News from Christ Church
New Rector for Christ Church & Port Chaplain, Yokohama.
It is a great pleasure to write to introduce ourselves as we prepare to move to Yokohama, to join the work of The Mission to Seafarers, and become part of the fellowship at Christ Church. We will be moving from Worcestershire in England’s West Midlands, where we have lived for the past 20 years, though Dick is originally from Kent in the far South East. Yuki was born, raised and became a Christian in her teens in Tokyo, and we met when Dick came to Japan to work with the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) in Tochigi prefecture, where Yuki was a volunteer at the time. Most of our married life has been spent in England, first in theological college in Nottingham, before Dick’s ordination in the Diocese of Rochester, though we did live for three years in The Philippines in the 1990s, working with various projects of the Diocese of Guimaras in the Philippine Independent Church (IFI), an assignment again connected with ARI. Our daughter Tomomi was born there, and we also have an older son, Kentaro, who lives near Manchester.
Dick’s ordained ministry has always included an element of Industrial Mission, alongside parish ministry, most recently as Lead Chaplain for West Mercia Police and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, and has been the national chair of the Association of Workplace Chaplains in the UK. Yuki worked in the care sector after we moved to Worcestershire, but most recently has focussed on ministry within the Japanese community living in West London, centred on St Martin’s West Acton where she has been a Licenced Lay Minister in the Diocese of London, leading the parish’s Japanese Anglican Church congregation, and serving as chaplain to the wider Japanese community in the Diocese. For relaxation we both love to garden and cook.
We are very excited at the prospect of moving to Yokohama, and hope to arrive before Ash Wednesday. We look forward to sharing the reflective season of Lent with you, the solemnities of Passiontide and Holy Week, and the joy of Easter. It will be a great way to start our time in Yokohama. As we tackle all that needs to be done, and say farewells to family, friends and colleagues over the Christmas/New Year period, please do pray for us; as we will pray for you and Fr Andrew as he takes his leave and prepares for his own new role.
Dick and Yuki Johnson.
YCC Charitable giving
With thanks to our members at the recent Annual Vestry we have approved our charitable giving for 2025. We decided to continue to support four of our existing charities and added a new one that had been suggested ahead of the meeting. Here are the five charities for 2025 together with links to their websites where available.
Sunday School
Children of all ages are welcome at Christ Church! For more information of Sunday school activities please contact Audrey using the contact page of this website.
Ministry of Prayer
Please let us know of any people you would like us to pray for. Names for prayer can be sent in through our YCC email or via the contact page on our website HERE.
Making Music ~ Praising God!
If you would like to contribute to the music ministry here at Christ Church please send us a message through the contact page. You can sign up to our weekly email that includes the hymns for the coming Sunday. We welcome all instruments, so long as you're prepared to turn up for the practice on Sundays at 9am.
Church Flowers and Cleaning
YCC continues to provide flowers, normally for the 4th Sunday of the month, subject to Yamate Sei Ko Kai events and schedule. If you would like to donate flowers on a future date please contact Noriko using the contact page of this website. Since we are a small congregation, YSKK do not expect us to join the regular roster for cleaning but we did pledge full support twice a year, at which time please lend your support; many hands make light work and a couple of hours will be much appreciated.
YCC Parking
Please park your cars in the lot next to the Parish Hall. The parking lot on the Rectory side of the church is reserved for YSKK members.
John Berg
John Berg wrote a short memoir of his life and experiences in 2016 entitled 'One more step'. It is now available in electronic form and can be accessed HERE
Supporting the People of Gaza
Many will have seen the shocking pictures of suffering experienced by the people of Gaza at this time. If you would like to support work that seeks to alleviate the suffering of the Gazan people please consider the following charities that are continuing to work in the region.
The UN agency UNRWA and also Central World Kitchen are working tirelessly to bring food aid into the region. You can find ways to donate to support their efforts by following the links below:
Ukraine Emergency Appeal
USPG and the Church of England Diocese in Europe need your help as we support humanitarian work both in Ukraine and with refugees fleeing into neighbouring countries. Churches and agencies are already responding to the crisis.
This appeal will provide critical funds towards the urgent and immediate needs of people still in Ukraine and those who have left as well as supporting the long-term work of recovery.
Here's the LINK
YCC Tea Towel
We have souvenir tea towels available for sale at a cost of ¥500 and Notelets with envelopes for ¥100. The tea towels are 100% cotton and made in England.
Please ask at Church for more details.
