The Latest News

POVUCC will host the upcoming Japanese American Community Interfaith Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 28 at 9:30 am at Mount Hope Cemetery – in the Japanese section (located at 3751 Market St., San Diego). Please join us as we join with other churches and organizations in the San Diego community for this special Memorial Day service. This is an opportunity to remember those in our community who served in the military and passed away since last May. There will be chairs provided as usual, but feel free to bring a lawn or folding chair to ensure that you and/or your companion have seating during the service.

You are invited to attend the San Diego Japanese Vocal Ensemble, The Harmonies’, 15th Anniversary Choral Concert at POVUCC on Saturday, May 19 at 3:00 pm. The Harmonies, directed by Naomi Hobbs, have held their rehearsals at our church for 15 years, so please come and celebrate this special event with them! Admission is free. Refreshments will be served after the concert. Donations are appreciated.

On Friday, May 18, POVUCC will host lunch at Garden Villas (1260 Third Avenue, Chula Vista). Lunch begins at 12:00 pm (but get there early for a seat!) for a nominal donation of $3.00. Come out and support our church cooks and enjoy a meal! If you would like to help, please contact Steve Sato at kiku@kiku.coxatwork.com or the church office at office@povucc.org

Soon we will gather together to worship, work, and fellowship at our Annual Gathering at Chapman University on June 1-2. This year our theme comes from Isaiah 43:19: “Behold I AM doing a new thing!” Together we will explore where God is infusing us and our churches with new life and vitality and listen for the new things to which our still speaking God is calling us. Registration is now open! Go to https://scncucc.org/ and click on the Annual Gathering logo to register. There will be two resolutions presented at the Annual Gathering. Hard copies of the resolutions are posted on the Fellowship Hall bulletin board. Our delegates, Laura Iori and Julie Lin, will be in attendance and have a vote so please contact them if you have any concerns. Greg Davis is the moderator of the conference and chair of the Planning Committee (of which Pastor Mary Sue is a member) and Andy Mathews will be leading the music this year so POVUCC will be well represented.

Our church adopted a Safe Church policy, a set of guidelines meant to safeguard children, youth and vulnerable adults from sexual harassment, intimidation and abuse. We have self-paced training available either online OR in print. If you would like to do the computer modules, please email Anne Otsuka at aotsuka77@gmail.com and send her your name, email address and date of birth and she will send you the link. If you are not comfortable with the computer format, simply sign up on the bulletin board and check out the manual which is in the church office. Questions? Contact Nancy Matsumoto

With other Christians around the world, we will celebrate Pentecost on Sunday, May 20, which is the birthday of the church. Red is the liturgical color used on Pentecost as a symbol of power and fire of the Holy Spirit. Let’s celebrate together by wearing red to church next Sunday.