2026 08 23 Four O'clock(フォー オ’クロック）

 

夕方です。

教会に咲く、かわいらしい花。

この花は「Four O’Clock（フォー・オクロック）」と呼ばれ

日本では「オシロイバナ」として親しまれている花です。

オシロイバナは、オシロイバナ科オシロイバナ属の多年草。

学名：Mirabilis jalapa L.

英名：Four O’Clock / Four O’Clock Flower

南アメリカ原産で、日本には江戸時代に渡来したといわれています。

面白い特徴の一つに

同じ一本の枝に、赤、黄色、ピンク。
時には、一つの花の中にも違う色が現れます。

同じ株から咲いているのに、花それぞれが違った色を持ち、それぞれの姿で咲いているのです！これは一つひとつの細胞の中で、色素の働き方が違うことによって、さまざまな色や模様が生まれるとのことでした。

なんだか私たち人間にも似ているように思えてきます。

同じ人はいません。見た目も、性格も、賜物も違います。

その違いは「間違い」ではなく、
神様が一人ひとりに与えてくださった、それぞれの色で、そのそれぞれの姿で美しく咲いているのだと思えます。

Four O’Clockには、もう一つ不思議な特徴があります。

昼間は花を閉じていますが、午後になると少しずつつぼみを開き始め、夕方から夜にかけて花を咲かせます。

「Four O’Clock」という名前も、午後4時ごろに花が開くことから付けらました。

私たちは、時計の上では午前0時になると「新しい一日」が始まると考えます。

けれども、午前0時はまだ真っ暗な時間。

光のない暗闇の中から、新しい一日が始まります。

そして創世記には、天地創造の物語の中で、

「夕べがあり、朝があった」

と記されています。

聖書が示す一日は、朝から始まるのではなく、

「夕べ」から「朝」へと向かっていきます。

Four O’Clockという花は、一日の初め、夕べから花の命をスタートさせる花です。

夕暮れが訪れ、そして暗闇へと向かう時間に、静かに花を開き始め、夜の暗闇の中で花を咲かせ、新しい朝を迎えていきます。

暗闇の中で新しい命が始まり、次の朝へ向かって動き始めているのですね。

「光あれ」

暗闇の中に、神様の言葉によって光が生まれました。

今日という一日も、

私たちの思いや力だけで歩むのではなく、

神様の御言葉の中で生きる一日となりますように。

そして神様はお造りになったすべてのものをごらんになり

「見よ、それは極めて良かった。」

と記されました。

どうか私たちの一日も、御心にかなう一日でありますように。

Four O’Clock 

It is evening.

Here at our church, a lovely little flower is blooming.

This flower is called “Four O’Clock.”
In Japan, it is commonly known as Oshiroibana

Oshiroibana is a perennial plant belonging to the four o’clock family, Nyctaginaceae, and the genus Mirabilis.

Scientific name: Mirabilis jalapa L.
English name: Four O’Clock / Four O’Clock Flower

It is native to South America and is believed to have been introduced to Japan during the Edo period.

One of the most fascinating things about this flower is its variety of colors.

On the same branch, you may find red, yellow, and pink flowers.
Sometimes, even a single flower can have more than one color.

Although they all grow from the same plant, each flower has its own unique color and appearance.

Apparently, these different colors and patterns are created because the way pigments are expressed can vary from one cell to another.

Looking at these flowers, I cannot help but think of us as human beings.

There are no two people who are exactly alike.

We look different.
We have different personalities.
We have different gifts and abilities.

But those differences are not mistakes.

Rather, each of us has been given our own unique “color” by God, and we can each bloom beautifully in the way God has created us.

There is another fascinating characteristic of the Four O’Clock flower.

During the day, its flowers remain closed. But as afternoon approaches, the buds gradually begin to open, and the flowers bloom from evening into the night.

The name “Four O’Clock” comes from the fact that the flowers typically begin to open around four o’clock in the afternoon.

We usually think of a new day as beginning at midnight.

But midnight is still a time of deep darkness.

A new day begins in the darkness, before the light has appeared.

In the book of Genesis, as the story of creation unfolds, we repeatedly hear these words:

“And there was evening, and there was morning.”

The day described in Scripture does not begin with morning.
It moves from evening toward morning.

In that sense, the Four O’Clock flower seems to remind us of something beautiful:

This is a flower whose life begins in the evening, at the beginning of a new day.

As evening comes and darkness approaches, the flower quietly begins to open. It blooms through the darkness of night and waits for the new morning.

Even in the darkness, new life has already begun.
It is quietly moving toward the coming morning.

“Let there be light.”

In the darkness, light came into being through the word of God.

May this day also be a day in which we do not simply walk by our own thoughts or strength, but live according to the Word of God.

And as Genesis tells us that God looked upon all that He had made and said,

“Behold, it was very good.”

may our day today also become a day that is pleasing to God and in accordance with His will.

May we remember, even in the darkness, that God is at work.

And may each of us, in our own unique way and with the gifts God has given us, continue to bloom beautifully in His presence.

2026 08 16 シルバープリペット

シルバープリペットは、モクセイ科イボタノキ属の常緑樹です。

「プリペット」と呼ばれる仲間にはさまざまな種類がありますが、

シルバープリペットは、『葉の縁に白い斑が入る美しい葉』が特徴です。

明るい緑色と白のコントラストが爽やかで、庭木や生垣としても好まれています。丈夫で成長も比較的早く、剪定にも強いことから、形を整えながら長く楽しむことができる木です。

初夏から夏にかけて、枝先に小さな白い花をたくさん咲かせ、白い花は一つひとつは小さいものの、房のようにまとまって咲くため、緑の葉の中でふわっと浮かんで見えます。

季節の移り変わりの中でも、花、葉、実とさまざまな姿を見せてくれる庭木です。

幼稚園の入り口門の近く、その枝会館の壁沿いに、涼しげな葉を揺らしながら育っています

この木「シルバープリペット」は、前主任牧師の深谷先生が按手礼（あんしゅれい）を受けられた記念樹として植えられた木だそうです。

この「按手礼」とは、牧師などが教会の大切な務めを担う者として正式に任命される際に、牧師や教会の指導者たちがその人に手を置き、祈りと祝福をもってその務めを託す儀式のこと。

按手礼を受けるということは、教会から大切な務めを託され、その働きを祈りによって支えていただくこと。そこには神様への信頼と、人と人との信頼があります。

シルバープリペットの花言葉は、「くつろぎ」「運命の出会い」「信頼」

一本の木に込められた祈りは、今も静かに息づいています。

祈りを受けて始まった新しい歩みの記念、として植えられたこの木は

幼稚園の入り口で、訪れる子供たちやその家族を今日も見守り続けています

そしてこの日曜日、約5か月ぶりに深谷牧師が京都に来られ、みんなで一緒に礼拝をすることができました。久しぶりに同じ場所に集まり、顔を合わせ、共に祈り、礼拝をささげる―感謝の時となりました。

その時々には見えなくても、祈りや信頼の積み重なりは、年月の中で育っていきます。

幼稚園の門に立つシルバープリペット。

その一枝一枝に、これまでの祈りと歩みが重なり、これから出会う子どもたちや人々との新しい物語もひそかに刻まれていくのかもしれませんね。

これからもこの記念樹が、たくさんの人を迎える門のそばで、祈りと信頼のしるしとして、元気に育っていきますように。

Silver Privet 

The Silver Privet is an evergreen tree belonging to the olive family, Oleaceae, and the genus Ligustrum.

There are many varieties of plants known as “privet,” but the Silver Privet is especially known for its beautiful leaves edged with white variegation.

The fresh green leaves, beautifully contrasted with white, give the tree a cool and refreshing appearance. It is popular as a garden tree and hedge plant because it is hardy, grows relatively quickly, and tolerates pruning well, allowing it to be shaped and enjoyed for many years.

From early summer through summer, it produces many small white flowers at the ends of its branches. Each flower is tiny, but because they bloom together in clusters, they seem to float softly among the green leaves.

Throughout the changing seasons, this garden tree shows us many different expressions through its leaves, flowers, and fruit.

Near the entrance gate of the kindergarten, along the wall of the church hall, it grows quietly, its cool green leaves gently swaying in the breeze.

This Silver Privet was planted as a memorial tree to commemorate the ordination of Rev. Fukaya, our former senior pastor, through the　按手礼（あんしゅれい)【laying on of hands】.

What is the “laying on of hands”?

It is a Christian ceremony in which a pastor or church leader places their hands on someone and prays for them, formally entrusting them with an important ministry and offering their blessing as they begin their service.

To receive this blessing means to be entrusted with an important ministry by the church and to have that ministry supported through the prayers of others. At its heart are trust in God and the bonds of trust between people.

The flower language of the Silver Privet includes “comfort,” “fateful encounter,” and “trust.”

The prayers that were placed into this tree when it was planted still quietly live on today.

Planted as a memorial to a new journey that began with prayer, this tree now stands at the kindergarten entrance, continuing to watch over the children and their families who pass through the gate each day.

And this Sunday, after about five months, Rev. Fukaya returned to Kyoto, and we were able to worship together once again.

It was a precious and grateful time as we gathered in the same place after so long, saw one another face to face, prayed together, and worshiped together.

We may not always see what is happening in each moment, but prayers and trust, built up little by little, continue to grow throughout the years.

The Silver Privet standing by the kindergarten gate—

Perhaps each of its branches quietly carries the prayers and journey of those who have come before, while new stories with the children and people they will meet in the future are being gently written into its life.

May this memorial tree continue to grow strong and healthy beside the gate, welcoming many people and serving as a beautiful symbol of prayer and trust for many years to come.

2026 08 09 青栗

復活の丘の栗の木に、青いイガ栗が実り始めました。

秋になると私たちがよく知る「おいしい栗」ですが、今はまだ青く小さな実。栗の木は初夏に花を咲かせ、夏の日差しを浴びながら、少しずつ秋の実りへと育っていきます。

「栗」が秋の収穫や味覚を思わせるのに対して、「青栗」は「これから実るもの」という期待を感じさせる、夏の季語です。

この「これから実るもの」という言葉から、今年80周年を迎えた復興教会の「成長」について思いを巡らしました。

教会の成長は、礼拝に集う人が増えたり、活動が大きくなったりすることだけではなくて。

一人ひとりが神さまの愛を知り、主への信頼を深めていくこと。悲しみの中にいる人に寄り添えるようになること。園児や教会学校で育った子どもたちの心に、教会で過ごした愛の記憶が残っていくこと。そして、互いの賜物を生かし、支え合っていくこと。

そんな目には見えない一つひとつも、教会の大切な成長なのだと思います。

青栗が、まだ見えないところで秋の実りへと育っているように、教会もまた、祈りや愛の積み重ねの中で育っています。そしていつか、その実りが誰かの心を養い、誰かの人生を支えるものとなる幸いを目にすることができるのでは？

「種を蒔き、水を注ぎ、祈り、愛すること。」

青栗が秋を急がないように、私たちも焦ることなく、神さまの時の中で歩んでいきたいと思います。まだ青く小さな栗の中にも、これからの実りが始まっています。

育ててくださるのは、主。

復活の丘の青栗、これからの実りを楽しみに、今日できる小さなことを大切にしていきたいと思います

Green Chestnuts 

The chestnut tree on Resurrection Hill has begun to bear young, green chestnuts in their prickly husks.

In autumn, these will become the delicious chestnuts we know and love. But for now, they are still small and green. The chestnut tree blooms in early summer, and under the summer sun, its fruit slowly grows toward the harvest of autumn.

While the word “chestnut” brings to mind the harvest and flavors of autumn, “green chestnut” is a summer seasonal word in Japanese, expressing the hope and promise of “something that is yet to come to fruition.”

This idea of “something that is yet to come to fruition” made me reflect on the growth of Kyoto Fukkou Church as we celebrate our 80th anniversary this year.

The growth of a church is not simply about having more people gather for worship or expanding our activities.

It is also seen when each person comes to know God’s love and grows in trust in the Lord; when we learn to gently walk alongside those who are grieving; when the children who have grown up in our kindergarten and Sunday School carry with them precious memories of God’s love and their time at church; and when we use our different gifts to support and encourage one another.

These quiet, unseen things are also an important part of the growth of a church.

Just as the green chestnuts are quietly growing toward the harvest of autumn, even when we cannot see what is happening inside, the church is also growing through prayer, love, and all the small acts of faithfulness.

And perhaps, one day, we will have the joy of seeing that fruit nourish someone’s heart and become a source of strength in someone’s life.

“To plant, to water, to pray, and to love.”

Just as the green chestnuts do not hurry toward autumn, may we also walk patiently in God’s time, without rushing.

Even within these small, green chestnuts, the promise of the coming harvest has already begun.

It is the Lord who gives the growth.

As we look at the green chestnuts on Resurrection Hill, we look forward to the harvest yet to come and want to cherish the small things we can do today.

2026 08 02 くわ

桑の木です。

園庭に一本の桑の老木が支えられ、登り棒の間から空に向かって葉をつけています。

幼稚園の桑の木、約70年前に園庭を整備した頃には、並びに沿ってなんと8本もあったそうです。養蚕全盛時代に土地の持ち主によって植えられたのではないか？とすでにかなりの老大木もあったとのことでした。

子どもたちが走り回る園庭の一角で、8本の桑の木が枝を広げ、季節の移り変わりを見つめながら、長い年月を過ごしてきたのでしょう。

その後、木々は老木になったり、成長して大きくなりすぎたり、整備のためか一本、また一本と姿を消していったのでしょう。

今はたった一本の老木と、残り株から芽が出て新しく育ってきている木だけになりました。

　登り棒付近の老木は、初夏には黒い実をたくさんつけ、園児は落ちた実を拾って色水を作って遊んだり、アリが群がっているところを観察したり、私自身も幼い頃にカイコを育て、日々桑の葉を摘み与えていたのを覚えています。カイコが桑の葉を勢いよく食べていたのはとても印象的でした。

桑は英語では Mulberry（マルベリー） と呼ばれます。

日本では古くから人々の暮らしと深く関わってきた植物で、先も記しましたが特に養蚕には欠かせない木です。

カイコ(蚕)からは美しい絹が生まれ、その絹が日本を豊かにしたともいわれています

一枚の葉が小さな命を育て、その命が人の暮らしを豊かにするものへと繋がっていく。やがて日本という国の歩みを支える大きな流れにつながっていったのですね。

桑の木、葉はカイコ(蚕)のいのちを支え、果実は人の楽しみとなり、長い年月にわたって人々の暮らしを見守りさまざまな形で私たちに恵みを与えてくれる植物です。

この老木には、かつて8本の桑の木が立っていた頃から、幼稚園の7０年の歴史を静かに刻み続けています。そして、その長い年月の間、この木にも主の恵みと愛が注がれ、生かされてきたのだと思います。

老木の曲がった幹のところに、いつのまにかスミレが育っていました。

3月には花が咲いていましたよ😊

それぞれの場所で、与えられた命を生きながら、ひとつの場所でともに生きています。

その姿は、なんとも愛らしく、心を和ませてくれます。

長い年月を生きてきた老木にも、そのそばでひっそりと咲く小さなスミレにも、同じように主の恵みが注がれている。そう思うと、園庭の片隅にあるこの風景が、いつもより少し特別なものに見えてきます。

This is a mulberry tree.

In the kindergarten playground, an old mulberry tree stands supported by braces, reaching its branches and leaves toward the sky between the climbing bars.

About 70 years ago, when the kindergarten playground was being landscaped, there were reportedly as many as eight mulberry trees planted in a row.

It is thought that they may have been planted by the former owner of the land during the heyday of sericulture, when raising silkworms was a thriving industry in Japan. We are told that some of the trees were already quite old and large even at that time.

I imagine those eight mulberry trees spreading their branches over a corner of the playground where children ran and played, quietly watching the seasons change as they lived through many long years.

Over time, some of the trees became old, while others grew too large, and perhaps because of changes and maintenance to the playground, one tree after another eventually disappeared.

Today, only one old tree remains, along with a young tree that has begun to grow from one of the remaining stumps.

The old tree near the climbing bars produces many dark-colored berries in early summer.

The children would pick up the fallen berries and use them to make colored water for their play. They would also stop to watch the ants gathering around the fallen fruit.

I, too, remember raising silkworms when I was a child and picking mulberry leaves every day to feed them.

I can still remember how fascinating it was to watch the silkworms eagerly devour the mulberry leaves.

The mulberry tree has been part of children's lives and memories for generations.

The English name for 桑 is Mulberry.

In Japan, mulberry trees have been closely connected with people's lives since ancient times. As mentioned earlier, they are especially important in sericulture, the raising of silkworms.

Silkworms feed on mulberry leaves and eventually produce cocoons, from which beautiful silk is made.

Silk became one of Japan's important exports and played a significant role in supporting the country's modernization.

A single leaf nourishes a small living creature.

That creature produces something that enriches people's lives.

And from that simple connection grew a much larger story—one that eventually became part of the great movement that helped shape the history and development of Japan.

The mulberry tree supports the life of the silkworm through its leaves, offers people the simple pleasure of its fruit, and quietly remains in one place for many years.

In so many different ways, it has been a source of blessing to people and their lives.

This old tree has quietly witnessed and recorded the 70-year history of our kindergarten, reaching back to the days when eight mulberry trees once stood here.

And throughout all those years, I believe that this tree, too, has been sustained by the Lord's grace and love.

On the curved trunk of the old mulberry tree, a little violet had somehow taken root.

It was blooming in March. 😊

The old tree and the tiny violet are so different in size and age, yet each is living the life it has been given, growing together in this one special place.

There is something truly precious about the sight.

It brings a quiet sense of peace and warmth to the heart.

The old tree that has lived for so many years, and the tiny violet blooming quietly beside it—both are receiving the same grace of the Lord.

When I think of it that way, this small scene in a corner of the kindergarten playground seems somehow more precious than before.

2026 07 26 土用ゆり

土用ゆり ― 鹿子百合（カノコユリ）　学名 Lilium speciosum 

　日本や中国を原産とするユリで、日本では主に九州南部や四国などに自生しています。19世紀には、長崎に滞在したシーボルトによってヨーロッパにも紹介され、その美しい姿は海を越えて多くの人々を魅了したそうです。日本を代表する美しいユリのひとつです。

　くるりと外側へ反り返るように開き、白や淡い桃色の花びらには、濃い紅色の斑点が散りばめられ、その模様が鹿の子どもの背中にある斑点模様に似ているから、「鹿子百合」と名付けられていますが、一年の中で、もっとも暑さの厳しい「夏の土用」の頃に咲くことから

「土用ユリ」とも呼ばれています。

さて、「土用」と聞くと、思い浮かべるのは、やはり「土用の丑の日」でしょうか。

でも「土用」って何？

古代中国の「五行思想」では、自然界を「木・火・土・金・水」の五つの要素で考えました。

春は「木」、夏は「火」、秋は「金」、冬は「水」。

そして、季節と季節の間には「土」の期間が置かれ、それぞれの季節の終わりに訪れる約18日間が「土の気が働く時期」という意味で「土用」となったそうです。

季節が次の季節へと移り変わる、その境目の時間。

昔の日本では、一年を春・夏・秋・冬の四つの季節に分け、それぞれの季節の終わりに「土用」があると考えていました。

　そんな季節の変わり目を元気に過ごすために、食べ物にまつわるさまざまな知恵、たとえば、夏の土用は「う」のつく食べ物をいただく習慣があります。

暑さの厳しい夏を乗り切るために、

栄養のあるものを食べ、体をいたわろうとしたのでしょう。

同じように

春の土用には「い」のつくもの、

秋の土用には「た」のつくもの、

冬の土用には「ひ」のつくものを食べる、

という風習も伝えられています。

こうした風習には地域や時代による違いもありますが、

そこには共通して、

「季節の変わり目を健やかに過ごしたい」という

昔の人々の願いが込められているように思います。

その季節に実るものをいただき、旬のものを味わい、暑さや寒さに備えて体を整える。

自然の恵みをいただきながら、季節の移ろいとともに暮らしてきた、日本人の知恵なのですね。

暑さが一番厳しい今、教会に咲く「土用ゆり」。

季節が静かに次の時へと向かうように、

私たちの歩みもまた、一日一日、新しい時へと導かれていることを知ります。

昔の人々が、食べ物を通して季節の変化を受け止め、自分の体を大切にしてきたように、

教会につながる私たちは、主の声に耳を澄ませながら、恵みをいただいて暮らしていきたいものです。

そして、熊本では地震がありました。

突然の災害に遭い、今なお困難の中にある方々に、神様の癒しと慰めがありますように。

必要な助けが一人ひとりのもとに届きますように。

不安の中にいる方々の心に、平安がありますように。

一日も早く穏やかな日常を取り戻すことができますように。

心からお祈りいたします。

The Doyō Lily — Kanoko Lily (Lilium speciosum)

The Kanoko Lily, Lilium speciosum, is native to Japan and China. In Japan, it grows naturally mainly in southern Kyushu and Shikoku. In the 19th century, it was introduced to Europe by Philipp Franz von Siebold, who had stayed in Nagasaki. Its beautiful appearance crossed the seas and captivated many people around the world. It is considered one of Japan's most beautiful lilies.

The flowers open with their petals gracefully curling backward. The white to pale pink petals are sprinkled with deep crimson spots, resembling the markings on the back of a fawn. This is how the flower came to be called the “Kanoko鹿子 Lily,” 

Because it blooms around the time of the summer Doyō, the hottest period of the year, it is also sometimes called the “Doyō Lily.”

So, when you hear the word Doyō, what comes to mind?

Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is the famous Doyō no Ushi no Hi, （ the “Day of the Ox”） during the summer Doyō, when people traditionally eat eel(unagi）.

But what exactly is Doyō?

In the ancient Chinese philosophy of the Five Elements, the natural world was understood through five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.

Spring was associated with wood,

summer with fire,

autumn with metal,

and winter with water.

The element of earth(土） was placed between the seasons. The approximately 18 days at the end of each season came to be known as Doyō土用, a period when the energy or influence of the earth was believed to be particularly active.

In other words, Doyō is a time of transition, a bridge from one season to the next.

In traditional Japan, people understood the year as four distinct seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—and believed that each season ended with a period of Doyō.

People also developed various food traditions to help them stay healthy during these seasonal transitions.

For example, during the summer Doyō, people traditionally eat foods beginning with the Japanese sound “u,” such as eel (unagi), udon noodles, pickled plums (umeboshi), and gourds such as cucumber and watermelon (uri).

Perhaps these customs reflected the wisdom of our ancestors, who sought to care for their bodies and stay strong through the intense heat of summer by eating nourishing foods.

Similarly, there are traditions of eating foods beginning with “i” during the spring Doyō, “ta” during the autumn Doyō, and “hi” during the winter Doyō.

Although these customs vary according to region and time period, they all seem to share a common wish:

to stay healthy and well during the changing seasons.

Eating what nature provides in each season,

enjoying foods at their freshest,

and preparing our bodies for the coming heat or cold—

this is part of the wisdom of the Japanese people, who have long lived in harmony with the changing seasons while receiving the blessings of nature.

Now, in the midst of the most intense summer heat, the “Doyō Lily” blooms here at our church.

Just as the seasons quietly move toward what comes next,

we, too, are being led day by day into new seasons of our lives.

Just as people in the past cared for their bodies and embraced the changing seasons through the food they received from nature, may we who are connected to this church also listen closely to the voice of the Lord and gratefully receive His blessings as we journey through each day.

And now, there has been an earthquake in Kumamoto.

We pray from our hearts that God may bring healing and comfort to all those who have suddenly found themselves facing hardship because of this disaster.

May the help that each person needs reach them.

May those who are living with fear and uncertainty find peace in their hearts.

And may they be able to return to peaceful, ordinary lives as soon as possible.

Our heartfelt prayers are with them all.

2026 07 19 茴香（ういきょう）

 

「茴香（ウイキョウ）」学名 Foeniculum vulgare。

セリ科ウイキョウ属の多年草で、地中海沿岸地方が原産とされています。

英語名は Fennel（フェンネル）です。

教会のガレージ脇、いろいろなハーブ類が育っているところに、細くやわらかな葉をたくさん広げ、風にそよいでいます。

茎はまっすぐに伸びると1～2mほどの高さになることもあり、葉はとても細かく、糸のように繊細です。夏になると、茎の先に小さな黄色い花をたくさん咲かせます。

ひとつひとつの花はとても小さいのですが、たくさんの花が集まって、平らに広がる「複散形花序（ふくさんけいかじょ）」という形になります。

「茴香」は、葉、茎、花、そして種子まで、さまざまな部分が食や薬として利用されてきた植物です。

葉は魚料理やサラダなどの香りづけ、

種子は「フェンネルシード」としてスパイスやハーブティーなどに。日本ではこの種子を乾燥させたものは生薬としても利用されています。

茎の根元が大きくふくらむ品種は「フローレンスフェンネル」と呼ばれ、野菜として食用にされます。

特徴といえば、なんといってもその香りです。

葉や種子からは、甘く爽やかで、少しアニスにも似た独特の香りが漂います。

この香りを生かして、古くから料理や薬草として人々の暮らしの中で親しまれてきました。

スパイシーなお料理の後、ドライ種子をそのまましがみ、お口の中リフレッシュできるインド料理のお店とかあったりしますよ。

もちろんこの香り苦手な人もいると思いますが…

さて、「茴香（ういきょう）」という名前の「茴」には、「めぐる」「かえる」という意味があり、

香りが口の中をめぐり、また鼻にふんわり戻ってくるように感じられることから、この名前がついたともいわれています。

一度遠くへ行った香りが、ふたたびふわりと戻ってくる。

忘れていた大切なことを、ふとした瞬間に思い出すこと。

遠く離れていた人のことを、もう一度思い出すこと。

そして、迷いながら歩いていた私たちが、いつの間にか大切な場所へと帰ってくること。

そんな「茴香」という名前の意味を思うと、私たちの人生にも似たところがあるように感じます。

大切なところへ戻ってくる。

その枝幼稚園を卒園した子供たちが、ことあるごとに教会の、このところに戻ってくるイベントがあります。

夏のCSイベント「夏期学校」が今年も無事に開催されました👏

礼拝あり、工作あり、久々に顔を合わせる友達と一緒に食べる夕食（保護者の皆さんで調理）がおいしかったこと！

お楽しみには手品なんてあったり！！

そして夜は大人も一緒にキャンドルサービス

心静かに礼拝しました。

卒園して何年たっても、また教会に帰ってきてくれる子どもたち。

茴香の香りのように、ふと懐かしい場所を思い出し、またここへ戻ってきてくれることを、とても嬉しく思います。ここがいつまでも、子どもたちにとって「帰ってきたい」と思える大切な場所でありますように。

そして、神様の恵みの中で、今年も楽しい夏が始まります。

Fennel

Fennel (Uikyo)

Scientific name: Foeniculum vulgare

Fennel is a perennial plant in the Apiaceae family, native to the Mediterranean region.

In English, it is simply called fennel.

Here at our church, fennel is growing beside the parking lot, among various herbs. Its delicate, feathery leaves spread softly in the breeze.

The stems can grow straight up to one or two meters tall, and the leaves are very fine and delicate, almost like tiny threads.

In summer, many small yellow flowers bloom at the tips of the stems.

Each flower is tiny, but many flowers gather together in a flat, umbrella-like cluster called a compound umbel.

Fennel is a plant that has long been used in many ways, from cooking to traditional medicine. Its leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds have all been enjoyed and used by people over the years.

The leaves can be used to add flavor to fish dishes and salads.

The seeds, known as fennel seeds, are used as a spice and also in herbal teas.

In Japan, dried fennel seeds are also used as a traditional herbal medicine.

There is also a variety called Florence fennel, which develops a large, bulb-like base and is enjoyed as a vegetable.

And, of course, one of the most distinctive things about fennel is its fragrance.

Its leaves and seeds have a sweet, refreshing aroma with a hint of anise.

Because of this unique fragrance, fennel has been loved for centuries as both a culinary herb and a medicinal plant.

In some Indian restaurants, you may even be offered dried fennel seeds to chew after a spicy meal. They can leave your mouth feeling fresh and refreshed.

Of course, I know that some people may not be particularly fond of this distinctive aroma! 

Now, there is an interesting story behind the Japanese name Uikyo (茴香).

The character 茴 is said to carry the meaning of “to go around” or “to return.”

The name is thought to come from the way the fragrance seems to linger in your mouth, then gently return to your nose again.

A fragrance that travels away, only to softly return once more.

When I think about the meaning behind the name fennel, it reminds me of our own lives.

Sometimes, we suddenly remember something precious that we had forgotten.

Sometimes, we think again of someone who has been far away.

And sometimes, after wandering along uncertain paths, we find ourselves returning to a place that has always been special to us.

Returning to a place that matters.

Here at our church, we have a special event where children who graduated from our kindergarten come back to visit from time to time.

This year, our summer Sunday School event, “Summer School,” was held successfully once again! 👏

We began with worship, followed by some fun craft activities and time spent together with friends whom the children had not seen for a while.

Then came dinner!

The parents prepared a wonderful meal for everyone, and sharing a delicious dinner together made the evening even more special.

And, of course, there was some magic to enjoy, too!!

The children had a wonderful time filled with laughter, smiles, and excitement.

Later that evening, children and adults gathered together for a candlelight service.

Surrounded by the gentle glow of the candles, we shared a quiet and peaceful time of worship.

We are truly grateful for every one of those joyful reunions.

May this church always be a special place where these children feel that they can return, no matter how much time has passed.

And may this summer be filled with many more joyful moments, surrounded by God's love and grace.

2026 07 12 むくげ

 

　復活の丘にある納骨堂のスロープサイド、むくげの花が真っ白な花びらに朝の光を受けてやわらかく輝いています、この暑い季節の真っただ中、大切な方を偲びながら歩む道に、この白い花は寄り添い、涼し気に揺れています。

むくげ（木槿）：学名『Hibiscus syriacus』

木槿はアオイ科フヨウ属の落葉低木で、中国を原産。

日本には古くに渡来し、平安時代にはすでに庭木として親しまれていました。高さは2～4メートルほど、暑さや乾燥にも比較的強く、夏の庭を彩る花木として好まれています。

柔らかそうな花は、朝に咲いて夕方にはしぼむ「一日花」ですが、次々と新しいつぼみが開くため、7月から9月頃まで夏の暑い間でもずーっと、花を楽しむことができます。

　この学名 Hibiscus syriacus の Hibiscus は、古代ギリシャ語で「アオイの仲間」を意味し、syriacus は「シリアの」という意味とのことですが、18世紀に植物学者リンネが、シリアからヨーロッパへ渡った標本をもとに命名したため、この名前になってしまったようです。

英語では Rose of Sharon（ローズ・オブ・シャロン） と呼ばれることがあります。旧約聖書『雅歌』に登場する「シャロンのばら」に由来する名前で、美しさと祝福を象徴する花としても親しまれています。

その花言葉は、【信念・新しい美・包容力・尊敬】があり、

また、白い花色からは【純潔・清らかな心・誠実・平和】という言葉も重なります。

復活の丘では、このたび伸びていた雑草を刈り取り、夏の散髪すっきりとした景色になりました。

私たちも髪を切ると気分が軽くなり、さっぱりとした気持ちになりますが、復活の丘も同じように、夏の散髪を終えて気持ちよさそうです。（暑い中、汗を流しながら場を整えてくださった皆さまに心より感謝）

復活の丘は、大切な方々を偲る場所であるとともに、イエス・キリストの復活の希望を覚える場所でもあります。

すっきりした丘、「むくげ」の清らかな白い花が、納骨堂や教会を訪れる一人ひとりの心に、神様の平安と慰め、そして新しい希望を届けてくれますように。

The Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a deciduous shrub belonging to the mallow family (Malvaceae). Native to China, it was introduced to Japan many centuries ago and had already become a familiar garden tree during the Heian period (794–1185). Growing to about 2–4 meters (6–13 feet) tall, it is well adapted to heat and dry conditions, making it a beloved flowering shrub that brightens gardens throughout the summer.

Although each delicate blossom lasts for only a single day—opening in the morning and fading by evening—new buds bloom one after another. As a result, the tree continues to produce beautiful flowers from July through September, even during the hottest days of summer.

The scientific name, Hibiscus syriacus, has an interesting history. Hibiscus comes from the ancient Greek word for plants of the mallow family, while syriacus means "of Syria." Although the plant is actually native to China, the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus named it from specimens that had reached Europe through Syria in the eighteenth century.

In English, it is often called the Rose of Sharon. The name is associated with the "Rose of Sharon" mentioned in the Song of Songs in the Old Testament, and the flower has long been cherished as a symbol of beauty and God's blessing.

The language of flowers for the Rose of Sharon includes faith, new beauty, generosity, and respect. The white blossoms especially evoke purity, sincerity, peace, and a pure heart.

Recently, the overgrown grass on Resurrection Hill was cut back, giving the hill what might be called a "summer haircut." Just as we feel refreshed after having our hair trimmed, the hill itself now seems lighter and brighter after its seasonal grooming. Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who worked so hard in the summer heat to care for and maintain these grounds.

Resurrection Hill is not only a place where we remember those who have gone before us, but also a place where we are reminded of the hope of the resurrection through Jesus Christ.

May the freshly tended hill, together with the pure white blossoms of the Rose of Sharon, bring God's peace, comfort, and renewed hope to everyone who visits the columbarium and our church.