Founded in 2010, the “Ring no Kai” is mainly a lay work group in Dohoku Subdistrict of the Kyodan’s Hokkai District whose goal is “service and fellowship.” It includes all the church members in the subdistrict. Dohoku Subdistrict encompasses 270 kilometers from north to south and 180 kilometers from east to west and has ten churches. We experience great joy as we work together and support one another, because almost all the churches are small.

This organization began as the continuing form of what was originally the subdistrict women’s society whose numbers had decreased, and finding persons willing to serve as board members had become difficult. Thus, the Ring no Kai has no designated board. As the group operates spontaneously, each church has only a designated contact person. It’s an organization that has as its chief characteristic, “There is nothing that just has to be done.”

Why is the work chiefly for the purpose of helping other churches; or in other words, what is the purpose of having this unofficial group? The reasons are likely so that the churches in this expansive subdistrict do not become isolated and because they have cherished their connections with each other.

For example, presently the three official members of Wassamu Church hold a Thursday worship service once a month. The middle-aged group at Asahikawa Rokujo Church, where I belong, decided to send two people to attend each worship service and also to cover the cost of their travel expenses. Many members from the various subdistrict churches eagerly come, so an average of 23 persons attend the worship service. The people of Dohoku Subdistrict know Wassamu Church’s situation as well as each of its members.

When there is a pastor’s installment service in the subdistrict, a bus is provided and everyone avidly gathers; and families attend the subdistrict enrichment meetings as well. The Asahikawa Rokujo Church Bazaar offers space for Bibaushi Fukuin Church and Asahikawa Seiko Church. I understand that Asahikawa Seiko Church was able to hold its own bazaar in 2019. There is joy that comes with mutual growth through relationship, and Dohoku Subdistrict members know that.

The Ring no Kai has no membership fees. In October, the blueberries supplied at no charge by Asahikawa Rokujo Church are made into jam, and the jam is sold at some subdistrict meetings and by various churches at gatherings in their areas. These sales bring in about 30,000 yen, which basically becomes the organization’s management fund.

The churches are contacted about decisions made regarding the year’s activities, including making jam, cleaning, grass cutting, etc., and this information is passed on via weekly church bulletins, etc. In this way volunteers are solicited for each activity, and the needed number of persons is provided.

The Ring no Kai has been able to function, even without a board, due to the periodic gatherings at Wassamu Church worship services, which perhaps has become the activity base. The worship service at Wassamu Church is followed by a shared potluck lunch that is delicious and fun, and necessary information is exchanged.

One activity of the Ring no Kai since its beginning is mowing the grass at Bibaushi Fukuin Church. Finding someone to mow the grass on the church’s extensive property had become a real concern, so everyone went to help. Every year since then, people have gone to cut the grass. Even if they cannot take part in mowing the grass or shoveling the heavy snow off the church roof, when the Ring no Kai takes responsibility for helping with the Wassamu Church worship service, elderly members also take part, so this has become a subdistrict activity.

Within the district as well, there are discussions both for and against the Ring no Kai’s service and a questioning of whether the group has been too aggressive about helping other churches. However, I think there are times when a church is experiencing difficulties but cannot say, “Please help us.” So, it’s important to make relationships daily when you sympathize with its perplexing issues and can address them. If there is something that can be done, the subdistrict members act. I think that making preparations for that kind of system throughout the Kyodan will become more and more important from now on. (Tr. RT)

by Kaneko Tomoko, member

Asahikawa Rokujo Church, Hokkai District

Ring no Kai Organizer

—Compiled by the January 2020 Shinto no Tomo

(The Believer’s Friend) Editorial Committee

Summarized by KNL Editor Kawakami Yoshiko

教会を超えてゆるやかな活動を

北海教区道北地区リングの会＊

金子智子　リングの会世話人

北海教区・旭川六条教会員

リングの会は２０１０年10月に結成された日本基督教団北海教区　道北地区の「奉仕と交わり」を目的とした信徒の自主活動団体です。地区の教会員全員が会員です。道北地区には、南北270キロ、東西180キロの地域に10の教会があります。規模の小さい教会の多い道北地区にあって、共に奉仕し、支え合うことが大きな喜びを生み出していると実感しています。

この会は、もともとあった地区婦人会の集まりを引き継ぐ形で始まりました。地区婦人会は人数が減り、役員のなり手がないことも問題だったので、リングの会に役員は置いていません。自発的に活動する団体として、教会ごとの連絡係だけ決めています。「これを絶対にしなければ」がないのが特徴です。

なぜ、主に他教会のための奉仕活動を行うという、いわばおせっかいの会が成り立つのか。それは広大な道北地区の教会が孤立しないよう、つながりを大切にしてきたためでしょう。

例えば現住陪餐会員３名の和寒わっさむ伝道所は礼拝を月に１度木曜日に行っていますが、私の所属する旭川六条教会の壮年会はこの礼拝に必ず２名を派遣すると決めており、交通費の補助もしています。地区の多くの教会から駆けつけるので、礼拝出席平均は23名です。道北地区の人は、和寒教会がどのような教会であるか、教会員が誰なのかを知っています。

地区で牧師就任式があればバスを用意して皆で駆けつけますし、地区修養会も家族連れで参加します。旭川六条教会のバザーは、美馬びば牛うし福音伝道所や旭川星光伝道所などに売り場(スペース)を提供してきました。旭川星光伝道所は今年度は自分たちの教会でもバザーを行うことができたそうです。関わり合うことで互いに成長していく喜びがあり、道北地区はそれを知っているのです。

リングの会に会費はありません。旭川六条教会員から無料で提供されるブルーベリーを10月にジャムにして、各教会や地区の集会などで販売すると３万円くらいの収入になり、これが会の基本的な運営資金です。

ジャム作りや教会の清掃や草刈りなどを含め、年間で行うことが決まると各教会に連絡し、週報などで告知してもらいます。このように毎回奉仕者を募り、必要な人数が与えられています。

役員がいなくてもリングの会を運営できているのは地区の人が和寒教会の礼拝に定期的に集まるので、そこが活動拠点となっているからかもしれません。和寒教会の礼拝は、昼食を持ち寄って礼拝後に皆でいただきます。おいしく楽しく、絆を深め、必要な情報を交換しあいます。

リングの会が発足当初から行っていることの一つは美馬牛びばうし福音伝道所の草取りです。敷地の広い教会の草取りを誰がするのかと気になり、皆で手伝いにいきました。以来毎年草取りを行ってきました。

草刈りや雪おろしには参加できなくても、和寒教会の礼拝応援をリングの会が担うときには参加する高齢者もいて、全地区的な活動となっています。

一方、リングの会の奉仕については地区内でも賛否両論あり、他の教会にばかり一生懸命になりすぎているのではないかという意見もあります。しかし本当に困っているときは、「助けてください」と言えないと思うのです。ですから困っていることが見える関係を日ごろから作っておくことが大切で、困っていることを察したら声をかける。できることがあれば地区の皆で動く。その体制を整えておくことが今後ますます重要になっていくと思います。＊（リングの由来：祈りの輪、交わりの輪、平和の輪）

（まとめ・信徒の友編集部）および、川上善子KNL編集長