I haven’t sat down at a restaurant to enjoy a meal in the past 16 months.  It’s not like I have many opportunities to do so these days but the idea of doing that seems foreign to me now. When people share with me how they’ve gone to different restaurants to enjoy a meal with good company, my response more or less is, “Whoa….” This somewhat typifies life in 2021.  

The other day I was thinking about these past 16 months, and part of me thought that it went really fast.  But then another part of me felt like this was the longest 16 months ever.  For myself, some really cool things happened during this time.  I’ve had the opportunity to be at home everyday to watch Elijah grow up.  We also welcomed baby Kaden into our lives a few months ago. I got a job promotion! (Haha) To a lesser extent, the Lakers and Dodgers became champions during this time.  

But on the other hand, things got tough as well.  I had an uncle and a friend pass away due to Covid-19.  It was really hard knowing that we could not see any family, church family or friends in person.  It was a very isolating time, at times, which was really frustrating for me. Then knowing thousands and thousands of people who were not as fortunate as me, who lost jobs and didn’t know how they were going to live, was a tough pill to swallow.  Not to mention the racial and political tensions that were very apparent during the past year or so as well.  But isn’t this life? In the Bible, Jesus says, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  As good or difficult these past 16 months were, let’s all remember that God was not on vacation during this time.  He was here. He was close. He was at hand.  

In 2009, Phillippa Lally, a health psychology researcher at University College London, conducted a study of how long it takes humans to form new habits.  Habits such as drinking more water, exercising regularly, etc. Lally found that on average, it takes more than 2 months (66 days to be exact) before a new behavior becomes automatic.  In talking to friends who are regular church goers, most (if not all) agreed that at first, not going to church was strange and weird, but after a while, it became kind of nice to do church from your couch on Sunday morning and not have to go anywhere.  I would assume this was because a new habit (online church for the past 16 months) was formed.  All this to say, I am looking forward to actually seeing you all live and in person.  Because as strange as it was to form the habit of doing church virtually, I’m really looking forward to breaking that habit and forming a new one together.  

-Wayne

 

• Fruit: grapes, oranges, apples, nectarines, bananas
   
• Savory Snack: SunChips, Cheez-its, Pringles, Pretzels, variety chip boxes, Ritz Crackers, etc.
   
• Juice Boxes

• Jonah Katsumata, a teen from Anchor Nichigo, is in the hospital again for an issue with his left lung. Please pray for him and his family. 
   
• PRAISE! Mutusko Yoshikawa, David Ullery's wife, does not have cancer! An endoscopy revealed that the area had already healed over. Thank you so much for your prayers.
   
• Kenjo Okubo fell and fractured his foot. He will have a cast until mid-July. He is not in pain, but will have to miss out on summer camp and swimming (his favorite summer activity). Prayers appreciated for him and his family. 
   
• Pastor Ray & Ryoko Narasawa appreciate your prayers. Pray for Pastor Ray's strength and weight to increase.  
   
• Rev. Jenny Switkes, from our sister church, Rise OC, has recently been diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer. Her surgery was June 24th. Please remember her in prayer. 
   
• Please continue to cover Greg (Ron Watanabe's brother) and his family in your prayers. 
   
• Please continue to pray for Gary Gaulton during his treatment for lung cancer. 
   
• Please keep the Katayama family in your prayers for their new baby boy and a smooth transition to a family of four. 
   
• Prayers for continued healing and health for Brittany. 

1. By Mail: To: Erik McBeth, 26131 Delos Drive, Torrance, CA 90505
   Please make checks out to "Anchor South Bay Church".
    
2. Online: https://anchorsouthbaychurch.churchcenter.com/giving
    
3. By Text:  Text your amount to 84321

Anchor South Bay Church | 2222 Lomita Boulevard | Lomita, CA 90717

Church Office | 24100 Narbonne Ave. Suite 105b | Lomita, CA 90717

Mailing address: P.O. Box 6770 | Torrance, CA 90504