kobeintern

On Monday children from multiple Nursery schools arrived at the cathedral for a joint children’s service. They traveled by subway to get to Saint Michaels! They sang children’s hymns that they had learned, and Fr. Seyama gave children’s sermon.

Fr. Seyama had asked me if I would like to play the flute for the children, and I obliged. I played the same two pieces by Donjon that I played the day before, which I thought were short and entertaining enough. Afterwards, I let the children touch the keys on my flute which made the teachers nervous.

I was also invited to attend Confirmation class for one adult parishioner who had just been baptized on Easter. She and Fr. Seyama had been going through the Nippon Sei-Ko-Kai Catechism （教会問答） one by one. Today was a continuation from their last meeting. One of the questions we went through today (Q 31) was, “Who are ordained into Holy Order [Bishops, Priests and Deacons]?” The answer says, “Those who are called from among the believers who receive ordination to serve as clergy.”

At that moment, Fr. Seyama turned to me and asked what my experience was like. I then explained how I went through the Discernment with other parishioners whose job it was to ask me many tough questions and learn about my background. Together we all agreed to move forward with recommendation to the Bishop for my ordination.

I also shared about how my first semester at Yale Divinity School was so discouraging, when all this academic learning at age 62 felt just too much for me. It was at such moment when I felt like throwing in the towel, that I remembered the Discernment Committee members – their confidence and trust in me. Thoughts about how I cannot let them down overruled my negativity and sustained me through the rest of the semester. That was when I realized how important that first step of the Parish-level Discernment was – to be “called from among the believers.” I felt their support like the Holy Spirit’s.

I was invited to attend next month’s Confirmation Class when she is scheduled to meet with Fr. Seyama. It was so encouraging to meet a newly baptized adult person who is so eager to learn more about following Christ. Remember that most Japanese are Buddhists with heavy Shinto-influence, where less than two percent are Christians.

The national religion in this country is Shinto-ism, but Shinto is so engrained into the Japanese culture that, I understand people don’t really think of Shinto as a religion (there is no textbook – written rules or catechesis: just tradition!). In such atmosphere, as well as in a culture where one is more comfortable..to not stick out.., for one to abandon the normal behavior and be baptized takes a lot of conviction and courage.