2015 - 3rd Annual Little Tokyo Summer Open House at Centenary with Public Odori/OndoNEW

3nd Annual Centenary UMC Summer Open House with Public Odori/Ondo dancing Sunday July 5th from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm.  To thank our community friends for their continued support Centenary will host its third annual "Summer Open House" a day of culture, community, fellowship, food and fun.  This is an open event for all ages and all are welcome to attend.  This will be a great time to meet up with family and friends, catch up with neighbors from the community and a great way to make new friends.  Come dressed in yukata, kimono, jinbei, your organization's hapi or just the way you are.  No "obons" on this weekend due to Independence Day so this will be the only public Odori/Ondo July 4th weekend…  We will have 3 dance sessions: 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm.

This is a FREE event to attend.  We will have food, entertainment, games and contests – ALL FREE.  As mentioned before we will have 3 public Odori/Ondo dance sessions.  The food, entertainment, games and contests will take place in between the dance sessions.  We will also have our "Open Mic" so if anyone would like to "entertain" the crowd we encourage any/all to participate.  Song, dance, spoken word, etc. this is a great way to share your talents with the community.

New for 2015, "Skid Row-kyo."   We have named our section of the community, the intersection of Little Tokyo, the Artist District and Los Angeles's Skid Row.  Skid Row-kyo Mission will begin scheduling and programming events that will bring the "Spirit and Culture" of Little Tokyo, the "Creativity, Imagination and Inspiration" of the Artist District and the "Compassion and Humanity" of Los Angeles's Skid Row District together in harmony, solidarity and unity.  Skid Row-kyo Mission is a non-religious not for profit organization based out of Centenary that will bring people together, promoting the arts and helping those in need driven by the spirit of culture and community.

Hope to see everyone on Sunday July 5th.  Remember, this is an Open Event and all are welcome to attend.  If you wish to help with any of the event programming including food and entertainment please contact Martha (marthanishinaka@aol.com) or Wesley Nishinaka (wnishinaka@aol.com.)  Please email Martha or Wesley if you have any questions or if you require additional information.  You may also contact the church office at (213) 617-9097 and leave a message for Martha or Wesley.

Joanie "Ami" Hayashi our sister in faith is preparing to journey to Japan as a Missionary.  Her mission will be relatively short 1 to 3 years in Japan teaching conversational English to elementary school children, junior high and high school students.  Other duties include participating in Sunday worship service and leading various school programs.  Ami for the next few years will work 6 day weeks in Japan serving in this ministry.  Ami cannot begin her mission until she raises funds for her journey.  We will be collecting "love offerings" at the Open House to help our sister in faith raise funds for this ministry and her journey to Japan.  If you can help please do, your gift will be greatly appreciated.  If you cannot attend the Open House and would like to contribute a Love Offering for Ami's mission you may send funds to the Centenary office.  Please note "Love Offering for Ami" when sending funds to the church office.  Thank you and God Bless.