February, 2006 Newsletter

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In Remembrance of Yuri Shinoda

One of the first person to greet and welcome me to the then San Lorenzo Holiness Church was Yuri Shinoda. Little did I realize how much through the years she would influence and enrich my spiritual life. Beautiful and inspirational testimonies of Rev. Dan and Yuri’s ministries were well celebrated marking their fiftieth years in the ministry and, again, on their Golden Wedding Anniversary.

I was privileged and grateful to have worked with Yuri who willingly shared her many gifts and skills in her dedicated and enthusiastic approach to the Christian Education ministry of the church.

Some of the helpful and encouraging instructions that she had given me were, already, found in any teacher training manuals. But the challenges to do well was because Yuri was such a good mentor in every detail. I always watched with interest and fascination as Yuri told the Bible stories using flannelgraph figures and sceneries. In fact, Yuri gave many of her Bible story backgrounds that she had painted for our flannelgraph visual aids. I enjoy telling Bible stories, but flannelgraph presentations were not my “cup of tea”. The flannelgraph figures kept falling off and to the amusement of some willing helpers would pick them up. Her creative skills were applied and taught as we prepared the two weeks Daily Vacation Bible School (DVBS). We collected and recycled all kinds of odds-n-ends to make the activity crafts, now neatly packed and available as activity kits.

Students who were in Yuri’s Sunday School class will still remember, “Mrs. Shinoda would plan and take us on outings. The time of Christian fellowship and fun meant a lot to us. Especially, as many parents weren’t able to do so.”

For many years, we have been blessed by the ministries of Rev. Dan and Yuri as they have shared their time, love for Christ and dedicated ministries in our Japanese American churches and organizations. And, to all our Issei, Nisei and following generations, they have left an inspirational legacy of Christianity. We fondly remember Yuri as she has shown us the beauty of Jesus seen in her. A prayer in the chorus that we had often sang together.

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wonderful passion and purity;
Oh, Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

— Submitted by Annie Sueda

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