By Carolyn Tokunaga With the tremendous growth, the expansion of the physical plant, and a new name which reflected the merger of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Evangelical United Brethren Church in 1968, “Centenary United Methodist Church,” had the people and space for all of its ministries. The organizations flourished, evangelism and home visits continued to bring newcomers to Christianity. It was a period of active participation in all church events. There were fe

Centenary United Methodist Church expresses gratitude and appreciation to the following donors for their benevolent gifts received from April 1982 to April 1986 enabling the purchase of this land. GRAND BENEFACTORS: Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Ito Takejiro Kusayanagi Family BENEFACTORS: M/M Choichiro Akamatsu Centenary Language Div. Centenary United Methodist Men Hagiya Family, Yoshie, Mark, Arlene, Steve & Jan Milton & Ayako Hayakawa M/M Tom Hayakawa Raymond & Dahlia Inouye Sig Ka

We have been posting the videos from the Centenary DTLA Oral History Project on our YouTube channel found at youtube.com/channel/UC5KprIyRjABPp1zZZl8FLLg. Our first posted videos were of Yaeko Kusayanagi Nakamura who was the chairperson and interviewer of the Oral History Project; Kaz Saito and George Yamaka who also interviewed members; and Tom Saruwatari who was their videographer. It is because of their countless hours to record the histories of our members that Centenary

By Carolyn Tokunaga Kid City Hope Place was launched in the fall of 2008 as Kid City South Park at First United Methodist Church as part of the Los Angeles United Methodist Urban Foundation. Originally an afterschool program for children and youth, it has evolved into a year-round program that now includes college students. Most participants are first generation college or college-bound students from very low income families living in South Central, Pico Union and other neig

As part of Centenary’s 125th Anniversary Celebration, we are attempting to record the history of our church and honor those who have been a part of Centenary’s 125 years of ministry, but who are no longer with us. Please send us photos of your loved ones and it will be included in the Memorial section of Centenary’s 125th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet. With your permission, these same photos will also be included in our Memorial video, similar to the memorial tributes in

The Devotional Booklet will be the thank you gift for those who attend the 125th Anniversary Luncheon at the Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel on October 15, 2022. The booklet will have entries from the 100th Anniversary version and devotionals submitted by our families and friends of today…which includes you… Your devotional may be about… * your faith journey * a favorite memory of Centenary * your favorite Bible verse or hymn * a saying or quote * a poem * or…your

Thanks to all who have added leaves to our Memorial Tree as they remember loved ones who are no longer with us, but who were a part of Centenary’s 125 years of ministry. The first leaf was placed on the wall by Leslie Kitashima-Gray during her mother’s Celebration of Life. Leslie created the Memorial Tree to not only honor her mom, Moonza Kitashima, but others who called Centenary their home. During Centenary’s 125th Anniversary Celebration, we have featured Memorial Tree re

The 125th Anniversary t-shirts are here! They are black t-shirts with Centenary United Methodist Church and the Methodist flame and cross in the front and the 125th Anniversary logo with the two stained glass windows on the back. All of the t-shirts cost $20 with the exception of $25 for adult 2X large. Click on HERE to buy the limited number of 125th Anniversary t-shirts on stock. If there aren’t any t-shirts left in your particular size, please call the church at (213) 6

As plans are made for the celebration of Centenary’s 125th Anniversary, we have been revisiting our past through a series of church history articles in the Chimes, but also by remembering the groups that contributed so much vitality to church life. For so many years, the Girls’ Clubs, Boys’ Y Clubs, and MYF were an integral part of Centenary’s programming. We are planning a Girls’ Clubs, Boys’ Y Clubs, and MYF Reunion at Centenary on August 27, 2022 from 11:30 - 2:30. This

Centenary’s 125th Anniversary Celebration began in October 2021 and will end in October 2022. Please save the dates for the following events. More information will be given at a later time… April 24, 2022 - Family Photo Day for Centenary’s 125th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet - Everyone who has been a part of Centenary’s 125 years of ministry and their families are invited to be a part of Centenary’s “photo album”… June 5, 2022 - Family Photo Day for Centenary’s 125th Ann

By Carolyn Tokunaga At 35th and Normandie - 1945-1964 With the end of World War II in 1945, the Japanese were allowed to return to the West Coast, uncertain of what awaited them. Centenary had been a place of worship and community, a place of acceptance and love, and most recently, a storage facility. As people returned to Los Angeles, it would serve as a Hostel for over 800 returnees. Rev. Yuzuru Yamaka and his wife Teruko not only served as faith anchors on their return t

We hope that you can join us for the Girls’ Clubs, Boys’ Y Clubs, and MYF Reunion at Centenary on Saturday, August 27, 2022. There are two ways you can help us with the reunion… You may join the Reunion Planning Committee that will have only five hybrid meetings which meet once a month. Reunion Planning Committee members may come to the in-person meetings at Centenary or they may “attend” the meetings at home with their computer, laptop, or phone. Reunion Contact Committee m

Greetings Centenary United Methodist family and friends, I’m happy to announce that Alan Miyatake of the renowned Toyo Miyatake Studio will be taking portraits for Centenary’s 125th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet. Everyone who has been a part of Centenary's 125 years of ministry is invited to have their family photo taken which will be in the commemorative booklet. The booklet will feature articles of Centenary, “honoring the past”, how individuals, church groups, and acti

By Vicky "Kiki" Uyemura The leaves from the Memorial Tree continue to “blow” across the left-hand side of the sanctuary walls at Centenary. Thanks to all who have added leaves to our Memorial Tree as they remember loved ones who are no longer with us, but who were a part of Centenary’s 125 years of ministry. Leslie Kitashima-Gray created the Memorial Tree and put the first leaf in the sanctuary in honor of her mother, Moonza Kitashima. We have been featuring leaves in the Ch

If you were one of the 1,000 people who attended Centenary’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at the Bonaventure Hotel on October 20, 1996, you would have received our Devotional Booklet, 100 Years of God’s Faithfulness. For Centenary’s 125th Anniversary, we will be publishing a new Devotional Booklet which will include the entries from the original booklet and add the devotionals from everyone who has been a part of Centenary’s 125 years of ministry…This includes YOU… Your dev

Yaeko Kusayanagi Nakamura was the Chairperson of the Oral History Project and one of the main interviewers of the 100+ Centenary DTLA Oral History Project videos that will be posted on Centenary’s YouTube site. See Yae’s video. Special thanks to Kay Sugahara who granted Centenary United Methodist Church $25,000 in 1988 so that the stories of Centenary’s Issei, Nisei, and Sansei members may not be forgotten. *************************** Go to https://www.youtube.com/playlist?l

By Carolyn Tokunaga At 35th and Normandie: 1925-1945 With hope, vision, and unbounding faith, the immigrant founders and ministers grew a congregation and now could fulfill their dream of a more permanent home. With the lot purchased on the corner of 35th and Normandie, they envisioned a new church building. Always trusting God to guide, they embarked on a building campaign to raise $51,000. In this new land where they had faced prejudice, restrictive racial laws, and limi

Terry Miyashiro-Sonoda and Wendy Raksin are busy working on the new version of the Devotional Booklet that will be published to celebrate Centenary’s125 years of ministry. This new version will include devotionals from the original booklet, 100 Years of God’s Faithfulness, that was part of Centenary’s 100th Anniversary Celebration in 1996. We will also be adding new entries from anyone who has been a part of Centenary’s 125 years of ministry for the 2022 Devotional Booklet.

George Yamaka is the third person featured from our treasured videos of the Centenary DTLA Oral History Project. See George’s interview. George was chosen because he was one of the main interviewers of the 100+ Oral History Project videos that we will be posting on Centenary’s YouTube site. We will be forever grateful to Kay Sugahara who granted Centenary United Methodist Church $25,000 in 1988 so that we may document the lives of our Issei, Nisei, and Sansei members. ******

Remember Loved Ones and Add Leaves to Our Memorial Tree Thanks to all who have added leaves to our Memorial Tree as they remember loved ones who are no longer with us, but were a part of Centenary’s 125 years of ministry. Leslie Kitashima-Gray created the Memorial Tree and put the first leaf that is “blowing” from the Memorial Tree in honor of Moonza Kitashima during her mother’s Celebration of Life. Cindy Hikida wanted to write a leaf for her mother, Mariyo Hikida. Since C