Dear SNCC News Readers,
I came home on Dec. 23 and joined SNCC services held on Dec. 24 and 25.
Chrismas Eve service from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 24.
We had Bible reading and singing hymns related to Christmas with candle lit.
Then Pastor Yamanaga’s message “Immanuel: God is with us.”
After the service, we had “Tea Time.” The church provided “minestrone” and tea and coffee and some snacks. I left the church at 9 p.m.
[At the Christmas Eve Service. The conductor was Mr. Mita.]
Participants were about 25 adults and 10 kids.
SNCC held Christmas Service on Dec. 25.
The activities of SNCC on Dec. 25, 2011 are as below;
1. Christmas Service on Dec. 25, 2011
a. Messenger: Pastor Yamanaka of SNCC
b. Service Leader: Mr. Odagawa
c. Bible: Luke 2:1-7
d. Message Title: “Mary placed him in a manger”
e. Piano: Ms. Odagawa and Miss Minori Tachibana
2. Congregation: About 30 adusts and 10 kids
[Pastor Yamanaka spoke to the kids about the meaning of Christmas.]
[The conductor was Mr. Mita. The choir sang hymns with congregations.]
[A group picture after Christmas Service.]3. Prayer requests.
3-1. For the victems of the earthquakes and tsunami, and those who were fighting to prevent nuclear disaster at Fukushima right now, and their families.
3-2. For the seekers for their salvation, esp. for those who are studying Bible at SNCC (including Saffraan-kai), and those families of church members who were not accepted Jesus as their indivisual savior. Also for those who attended the memorial meeting for late Manami Okamoto who saw/heard testimonies of SNCC members. May many of them be led to our Lord and have a chance to know Jesus Christ as thier savior.
3-3 For those who are in difficult situations physically as well as spiritually including members of SNCC and their families, esp. for the bereaved family of Ms. Manami Okamoto. Besides, Aunt of Mr. Tachibana (80s, cancer in her large intestine), Mr. Keizo Sudo, Ms. Hisae Mita, Ms. Kaoruko Yamamoto, Ms. Yuko Ohishi and Tomoki Yamanaka (burn injury).
Pastor Han of “Vision Realizing Baptist Church” (the church I regularly attend Sunday morning service in Korea) sent me a message from a defector from North Korea. It requests the prayers for those who are in prisons in that country, esp. for Christians.
North Korean regime is notorious to treat Christians very badly and cruelly. If they found any Christians, they put them in prisons or executed. It is estimated that about 40,000 – 60,000 Christians in prisons and enfored labor. Yet, about 450,000 Christians underground.
Pastor Han quoted Hebrews 13:3 as below:
“Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”
We had Fellowship Christmas Luncheon after the service. The luncheon was organaized as pot-luck style. I enjoyed delicious foods contributed by many church members.
[Mrs. Saori Nakanishi and her contribution dishes.]
[At the pot-luck party after Christmas service.]
[Kaoruko-san and George during the tea-time.]
[Mrs. Kagawa and her daughter, from Tamanawa-dai.]
[My second helping at Fellowship Luncheon.]In the afternoon of Dec. 25, we held memorial service for late Mrs. Manami Okamoto from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
About 50 people, including Mr. Okamoto’s father from Saga Prefecture, and Mr. Okagmoto’s elder brother from Fukuoka attended the service.
During the memorial service, 3 SNCC members testified and gave praise to God by sining a hymn. They were Mrs. Saori Nakanishi, Mrs. Watanabe, and Seiya Odagawa.
[Mrs. Watanabe, singing a hymn while playing the guitar.]
[Pastor Yamanaka gave the memorial service message.After the memorial service, we also had a tea time. Mr. Okamoto brought a dozen of albums and we saw pictures of Manami.
[Pastor Yamanaka, talking with Mr. Okamoto's father, brother and relatives.] 
[A member is seeing album of late Mrs. Manami Okamoto]I uploaded several pictures of these services and fellowship time as below:
http://georgesuzuki.blogspot.com/
Thank you for your kind attention.
In Jesus,
George Suzuki@Japan
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