You may view previous editions of the bulletin from the listing to the right.
Hello and welcome to February. It sure is cold...the snow is SLOWLY disappearing, and I found my shoe. Many of us are gearing up to go to the Northwest District Convention in Portland, February 13 - 15. The annual convention is always an anticipated event for many to enjoy a trip together...to meet old friends...to see family members from other areas. This year's convention is additionally significant because it signals the countdown to our own hosting of the 2010 NW Convention here in Ontario. We all know how quickly one year can go by.
As I mentioned at our Hoonko Service in January, in all Jodo Shinshu temples throughout the world, we are in the midst of recognizing the 750th Memorial for Shinran Shonin, culminating in a worldwide event in 2012 to be hosted by Hongwanji in Kyoto, Japan. This year, the NW Convention in Portland will begin our district observance of the 750th. This district-wide observance will go on for one year, and conclude with the 63rd Annual Northwest Convention to be hosted by our temple.
Throughout this past year, each of our district temples have put on various activities to commemorate the 750th at the temple level. Our own Meditation Marathon last March received excellent participation, temple recognition, and continuing inquiries about our efforts. Questions about our Mediation walk have come from around the district, California and Hawaii. Portland held its own version of the Meditation walk this past December for Bodhi Day. We are STILL National Champions!
I am hopeful that many of our Sangha members and particularly the Sansei will step up to not only help but to lead the efforts of our temple. The 750th Shinran Shonin Memorial and our 2010 NW Convention provides a significant event to focus our efforts as a temple and to reflect upon our own identify as Buddhists. Why can't we know more about the Dharma so that our opinions, efforts, and choices at least have basis. Why can't the temple be more meaningful in our lives? Why can't the teachings be applicable to our own lives and important enough to hand down to the next and the next?
It's our turn. We need to each make a choice...do I want this temple to continue, or am I OK to let it fade away and die.
This upcoming year leading to the 2010 NW Convention will show a lot about our Sangha. We are hopeful and eager to see this all unfold. I can't wait! Please give it thought and make our choices.
The significant service for this month is the Nirvana Day Famnily Service. This will be February 8, 11:00 a.m. We recognize the death of the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni. His birth, Awakening, and death are the three key events that are recognized, as they map out our own life process. This may be considered a Major Service, but it is made to be important with your attendance. We will see you there.
Gassho,
Rev. Dennis
It has been about six weeks since I had my stroke - you're in a different world. All you think about is thank goodness the stroke didn't paralyze, was not too severe, but again, bad enough that I went to Elk's Rehab in Boise. It's a good place to go to get those muscles a going. Each day it was a challenge to see how much strength you have and begin to notice how much a person has accomplished. After a couple of weeks of therapy - the Therapists, Doctor and Social Workers had a Patient Family Meeting - this is when a person gets a little excited because you're having a departure time to go home. Hooray! Now that I have been home two weeks or more, it has been a very busy place with phone calls, all my neighbors and friends checking on me and offering an extra hand. All I can say is that there is "no place like home"!
First of all I want to thank my family for looking after me - they were my hero's for the many trips to Boise to keep me company and also I'm restricted for driving for a month or so, so they are taking turns being a taxi for my needs. Also, would like to thank Rev. Fujimoto for coming to visit me during the worst days of winter.
My first big outing was to go to the ABA-BWA New Years Luncheon held on January 11th, catered by Matsy's. It was a thrill to see everyone and for me to be able to go to the Altar and do oshoko with my walker. Want to thank you all for your greetings and well wishes - I'm on my way to recovery because I like to go to our Activity Day and do some therapy with hands and brains to play Shanghai.
IOBT General Meeting and Potluck was held on January 25th. The chicken and rice was furnished by the Temple and the others participated in delicious sides, salads and desserts. Mike Iseri presided over the meeting.
A charter bus will be heading to Portland for the NW Buddhist Convention February 13th - 15th.
IOBT BWA meeting will be held February 1st after Adult Services.
Here it is almost the end of January, where has the time gone? We have been having lessons on DANA with the exception of January 11th, which was Ho-on-ko Family Service. After the service, there was a combined Fujinkai and ABA new years luncheon, followed by Bingo. We will have our Valentines Party a little early, on February 1st, due to the Family Nirvana Day service on Feb. 8th along with the Sangha Taiko session and the NW Buddhist Convention in Portland on the 13-15th. And, there goes February!!
I interviewed my dance teacher, Madame Fujima. She is a very talented and wonderful person. I learned a lot of amazing facts about her.
Madame Fujima has been to approximately 20 temples and owns 6 ojuzus. Her favorite chant is the Juseige. Her fondest moment was watching her students perform for over 60 years. Her proudest moment was after the war when she was able to keep on teaching the Japanese dance. Her wildest dream was when she was in America and she would be thinking about Japan. Her biggest challenge was keeping her emotions and spirits strong during the war, when she lost good friends.
Her favorite food as a child was crab. Her family did not have any meat to eat, so she enjoyed other types of food. She had a pet monkey as a child growing up. When she was 13, she was living in Yamaguchi-Ken. Her childhood ambition was to dance, she studied many years at the house of Fujima where she was given her name. Her first job was teaching other people to dance.
Her favorite food now is clams and lobster. She does not have any pets. Her alarm clock is set for around 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Some of her favorite hobbies to do when she is not teaching dance is playing cards. She loves to go to church on Wednesdays and play shanghai with everybody. She also enjoys cooking, she makes delicious food.
I am so glad I interviewed Madame Fujima, I found out many fascinating and interesting facts about her life.
I hope that everyone that wanted to go to the convention has signed up??? We have a chartered bus reserved and will leave at 8:00 a.m. from the church parking lot on Friday, February 13th. We will have a stop at Wildhorse in Pendleton for those that want to gamble and a lunch stop. Our destination is the Double Tree Hotel at Lloyd Center.
It looks like everyone wanted to stop at Uwajimayas right after the closing service, so we will make a stop there and then head home. We wont be stopping anywhere for dinner as you will have your bento boxes from the convention, or pick up some more at Uwajimayas. Bring your DVD/VCR tapes if you want to watch a movie on the bus. Of course there is always the card players and also time to catch up on your sleep. See you all then!!!
The OHS Japanese Club welcomes you to attend this fund raising event. CUMC has generously offered their facility to hold this event after service.
Our members are eager to serve a "sit-down" luncheon with salad, spaghetti, garlic bread and dessert.
Proceeds help fund this year's field trip to Seattle in April where we plan to visit Uwajimaya's, Kubota Gardens, the White River Museum, Washelli Cemetery (where so many of our 442 heroes are buried) and Todai Restaurant.
Make your reservation by calling Mike Iseri (208) 740-0816, or email to mikeiseri@fmtc.com. Thanks for your support!
Thank you to Lorinda Hasegawa, Mary Nakamura, Karen Hata, Delores Wood, Shiz Inouye, George Matsuura, Rev. Dennis, and Hideo and Ruth Harada for helping with the bulletin!
Designated Memorial Service Years for 2008. To schedule a family memorial service, please contact Reverend Fujimoto. 1 Year = 2008, 3 year = 2007, 7 year = 2003, 13 year = 1997, 17 year = 1993, 25 year = 1985, 33 year = 1977 and 50 year = 1960.
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
10:30 am - Dharma School Service
11:00 am - Adult Service
11:00 am - Dharma School Class
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