You may view previous editions of the bulletin from the listing to the right.
Hello! Welcome to the month of July and the heat of the summer. By the time you receive this, we will have just completed the Japan Nite festivities. It is always wonderful to have so many friends and guests coming to visit our temple. The delicious food was just right. The dance was just right. The hot weather was just right. The hard work was just right. Thank you to everyone who participated, pitched in, and made things work. It is always amazing to see how much happens to culminate into this colorful and festive event.
July brings us the deeper portion of our Obon tradition. July 15-17 are the annual cemetary visitations. Please check the calendar for visitation times. On July 20th, we will observe our Obon-Hatsubon Service. Here we recognize members we have lost during the period from the Obon Service last year to the Obon Service this year. We gather to support the families of the deceased in a true gesture of Sangha. For the families, the loss is still too recent...the wound is still open...the pain is still too real. For the rest of us, we can identify because we have each gone through loss, and we will again. We are identical...we are one and the same. In the face of death, our pretence and superficialities evaporate, and our sameness is all that is left.
The beauty and the depth of the Shin Buddhist life is in the sharing of the complete spectrum of life...from pain and loss to song and dance...we live them both and we do it together. We eat, drink, and dance together. We support, console, and cry together. It is the sharing of both ends of the spectrum that bring meaning and depth to life, to Sangha, to Buddhism, to temple, to family, to friends. Pick the words you prefer. It is the temple that provides an avenue to this meaning and depth.
Joining us in our Obon-Hatsubon Service will be Rev. Kosho Yukawa. He is the former Rinban of the Sacramento Betsuin, and has come out of retirement to assist the Tacoma Buddhist Temple as interim minister. We are very fortunate to have him as one of our resources in the Northwest District. Saturday he will hold a special presentation and discussion with our MAP people from 3-5. This will be followed by a welcome dinner. The Family Service on Sunday begins at 11:00. Please help us welcome Rev. Yukawa in his visit to the Ontario area.
Gassho,
Rev. Dennis
I feel like it's like a cram course to get this newsletter out - time just keeps rolling along faster & faster. Everyone enjoying the hot weather - finally Summer is here.
Japan O-Bon Festival is this coming weekend. The Temple would like to thank everyone in advance for helping and donating to make this Festival a success. Thanks to Michelle Sadamori, chairperson for this event, for getting things organized before she left for a fun trip to Japan. The Temple appreciates all the volunteer hours and hours put into this event.
The Father's Day barbecue chicken was enjoyed very much. We all need to tell the "Temple Guys" what a wonderful job they do. Others brought in extra dishes of salads, side dishes, and desserts. Thanks everyone! Even though I was out of town I felt that I smelled the aroma of the chicken on that day. Tobans for this event was handled by the Payette-Weiser ladies. Rather than usual Bingo, some games were held where everyone could enjoy. Ellyn Mizuta and Sandy Belknap were in charge. Raffle prizes were given out for the lucky name drawing also.
BWA has a sign up sheet on the bulletin board for a possible trip. Be sure to check on these and sign up - if there are not enough signatures to make it worthwhile, we will cancel. It's your chance to go, so be sure to sign up.
YBA Fundraiser-Breakfast was enjoyed by all those who attended. Pancakes, hash browns, bacon, sausage and scrambled eggs, along with juices and coffee. We enjoyed it very much. Many of us dont bother with breakfast, but when someone else fixes it, it tastes so good and more so when you can enjoy eatting with others. Thanks!
An "Afternoon Tea" wil lbe held for Frances Nishimura who will be moving to Portland to be near her daughters. It will be held on July 12th from 2-4 p.m. at the Temple social hall. Everyone is invited to wish her well and to thank her for many years of behind the scenes work that she did so quietly.
IOBT Good News: Michael Eldred, son of Robert and Terry Fukuda, was selected as a Judo training partner/2012 Olympic hopeful. He gets to go to Beijing for the 2008 Olympics. He deserves this spot; he and his family have put a lot of effort and time to get where he is at. Enjoy Michael!
Happy Bowl time is coming up next month, July 28 - August 2nd. Because the BWA ladies ages is getting higher and higher, and our strength has gotten less and less, we would appreciate help of any source. This event is a joint fundraiser with the Dharma School and BWA. Donations of Japanese cucumbers, pepper and carrots will be most welcome.
IOBT BWA meeting is scheduled for July 13th. Lots to talk about. No meeting in August.
Congratulations to Mimi Kameshige as she was elected ASB President at Ontario High School for the 2008-2009 school year. Also, Congratulations to Matthew Suyematsu for making it to the national Destination Imaginatoin competition in Tennessee, and also for qualifying in the standing broad jump at the Hersey'g track meet to go to the state competition in Eugene. Great job kids!!!
Thanks to Yas Teramura and George Yanagawa for adding a drawer to the Podium for storage of the assisted listening devices. This drawer is intended to give our members the opportunity to label their own device and store in the Podium so they dont have to remember to bring it to Church every time.
Thank you to Russell Tanaka for donating five grab bars for the bathroom stalls.
Thank you to Jim Mizuta for pulling weeds and keeping the back clean and clear.
Thank you to Robert and Terry Fukuda, Michael, Anna Nagaki, Susan Inouye, Yasuko Kino and Shiz Inouye for July Temple Cleanup.
Thank you to Hideo and Ruth Harada, Joan Suyematsu, Kikue Hondo, Yasuko Kino, Mary Nakamura and Midge Teramura for Meals on Wheels.
Thank you to Mary Nakamura, Jimmy and Kikue Hondo, Karen Hata, Delores Wood, Hideo and Ruth Harada and Shiz Inouye for helping with the 2008 June Bulletin.
The Ontario School District has decided to resurface the home track of the Ontario Branch of the Pure Land Joggers and Striders. The High School track will not be available until the end of August. Until then, PLJS-Ontario will meet at Evergreen Cemetery per calendar schedule. Other alternative site suggestions are welcome.
Takeharu Inouye (8/21/07), Tom Mineo Kamo (9/23/07), Toshiko Takahashi (1/7/08), Roy Satori Hoashi (1/7/08), Masao Yamashita (1/9/08), Frank Itaru Tsukamaki (1/9/08), James Noburo Oyama (1/14/08), Mickie Atagi (2/7/08), Samuel Jones (3/29/08), Rina Yamashita (4/9/08), Hatsuko Ginger Sakano (4/10/08), Mary Ann McLay (5/14/08).
Designated Memorial Service Years for 2008. To schedule a family memorial service, please contact Reverend Fujimoto. 1 Year = 2007, 3 year = 2006, 7 year = 2002, 13 year = 1996, 17 year = 1992, 25 year = 1984, 33 year = 1976 and 50 year = 1959.
Idaho Oregon Buddhist Temple
286 SE 4th Directions
PO Box 397 (mailing address)
Ontario, Oregon 97914
541-889-8562 (office)
541-889-8662 (fax)
10:00 am - IOBT Choir Practice
10:30 am - Adult Study
11:00 am - Family Service
Site design, hosting and maintenance by JW2E - Web sites for small business.