TJCC - Upcoming Events for Japan Earthquake Relief & other matters

Hello everyone,
Please let your friends/relatives know about these events, whether you can attend or not yourself (you may have seen this earlier). This is to support all affected people in Japan through our prayers and fund-raising - very appropriate in this Lenten season....I am also copying many beyond our TJCC Community, i.e., our Japanese/Chinese and other friends who have expressed concern after the triple disaster in Japan - as we are grateful to everyone.

1. Japanese-Chinese Joint Prayer Meeting - March 27 (Sun), 7:30 pm
This ecumenical event is organized by the Renrakukai (association of Toronto Japanese Christian churches) and the Toronto Chinese Evangelical churches. It will be held at the Japanese Gospel Church of Toronto (www.jgct.com), 301 Silver Star Blvd, Scarborough (Finch/Kennedy area). More info on attached poster - also Pastor Sato at 416-335-5428. To our faith-connected friends, please try to attend this as it may be the only one. There are expecting hundreds so don't be late as there is limited parking - if the church lot is full, please use the neighbouring large parking of the banquet hall.

2. Bake/craft Sale and Charity Concert - April 3 (Sun), 12:30 pm
A fundraising Bake and Craft Sale will start at 12:30 pm followed by the Concert at 1:30. It will be held at the Lansing United Church, 49 Bogert Avenue , North York (Yonge-Sheppard area). This event is organized by three churches of the United Church - Lansing United, Centennial Japanese United and Toronto Japanese United (also member of Renrakukai). More info on attached poster.

3. David Suzuki Movie showing at JCCC - March 24 (Thurs), 7:30 pm
Proceeds will go to the Earthquake Relief from the screening of this recent film - "Force of Nature - the David Suzuki Movie" about his incredible life - at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC - www.jccc.on.ca). Also opening on March 24 will be a special David Suzuki exhibit (till April 9th) featuring images from the 50th Anniversary of CBC's The Nature of Things and from CBC's archives.

4. Special Earthquake Relief Benefit Events via JCCC
According to JCCC's website, they have plans to organize a number of benefit special concerts, film screenings, etc. over the next months. Please check their site for the latest information - http://www.jccc.on.ca/japan_earthquake_relief_fund.htm . The JCCC Foundation has pledged $100K from the upcoming Sakura Ball to the Earthquake Relief.

5. Montreal's Japanese Catholic Community (St. Paul-Ibaraki Mission)
We send belated greetings to our sister Community - http://web.me.com/sanaesan/St-Paul-Ibaraki-Mission/, although I have been in touch with their chairperson, Nobuharu Yamaguchi. We trust that their relatives/friends in Japan are all safe (started in 1963, their Community is named after one of the 26 Martyrs of Japan).

6. Renrakukai - association of Toronto Japanese Christian Churches
As one of eight members of the Toronto Japanese Christian Churches, the families of our TJCC Community members have been spared any casualties. However for two pastors in the Renrakukai - the mother and sister's family of one are only 65 km from the nuclear plant. The pastor, currently in Japan, would like to visit but is concerned about his own health before returning here. The wife of another pastor is stuck in Fukushima prefecture due to lack of transportation, preventing her to return here. There are likely many other similar stories but they have more impact when it's someone we know. Please continue to include them in your prayers.

7. Check our Japanese Catholic Community's website - www.torjcc.ca
We try to post the latest news and events (including earthquake-related matters) on our site - so please check now and then in the News and Events page.

Blessings and peace,
Roy Sakaguchi
Toronto Japanese Catholic Community (TJCC)
(H) 416-960-8827