Open letter to Canon Charles Robertson about the recent Japan Prayer service in New York.

For your information. This is the letter sent to the Rev. Dr. Charles Robertson, Canon to the Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori.

The Prayer Service for Japan held last Friday, March 18, at the Chapel of Christ the Lord at the Episcopal Church Centr in New York City, went very well. It was a well attended service, led by the Episcopal Asiamerican Ministries (EAM) office, the Partnership Office for Asia and the Pacific, with the participation of the Metropolitan Japanese Ministry (MJM). Ms. Anne Rudig from the Communications Office as well as many others from the Episcopal Church Center were present.
 
It was very solemn and moving as some described it -- and very participatory. I led the service with Kyoko Toyama praying the Invocation in Japanese; David Copley, John Colon and Peter Ng read messages from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams; the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schor; and the Archbishop of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai (Anglican Church of Japan), respectively. Kumiko Buller and Christina Hing read from the Scriptures. Chief Operating Officer Linda Watt read the Litany of Healing (she was born in the former Tokyo Military Hospital, now St. Lukes Hospital).
 
Kyoko Kageyama, former MJM Missioner and instructor at the NSKK Seminary in Tokyo shared her experience of the earthquake, even though she was still suffering from some sort of post-traumatic syndrome. Our gratitude to her for giving us a close and personal, though emotionally painful, account.  Abagail Nelson, Senior VP for Programs of Episcopal Relief and Development (See www. er-d.org)  also shared a reflection. We encouraged people to donate to the Japan Response Fund through the ER-D, in our announcements.
 
Shoji Mizumoto played lamentation music with his Japanese flute and Samuel Cheung played the piano.  The Rev. John Lloyd, retired missionary to/from Japan and priest in charge of MJM, gave the blessing in Japanese and English. Angeline Cabanban and Aki Gu helped us do the bulletin while Su Hadden and Sherri Siegel-Quinonez helped us with chapel arrangements and the welcome lounge in the former bookstore site. A number of guests stayed for coffee and conversation. MJM taught some guests how to make origami items; a beautiful origami flower vase is in my office.
 
Some attendees, including one from a Roman Catholic parish, asked for copies of the bulletin saying they would like to adapt the liturgy. We've circulated the liturgy to our EAM Network and some wrote they will adapt and hold similar prayer meetings. Dr. Jim Kodera, professor at Wellesley College and chair of the EAM Council and Advisory Board, also shared reflections about a similar service, earlier, at the college, noting the Japanese culture had shown sobriety and order even in the midst of this disaster (i.e. no looting, etc.).

The Iglesia Filipina Independientes St. Pauls Seminary will adapt the liturgy in their Prayer Service this Wednesday and the EAM Diocese of Long Island will do the same on April 15, hopefully at the diocese's Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City. 

Meanwhile the Asian Commission of the Diocese of California, through Christ Church Sei Ko Kai and Holy Child - St. Martin's is holding a Benefit Concert for Japan on April 2 in Daly City, South San Francisco. We encourage those in the San Francisco - Oakland - San Jose area to please support them by your presence and participation. (Check out www.hcsmdalycity.org for details.)
 
Mr. Peter Ng of the Partnership Office for Asia-Pacific and I wish to thank you for your support and encouragemen.
 
Fred+

The Rev. Dr. Winfred B. Vergara
Missioner, Episcopal Asiamerican Ministries (EAM)
The Episcopal Church Center
815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017
(212) 922-5344 (O)   (800) 334-7626 Ext. 5344
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