08.14.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 3:26 am by admin
And Jesus continued, “The second most important commandment is like unto it: Love thy neighbor as thy self.” (Matthew 22: 39)
Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Women, especially Christian women, do a pretty good job of ‘doing for others’: their families, their church, their children’s school, their community…their ‘neighbors’. Unfortunately, women tend to forget about doing the second part of this ‘most important commandment’ which is to LOVE THEMSELVES. We usually get too busy taking care of everyone and everything else in our busy lives that we forget to take care of us. Yet this is the second most important commandment given to us by Jesus. In His infinite wisdom He was telling us that to really love others you must first love yourself.
In 2010, the Women’s Conference focused on The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37). In 2011 we will explore the Second Great Commandment. Held at a hillside, mountain retreat center, Amagi Sanso, on January 21-23, the focus will be on Health and Healing: Mind, Body and Spirit. There surrounded by the beauty of nature, with old friends and new, we will take the time to turn inward and reconnect with ourselves. We will take the time to remember how important it is to ‘love ourselves’ through sharing, listening, learning, laughing, meditating, drawing, writing, walking, singing and praying; joining together in an effort to find ourselves again, to fill our cups, to listen again to the stories of Christ’s healing words. Come for a time to nourish our souls, to forgive not only others, but more importantly, ourselves.
Join us for this weekend of healing workshops and worship. Mark your calendars to be with us for this time to recharge your batteries, to focus on health and healing your mind, body and spirit. Come join us for a time to learn again to ‘love thy self’ as Jesus commanded us to do.
Blessings,
Karen Seevers
Chairperson for the 2011 Women’s Conference
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05.08.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:13 pm by admin
At the 2010 Women’s Conference, a card for Betty Swain (who, in 1990, wrote the Women’s Conference Herstory) was signed by many of those who attended. Claudia Genung recently received the following message from Betty,
“I can barely express the joy that filled my heart when I opened the greeting from the 2010 Women’s Conference that Hazel and Bob Terhune mailed to me the other day. The memories of perhaps the most wonderful and deeply impressionable times of my life in Japan just flooded my soul. It thrills me that so many women are still finding such a time together and apart from daily cares and concerns enriching and helpful. Thank you all for carrying the spirit and love embodied in our intentions on to future generations. With much love and a grateful heart, Betty”
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02.09.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:32 pm by admin
Fifty one women attended the 2010 Women’s Conference in January at Amagi Sanso, and if the evaluation sheets are anything to go by, it was a greatly enjoyed. Thanks for sending me your photos from the Conference. The album is now up on picturetrail. Please email me at amagi2010@gmail.com for the password. Please let me know without delay if you would like any photos removed from the album!
Here are some thoughts from, Teresa Sherrill, the chair of the 2010 Conference, “Although preparing for the conference was a joy …… I enjoyed the opportunity to BE with a fabulous bunch of diverse women and enjoy experiencing God’s voice being spoken through them and in them. The atmosphere of the conference was very warm - right down to the fireside room, the lovely tea prepared by Alison and the ‘intimate’ onsen. Diana’s talks were engaging and invigorating, drawing us to walk the Jesus way in each of our own journeys. The workshops gave a taste of heaven as we heard and were able to participate in the experiences of our dear sisters in Christ. The worship gave us an opportunity to share deeply in communion and be encouraged richly through the liturgy, song and word. And the lovely snacks - yummy again this year. The only thing really to say is ‘can’t wait to laugh and BE with everyone next year…’”
Planning for the 2011 Women’s Conference has already started. It will take place 21-23 January 2011 at Amagi Sanso and will embrace the themes of Health and Healing. Please watch this website for more details to come after the summer. We hope you will plan to join us!
Finally, some movie news…
In “My Darling Gaijin”, based on the well known manga, “Watashi no Darling wa Gaikokujin,” Jill Ito, a Women’s Conference participant originally from the UK, plays the “gaijin’s” mother-in-law. To play this part she flew to the USA and adopted an American accent.
Another Women’s Conference regular participant, Carol Sack, is in a movie called “Ototo” (review) with a very well known Japanese actress ( Sayuri Yoshinaga - the “Japanese Aubrey Hepburn”). It comes out in early Spring and is about a woman whose younger brother becomes homeless. The movie is filmed in part at Kibo No Ie (the homeless hospice where Carol works). Carol plays a Canadian missionary and plays the harp for the homeless. Carol does not have any speaking parts but plays the harp which is wonderful. Carol can also be seen in a new Japanese documentary movie called “Mother Teresa” which is showing in Ebisu. Kibo No Ie is featured in it along with ministries that were influenced by Mother Teresa in Japan. This is the 100th years since Mother Teresa’s birth so this film was made in honor of her work.
Best wishes for 2010.
jules (Women’s Conference website-updater)
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12.01.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 10:14 pm by admin
Diana Butler Bass will be the featured speaker at the 2010 Japan Women’s Conference in Amagi, Sanso January 22-24, 2010. The Women’s Conference began as a gathering of wives of missionaries in 1957 and has grown to embrace all women who want to share in it and its roots in the teachings of Jesus the Christ. Dr. Bass’ presentations as well as workshops will be organized around the theme, “Following the Jesus Way: Living the Call to loving God and neighbor.” Register here today!
Diana Butler Bass writes, teaches and preaches at conferences and seminars; in real world as well as online forums; and in several award -winning books on religious studies. These include USA TODAY, Time, Newsweek, The Washington Post, CNN, FOX, PBS, and NPR. In the religious press she has written for Christian Century, Clergy Journal and Congregations. She is also a contributing editor to Sojourners magazine (US) print and online versions.
Dr. Bass is the author of seven books including her current work: A People’s History of Christianity: the Other Side of the Story (HarperOne, 2009).
Her best-selling book Christianity for the Rest of Us (2006) was named as one of the best religion books of the year by Publishers Weekly and Christian Century, won the Book of the Year Award from the Academy of Parish Clergy, and was featured in a cover story in USA TODAY.
Diana Butler Bass holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University. She has taught at Westmont College, the University of California at Santa Barbara, Macalester College, Rhodes College, and the Virginia Theological Seminary.
Dr. Bass describes herself as “…a person of faith, a Christian, who attempts to live the generative, inviting, inclusive, and transforming practices at the heart of Christianity that can heal the world”.
For more information about Dr. Diana Butler Bass and continuing updates on her current projects please visit:
http://www.dianabutlerbass.com/
from the 2010 Women’s Conference planning committee
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11.15.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 5:43 pm by admin
Dear Everyone,
Thanks to those who have already registered for the 2010 Women’s Conference at Amagi Sanso. We look forward to seeing you in January. For others, there is still time to catch the early bird rate, which is valid until the end of this month. See below for full details on the different rates, including the special bring-your-daughter rate.
Here is this month’s update from the planning committee:
The Conference at Amagi Sanso on the Izu Penisula, 22-24 January 2010, will feature speaker, Dr. Diana Butler Bass and is being organized around the theme of ‘Following the Jesus Way: Living the Call to loving God and neighbor, as seen in early, medieval and modern Christianity.” Our aim is to have a reflective retreat-like gathering, where we can contemplate the Great Command (Matthew 22:36-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) emphasizing the experience of Christian women and explore the ways in which Christians lived in the Early, Medieval and Modern eras. We will ask ourselves, how do we then embrace this call and lead a life that reflects the Way of the Great Command in our own time. More information about Diana can be had at http://www.dianabutlerbass.com/
We also hope to have opportunities to share our experiences of our own calling through the lectures, discussion, the Labyrinth, workshops as well as good times of fellowship and fun throughout the weekend!
This conference’s workshop offerings thus far include, Workshop on liturgical dance - Stephanie Bartsch; Workshop on fair trade - Alison Gray; Our foremothers: workshop on family history, genealogy - Gloria Bauer Ishida; Kalakasan: Migrant Women’s Empowerment Center - Leny Tolentino; Sudan: cultural workshop, styles of workship - Elizabeth Wondu; Harp ministry - Carol Sack; Hula workshop - Claudia Genung Yamamoto; Walk to onsen - Mary Beyler. We would like to take advantage of the diversity of our group by combining our many backgrounds and styles of worship and sharing them with each other, so if you would like to offer a workshop or other activity, please contact us at amagi2010@gmail.com.
Publicity is also starting to gain momentum. If you have a suggestion for a place to advertise (email contact, phone number or address) please contact Teresa at <journey@sherrill.com>. The most effective way of spreading the news of The Women’s Conference is through word of mouth, and we appreciate what each of you can do. Flyers and brochures are available for download. Please feel free to print as many as you like and spread the good news about this conference. For more information about the conference, including details of how to register, please visit our website at http://wocon.net or email amagi2010@gmail.com. We operate a limited scholarship scheme, offering a reduced conference fee for those in Christian work in Japan who would not otherwise be able to attend. Please email for details. The language of the Conference is English only.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION & CONFERENCE COSTS
This fee covers lodging, six meals, conference program, and free onsen admission. Please register as soon as possible.
EARLY BIRD (if paid before Dec 1)
Y23,000 – shared Japanese style room
Y29,000 - Western style room for 2 with bath
REGULAR (if paid by January 10)
Y25,000 – shared Japanese style room
Y31,000 – Western style room for 2 with bath
LATE (after January 10 – include copy of payment)
Y29,000 – shared Japanese style room
Y35,000 – Western style room for 2 with bath
Bring your daughter at a cheap rate (Age 14+)
Y15,000 – shared Japanese style room
Y21,000 – Western style room for 2 with bath
We look forward to seeing you there!
Teresa Sherrill
For the 2010 planning committee
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02.14.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:53 pm by admin
Thanks to all who sent photos from this year’s Women’s Conference. I have made an album and put it on the web.
It is semi-private in that you need a Username and Password to access the page. I thought it best to do it this way in case some people didn’t want their photos loose on the interweb. Please email me (amagi2009@gmail.com) for those details.
The address of the album is: http://gallery.me.com/jdannan#100076
Be patient and let the album load into your web browser - there are quite a few photos (127). If everyone tries to look all at once it might get really slow so please try again later if it seems too slow. Once you have entered the username and password you should be able to view all three pages of pictures, download them individually or download the entire album. I recommend only downloading individual pictures (click on the picture then when it appears, choose the download option) unless you have fast internet connection.
If anyone wants to add any more photos, just send them to me.
On the other hand, if you absolutely hate some picture of you in the album and want me to take it down, let me know the name of the photo and I’ll see what I can do! 
Here are a few teasers:
Hope to see you all next year!
jules
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