February 2024 Calendar:
Sunday Feb 7 10:00 Service (Cancelled)
Saturday Feb 10 🎇Lunar New Year🐉
Sunday Feb 11 9:30 – 11:30 Social Sunday
Saturday Feb 17 1:00 – 5:00 🐲Dungeons & Dragons
Sunday Feb 18
-10:00 Nirvana Day Shotsuki Service
-11:00 Otoki
-12:00 Board Meeting
Sunday Feb 25 9:30 – 11:30 Social Sunday
March 2024 Calendar:
Sunday Mar 3 10:00 Service
-1:00 Professor Endo Video Presentation On Japanese History in Guadalupe
Sunday Mar 10
-Daylight Savings Time Starts (Spring Forward)
-9:30 – 11:30 Social Sunday
Sunday Mar 17
-10:00 Shotsuki Service
-11:00 Otoki
Saturday Mar 23 1:00 – 5:00 🐲Dungeons & Dragons
Sunday Mar 24 9:30 – 11:30 Social Sunday
DONATIONS:
January:
James Colon, New Years
Lee/Frances Humphrey, New Years
Alice Maxon, New Years,
Sumi Schumacher, New Years
Alice Utsunomiya. New Years
Gabe/Patsy Hoyos, In Memory of Erika Miyake
Gabe/Patsy Hoyos, In Memory of Nami Miyake
Gabe/Patsy Hoyos, In Memory of Julie Miyake
Gabe/Patsy Hoyos, Shotsuki (Dec)
Michael Furukawa, In Memory of Tetsuo Furukawa
Sam Minami/Susan Jang, In Memory of Family and Friends
Anonymous, Newsletter
Jim Risinger, Gojihi
Joan Henretta, Special
Lee/Frances Humphrey, Special
Keith Lyon, Special
Alice Maxon, Special
Hugh Maenaga, Special
Sumi Schumacher, Happy New Year
Stanley/Florence Furukawa, In Memory of Kameo Furukawa, Tama Furukawa,
Tetsuo Furukawa
Stanley/Florence Furukawa, Newsletter
Jim/Yoko Furuya, In Memory of Tamae Taniguchi
Bettyann Kurokawa, In Memory of Paul Kurokawa
Harry Masatani, In Memory of Kimiko Masatani and Steven Masatani
Judy Saki, In Memory of the Saki Family
Ray/JoAnne Nishino Spencer, In Memory of Tamae Taniguchi
Rodney/Wanda Tomooka, In Memory of Fujie Tomooka
Rodney/Wanda Tomooka, In Memory of Charles Sakai
Wataru Minami/JoDee Burger Family, Shotsuki (Jan)
Joan Henretta, Special
Keith Lyon, Special
Hugh Maenaga, Special
Alice Maxon, Special
Tomiko Miyamoto, Special
Rev Naomi Nakano, In Memory of Thomas Sadaichi Nakano
Jim Risinger, Special
Sumi Schumacher, In Memory of Mitsuyo Shimomi and Charles Sakai
Esther Trejo, In Memory of Charles Shiroma and Steve Shiroma
Larry Shimomi, In Memory of Mitsuyo Shimomi and Charles Sakai
February:
Joan Henretta, Sunday Service
Keith Lyon, Sunday Service
Hugh Maenaga, Sunday Service
Alice Maxon, Sunday Service
Sumi Schumacher, Sunday Service
Wataru Minami, In Memory of Emiko Minami
Masako Nakano, In Memory of Genzaburo Sasaki and Tomoko Sakai
Masako Nakano, Shotsuki (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May)
Rodney/Wanda Tomooka, In Memory of Fujie Tomooka
Rodney/Wanda Tomooka, InMemory of Charles Sakai
RodneyWanda Tomooka, In Memory of Tomoko Sakai
Gabe/Patsy Hoyos, In Memory of Daniel Miyake
Gabe/Patsy Hoyos, In Memory of Miyako Miyake
Gabe/Patsy Hoyos, Shotsuki (Jan, Feb)
Gabe/Patsy Hoyos, In Memory of Yoshiko Miyake
Yoshie Oyabu, Shotsuki (Feb)
Joyce Dendo/Diane Grose In Memory of Iku Dendo
Joan Henretta, Special
Holly Hope, Special
Dan Iriyama, 3d Year Memorial of Toshiko Iriyama
Dan Iriyama, 13th Year Memorial of Emiko Minami
Keith Lyon, Special
Hugh Maenaga, Special
Alice Maxon, Shotsuki
Rev. Naomi Nakano, In Memory of Thomas Sadaichi Nakano
Sumi Schumacher, In Memory of Iku Dendo
Sumi Schumacher, In Memory of Dorothy Sakai
Alice Utsunomiya, In Memory of Isamu and Toshi Henmi
Waki Family, In Memory of Hideaki Waki
Nori Hokedo, In Memory of Soi Hokedo
Gladys Kohatsu, In Memory of Hiroko Maenaga and Michi Aoki
Tomiko Miyamoto, In Memory of Michiko Yamamoto
Thank You All for All Your Kind Donations Financial, Materials, and Labor.
It takes us all to carry on the work of our forefathers
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Condolences:
Deepest sympathy to the Shiroma family on the loss of
Yoshiko Shiroma on February 13, 2023
Amida’s infinite compassion embraces all beings and forsakes none.
NAMU AMIDA BUTSU
Deepest sympathy to the Taniguchi family on the loss of
Dean Taniguchi on February 17, 2023
Amida’s infinite compassion embraces all beings and forsakes none.
NAMU AMIDA BUTSU
Deepest sympathy to the Furukawa family on the loss of
Tets Furukawa on February 21, 2023
Amida’s infinite compassion embraces all beings and forsakes none.
NAMU AMIDA BUTSU
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Note:
To comply with county waste management policies, please place FOOD WASTE in one of the
two containers in the kitchen and this will be deposited in the Green Waste disposal bin. Any
drink bottles with California recycle refund please rinse and place in the blue recycle bin so
they can be turned in and proceeds used to find treasures to sell at Obon.
Reminder:
2024 Dues: New dues amount is: Individual $225.00; Family $400.00; Over 80 Years $180.00. These
dues can be paid in incremental amounts
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Minister’s Message:
Reverently entrusting myself to the teaching, practice
And realization that are the true essence of the Pure Land way,
I am especially aware of the profundity of the
Tathagata’s benevolence. Here I rejoice in what I have
Heard and extol what I have received.
~ Words of Shinran Shonin, founder of Jodo Shinshu
Throughout our lives we will experience many adventures, possibly meet new
people, see new sights and maybe even learn a new language. We learn from
these journeys. We learn about a new culture and their beliefs, which is so different
from ours. We can gain a new wisdom if we are open to hearing, listening and
seeing. We leave with these experiences stored in our hearts and minds as
memories. As we mature, hopefully we can reminisce and share the joy and even
the sadness of those journeys.
Yet, we tend to lock these experiences, journeys, and adventures somewhere
deep within our hearts and memories. Not all the past journeys were filled with joy
and some were very emotional and disheartening. However, by asking questions
and truly listening we can learn of our history. Through the stories of our loved
one’s stories, we realize their strength and resilience. We see their drive and why
they worked long and hard. Their determination was out of compassion, so the
younger generation would not have to suffer through such hardships.
It is amazing what we can learn from our loved ones, if we listen, hear and
see. When I was a child, my mother took us to see her good friend. The moment
we stepped into her home, my mother changed. She was not the Japanese mother
I knew. Her friend and my mother would only converse in Spanish. In our home, it
was either Japanese or English. My mother spoke Spanish as if it was her native
language. This was definitely a surprise and shock to my sister and me.
We never knew she could speak fluent Spanish. She then told us the story
that after leaving the camps and leaving Minnesota, they were returning to
California. Money was running low and they stopped in Nebraska to earn money.
They worked on a sheep farm where many of the workers were from Mexico. They
had to learn to speak Spanish. They knew they either submerge themselves to the
environment or remain ignorant.
Some scholars refer to Buddhism as a religion or philosophy however it is our
“way of life”. It is a way to find who and what we are. We search within to find our
true self that can change our way of seeing and hearing. When we first encounter
Buddhism, we either listen and hear the Buddha Dharma or we move on. However
those who return , hopefully continue to find some reason to utilize the teachings in
their everyday life and their meaning of Nembutsu/Namu Amida Butsu.
We can change our seeing and hearing by questioning, others and ourselves.
We can then examine the situation with objectivity and not always in the “I” form.
We want tranquilly, joy and happiness however, we learn from the opposite also.
Our loved ones tried to convey what they had to endure, but we must also
experience our own journeys with an open and true heart and mind. Life is a tough
journey filled with surprises yet, it is those surprises that can make us strong,
resilient and good teachers for others.
Gassho,
Rev. Seijo Naomi Nakano
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