After the service, Nick recalled the discovery of Japan’s “hidden Christians,” believers who maintained their faith during the two-and-a-half centuries when Japan was closed off from the rest of the world and Christianity was banned. Missionary Father Bernard Petitjean recounts the episode on March 17, 1865, when a group of some 14 or 15 people arrived at the newly constructed Ōura Cathedral in Nagasaki: “A woman of about 40 or 50 years old approached me and, with her hands pressed to her breast, said, ‘Our hearts are the same as yours.’”

Even though we prayed and sang in a different language (unfortunately these two young men weren’t in Japan for the first Sunday of the month, when worship is in English), we are, indeed, united by the same love for the Lord Jesus Christ. “Our hearts are the same.”

We enjoyed fellowship afterward at a local restaurant. Father Berek gave the two men excellent suggestions for the best places to eat whale meat and high-end sushi and drink matcha during their visit. And rumor has it that Nick and Daniel—who met at our service—sang karaoke later in the week.

Nick came bearing gifts from Texas—golf shirts from Christ Church, coffee, and barbecue sauce and Beaver Nuggets from Buc-ee’s! The plan now is to cook up some Texas barbecue for OMSA’s Pentecost celebration.

3月29日（日）の復活前主日の礼拝は、キリストのエルサレム入城の記念、しゅろの枝の祝福・配布の後、聖餐式をささげます。なお、この礼拝は第5日曜日にあたりますが、今回は聖餐式前の夕の礼拝はありません。礼拝は16:30から始まります。

We will observe Palm Sunday on Sunday, March 29 starting with the commemoration of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem and the blessing and distribution of palms, followed by Holy Eucharist. Although this service falls on the fifth Sunday of the month, we will not have Evensong before Holy Eucharist. The service will begin at 4:30 p.m.

[English follows]

3月7日（土）9:30–13:00
三鷹福音教会
カンファレンス：『教会における「おもてなし」』
（前日のイベントとは別のものです）
-------------
プログラム
9:30 朝の祈り
10:00 マーク・ブライアンズ：「おもてなし、欲求、社会」
― 応答：アッティラ・ハイドゥ、ベレク・スミス
11:30 ボグミウ・ヤルムラク「食卓の戦争：宇宙的戦いとしてのおもてなし」
― 応答：ケビン・シーバー、ギャリー・ヴァンダーヴィーン
12:45 質疑応答（Q&A）
-------------

１人目の講演者は、ホノルルの北米聖公会の司祭であり、Theopolis Instituteのシニア・フェローであるマーク・ブライアンズです。ラルフ・スミスの著作も複数刊行しているAthanasius Pressより出版された『おもてなし：神の交わりの使命』の著者です。

本書は次のようなことを論じています。「最初のもてなし手である神は、私たちのために場所を設け、迎え入れ、ご自身のいのちへと招かれる。ゆえに、教会がおもてなしと祝祭を実践するところには、神の国が伴う。」

https://athanasiuspress.org/products/hospitality-the-convivial-mission-of-god

２人目の講演者は、私たちの地区会の監督牧師であるボグミウ・ヤルムラクです。その気質にふさわしく、彼はおもてなしに内在する格闘という主題を扱います。各講演の後には、2名が短く応答します。

講演はバイリンガルで行われます。（英語 ➡︎ 日本語 ／ 日本語 ➡︎ 英語）
どなたでもご参加いただけます。

☑️ 参加登録はこちら：

https://forms.gle/DvZBwDmkgRKU2Lda6

March 7, Saturday 9:30-13:00
Mitaka Evangelical Church
Conference on “Hospitality in the Church”
(this differs from the event on the previous day)
Schedule
9:30 Morning Prayer
10:00 Mark Brians: “Hospitality, Desire, and Society”
-- Response by Attila Hajdú, Berek Smith
11:30 Bogumil Jarmulak: “The War of the Table: Hospitality as Cosmic Warfare”
-- Response by Kevin Seaver, Garry Vanderveen
12:45 Q&A

Our first speaker is Fr. Mark Brians, an ACNA priest in Honolulu and Senior Fellow at Theopolis Institute. He has written a book titled Hospitality: The Convivial Mission of God, published by Athanasius Press, which also published several books by Rev. Ralph Smith. This book discusses how “as the first host, God makes room for us, welcoming us, and inviting us into His life. Thus, wherever the church practices hospitality and festivity, the kingdom of God follows.”

https://athanasiuspress.org/products/hospitality-the-convivial-mission-of-god

Our second speaker is Dr. Rev. Bogumil Jarmulak, our Presiding Minister of Presbytery. He has chosen to address the conflict in the conviviality, as befits a man of his mettle. Each speaker will be followed by two respondents who will respond briefly, as proper respondents do.

Talks will be bilingual: English ➡︎ Japanese / Japanese ➡︎ English.
Everyone is welcome.

☑️ Register here:

https://forms.gle/DvZBwDmkgRKU2Lda6

On March 6, OMSA will be taking part in "Theopolis Conversations in Tokyo"--a conference on the theme of "Hospitality and the Kingdom." Conversations will involve clergy from seven countries.

See this link for details and join us if you can.

OMSA celebrated the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ with a service of Evensong and Holy Eucharist on Christmas Eve, and a Holy Eucharist on Christmas morning that was attended by more than two dozen people.

In the afternoon, many of us relocated to the home of one of our members, where Fr. Berek gave a Japanese tea ceremony.

Afterwards, we had a leisurely potluck lunch, which was a delightful time of fellowship—including conversations with people who have not yet visited any of our worship services.

Our vision is for events like this that incorporate traditional Japanese forms of omotenashi (hospitality) to become bridges for people to draw closer to Christ—one man who attended has already asked about studying the Bible.

All of us in Tokyo pray for the Lord’s abundant blessings on you all in the New Year.

11月30日の主日は第5主日にあたり、礼拝は唱詠晩祷（歌による夕の礼拝）から始まり、続けて「聖餐式」をささげます。グレゴリオ聖歌、アングリカンチャントをもって「マリアの賛歌」、「シメオンの賛歌」、詩編などを歌いながら豊かな賛美を神様にお献げします。どなたでもどうぞご参加ください。

なお、礼拝は*16:15から*スタートします（いつもより15分早く）

As November 30 is the fifth Sunday of the month, worship will begin with Evening Prayer (Evensong) and continue with Holy Eucharist. We will offer abundant praise to God by using Gregorian chant and Anglican chant for the Magnificat, the Nunc Dimittis, the Psalm, etc. All are welcome.

Note that the service will begin at *4:15 p.m.* (15 minutes earlier than usual)

OMSA had the pleasure of welcoming our old friend, Fr. Thomas Plant, and a new friend, a delightful young woman who is a member of All Saints Anglican Church in Honolulu.

Fr. Thomas is back in England after having faithfully served the Church in Japan for several years. He is the Rector of St. Margaret of Antioch, Iver Heath, a lovely village church which happily rests sound in the fact that “there is nothing new here.”

He also posts on a highly thoughtful, informative, and occasionally spicy Substack, Ghostly Counsel, and is a published writer, including having recently edited and expanded Darwell Stone’s classic, masterful presentation of mere Anglican Catholicity, Christian Dogma: Outlines of Orthodox Anglican Theology.

It was a joy to worship with Fr. Tom and catch up afterward with him and his family.

It was also a joy to meet and enjoy fellowship with our sister visiting Japan from Honolulu. OMSA in recent months has been in prayer and conversation with Fr. Mark Brians, Rector of All Saints, whose church has a vision of building a network of relationships with churches across the Asia-Pacific region. We look forward to exploring the relationship further—stay tuned for news about a conference planned for next March, which will feature Fr. Mark and other speakers both from the Anglican world and beyond.

Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is for brethren to be in unity in Christ, regardless of geographical distance!

今度の主日、10月26日、海外から数名（おそらく5名～7名）のお客さんが礼拝に参加する予定というお知らせが来ています。日本語が分からない方がほとんどであることを踏まえて、急で大変申し訳ございませんが、当日の礼拝を英語にしたいと思います。ご理解、ご協力お願いいたします。

We welcomed a guest at Sunday’s worship service, Ken Matsuda, who is a member of St. Augustine’s Anglican Church in Westerville, Ohio. St. Augustine’s is a church in the Anglican Diocese of the Living Word, to which OMSA also belongs.

Ken was in Japan for a short-term mission. For many years, he and a group of other musicians have been coming to Japan every other year to conduct a concert series at a chapel in Karuizawa, in Nagano. The group held three concerts a day, handing out gospel tracts to curious onlookers and offering testimonies in connection with explaining the lyrics of the songs they were performing.

Wondering if there was an orthodox Anglican church in Japan, Ken went online to find out and came across the OMSA substack. He traveled an hour and a half on the train to join us for worship on Sunday evening, before flying home the next day.

It was a joy to be able to worship together with a brother from across the sea. Praise be to God for the fellowship of the Body of Christ, united in the truth of his gospel!

8月31日の主日は第5主日にあたり、礼拝は唱詠晩祷（歌による夕の礼拝

）から始まり、続けて「聖餐式」をささげます。グレゴリオ聖歌、アングリカンチャントをもって「マリアの賛歌」、「シメオンの賛歌」、詩編などを歌いながら豊かな賛美を神様にお献げします。どなたでもどうぞご参加ください。

なお、礼拝は*16:15から*スタートします（いつもより15分早く）

As August 31 is the fifth Sunday of the month, worship will begin with Evening Prayer (Evensong) and continue with Holy Eucharist. We will offer abundant praise to God by using Gregorian chant and Anglican chant for the Magnificat, the Nunc Dimittis, the Psalm, etc. All are welcome.

Note: The service will begin at *4:15 p.m.* (15 minutes earlier than usual)

キリストに在って兄弟姉妹の皆さんへ

主イエス・キリストのみ名によって、恵みと平安が皆さんにありますように。

今度の日曜日、宣教会の活動にとって大きな節目となる第一回信徒総会に皆さんが集うにあたり、恵みをもって支えてくださり、福音への扉を開いてくださってこられた主に感謝を捧げましょう。

ケビン司祭とベレク司祭の忠実なリーダーシップに深く感謝します。お二人は、共同体のために説教、司式、そして牧会に熱心に携わってきました。お二人の献身は、聖パウロの言葉を思い起こします。「わたしは植え、アポロは水を注いだ。しかし、成長させてくださったのは神です」（コリントの信徒への手紙一 3:6）。まさに、皆さんの間でこの働きを確実なものにしてくださったのは主です。

皆さんが集うにあたり、わたしたちは「共に建てられ、霊の働きによって神の住まいとなっている」ことを喜びましょう（エフェソの信徒への手紙 2:22）。この総会が皆さんの交わりを深め、ビジョンを新たにし、キリストがわたしたちに託されたミッションを果たすための備えとなりますように。

わたしは皆さんのために祈っています。

キリストに仕える者として、

教区主教

ジュリアン・M・ドブス

今度の主日（6月29日）は第5主日にあたり、礼拝は「夕の礼拝」（イーブンソング）から始まり、続けて「聖餐式」をささげます。グレゴリオ聖歌、アングリカンチャントをもって「マリアの賛歌」、「シメオンの賛歌」、詩編などを歌いながら神様を賛美します。どなたでもどうぞご参加ください。

なお、礼拝は*16:15から*スタートします（いつもより15分早く）

This coming Sunday (6/29) is the fifth Sunday of the month, and worship will begin with Evening Prayer (Evensong) and continue with Holy Eucharist. We will praise God by using Gregorian chant and Anglican chant for the Magnificat, the Nunc Dimittis, the Psalm, etc. All are welcome.

Note: The service will begin at *4:15 p.m.* (15 minutes earlier than usual)

今度の主日、聖霊が降ってきた、「教会の誕生日」をお祝いする聖霊降臨日の礼拝にぜひお越しください。キリストの弟子たちの上にとどまった「炎のような舌」を思い起こす「何か赤いもの」を着たり、身に付けたりすることを大歓迎します！

礼拝後、簡単な祝賀会があります。どなたでも歓迎します。

This coming Sunday, please join us for the great Feast of Pentecost, when we mark the coming of the Holy Spirit and the “birthday of the Church.” You are encouraged to wear or sport something red in commemoration of the “tongues as of fire” that descended on Christ’s disciples!

A light reception will follow the service. All are welcome.

It might, as it did in the Early Church, and as it does even now in many parts of the world, mean that we actually lose our lives. But for all Christians, proclaiming the good news and the truth of the Word will be costly—it can cost cultural acceptance, job opportunities, relationships.

But we don’t count the cost, because we know that the gospel alone is what truly frees people from oppression, what brings light into darkness, what leads people out of despair into hope, out of death into life.

At the end of his address, the Bishop recounted numerous examples of growth and new life across the diocese—baptisms, confirmations, new church plants. We are looking forward to ordaining five young men tomorrow.

How encouraging it is to know that the Lord is faithful and blesses his Church when it seeks to be faithful to the call to gospel mission.

5月14日（水）～17日（土）、リビングワード教区の教区会・ミッションカンファレンスはマクレーン・バージニアのマクレーン長老派教会にて開催されます。今年のカンファレンスのテーマは「救いを得させるため」（ローマ1:16）となっています。

今回、土曜日の信徒会で、OMSAの働きについて短いプレゼンが頼まれました。また、金曜日のカンファレンスの開会の祈りも、日本語でするという依頼が来ました。日本におけるミッションに対する関心がますます高まりますように、祈りたいところです。どうぞ、ご一緒にお祈ってください。

The Anglican Diocese of the Living Word Synod and Missions Conference will be held May 14-17 at McLean Presbyterian Church in McLean, Virginia. The theme of this year’s conference is “Unto Salvation” (Romans 1:16).

We’ve been asked to give a brief presentation on the work of OMSA at Saturday’s Lay Meeting. Also, Fr. Kevin has been asked to pray the opening prayer for the Missions Conference on Friday in Japanese! We want to pray that interest in the mission in Japan will continue to grow stronger and stronger. Please join us in praying.

教区会、総会のため

永遠にいます全能の神よ、あなたは昔、聖霊によって使徒たちの議会をつかさどり、またみ子イエス・キリストを通して世の終わりまで公会とともにおられることを約束されました。どうか[今]、み名によって集まった議会に臨み、愚かと誤り、偏りと高ぶりを除き、聖霊によって議員の心を清め、その働きを治めてください。また同じ聖霊によって主の公会の秩序と規律が守られ、あらゆる所でキリストの福音が正しく宣べ伝えられ、聞く人びとはこれに聞き従え、罪と死と悪魔の国は砕け、分かれ散った羊の群れはついに一つの群れとなって永遠の命にあずかることができるようにしてください。主イエス・キリストの功と死によってお願いいたします。アーメン

For a Provincial or Diocesan Convention or Synod

Almighty and everlasting God, who by thy Holy Spirit didst preside in the council of the blessed Apostles, and hast promised, through thy Son Jesus Christ, to be with thy Church to the end of the world; We beseech thee to be with the council of thy Church [here] assembled in thy Name and presence. Save us from all error, ignorance, pride, and prejudice; and of thy great mercy vouchsafe, we beseech thee, so to direct, sanctify, and govern us in our work, by the mighty power of the Holy Ghost, that the order and discipline of thy Church be maintained, and that the comfortable Gospel of Christ may be truly preached, truly received, and truly followed, in all places, to the breaking down the kingdom of sin, Satan, and death; till at length the whole of thy dispersed sheep, being gathered into one fold, shall become partakers of everlasting life; through the merits and death of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.