Here, you will find special announcements regarding activities, events or notifications of importance to JA Club members. |
Announcements
GoFundMe Page Established for JARCC
As many of you are aware, the 2020 JARCC Summer Festival has been cancelled - due to concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic. A long-standing community event, it has annually attracted thousands of interested and hungry visitors during the weekend long cultural festivities. It has also served as the primary fundraiser for our non-profit organization, helping to defray maintenance and operational costs for the year. Given the unanticipated shortfall, a number of JA Club members approached the JARCC Board of Directors with a proposal to set up a Go Fund Me page for donations, to aid the club during this time. For those of you interested in finding out how you may help, please visit www.gofundme.com/f/diablo-jrcc-summer-festival-fundraiser to learn more. |
2020 JARCC Summer Festival Cancelled
The JARCC Board of Directors has decided to cancel the 2020 JARCC Summer Festival. As the primary fundraiser for the organization, this decision was arrived at after a good deal of analysis and discussion. As many of you know, the annual Summer Festival provides significant funding for our on-going facility maintenance and operations. It has also allowed the club to traditionally maintain reasonable fee structures for our members. In the end, however, the Board and Festival Committee were driven by a number of factors:
Please stay safe and well. JARCC Board of Directors |
Facility Closure Extended as Safeguard Against COVID-19 Community Spread
The JARCC Board of Directors has again decided to extend its closure of the JA Club facility to all activities, through Wednesday, March 31, 2021 (inclusive). The Board will continue to monitor the situation and adjust as appropriate. Thank you for your continued support and understanding - and please stay safe. |
2019 JA Club College Scholarship Awards
Applications for the annual JA Club College Scholarships are available!
Applicants must have been a current and active member of the JA Club for a minimum of the last three years. Final Application Deadline: May 3, 2019
Applications are available on JA Website under "Forms" Karen Sakata (925) 360-0406 Ksa20@comcast.net |
2020 Mochi Sale Cancelled Due to Faciility Closure
Apologies, in case you had not already heard through the grapevine or figured out for yourself. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Concord Buddhist Sunday School (CBSS) will NOT be offering freshly-made mochi for sale this year. Thanks for your continued support and participation and we hope to see you next year (tentatively, Sunday, December 12, 2021)! Any questions? Feel free to contact Pat Baba at 925-299-0110. |
2018 Gakuen Fundraiser
Make dinner a selfless act by joining us for a fundraiser to support Diablo Nippongo Gakuen . Come in to the Round Table Pizza at 2960 Treat Blvd, Concord on Saturday, April 21st between 11:30am and 9:30pm. Present the flyer below & Round Table Pizza will donate 15% of your total order to Diablo Nippongo Gakuen |
2018 Annual Facility Clean-Up
Annual Facility Clean-Up is scheduled on Saturday, 4/21/2018 starting at 10:00 AM
Lunch will be provided. Bring your gloves, hats, and good spirit! |
2018 JA Scholarships
Awards will be based on · Grades · JA Club Activities · Community Activities · Scholarship application in essay format · Letters of Recommendation, including one from a JA member who can write about the applicant’s involvement in the JA Club. Applicants must have been a current and active member of the JA Club for a minimum of the last three years. Final Application Deadline: May 4, 2018
Send your complete application to: Karen Sakata (925) 360-0406 |
Hana-Matsuri 花祭り 4/15/2018
Hana-Matsuri is the celebration of the birth of Sakyamuni Buddha. He was born in Lumbini's Garden which is in the southern foothills of the Himalayas. His father was King Suddhodana of the Sakya Clan and his mother Queen Maya. He was named Prince Siddartha and the family name was Gautama. When he became enlightened at the age of 35, people gave him the title of Buddha, the Enlightened One, and revered him as Sakyamuni, the sage of the Sakyas. The various rites observed during Hanamatsuri (literally Flower Festival) services are based upon the happenings at the time of Prince Siddartha's birth. The Hanamido or miniature floral altar of bright flowers provides the setting of the beautiful Lumbini's Garden. The statue of the baby Buddha, Tanjo-Butsu, which has his arm extended, illustrates the merits of the Buddha reaching out to all beings. The pouring of the sweet tea on the statue, kambutsu, represents the gentle rain which fell that day in Lumbini's Garden. Thank you to Sensei Brian Nagata for conducting the Hana-Matsuri Service. 花祭りって何? - 四月八日のお釈迦さま(仏教の開祖)の誕生日に行われる仏教行事を花まつりといいます。お釈迦さまのお誕生日を祝って全国の寺院で花まつりが催されるのです。本来は、灌仏会(かんぶつえ)という名称で、浴仏会(よくぶつえ)、仏生会(ぶっしょうえ)、竜華会(りゅうげえ)などの別名もありますが、宗派を問わず使われる花まつりという名称が今ではこの行事の代名詞となっています。また、花まつりを幼稚園や学校の行事としている場合もあり、お寺だけの行事でなく、一般の行事としても浸透してきています。 当日は、お釈迦さまのお誕生日を祝う法要が行われます。お寺の境内には花御堂(はなみどう)がつくられ、その中にお釈迦さまの誕生仏が安置されます。参拝に来た人たちは、誕生仏の頭上に竹の杓で甘茶をかけてお祝いします。 花御堂は、お釈迦さまが生まれたルンビニの花園を表したもので、桜、れんぎょう、木蓮などの花々で飾った小堂です。誕生仏は、右手は天を指し、左手は地上を指した姿をしています。これは、お釈迦さまが産まれた直後、七歩歩いて、右手で天を左手で地を指して「天上天下唯我独尊(てんじょうてんげ(が)ゆいがどくそん)」と話したという伝説に基づいています。 |