2013 Obon Festival/Bazaar
It’s summer and Obon time! Obon is the time we reflect on our departed ancestors’ hardships and sacrifices. Without them, we would not have our wonderful temple and sangha.
Our Obon service will be on July 20 at 3 p.m. Socho (Bishop) Kodo Umezu will be our guest speaker. A brief service in the Nokotsudo will also be held. Following the service, there will be a showing of the film “Streams of Light”. This film chronicles the history of the Buddhist Churches of America and its dedication in spreading the Dharma in the United States.
In addition to the film, there will be martial arts demonstrations, ukulele and taiko performances. Cultural exhibits will include Bonsai, temari, origami, Ikebana, and card making. YABA will have food available as well as obento (pre-order only) made by BWA. The festivities will culminate with Obon Odori beginning at 7:30 pm.
Don’t forget to invite friends and family to the festivities. Let’s make this year’s Obon a “Gathering of Joy” for all who attend.
Our Minister
Reverend Yuki Sugahara is from Shimane Prefecture located just north of Hiroshima. He is from a temple family called “Korinji” (father’s side) and “Gokurakuji” (mother’s side) in Shimane Prefecture. Because he was born a son of a temple family he was able to receive his Tokudo Ordination in 1996, he was only a freshman in high school at that time. During Reverend Yuki’s junior year in high school he came to the United States and lived in Rochester, New York for a year as a Rotary Club exchange student to pursue his dream of becoming a translator for the United Nations.
Reverend Yuki studied Political Science at the Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto. During that time his mother suddenly passed away and it was shortly after that Reverend Yuki decided to get his Kyoshi Certification which he then received in 2002. In 2009 Reverend Yuki came to the United States to attend the International Ministerial Orientation Program at the Jodo Shinshu Center in Berkeley, California. Then in July 2011 he was assigned to the Buddhist Church of Florin.
One of Reverend Yuki’s hobbies is playing the bass guitar. After graduating from the university he played in a rock band called Jelly Belly. The members at the Florin Buddhist Church get to enjoy his bass guitar playing on the last Sunday of each month. Reverend Yuki is married to Namiko and they are expecting their first child in July.
Reverend Yuki’s theme as a minister is to have “Friendship, Understanding, and Nembutsu”….
”Have FUN!”