Evangelical, Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist, etc. even Catholic) and you have to speak English. It is a church founded to cater for the needs of foreigners in Japan. So, technically, when I attend church on Sunday, it definately doesn’t feel like I am in Japan at all. The church is filled with foriegners. There are new people every week. Those who are on assignment, just moved in, etc.
The church is run, basically, in a Presbyterian kind of way. The service reflects it most. This is what happens at the 11am service which I have attended so far.
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Prelude (A piece played on the organ)
Introit (This is when the pastors, in their robes, and people on duty proceeds to the stage. The Sanctuary choir sings here)
Call to Worship (It is a dialogue between the leader and the congregation to begin the session)
Opening Hymn
Prayer of Confession (This is printed on the bulletien, read aloud by everyone just as the "Call to Worship)
Declaration of Forgiveness (After the "Prayer of Confession" the pastor, by authority of God, declares that our sins are fogiven and the congregation responds "Praise be to God, Amen.")
Sharing of the Peace (It is a moment where we extend welcome to all and greet each other in the peace of God. The pastor will go "Peace be with you" and the congregation replies, " and also with you," then goes around shaking hands and saying "may the peace of God be with you," or "Peace of God/Christ," or just "peace")
The First Scripture Reading (Everytime the Bible is read, the person who reads will start of with "Listen for the Word of God" and ends with "Thus says the Word of God" and the congregation will reply "Praise be to God.")
Hymn
Good News for Kids (Generally, the associate pastor will preach to the children who were called to the front of the sanctuary, sitting around on the floor together with the pastor. After this, the children of ages 7 and older are given a choice to return to their seats with some activity to do during the sermon, and kids younger than that will be ushered off to "Worship Daycare")
The Second Scripture Reading
Prayers of Intercession (This is when the congregation leader prays. He/she will also pray for the specific ministry assigned to be prayed for every week and the entire congregation will end with "The Lords Prayer")
Giving of Tithes and Offerings (The offering bag is passed around. Visitors can drop the "visitor’s card" into the bag too. The congregation will sing when the collection is done and then the pastor will pray over it)
Holy Communion (This is done on the 1st Sunday at 11am Service. Wafers and grape juice are used. The elders and pastors will hold a chalice of juice and a plate of wafers, the congregation are then to go up one by one/ families to the leaders and take a wafer and dip it into the juice and eat it. Non-Christians/Japanese who has yet to understand the significance of the Lord’s Supper may go in front as well, but placing their arms in the X form on their shoulders, not to have communion but to be prayed for and recieve blessings [pretty cool, huh? I heard that this is done in Anglican churches])
Expressions of Fellowship (Visitors are welcomed and introduced, those who are leaving are prayed for, announcements are made)
Closing Hymn
Bennediction (given by the preacher or pastor)
Congregational Response (Hymn 586 is sung: "Amen, Amen, Amen" as the pastor and leader leaves the hall)
Postlude (People normally starts to leave here, making their way out of the sanctuary to shake the pastor’s hand at the entrance)
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Oops… I think I should stop at this length before your eyes start bulging. Ok, why don’t I continue this topic another time. In the mean time, if you would like more information about the church, feel free to check out the homepage at http://www.tokyounion.org
