Remembering Japan

When Mary and I were still in the San Francisco Bay Area, we were privileged to host a visiting priest from the Anglican Church in Japan, Nippon Sei Ko Kai.  The Rev. Willams Takeuchi was the headmaster of a technical school in Osaka and was chaperon to a group of his students here for a two week intensive English course.  As I remember, his father had been an Anglican priest as well, so the son was named for Japan's missionary Bishop Channing Williams.   Takeuchi, whom we called “Bill” (which amused him), was a gentle man who loved his family and was broadly tolerant of our American (and Episcopalian) peculiarities.  Most of his students were nominally Buddhist; he said it was better to be a good Buddhist than not to believe anything.  Bill must be retired by now.  The catastrophe in Japan reminded me of him.  We still pray for him, especially at this time.

The Primate of Nippon Sei Ko Kai, The Most Rev. Nathaniel Makoto Uematsu, issued a message to the people of the Anglican Communion, published at The Anglican Communion website.  In it, he advised Anglicans that:

"Now, above all, what we really would like the church across the world to do is support us by praying. The Japanese Church is a small church, but knowing that brothers and sisters in the worldwide Communion are praying for victims and the church's relief activities, that gives them strength."

Episcopal Life Online has given us a recent update of the catastrophe and the relief efforts organized by The Episcopal Church.  Has your parish offered special prayers or held services of remembrance for the victims of the Japan earthquake and tsunami?  Have you supported tangible relief efforts in any way? 

The Church of England website offers this prayer for those who have lost everything in the tragedy:

O loving Creator,

Bring healing and hope to those who, at this time, grieve, suffer pain, or who have been affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

We remember those who have died and we pray for those who mourn for them.

May we all be aware of Your compassion, O God, which calms our troubled hearts and shelters our anxious souls.

May we pray with humility with our troubled and struggling brothers and sisters on earth.

May we dare to hope that through the generosity of the privileged, the destitute might glimpse hope, warmth and life again.

Through our Saviour Christ who lives with us, comforts us and soothes us.

Amen.

Comments

[Fr. Mark Diebel]

Thank you John for this remembrance and prayer for Japan.