Takaaki Hirano
MCT Co-Pastor
I. Wednesday Night MCT Worship Service
In June 2025, MCT began a new challenge. In addition to our monthly Sunday morning worship service in a larger venue in Marunouchi, we have started a smaller Wednesday evening service in our TMP office that is even easier for businesspeople working in and around Marunouchi to attend toward the end of their working day. In June and July, eight people attended the Wednesday evening service. We have also had a few people who usually attend MCT Sunday worship services join us for Wednesday evening as well. For now, we are using the Samurai Projects Lecture Room in the TMP office as our worship venue, but we hope that one day this room will be filled with worshipers and we will be able to find a larger venue. Half of the people who gather here go back to their offices immediately after the service to continue their work. It is a time of quiet prayer and rest to receive the Word of the Lord during their evening break from work. We also have dinner with those who have time after the service and share what is going on with each other. It is a blessed time of worship where TMP partners in various meetings, such as “Marunouchi Office Groups (MOGs)” participants, “Inspire Marunouchi Christmas Party or Summer Event” participants, and “MCT Sunday Worship” participants, meet each other and expand their circle of partners.
II. MCT Sunday Worship Service
We have been working through the Acts of the Apostles a chapter at a time over the past few months. From the Acts of the Apostles, we see that the apostles boldly preached the gospel of Jesus after the coming of the Holy Spirit. And the “Jerusalem Church” was planted and the apostles continued to preach the Word in fulfillment of God’s plan for the word to go to Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). MCT likewise desires to preach the Word, and to see the Lord build his church in the business district of Marunouchi, one of the centers of the Japanese economy. After the Sunday morning service, we have a 45-minute small group sharing time which has led to growth in faith as people have reflected together on the day’s Bible passage and sermon and shared their thoughts with each other. However, we have not yet reached our initial goal of 40 adults attending these worship services. We are currently at around 20 adults and 7 children. Please pray on.
When the children arrive at the Sunday church venue, they first relax and have fun by playing games. After the games, the primary school aged kids listen carefully to the Bible story told by Antonia Richards (Thierry’s wife). Following the Bible time is craft time. During the craft time, the children’s creativity often leads to unexpected “works of art”, and various parents also help with their children’s crafts. One primary school aged child and one middle school aged child attend the adult worship service with their parents and listen to the adult sermon. Then they go into the Kids’ work following the sermon and before the adult small groups time starts. This is another way for the children to grow in faith. Also, recently, a mother and her baby (0) came to the MCT worship service for the first time through being invited by a friend of the mother’s. We were very happy to hear this. I pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in and encourage each person who attends the worship service, including families with young children.
III. Marunouchi Hobby Clubs
We hope to share the gospel with businesspeople here in Marunouchi and the surrounding area. However, it can be challenging to meet and build relationships with people in a relaxed environment. So, some friends have come up with a variety of ideas and we have begun various “Marunouchi Hobby Clubs”:
We hope to meet new people through these hobby groups. If you have an idea for a group or would like to attend a group or invite a friend to a group, then please do contact me (Takaaki Hirano, MCT Co-Pastor: jbhirano@tokyomarunouchipartnership.com)
- Marunouchi Running Club
- Marunouchi Art Club
- Marunouchi Wine Club
- Marunouchi Islamic Culture Club
- Marunouchi English Club
- Marunouchi Hiking Club
- Marunouchi Classic Concert Club
- Marunouchi Movie Club
Let’s have fun together!
MCT Sunday Service
September 28th, October 26th,November 23rd,
December 21st, January 18th, February 22nd, March 22nd, April 26th
Time: 09:45
MCT Wednesday Evening Service
September 17th, October 15th,
November 12th, December 3rd
Time: 18:30
Marunouchi Hobby Club Activities
Marunouchi Running Club : October 16th
Marunouchi Art Club : October 1st
Marunouchi Movie Club : October 22nd
Marunouchi Islamic Culture Club : September 3rd, October 8th
Marunouchi Hiking Club : September 20th, November 15th
Please contact me for details: Takaaki Hirano (jbhirano@tokyomarunouchipartnership.com)
Prayer Request —— Thank you for your prayers!
- Pray that we will be wise in our approach to those who do not yet know Jesus, and be able to invite them to join us.
- Pray that we would grow closer to one another as we worship God together.