It is already October and we are in the final quarter of 2025! Time just flies when you are having fun and we will be having fun at the 2025 Nembutsu Family Conference on Sunday, October 19, at the Salinas Buddhist Temple. We have not had a Nembutsu Family Conference in several years and it is a time for the seven Coast District temples to get together, renew old friendships, and make new ones. The theme of the conference is “Fun with Namo Amida Butsu”. SLOBC and Guadalupe Buddhist Church are this year’s host temples and we want to show that our members support the efforts of our Ministers and Presidents so please sign up to attend. The cost is $45 per person and includes a regular or vegetarian bento lunch. John Hayashi has graciously offered the services of his bus and driver so you don’t have to drive. The bus can accommodate 14 passengers so please let us know as soon as possible because it is first come, first served.
SLOBWA will have a two-day Women’s and Girls’ Self-Defense class by Alan Bond on Saturday, October 25, and Sunday, October 26, from 1:30 to 3:30. We have had one day sessions in the past that were very beneficial and I know this two-day course will be very impactful.
The cost is $10 per person and any female aged 12 to whatever is invited to attend. Please RSVP to me because we need to keep the number of attendees to 30 people.
Keep your calendars open on Sunday, November 9, for an Eitaikyo Service and Keirokai Luncheon. Eitaikyo is the perpetual memorial service and Keirokai Luncheon honors our members 75 years old and older. Also keep open Saturday, November 22 for Omigaki which is the cleaning of the beautiful artifacts in the Onaijin. Over the year they accumulate dust and begin to tarnish so we need many hands to clean them before the new year. More on these events next month.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
In Gassho,
Sandy Hongo