mission.japan

SUMR is a Derek-ism for the annual conglomerate worship service at Saidaiji Christ Church that collects just about everyone from Saidaiji and Saidaiji’s daughter churches. The event in question was this past Sunday. I caravaned with Pastor Goto, Yamasaki, Nozomu, and Yujin to the third morning service.

It’s been a long time since I was last at Saidaiji—maybe since the first week I was here back in April. I don’t think I’ve ever been to Saidaiji for a Sunday morning service, so that was a first. Saidaiji Christ Church has its own building, naturally, and the sanctuary has a very churchy feel, right down to the pews and the small window of stained glass set in the high ceiling above the pulpit. The songs are different as well—more hymns, which we do not sing a lot of at Tsushima.

After the service was a lunch break. Free lunch for all those staying for the business meeting at one. I was asked to stay, so I did. Besides the free lunch I had enough time to run outside for some taiyaki that I spied on the way there. Any excuse to buy taiyaki is a good one, even if it’s just to enjoy a short moment of Kanon fanboy-ness. (Uguu~!)

The meeting was a long, drawn-out affair filled with formality, as well as several votes and discussions. It was difficult to follow in some places—super-polite Japanese is not something I hear often, much less use, so I’m not as quick with understanding the different constructions. I felt I was understanding more towards the end, however. If anything it was a good source of new vocabulary.

I’d like to put in some more observations from the meeting, but I’ll leave those for tomorrow. Stay tuned.