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As I write we have just been informed that Rev. Dennis Fujimoto will take the position as your full-time minister next year. The start date is not set yet, but I will be visiting at least two more times. I have enjoyed your friendship and support these past 13 months. My wife and six-year old very much enjoyed the many kindnesses shown them when they accompanied me for the year-end service and party.
As good as this arrangement has been for me, I have not been able to do everything I would like for your temple. When you lost four people in three weeks, I was less help to those families than a resident minister would have been. I particularly regret not being able to be at the funerals for Taro Yoshihara and Jamie Hasebe. You soon will have Rev. Dennis Fujimoto in town full time. I'm sure you will be very pleased by his leadership. I thank him for recognizing what a warm and nurturing community the Idaho-Oregon temple members form. (I doubt it was teh weather that swayed him to take the position.)
I will see you again January 16th for your Ho On Ko service. This commemoration of the 742nd year since Shinran Shonin's passing will be my last special service that I will officiate for you. I will see you again February 13th. That will be the Nehan-E service, a remembrance of Sakyamuni Buddha's passing from this realm and entering into Pari-nirvana.
Beyond that, we will often meet again. In the old days our ministers and devout lay members would say, "we will meet in the Nembutsu." When I am saying the Buddha's Name, I will be meeting you I believe. Do you have a feeling for what this means? It is, perhaps, only a feeling. On the other hand, what is more important than feeling? Thank you for everything and see you again soon.
I can't believe it's almost the end of the year; would like to thank everyone who helped to keep our Temple active. I thought we managed very well the past year without a resident minister; we would like to thank our supervising minister, Rev. Gregory Gibbs from Portland, who came almost monthly to help us out. As most of you have heard, we will have Rev. Dennis Fujimoto as our resident minister about the first of March. The news sure put smiles on our faces! Can't say enough about Mike Iseri, who has spent a lot of his time arranging and rearranging the entire emergency request and getting chairpersons for Sunday services and many other details at the Temple.
Fujinkai Memorial Services were held November 27th with Rev. Marvin Harada from the Orange County Buddhist Temple. Even though I wasn't here - I heard that he brought "Freddie the Frog" with him. Everyone enjoys hearing his stories. Thanks Rev. Marvin for taking time from your busy schedule.
Fujinkai finally has new co-presidents: Sue Uyeki and Martha Mizuta will take over the reigns for 2005-2006 years (Jayne Kameshige will be the contact person for Ontario). We would like to thank Mae Nakano and JOan Suyematsu for being co-presidents for the past four years, and doing a super job! Let's all give our new co-presidents our support!
The Fujinkai had their luncheon Year End Party on December 12th. It was a yummy simple lunch of Beef Curry over rice; spinach salad; baked salmon and dessert; catered by Matsy's. Bingo was played for entertainment - I even won a game!
Can't say enough for the Fujinkai; at teh first of the month they were on Meals on Wheels under the direction of Midge Teramura. Those helping were Hideo and Ruth Harada, Connie and Glo Shimojima, Mae Nakano, Mary Nakamura and Yas and Midge Teramura.
Have you noticed a beautiful cabinet near the downstairs entrance? Also, a new bulletin will be in place as soon as we find or make one. The Fujinkai is footing the expense for the new improvements.
Activity Days have started from Dec. 1st. Ann Nagaki showed how to make "Beer Can Chicken" and Mae Nakano made "Baked Reuben Sandwich". No demo's during the Christmas and New Year week, and we will resume on January 5th.
Thank You's go to Shiz Inouye and her crew for making the Mochi for New Year's and Yas Teramura for putting wheels on the coat rack to make them more portable. Mae Nakano and Joan Suyematsu took some poinsetta flowers to our Temple shut-in's. Kaye Woods for donating some nice wooden stools for our kitchen. Weiser and Ontario ladies Toban for making a wonderful lunch for the Year-End and Eitaikyo service's.
Note: The Fujinkai meeting will be held immediately after the Adult Services on January 2nd.
Thank you to all our memebers and friends for collecting those pop tabs for the Idaho Ronald McDonald House. I recently turned in 5 LARGE boxes of tabs! They were so happy because the tabs weren't coming in that fast. Please see the unusual poinsettia plant on the new cabinet near the stage; it is a than you from the Ronald McDonald house for the tabs. So, continue saving those tabs, it is a small thing we can do to help families with sick children.
December 5th: Chairman: Mary Ann Shimojima, Dharma Talk: Karen Hata - special Bodhi Day reading and poem. The children put their Bodhi leaves on the Bodhi tree.
December 12th: Chairman and Dharma Talk: Sandy Belknap
December 19th: Chairman: Mary Ann Shimojima, Dharma Talk: Rev. Gregory Gibbs. Also, year end party with Santa's visit.
Thanks to Debbie Saito for the neat balloons: the bow and arros, fishing poles, flowers, palm trees with monkey, etc. The children really enjoyed them. We also enjoyed meeting Mrs. Gibbs, Sho and Ren; please come visit us again!
IOBT wishes to acknowledge Taro and Isoko Yoshihara for their substantial donation to Campaign BCA - The 21st Century. We were advised of this initially on October 5, 2004, but the formal notification was not provided to us until December 1, 2004, thus the reason for the delay in our acknowledgement. This is the first donation to Campaign BCA - The 21st Century from IOBT that we have been advised of.
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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