BWA End of Year Gathering 2024
About 70 BWA members, ministers, and guests celebrated the joy of the holiday season and the warmth of the BWA ohana at the BWA Year End Gathering on Dec. 1, 2024. Co-MCs, Charlyne (Cha) Tom and Dianne Ida, welcomed everyone and Rev. Kihara provided the Words of Thanksgiving.
Attendees enjoyed a delicious lunch which included a Teruya bento, edamame, fresh fruit, and cake. Dennis Sekine, Diane Marshall, and Cha Tom conducted three exciting prize drawings during the gathering. The names of 15 winners were picked during each of the drawings and a gift card was presented to each smiling winner.
After the first drawing, Cha and Dianne turned attention to the Initiation of New BWA members. Membership Co-Chair, Sharyn Sekine, read an introduction of each of the five new members, Sara Lee, Pat Narusaki, Sandi Sakata, Tamlyn Sakata, and Jennifer Kane and each was presented with a gift by BWA President, Jo desMarets. Rev. Furusawa conducted the initiation. The ministers were up next. Bishop Umitani and Rev. Baba, joined with Rev. Kihara and Rev. Furusawa, as well as retired minister, Rev. Muneto, to lead everyone in singing a children’s song, Mussunnde Hiraite. It was delightful to see the ministers demonstrate “Sono te o usagi-san” with bunny ears!
The musical group, the Over the Hilltop Serenaders, which included Kazuo Shirakawa, Phil Mow, and BWA member, Jan Terakawa, as featured vocalist, presented a set with harmonized singing that included many audience favorites. The songs, Sukiyaki, Koko ni Sachi Ari, Nada Sou Sou, and Kawa no Nagare no You ni, among others, brought back fond memories. After the Serenaders, Dawn Nabeshima introduced a fun table game. Each table was given a sealed cardboard box with a balloon inside. Starting with the eldest at the table and going counter-clockwise, each person took a turn poking a wooden skewer into the box. The first to pop the balloon won the beautiful table centerpiece created by Dawn.
BWA Pres., Jo desMarets, who had been busy during the gathering decorating canes and helping with craft projects, delivered her “Thank You” message, expressing profound gratitude to everyone for their terrific support of the BWA Year End Gathering and throughout her two-year tenure as BWA President. Thank YOU, Jo-san!
Attendees provided a “drum roll” as the name was drawn for the Grand Prize, a crisp $100 bill. The surprised and happy winner was Phil Mow, one of the Over the Hilltop Serenaders. Then, as has become a tradition at the BWA Year End Gathering, participants joined hands or linked arms in a circle of aloha all around the social hall for the singing of Hawai’i Aloha.
Since everyone was up and about after Hawai’i Aloha, BWA members arranged themselves in front of the stage for a colorful HI Betsuin BWA group photo. Wonderful Co-MCs, Cha and Dianne, then closed the BWA YEG with best wishes to all for a holiday season filled with aloha and a healthy, happy, and fulfilling 2025.
Submitted by Wendie Yumori - February 2025
