Joy for the world!

Dear WTUC Family,

It certainly got chilly in a hurry today, didn’t it? I guess for folks who are in the northern hemisphere, it wouldn’t be feeling like Christmas if it wasn’t freezing cold outside.

You’re probably wondering if I made a typo by writing “Joy for the world!” as the title of this letter, but it is actually intentional. Not only did Christ’s coming meant joy coming to the world, but Christ’s birth is a gift of joy… for the world. Now in all honesty, some of us aren’t necessarily feeling all that much joy. Maybe we’re in the midst of a really busy season or exhausted in trying to handle all that is going on. Maybe it’s a difficult memory that makes the season a little bluer. That is okay. Christmas is for you. The promise of Advent is that Christ is not only with us but also will come again for us, and in that hope, we have peace and joy, and we feel the love of God and are called to love others as well. If you would like for an opportunity to contemplate on this Christmas season in a way that is meditative, let me recommend to you the Blue Christmas service that took place this past Sunday at Tokyo Union Church. You can check it out on our WTUC Christmas page.

Coming up this Sunday, we will once again meet in person in Room 105 on the campus of Japan Lutheran College and Theological Seminary. Service will begin at 11:00 a.m. This Sunday will feature a special guest speaker and singer who has been on tour in Japan with an encouraging message that has been forged through her own person struggles and trials. If you are able to come, please bring finger food or a snack to share during the fellowship hour after the service. For more on the service, please check out our calendar page!

Please also remember that this Sunday at 3:00 p.m., we will be making our annual trip to Nozomi no ie for caroling and bringing a little joy to the children there. If you are planning to participate but have not yet let Yasu Nagase, our Steering Committee member for outreach, please email him at outreach@wtuc.net!

We will also meet in person on Sunday, December 21, and then the rest of the services on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the First Sunday of Christmas (December 28) will be online, and you can find those links and details at wtuc.net/christmas!

I pray that the Lord continues to make His presence known as we continue through this Advent season.

Blessings,
Jonathan