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Home Page Grace Notes About Us Calendar Day Care Ministries Personal Testimonies How to Get to Grace Baptist American Baptist Links E-mail us	From the Pastor: December 22, 2003 GOOD NEWS IS FOR TELLING It was Christmas, and we were 9,000 miles from home in the northernmost city in Japan! Icy winds from Siberia kept the wind chill at about –40 degrees. We didn’t dream of a “white Christmas” – it was guaranteed! The Officer’s Wives Club was holding a “Christmas Tea” to introduce American Christmas customs to a group of Japanese women we had met at civic functions. The Program Chair asked me to lead a “Carol Sing”. I agreed on condition that I could use sacred carols as well as secular. “Okay”, she said, “but don’t preach!” (That was years before I even dreamed of preaching.) Party time came and it was obvious that “American Christmas” meant highly competitive decorating, dressing, baking and drinking. (The alcoholic punch was far more popular than the sweet punch, and the effect was becoming evident.) When it was time for the carols, we dreamt of a White Christmas, jingled the bells, saluted Rudolph and Frosty. Then (aware of the Japanese love of history and that less than 1% of them are Christian), I explained through an interpreter that historically Christmas is far more than a winter festival. “It is the day when Christians around the world recognize the birth of Jesus Christ whom we believe to be the Son of God and the Savior of all who believe in him. The most beautiful Christmas music was written to express that faith.” Then we sang several of the beautiful and beloved sacred carols. As I concluded the singing, an elderly Japanese woman came up to me. “Buttry-san, may I sing a solo?” “Certainly,” I replied, “what would you like to sing?” “Jesus Loves Me,” she responded. “O gosh! I can’t play that!” said the pianist. “Move over. I’ll play it,” I said. So as I played with tears in my eyes, Mrs. Endo sang – first in Japanese and then in English – “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so… Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.” Even as the shepherds of Bethlehem knew at that first Christmas, Mrs. Endo demonstrated that GOOD NEWS IS FOR TELLING! Sincerely, Pastor Harriet To view past issues of the Grace Notes, click HERE.

From the Pastor: December 22, 2003

GOOD NEWS IS FOR TELLING

It was Christmas, and we were 9,000 miles from home in the northernmost city in Japan! Icy winds from Siberia kept the wind chill at about –40 degrees. We didn’t dream of a “white Christmas” – it was guaranteed!

The Officer’s Wives Club was holding a “Christmas Tea” to introduce American Christmas customs to a group of Japanese women we had met at civic functions. The Program Chair asked me to lead a “Carol Sing”. I agreed on condition that I could use sacred carols as well as secular. “Okay”, she said, “but don’t preach!” (That was years before I even dreamed of preaching.)

Party time came and it was obvious that “American Christmas” meant highly competitive decorating, dressing, baking and drinking. (The alcoholic punch was far more popular than the sweet punch, and the effect was becoming evident.)

When it was time for the carols, we dreamt of a White Christmas, jingled the bells, saluted Rudolph and Frosty. Then (aware of the Japanese love of history and that less than 1% of them are Christian), I explained through an interpreter that historically Christmas is far more than a winter festival. “It is the day when Christians around the world recognize the birth of Jesus Christ whom we believe to be the Son of God and the Savior of all who believe in him. The most beautiful Christmas music was written to express that faith.” Then we sang several of the beautiful and beloved sacred carols. As I concluded the singing, an elderly Japanese woman came up to me. “Buttry-san, may I sing a solo?” “Certainly,” I replied, “what would you like to sing?” “Jesus Loves Me,” she responded. “O gosh! I can’t play that!” said the pianist. “Move over. I’ll play it,” I said. So as I played with tears in my eyes, Mrs. Endo sang – first in Japanese and then in English – “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so… Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.” Even as the shepherds of Bethlehem knew at that first Christmas, Mrs. Endo demonstrated that GOOD NEWS IS FOR TELLING!

Sincerely,

Pastor Harriet

To view past issues of the Grace Notes, click HERE.