Hokkaido Special District Churchwomen’s Group
Hokkaido has three Churchwomen’s groups.

“No no hana no kai,” Hakodate Church

The groups are small but they pray for and communicate with each other.

History
One day in 1964, the wife of Pastor Hino, who was serving at Hakodate
Church at that time, and church member Masako Masuda sat down in the■On October 9, 2016, the day before the 100th anniversary service of mission

living room of the parsonage and prayed together. And thus our women’sto Sapporo Church, the Hokkaido Special District CW held a long awaited socialgroup was born. In 1966, the group started a church bazaar to sell handmade items. From November 1974,event. We invited former president of the JELCW Sae Koizumi as a speaker andvarious meetings (a handicraft group, Bible class and home gatherings) were regularly held.

she gave a speech titled “One step of ten people is more than ten steps of one

In 2004, the name of the group was changed to “No no hana no kai (Gathering of wildflowers)” because theperson.” Pastor Asami and his wife who served in Sapporo Church, Mrs.

name “churchwomen’s group” would give off an impression that it was only for married women. It was an

Hoshino, Pastor Soberi from Finland, and the current president and vice-president of JELCW attended theeffort to attract more women from different age groups, regardless of their marital status. We now prepare andevent. Ms. Kumiko Kono also came from Kumamoto prefecture and reported on the Kumamoto Earthquake.

serve after-service lunches on Sundays and help out on occasions like church

The three churches are introduced below.

celebrations and various events (Hakodate Morning Prayer Meeting, districtcamps, the children’s group and concerts). We are also responsible for altar

Churchwomen’s Group, Sapporo Church—our past and present

flowers, church supplies and organizing books in the church library. EveryNovember, we make pickled turnips and serve them at the Sunday lunches.

Back in 1969, Sapporo Church did not have a churchwomen’s group but theIssues

members felt the women had a unique role in their service to the church. Upon

Just like other churches, we are also facing the issue of aging membership. Right now the group’s members

discussing the idea with the pastor, an action plan to start a group was created inare in their 50s up to 80s. Active members of the group are in their 60s and 70s and they don’t have jobs. We

the following year. Activities such as monthly meetings, a book club, a handicraft

have downsized our meal preparation activities and bazaars helping each other and keep on doing what wegroup and Udon shokudo (noodle lunch preparation after Sunday services) werecan. For the growing aging issue, when the time comes to change our activities, we pray for the Lord on whatorganized. Back then, the number of the women participants was more than double the current membership,

we should do for Him and for the church and go forward.

so activities such as the young wives’ group and volunteering at Sapporo Church Kindergarten were held.
Sewing like apron making which reflects old days was very popular in the handicraft group.
Currently, we have 15 members and we still hold monthly meetings and Udon shokudo, just like before. We“Suzuran no kai,” Obihiro Church CWHistory

prepare meals for the church celebrations and support children of the Philippines, which has given us a great

Our group first registered with the District CW in 1982 but withdrew fromjoy. Still, with the aging membership and for the growing number of working women among us, our activities

it at one point. In 1999, we registered with the organization once again and inneed help from other church members.

January 2000, the group officially became “Suzuran no kai (Lilies of the Valley)”

On a cold, winter morning, we cannot get out of the house toafter it was approved by the Obihiro Church General Assembly. The group isprepare udon noodles and other meals without shoveling snowout of our driveway. For all the work we do, we should help eachother first. We hope our women’s group will be able to find a
breakthrough under these circumstances. Above all, we hope thateach of us will be filled with the Holy Spirit and that we can pray
for and support each other.

emerging as a few volunteers supporting the foster children of CCWA (known
as “Pieta no kai”). Since 2013, we have been making “towel caps” for patients undergoing chemotherapy anddelivering them to hospitals around Christmas.
An issueSince we don’t have many participants in the activity other than on Sundays, we independently do small
services when we think we can.
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