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1 December 2013 The Newsletter of Mililani Hongwanji Volume 36 Issue No 12 1 Sun 9:00 AM Joint Memorial & Family Service 1 Sun 10:00 AM General Membership Meeting/Board Election see page 3 3 Wed 7:30 PM Oahu Hongwanji District Council at Waianae 4 Wed 6:00 PM BWA Membership/Dinner Meeting (Temple) 8 Sun 10:00 AM Bodhi Day Service (No Service at Mililani Hongwanji)see page 3 11 Wed 7:00 PM Kyodan Board Dinner Meeting 14 Sat 8:30 AM BWA Hosha Group 6 15 Sun 9:00 AM Family Service & Dharma School 16 Mon 6:00 PM Ki-Aikido Year End Party (Temple Bldg) 22 Sun 9:00 AM Temple Clean-Up w/Short Service-- see page 3 24 Tue Evening Hall Rental (No Qi Gong) 28 Sat 7:00 AM No-Host Kyodan Breakfast at Zippy's--All Welcome 29 Sun 9:00 AM Family Service Jan. 2014 1 Wed 10:00 AM New Year's Day Service 5 Sun 9:00 AM Joint Memorial & Family Service; BWA Meeting After Service 5 Sun Installation of Kyodan & BWA Officers for 2014 After Service 8 Wed 7:30 PM Kyodan Board Meeting 11 Sat 10 AM--1 PM Human Trafficking Meeting 12 Sun 9:00 AM Ho-onko Service & Dharma School 18 Sat BWA Hosha Group 1/Wahiawa Hospital Visitation 19 Sun 9:00 AM Family Service & Dharma School 25 Sat 7:00 AM No-Host Kyodan Breakfast at Zippy's 26 Sun 9:00 AM Family Service & Dharma School 30 Thu 9:00 AM Lotus Connection Sign up for Bodhi Day bus and bento by Sunday, Dec. 1 See page 3

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December 2013 The Newsletter of Mililani Hongwanji Volume 36 Issue No 12

1 Sun 9:00 AM

Joint Memorial & Family Service

1 Sun 10:00 AM

General Membership Meeting/Board Election –see page 3

3 Wed 7:30 PM

Oahu Hongwanji District Council at Waianae

4 Wed 6:00 PM

BWA Membership/Dinner Meeting (Temple)

8 Sun 10:00 AM

Bodhi Day Service (No Service at Mililani Hongwanji)—see page 3

11 Wed 7:00 PM

Kyodan Board Dinner Meeting

14 Sat 8:30 AM

BWA Hosha Group 6

15 Sun 9:00 AM

Family Service & Dharma School

16 Mon 6:00 PM

Ki-Aikido Year End Party (Temple Bldg)

22 Sun 9:00 AM

Temple Clean-Up w/Short Service-- see page 3

24 Tue Evening

Hall Rental (No Qi Gong)

28 Sat 7:00 AM

No-Host Kyodan Breakfast at Zippy's--All Welcome

29 Sun 9:00 AM

Family Service

Jan. 2014

1 Wed 10:00 AM

New Year's Day Service

5 Sun 9:00 AM

Joint Memorial & Family Service; BWA Meeting After Service

5 Sun

Installation of Kyodan & BWA Officers for 2014 After Service

8 Wed 7:30 PM

Kyodan Board Meeting

11 Sat 10 AM--1 PM

Human Trafficking Meeting

12 Sun 9:00 AM

Ho-onko Service & Dharma School

18 Sat

BWA Hosha Group 1/Wahiawa Hospital Visitation

19 Sun 9:00 AM

Family Service & Dharma School

25 Sat 7:00 AM

No-Host Kyodan Breakfast at Zippy's

26 Sun 9:00 AM

Family Service & Dharma School

30 Thu 9:00 AM

Lotus Connection

Sign up for Bodhi

Day bus and bento

by Sunday, Dec. 1

See page 3

Dean
Cross-Out
Dean
Typewritten Text
Tue

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The Stone of the Ego by by Rev. Dr. Mary David

In our tradition of Buddhism, we talk a lot about getting to understand our “real self”, about how Amida Buddha—“True Reality”— accepts us “just as we are”..I want to talk a little about that and how my understanding of it has developed.

One of my favorite movies is a Korean film, It is about a tiny Buddhist temple that is floating in the middle of a river, set in an idyllic setting. The gate to the temple is on the bank of the river; in order to get to it, when the river is frozen, one may walk across it to the temple. When the river is not frozen, there is a small boat that takes people to the other side. The temple’s two residents are an older su nim (Korean for a male or female Buddhist priest) and a young boy around six years old who is his student. They alone live at the temple.

One day the boy is playing at the edge of the river. He ties strings with a rock attached successively to a fish, a frog, and a snake. Each time the boy ties a string and a rock around one of the animals, the animal, of course, has great difficulty moving; the stone is too heavy for it to move freely. The old su nim watches him for a while without saying anything until the boy notices him watching. When the boy finally sees his teacher watching him,

he is ashamed of his behavior, having been brought up to respect all life, not to harm any living thing. The teacher ties a rock to the boy for him to experience the difficulties that he put the animals through. The boy struggles with the stone tied to him, difficult for him to move as it was for the fish, frog and snake. The teacher tells the boy that if one of the animals dies, the boy will carry that stone around all of his life. The fish dies.

A great many other things occur in the film, and the symbolism is much richer than I have time or space to describe. In fact, the symbolism of the temple floating in the water with the gate on the shore is a powerful symbol for our going to the Other Shore, the place of Awakening. In another part of the film, as consequence for a misdeed that the boy, who has become a young man, does, the su nim requires the boy to carve the Prajanaparamita Sutra into the temple’s wooden porch. Towards the end, the boy, who has by now become the su nim himself, takes out a statue of Miroku from its storage in the temple. He has tied a rope with a millstone tied to it to his own ankle, and struggles up the side of a hill with the stone statue of Miroku, which he places at the top of the hill to watch out over the river and the temple.

What really struck me about the film is the way that each of the living beings, fish, frog, snake, and human being, struggled to move with the stone attached. To me, the stone on the boy and the younger su nim struggles to carry around is a powerful symbol for the ego that each human being struggles with. We haul around our false sense of self, covering up our bonbu natures, our evilness, foolishness, pride, anger, and so forth, ashamed of who we really are. We haven’t bothered to really look into ourselves deeply enough to understand that we are simply human beings like all other human beings. Just as we are, we are unconditionally accepted by Amida Buddha, without the need to carry that millstone around on our leg. Some of us build a false sense of self based on being “better” than we are; more intelligent, better looking, of simply “better” people than we really are. Others of us may go the opposite way and try to have others see us as much worse than we really are. We build a tough “don’t mess with me” persona that is just as false as the one that tries to show herself as “better” than she is. Either way, we simply haven’t come to terms with ourselves, with the unconditional acceptance that Amida Buddha gives to us, to our lives. When we do, when we look deeply enough that we are able to see the bonbu who tied the rock around his or her own ankle to begin with.

There is a gatha in our books, “Becoming Free” that describes just what I’m talking about. The first line and the chorus go:

Would you like to be lighten your task / As you journey down life’s road? / Then let go, let go your ego great / And serenity will be yours.

Yes, let go let go your ego great / And become your true self. Yes, let go your ego great / Then freedom will be yours. (Lyrics: Cecilia Lindo)

walk without the rock tied to your ankle! We can walk each day more freely, can even climb that hill to put Miroku’s statue at the top, looking down at the world, watching over us. After all, Amida Buddha accepts us as “his only child” without the rock. He doesn’t need any artifice, any mask, so why do we put it on? It is so much easier to move around without that great burden of the ego. Happy New Year! Namo Amida Butsu.

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Mililani Sangha will observe Bodhi Day with the Hawaii Buddhist Council at Jodo Mission of Hawaii at 1429 Makiki Street on Sunday, December 8. There will be no services at Mililani Hongwanji. If 25 or more people sign up by December 1st, we will have a bus. Following the 10:00 am service and fellowship, we will gather at Foster Garden for a bento picnic and short tour of the Garden. Payment for bento ($5.75), seat on the bus and ticket to Foster Garden should be made to Gail Taira on or before December 1, 2013. Those driving on their own should get their tickets to the Garden and order their bento if they plan to join us there. The bus will leave Mililani Hongwanji at 8:45 and return about 2 pm.

The Nomination Committee submits the following for Mililani Hongwanji Board of Directors for 2014 Nominations will be accepted from the floor. President :____________________ Immediate Past President : Robert Y Asato Vice-President : Dean Sakamoto Secretary: Roger Babcock Treasurer: Lester Ogawa Auditor: Twila Castellucci Auditor: Mas Nishimoto Advisor: Jan Youth Advisor: Richard Taira Director: Gordon Watanabe Director: Dennis Kawamoto Director: Sharon Freitas Director: Eric Nonaka Director: Warren Hahn 2-year term Director: Raimi Ishikawa 2-year term Director: Dennis Oshita 2-year term Director: Clifford Togo 2-year term Director: Rene Mansho 2-year term

NOTICE OF MILILANI HONGWANJI GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Sunday, December 1, 2013 President Robert Y. Asato announces that the Mililani Hongwanji General Membership Meeting will be held after the Joint Memorial & Family Service on Sunday, December 1, 2013.

Agenda 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Minutes (2012) 3. Treasurer’s Report 4. Minister’s Report 5. President’s Report 6. New Business Election of 2014 Officers and Directors

Other

7. Announcements 7. Adjournment

ANNUAL CLEAN-UP—All members and users of facilities, Please come and help The end of the year is the time we always clean, clean, clean! We clean our houses so that we can start the New Year out right in a clean house. And we clean our temple so that we can begin the year with a clean place in which to hear the Buddha dharma. Please join us at 9 a.m., Sunday, December 18 and help us clean our facilities. Tasks for all ages!

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 22 at 9:00 am WHERE: Mililani Hongwanji WHAT TO WEAR: Work clothes WHAT TO BRING: Rags, buckets, short ladder, windex, etc. WHAT TO DO: List of tasks will be written on the chalkboard REFRESHMENTS: TBD (To be determined)

A short service will be conducted…..Vandana & Ti-Sarana, Chanting & Brief Message. Please come out to this annual clean-up for fun, fellowship, and…….WORK.

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BWA News for December Don’t forget! Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 4, at 6:00 p.m. It will be our annual potluck dinner with a grab bag (wrapped item, $7-$10) and some fun activities!! Annual dues for 2014 ($20) and the registration fee ($75) for the State Membership Conference in Kona will also be collected. Do you know someone who might be interested in joining? Ask them to join us. Hope to see you all there!! The next BWA Hosha will be on Saturday, December 14, at 8:30 a.m. This will be the second instead of the usual third Saturday. Group 6 (Lyn Watanabe-coordinator) will do cleaning/prep for the Sunday service. If you are in Group 6 and are unable to help on that day, please exchange dates with another member and inform the coordinator. On Saturday, October 26, twenty Mililani members attended the 55th Annual Oahu United Honpa Hongwanji BWA’s Convention at Waipahu. Contratulations to June Asato and Diane Yoza who were installed as President and Recording Secretary, respectively, of the Oahu United BWA for 2014. The convention was hosted by the Waianae and Waipahu BWA. Keynote speaker was Audrey Suga-Nakagawa, an AARP volunteer. Her topic: “Living Helathy, Living Well-Can we afford it?” was an informative overview of long term support services and financing. We were also treated to entertainment, a fun exercise break and a delicious lunch! Message from Debbie Hiyakumoto: Thank you (to the) ladies for taking time out (on Saturday, November 2) and joining the Ehime Maru clean-up despite the rain in Mililani. Along the way we stopped at Pearl City Hongwanji’s bazaar for ono sushi, tsukemono (we love their kogen!), cookies and crafts. It was sunny and the ocean was beautiful at Kakaako Waterfront Park. Had a delicious Asian fusion cuisine lunch at the newly opened MW Restaurant (former site of KGMB studios). Sangha members are welcome to joun this twice a year service and social outing. Guided by Carrie Kawamoto; water color painting, an interactive hula-led by Kumu Hula Candy Pollack with our ukulele strummers, and even more music were presented at the Care Day activity for our Mililani Day Care Center on Wednesday, November 13. The paintings and arrangements of flowers were shared and admired by all. Afterwards, lunch was enjoyed at the Ginger House restaurant. The BWA continues outreach to elderly and sangha members are welcome to join these faith in action projects from Mililani Hongwanji. (see page 5) An all new, extra large version of “Hanafuda Hawaii Style” can now be ordered and is expected to arrive in early December. The new cards are easier to hold/shuffle and plastic coated with simple instructions. A perfect gift for only $12!!

Gearing Up for Bazaar 2014

Mililani Hongwanji will sponsor a temple bazaar on Saturday, March 29, 2014 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the temple grounds. This event will feature car washes, plate lunches, country store, rummage sale, and plant sale that will be provided by the ii-aikido, judo, BWA, and dharma school groups that are affiliated organizations of the temple. This event is an all temple affiliate fund raising event that enables the clubs and classes to raise funds for their activities. We encourage your support in this event by saving gently used household items for the rummage sale, preparing plant starters and bringing your appetite for lunch and cars to be cleaned. More details will be forthcoming as preparations go forth.

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Seniors At Work and Play by Carrie

Mililani BWA ladies, ready with ukuleles, tambourines, shakers, watercolor paints, and all kinds of home-grown flowers, along with Kumu Candy Pollack, engaged with the Mililani Hale Day Care clients on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013. The Adult Day Care coordinator was so happy and amazed to see the BWA ladies and the clients interacting with each other, singing together, talking together, painting together, and even doing the hula together. The clients, the “stars” of the day, enjoyed themselves….you could see the enjoyment in their faces and body movements.

Congratulations to the BWA for working so hard in making this C.A.R.E. Day activity so enriching and so rewarding for both the clients and themselves.

Here are some comments made by the BWA ladies:

The program was very satisfying for me and enjoyable too. What a wonderful experience it was for all. I’m so thankful that I can still help others. I’m looking forward to having another outing like today.

I was impressed with the clients singing the Japanese songs very enthusiastically….they were so bright-eyed and seemed so happy.

My client was totally engrossed in drawing and painting, being very grateful for this experience. He said he played with flowers and enjoyed flowers. So some of us began to reminisce when we played with flowers as youngsters.

My client didn’t want to draw or paint but enjoyed holding some of the flowers so we started making a flower arrangement with the flowers in her hand. Then all the other clients arranged their flowers in water bottles to take home.

My client said she’ll tell her daughter, “I painted today. How does my painting look?”

I enjoyed working with Mary again. She’s very friendly and nice to work with.

One client said she never did any art work before.

Hear My Concerns As I Enter the Twilight of My Life

By Karen Oda

This timely topic, another session in the "Death and Dying" sessions presented annually for the past few years, was presented at Wahiawa Hongwanji Mission on Sept. 28, 2013 Bishop Eric Matsumoto showed a picture of Kannon and her disciples on a screen. He provided interesting aspects of the characters. The Bodhisattva Kannon represents the compassion, and she is one of the two Bodhisattvas associated with Amida Buddha.

Rev. Earl Ikeda of Moiliili Hongwanji stated emphatically that Buddhism teaches you how to live, not how to die. Recalling a near death experience, he remembered visiting a family of five. The father, who was dying, was a Buddhist. The rest of the family was at a loss as to what to do for him. Rev. Ikeda talked of Buddhist teachings, especially compassion. The group was then able to focus on the person dying and not on others.

Mr. Abe Wilson spoke of the difficulty of caregiving his late wife, Chie, originally from Fukushima, Japan. When she started to show signs of Alzheimer's disease, he was determined to care for her himself. After struggling for two years, he sought outside help in the third year when she became incontinent. Chie, a strong Catholic, asked her husband, before dying, that he observe the Catholic rituals when she died. After her death, he did as she requested Chaplain Clarence Lice, retired Chaplain of Hospice Hawaii, said instead of preparing for death, practice living fully each day. When he was asked to talk of near death experience, he thought of his father. His father was a very private person, who didn't say much. He had not clearly said what he wanted the family to do after his death; the family had difficulty resolving this issue. Because of that experience, he told all his children and grandchildren what to do when he died. He strongly urged the audience to tell their children and grandchildren their wishes so there are no questions or frustration upon death.

Jeannette Koijane, Executive Director of Kokua Mau, handed out Advanced Health Care Directive forms. Although most people have heard of Advanced Heath Care Directive most were not aware of the POLST form. This form is especially helpful when paramedics are involved as it gives the physician's instructions on what to do for the person when s/he is unable to speak for him/herself. Once the physician fills out and signs the form, it is suggested that copies be posted conspicuously so that first responders will see them. To obtain this form, purposely colored for easy identification, go to www.kokuamau.org.

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MINISTERS WALK FOR PBA on December 9

by Rev. Mary David On Monday, December 9, 2013, Honolulu and Oahu Districts ministers will walk from the Hongwanji Betsuin Annex to Kapiolani Park. They will be joined by PBA students, faculty and staff— undoubtedly some other people interested in raising money for the PBA Building Fund will join us. The walk will begin with a brief service at 6:30 a.m. and we will begin walking at 6:45 a.m. We plan to have a light picnic lunch at Kapiolani Park at the end of the walk. Ministers are again collecting monetary pledges for the walk, which raised over $20,000 in 2011 when we walked 5.7 miles from Moiliili Hongwanji to Jikoen Hongwanji with a brief stop at PBA for rest, refreshments and water. Our goal this year is to raise at least $25,000. The funds will go towards the new PBA building, which is scheduled to begin the initial phases of construction early in 2014.

Everyone interested in raising funds for the only Shin Buddhist high school outside of Japan is welcome to join the walk. The first walk in 2012 helped the ministers to get to know some of the students and faculty of the school as well as to talk story with each other as we walked. Please see Reverend David for information on making your donation to raise funds by means of the walk to benefit the school. I will accept cash and checks for the walk and turn in the funds to PBA on the day of the walk. My goal is to raise $2,000 in donations from Mililani and Waialua Temple members for the walk. I would be really HAPPY if I could exceed that goal!

Patch of Madness, 2013 by Dennis Thank you, MRRL Committee of the Oahu District Council for once again putting on the annual Patch of Madness event. The children look forward to getting their fingers messy as they gouge and mangle their pumpkins and turn them into masterpieces of horror. The parents get into the act as they guide their young ones in the art of creativity. And the older ones take off on their own, mischievously waking up the rascal (or angel) in themselves. Thrown into the act was Miss Fortune Teller, who predicted your future fortunes (if you were brave enough to tune in).

PBA

See you in the

pumpkin patch

in 2014!

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to your early response to the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii Social Concerns Fund Drive. Continue to send in your contributions to Mililani

Hongwanji with a memo to “Social Concerns Fund”. We have seen the massive destruction in the Philippines when Typhoon Haiyan struck earlier this month. As the country begins the process of rebuilding and healing after this disaster, our Sangha would like to do its part in supporting relief efforts there. The Committee on Social Concerns has approved a total of $15,000 to aid in relief efforts. The following organizations will receive the funds: American Red Cross Hawaii Chapter $5,000, The Filipino Community Center/Consuelo Foundation $5,000, and the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu-Chi Foundation $5,000. It is only through your generous contributions to our annual fund drive that makes this kind of immediate response possible. We know many members would like to personally contribute to aid in relief efforts. The Committee on Social Concerns recommends the following organizations to donate to: American Red Cross Hawaii Chapter 4155 Diamond Head Road Honolulu, HI 96816 http://www.redcross.org/hi/honolulu 734-2101 Checks made payable to: “American Red Cross—Aloha for Philippines” Filipino Community Center/Consuelo Foundation 94-428 Mokuola Street, Suite 302 Waipahu, HI 96797 http://filcom.org/donate-to-relief-efforts/ 680-0451 Checks made payable to: “Filipino Community Center—Aloha for Philippines” You can also donate to these organizations at any of the following banks: American Savings Bank, Bank of Hawaii, Bank of the Orient, Central Pacific Bank, Finance Factors, First Hawaiian Bank, Hawaii National Bank, HomeStreet

Bank, Ohana Pacific Bank, Pacific Rim Bank and Territorial Savings Bank. Tzu Chi Foundation, USA, Hawaii Chapter 1238 Wilhelmina Rise Honolulu, HI 96816 http://hawaii.us.tzuchi.org/ 737-8885 Checks made payable to “Tzu Chi” Thank you for your continued generosity and support during this time of tragedy. Mahalo! cc: Bishop Eric Matsumoto President Alton Miyamoto

The Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii will honor the following individuals as the 2014 Living Treasures of Hawai’i™ in recognition of their personal and professional achievements and their contributions to the community. We welcome you to celebrate this honor with them.

Reverend Ida Chun Dr. Samuel Gon III Robert Hamada Arthur & Rene Kimura Reverend Chikai Yosemori

Date: Saturday, February 8, 2014

Place: Sheraton Waikiki Hotel

Time: 11:00 AM Registration, 12:00 PM

Lunch and Program

Cost: Early registration - $70.00 for payments received by January 24, 2014 Late registration - $85.00 for payments between January 25-February 3, 2014 (Reservations will NOT be accepted after February 3, 2014) Sponsor Tables are available: Gold - $5,000; Silver - $3,000; Bronze - $1,500 See kyodan board for reservation form and/or seating with Mililani group.

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President’s Corner by Bob Asato Happy 2014!!! The Hawaii Kyodan Slogan for 2014 is "Path of Entrusting - Share Peace” The 2014 Hongwanji Calendar is ready for members of Mililani Hongwanji. Please pick up your calendar when you come to the temple. The temple is open on Sunday morning and on most Thursdays. If you can help us please take to your neighbors who may have difficulty making it to the temple.

On January 2013, I wrote in the Dharma Connection – “the time is now to review, evaluate, and re-visit the mission of Mililani Hongwanji.” The Planning Committee was formed to plan for the future – what else can we do to bring back the former Dharma School students, and the Jr. YBA alumni back to the temple? I know they do not want more meetings, but, win or lose, together, they enjoy going to see the Rainbow Warriors, and the Wahines in action. But, most importantly, we need to devote more time to help the volunteer teachers and helpers with dharma school – to enhance the curriculum by using the internet, including social networking and the delivery and e-marketing of the newsletter. WiFi campus? We need volunteers. The “peace projects” were great, because it involved the Dharma School students, and the Jr.YBA group, the BWA and the Sangha. But, we need other projects, old and new, to constantly re-energize the Sangha. Whose task/challenge is it? My usual reply is “look in the mirror.” A big MAHALO to the dedicated Sangha, friends of Mililani Hongwanji, and the many invisible members who keep our facilities and grounds clean, trim and in good condition/repair – because of your care and pride for Mililani Hongwanji, the services and activities can continue in our beautiful temple, facilities and grounds. If you have time, contact the building committee (Lester or Dennis) to see what’s coming up—like stripping and waxing the floor on Saturday, Dec. 7. Help needed to move furniture, strip wax and prepare refreshments for the crew. Mahalo to the newly elected leadership for the coming year – “gambatte” and make your time count. I wish you and your family a wonderful New Year with Happiness and Good Health! In gassho, bob

ways to get the Dharma Connection—the newsletter of the Mililani Hongwanji:

By snail mail—US Post Office will deliver to your mailbox.—available by request only!

In your “inbox”—available by subscription only! Please forward to friends and others interested. If you wish to receive the “New Look” Dharma Connection by email, contact [email protected] Spread the news to your family members

For latest information check out our Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mililani-Hongwanji-Buddhist-Temple/114271522485

Tech volunteers wanted!

—See Bob or Dean!

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Special Family Memorial Services

Please call the minister at 625-0925 and/or email [email protected] if there are corrections or additions to the published list. Families may call the minister to schedule special family memorial services for their loved ones. For 2013, special memorial years are observed for loved ones who passed away in:

2012 1st Year 1989 25th year 2011 3rd Year 1981 33rd year 2007 7th Year 1964 50th year 2001 13th Year 1914 100th year 1997 17th Year