Local Church: The Source of God's Beauty on Earth

“By the way, do you think your parents’ church might be willing to host a small exhibit for Fukushima art?” 

When Shihoko and I met at a coffee shop near my home in Vancouver in mid January to plan our trip to Fukushima, Japan, I asked this random question to her remembering her comment about her father --that he's an art lover and had been involved in gallery business. I thought it would be a wasted opportunity to not show such beautiful collection of work done by Christian artists to more Japanese before these would get packed and shipped to Vancouver. Shihoko's father immediately got excited about the idea of using the church building for a special occasion to stand in solidarity with the people of Fukushima. We then communicated to the lead artist of the group and got the initial assessment of feasibility. Just like that, we planned a weekend mini-exhibit for late March in Seibu Christ Church in Ichikawa. 

So I came to Japan again for this mini-exhibition in Ichikawa and to pay my "annual" visit to Fukushima for a week. The first day of the exhibit was a very quiet day but when the evening came, I began to understand God's providence in bringing the Fukushima exhibition to this church. I've never seen a local church that appreciates God's beautiful creation so much and in so many practical ways until I came to Seibu Christ Church. 

Mr. Ohtake, Shihoko's father, and four other members planted this church 35 years ago in this neighborhood of Ichikawa city and they began to meet at his home for nearly 30 years until they built the current building.  

All around the building you will see the beauty of God's creation in so many ways -- by flowers in the garden or a piece of art on the corner. This work of art is done for the service to the community.  

Three Magi's from the East

This piece of sculpture was done by a church member who has a very special visual perception and artistic gift because of his autism. When he has an image in mind, he creates this beautiful piece in about half an hour! 

Main Sanctuary Before Sunday Worship

Every Saturday night, Mr. Ohtake cleans the sanctuary and sets up the tables and chairs for the next morning. When I saw him finishing the set up and thought he left the building, but he turned the lights off and stood there for several minutes to pray in silence. In the church where the beauty of visual art is so highly appreciated, I felt the depth of silent prayer in that sanctuary where the Holy of the Holy is present in the darkness. I knew, that moment, I saw a man standing before the burning bush.

Sunday began with children and parents arriving early for the Sunday school. The small sanctuary started filling quickly for the worship and the room where the artworks were hanging filled with people joining for sunday worship.

Fukushima is still an hard subject to talk about in Japan if it is not completely forgotten in people's memory. But in the context of worship and prayers, the meaning of Fukushima starts illuminating the life which God intends for each of us to receive with joy, gratitude and hope even though it means we may not foresee what may come tomorrow.

This Sunday was a special Sunday as one of the members was being baptized, finally being adopted to this beautiful local congregation and being called a beloved daughter, bought by the precious blood of Jesus.

Ms. Etsko's testimony of her suffering for many years which finally led her to Christ and to joyful life in him, echoed beautifully in the light of the cross, with the golden map of Fukushima at the center, as if the people of Fukushima are deeply engraved in the heart of our suffering Christ.

I don't speak Japanese and do not understand a whole lot of things going on in the worship. But the mystery of God's presence becomes even more evident when my vocabulary loses its power but leaves only sensory trails of the light, sound, smell and touch of the people of God, his most precious creation.