2012 Christmas Greetings Message

Kamogawa Church Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Kamogawa Church

Season’s Greetings! Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas!

Best wishes and warmest regards to you and your families from all of us at the Kamogawa Church.

While this is a busy time as 2012 comes to a close, and we prepare for Christmas Day and Christmas celebrations, and also look forward to the New Year, with more celebrating with family and friends, let us remember to take some time to reflect about ourselves as Christians, and what that means, and about Jesus Christ in our lives, and how the Word of God can be a strength and inspiration and a positive force in all our lives.

Yesterday I met with an old friend who is going through difficult times and we talked about that. Our discussion reminded me again about the deeper meaning of Christmas and the birth of Christ.

Let us strive to use our knowledge about the Christmas Story and its message of HOPE, and God’s Word, the Gospel, and Jesus’ life story and message to be a strength and inspiration not only in our own lives but also in the lives of all the people we interact with every day.

May we always remain thoughtful and thankful for all of God’s bountiful blessings, and use our good fortune and prosperity to help and support those who are less fortunate than us.

In Jesus’ name, we pray for you and your family’s good health and happiness this holiday season!

With most sincere and warmest regards!

Daniel P. Arakelian and Family

The Kamogawa Church

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Christmas Charity, 2012

The Kamogawa Church and Santa Claus donated 60,000 yen to the Kuu-chan House Dog Therapy Group on December 25th, 2013.

Christmas Charity 2012

Christmas Charity 2012

 

Christmas Charity 2012

Christmas Charity 2012

 

Christmas Charity 2012

Christmas Charity 2012

 

Christmas Charity 2012

Christmas Charity 2012

 

 

 

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Happy Thanksgiving 2012!

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!  Please take some time to reflect on all the blessings that God grants us in our lives, and give thanks and praise to the Lord.

happy-thanksgiving-2012

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BBQ at Lake Biwa, 2012!

bbq-2012

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Prayer for 1 year memorial of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster.

今日のお祈り:父なる神様、今日、3月11日、東日本大震災から1年がたとうとしています。どうか、亡くなられた方へのご冥福と被災された方へのご多幸をお祈り申し上げます。また、私たち自身も自然の尊さを理解しながら生活を大事にしていけるように導いてください。主イエスキリストの御名により、お祈りいたします。アーメン。

Today’s prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, as of today one year has passed since the great eastern Japan earthquake and tsunami (and nuclear plant) disaster. We pray for the souls of all those who lost their lives and we pray for their families and friends who experienced such a sad loss. We also pray for all those affected by the disaster, that their lives and livelihoods may be repaired and filled with good health and growing success, and happiness. Please help us to understand you and your works, and guide us to respect and enjoy the good and wonderful and beautiful things in life that you give us every day. Thank you for hearing our prayers and bestowing your blessings upon us.

Faithfully yours. The Kamogawa Church

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Thank you for attending our Valentine’s Day Party

A big thank you to all who attended our Saint Valentine Charity Dinner Party!

(Click here to see the PHOTOS).

Wedding Pro wedding ministers and celebrants and the Kamogawa Church raised 183,000yen for the NPO Hojin Mirai.

We all enjoyed together, a wonderful buffet dinner at the French restaurant, Epice in Kyoto, prepared by Master Ijiri-san and his fine staff.

In addition to an excellent meal and plenty of fine wine, Michael and Raul entertained everyone with their guitar playing and singing, while Michael also performed magic tricks, and the rest of the guys sang their hearts out for several songs, including Stand By Me and Amazing Grace.

The evening was filled with lots of music and laughter.

Finally a hand-made special Valentine’s Day chocolate cake was decorated by the kids and NPO Hojin and devoured in minutes!

We appreciate all your time and effort to support the NPO Hojin and we treasure all the special memories shared together.

Here is the program of the party:

1. Greetings and thanks by Daniel (with Raul translating into Japanese).
2. Explanation of the ancient history of Saint Valentine and the relatively
modern history of Saint Valentine’s Day by Daniel (with Raul translating
into Japanese).
3. Introduction of the NPO Hojin Mirai and thank you for assistance by the
founder, Mr.Inoue (with Raul and Daniel translating into Japanese).
4. Grace by Curtis (with Raul translating into Japanese).
5. Toast and Kanpai by Bryan.
6. Dinner party.
7. Table magic by Michael.
8. Musical entertainment: guitar music played by Michael and present songs,
Stand By Me and Amazing Grace, sung by the Wedding Pro ministers
9. Cake decorating by Megumi-chan, Emma-chan, and the NPO Hojin’s Midori-san
and Inoue-san.
10. Presenting of donation to NPO HOJIN and memorial photo.
11. Musical entertainment: guitar playing and singing by Raul.

Here is a thank you letter from the NPO HOJIN MIRAI:

Dear Daniel,

Thank so much for yesterday’s Valentine’s Day party. And thank you so much for everyone’s kind and generous donations to the NPO Hojin Mirai. This money we will use to support sick and abandoned dogs.

By the way, your friends who joined the party are such good guys. They are so outgoing and friendly. Thanks to you all, we have to come to really like foreigners.

ダニエル先生こんばんは、いつもお世話になっております。

昨日はバレンタインデーパーティーにお招き頂きましてどうもありがとうございまし
た。
そしてまた今回も皆様に暖かい多額なご寄付を頂きまして誠に有り難く思います。
皆様方がお預かり致しました多額のご寄付は病気や捨て犬の保護をしておられている
団体に私達から気分させて頂きますので御理解のほどよろしくお願い致します。

しかしダニエル先生もそうですけれど、ダニエル先生のお友達は皆さんって良い人ば
かりです。
明るくて気さくな人ばかりです。
私達はますます外国の人が好きになりました。
これもダニエル先生のおかげです。
ありがとうございました。

これからもよろしくお願い致します。

それでは皆様によろしくお伝えください。

正宏でした。

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Valentine’s Day Party, February 14, 2012

Kamogawa Church will hold a Valentine’s Day/New Year Party, dinner and charity event for NPO Houjin Mirai (http://m-kuu722.com/) Tuesday, February 14th at Epice, (http://www.kyoto-epice.jp/eng/index.html ), a French Restaurant on Teramachi Street, between Muratamachi and Imedegawa, starting at 6:30pm.

Please join us and enjoy fine French cuisine and a giant home-made chocolate cake.  If you would like to attend, please contact Daniel, 090 2045 3888, by Monday night at the latest. Merci!

You can find the location of Epice on the Google map below.


より大きな地図で エピス(フレンチレストラン) を表示

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Christmas donation for NPO Houjin Mirai

On December 7, Rev. Daniel Arakelian of Kamogawa Church presented NPO Houjin Mirai with a Christmas donation totaling 120,000 yen.

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Advent announcement and suggestions: preparation, anticipation, and participation!

Sunday, November 27th, is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is a holy season for the Church and the beginning of the new Church year. The better we spiritually prepare this Advent, the more joyful our celebration of Christmas can be. We, Christians, often lament the commercialization of Christmas, but what do we do about it? Perhaps the best thing we can do to combat this commercialization so that Christmas does not become more about Santa Claus than the birth of our Savior is to spiritually prepare during Advent.

How can we do this?

  • Get an Advent wreath. You also can make your own Advent wreath. Click here for a picture: All it takes is a wreath (real or artificial) and four candles – three purple and one rose colored. Then pray with your family before every evening meal lighting one candle for the first week, two for the second, etc., for the four weeks. The rose candle gets lit for the third week symbolizing the joy of Christmas getting closer. It is a good way to build the sense of anticipation and looking forward to the coming of Christ at Christmas.
  • Your church or religious store might offer Advent prayers. You could use the Advent prayer from the Mass for each day using a Mass booklet such as MagnificatThe United States Catholic Bishops Conferencewebsite, the Creighton University website, or our MUHS website are also good resources. There are many other forms of Advent prayer.
  • Going to your Church every Sunday to experience the Advent Liturgy is a given.
  • Give up something for Advent. Making a small sacrifice like giving up dessert or a favorite treat during Advent is a customary way to spiritually prepare. It can heighten the sense of celebration when Christmas arrives.
  • Doing something extra during Advent such as attending a week-day Mass once a week, attending Eucharistic adoration, or doing some extra volunteer service work are good ways.  Going to confession (the Sacrament of Reconciliation) during Advent is a helpful way to prepare.

These are just a few suggestions. However you do it, the important thing is to use Advent as a time to prepare your heart and soul to joyfully receive Christ as God’s Christmas gift to you on December 25th – a far greater gift than any other imaginable.

Have a Blessed Advent!

The above message is revised from a letter written by a friend and mentor, Father Saz, SJ.

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Merry Christmas! Advent Calendar 2011

 Advent Dates for 2011

• November 27 – First Sunday of Advent
• December 4 – Second Sunday of Advent
• December 11 – Third Sunday of Advent
• December 18 – Fourth Sunday of Advent

Hymns for the Celebrations of the Liturgical Year, Pontifical Musical Chorus of the Sistine Chapel

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